Nooshie Motaref is the author of novels, Tapestries of the Heart, Land of Roses and Nightingales, and now, Bird of Passage. She has gone through many challenging life experiences, unlike many women from the Middle East. Nooshie grew up in a family of strong women and men. Her father owned a newspaper in Tehran, and her parents encouraged her to pursue education and make her own decision about marriage. As Nooshie told the Tucson Daily Star, "My father several times told me it doesn't matter that I'm a woman. I have to be an independent human being to support myself. It's never too late to marry and have a family and kids." Her schooling path expands to the countries such as Iran, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. She received her master's and doctorate degrees in American Literature and Folklore from Florida State University. Her dissertation is proof of Carl Jung's theory, the "Collective Unconscious," through Persian fairy- tales and folktales. Land of Roses and Nightingales: Seven Adventures of a Persian Girl is an adaptation of seven stories used for her research. In each one, the "hero," a woman, reincarnates throughout the time and places in Persia.
When Nooshie fled her native Iran over 30 years ago, it was to keep something that had been dear to her, her mother, and her grandmother before her: freedom. She was a professor in Tehran when she was told she must cover her head, as the Islamic revolution was stifling liberty across the country. As a result, she portrays her memories in addition to theirs in Tapestries of the Heart: Four Women, Four Persian Generations.
She is also a speaker. In March 2014, she presented one of her articles, "Women and Islam," for a conference, Women, and Education, at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Besides, she frequently gives speeches on several subjects related to her birthplace, including its culture, traditions, and religion. Her purpose is to familiarize Western audiences with Iranian life and ethnicity.
Six years ago, Nooshie moved to Tucson to be near her son and his family, including her young grandson. She remains active in local non-profit organizations, including Tucson Tellers of Tales, The American Association of University Women (AAUW), and the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), where women help women reach stars. She is also a member of the Facilitator's Guild, by Center for Community Dialogue and Training, a Program of Our Family Services. Please visit www.drnooshiemotaref.com
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