Anastasia M. Ashman
and
Jennifer Eaton Gökmen

editors of the bestselling nonfiction anthology

Tales from the Expat Harem
Foreign Women in Modern Turkey

at 3 special events promoting Turkish literature

The editors will read from their book and lead a discussion afterward. Please join us for what is sure to be a fascinating and insightful experience!

Books will be available for purchase
Autographed copies will be available

Friday, May 5, 2006
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Appetizers will be served

St. Peter's Episcopal Church Parish Hall
14th Street, Del Mar, CA 92014
Take I-5 to Del Mar Heights Rd. Turn right on Camino Del Mar.
Turn right on 14th Street. Park in church parking lot, Del Mar Plaza and adjoining streets.

Sponsored by ATASC-SD.  For more information contact
Arzu Kurkoglu at arzu@sdturks.org

Saturday, May 6, 2006
3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be served

UCI Alumni House
University of California at Irvine
From North, I-405, exit Culver, turn right. Right on Campus, Left on Stanford into parking structure.  From South, I-405, exit Culver, turn left. Right on Campus, Left on Stanford into parking structure.

Sponsored by OCTAA. Proceeds to benefit the Baba Beni Okula Gonder (Dad Send Me To School) campaign. For more information about this event, contact
Sevdâ Aleckson at sevda.aleckson@octaa.org or phone (949) 608-3402.

Sunday, May 7, 2006
1:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Lunch will be served

Berkoz Residence
4665 Ellenita Ave.
Tarzana, CA 91356
Sponsored by TALL. For more information about this event, contact
Asuman Yilmaz at tall@atasc.org or phone (949) 378-6051.

Information about these events is tentative and subject to change

event sponsors
ATASC-SD

Originally published in Turkey in September 2005 by Dogan Kitap (and in a Turkish language edition worldwide as "Türkçe Sevmek"), the English language edition has been a best-seller in Turkey for more than 19 weeks, reaching #1 in January. The critically-acclaimed collection -- praised by Turks and foreigners alike -- now invites American readers into the Turkey that 29 women from six nations know.

This anthology showcases the captivating Turkish lives of 29 foreign nationals from four continents in the past four decades. The anachronistic title ironically mirrors erroneous yet prevalent Western stereotypes about the Middle East, while also declaring that the writers are akin to foreign brides of the Seraglio, the 15th century seat of the Ottoman sultanate: wedded to the culture of the land, yet forever alien. This collection of expatriate literature takes readers to weddings and workplaces, down cobbled Byzantine streets, into boisterous bazaars along the Silk Road and deep into the feminine powerbases of steamy Ottoman bathhouses. All the while, the subtext illuminates journeys of the soul.

For more information, visit www.expatharem.com!

Anastasia M. Ashman is a native of Berkeley, CA, and holds a degree in Archaeology from Bryn Mawr College. A career essayist specializing in personal tales of cultural adventure, Ashman lives in Istanbul with her husband.

Jennifer Eaton Gökmen has lived in Turkey for the past twelve years. She has served as International Coordinator for the “Kadiköy Municipality Annual Folkdance Festival.” A Michigan native, she holds a degree in Creative Writing and American and English Literature from Western Michigan University.