In honor of the official release of F.M. Deemyad’s debut novel, The Sky Worshipers, History Through Fiction: The Podcast is reposting our interview with the author. A novel of Mongol conquests, The Sky Worshipers tells history from a new perspective, showing readers how the vast Mongol empire was transformed from within by three captive princesses. Deemyad, who was born in Iran and developed a love of English literature at an early age, talks with host Colin Mustful about her desire to share the stories of the captive and conquered. She also talks about the her intensive, systematic research, the emotional connections created through well-developed fictional characters, and the overall impacts of the Mongol empire on culture, religion, and science.

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About the Author

F.M. Deemyad was born in Kermanshah, Iran and grew up in Tehran where she attended bilingual schools run by Christian and Jewish minorities. This early exposure to different cultures and religions is reflected in her works and has enriched her writing. Deemyad has an M.A. in Writing from John Hopkins University. Her debut novel, The Sky Worshipers, is a fact-based historical novel that tells the story of three princesses from China, Persia, and Poland, who transform the Mongols from within after they are taken prisoners by Genghis Khan and his heirs. Deemyad currently resides with her husband in Maryland.