Aisha—the Prophet’s youngest wife, a scholar, a politician and a military commander—is revered throughout the Islamic community. Her life single-handedly challenges the prevalent stereotype of the oppressed and submissive Muslim woman, and she remains a role model for Muslim feminists today. But in researching her story, I found intriguing accounts that are probably unknown to many Muslims, and my inclusion of such events may upset some. One thing that might startle some Muslims is my suggestion that one of the main characters, Talha, an early follower of Prophet Muhammad, was in love with Aisha, even though it was unrequited.

Talha is a revered figure in Islam, but early Muslim sources suggest that he did have feelings for Aisha, and he once even publicly suggested that he would marry her if the Prophet died or divorced her (an incident I portray in the novel). Talha’s unwavering loyalty to Aisha led to his support for her military activities, and ultimately his death on the battlefield. Being raised as a Muslim, I had never heard these accounts and was startled to find them in the early Islamic histories. Most other Muslims don’t know these stories, either, and some might be offended at their inclusion in my novel.

Some Muslims might also be shocked at my (very light) treatment of sexuality in the story. There are no graphic scenes, but there is an open discussion of sex, which is true to Islamic history. Muslim historians had no problem talking openly about sex, even the Prophet’s sex life with his wives, and there are early accounts of one of his wives even discussing the fact that she had “wet dreams”. Traditionally Muslims had a very healthy attitude toward sex, as it was considered as a normal part of daily life. In modern day, under the heavy influence of British Victorian values left over from the colonization, some Muslims might find even my light treatment of sexuality too much.

So there will be things in my book that surprise and shock some Muslims. But there are many aspects of Mother of the Believers that will startle, and perhaps anger, non-Muslims as well. The story is told from a Muslim point of view and directly addresses many of the critiques raised against Prophet Muhammad by non-Muslims. The Prophet was a compelling spiritual figure who was famed for remarkable acts of generosity and compassion, and his words still ring true with wisdom today. But he has also been maligned by Westerners for many aspects of his life.

In all my books I try to take my readers to a different world, be it Roman Britain, Antarctica, or the Holy Land in 1799. Ethan—a gambler, sharpshooter, treasure hunter, and romantic—is above all curious, and we see the dawn of our modern era through his wry perspective. I use humor and horror to give a rounded view of a period in which so many things began: The industrial and scientific revolutions, the conscription of whole populations in titanic wars, the birth of propaganda and the secret police, and Enlightenment ideas that inspired political change in the United States, France, and Britain.

My writing is inevitably influenced by my career as a newspaper journalist. Without quite planning to, I’ve found my heroes and heroines are usually observant adventurers thrust into new cultures and environments, which is a fair description of ambitious reporting. As a former environmental and science reporter, I also have a particular interest in how geography affects individuals and society. My books have vivid settings that characters react to.

Most important, I learned in the competitive world of journalism that if you don’t make it fun and interesting, it doesn’t get read. My novels are chock-full of love and war, treachery and triumph, twists and turns. Ethan has added a new dimension to my novels, because he has a self-deprecating sense of humor. He’s good company, which is why I keep writing books about him.