Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Expat Harem Contributor in Award-Winning Anthology
Congratulations to Kathy Hamilton Gundogdu! Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering (Wyatt-Mackenzie), featuring Kathy's essay “A Santa Snafu,” was published in May 2009. The book has already been named winner in two categories of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, and third place Grand Prize winner in nonfiction overall. The anthology was edited by Suzanne Kamata, novelist, nonfiction author, and owner of the Gaijin Mama Blog.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Defining Expat Lit, Live on Twitter May 29
Expatriate literature may be stocked in the travel section, but does it deserve a shelf of its own? We think so! Travelers often have the luxury to avoid the very issues of assimilation and identity that dominate the expat psyche. Anastasia will guest host a live chat on the micro-blogging service Twitter to discuss the unique depths expatriate living can bring to expat lit’s combination of outsider-view-from-the-inside and journey of self-realization. All Expat Harem readers are invited to join in, and share their perspectives on this misunderstood genre: Friday, May 29th, 4-5pm EDT.
Visit www.litchat.net for more information. The only requirement is that you have a Twitter account, then use either TweetChat or Twitter search with the term "LitChat" to see the on-going discussion.
Expatriate literature may be stocked in the travel section, but does it deserve a shelf of its own? We think so! Travelers often have the luxury to avoid the very issues of assimilation and identity that dominate the expat psyche. Anastasia will guest host a live chat on the micro-blogging service Twitter to discuss the unique depths expatriate living can bring to expat lit’s combination of outsider-view-from-the-inside and journey of self-realization. All Expat Harem readers are invited to join in, and share their perspectives on this misunderstood genre: Friday, May 29th, 4-5pm EDT.
Visit www.litchat.net for more information. The only requirement is that you have a Twitter account, then use either TweetChat or Twitter search with the term "LitChat" to see the on-going discussion.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Expat Career BrandingIn a two-part interview with Career by Choice, a blog run by expat career coach Megan Fitzgerald in Rome, Anastasia talks about the lessons of Expat Harem in forging her expat writing life. Answering questions about personal branding and career success abroad, Anastasia explains how writing about her life overseas and editing Expat Harem connected her to a worldwide band of her peers, and gave her career and conflicted expat mindset a new cultural context. Click to read part 1 and part 2.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Gökmen in Expat Roundtable with Turkey’s New Minister to the EU
On Friday, February 27th, Jennifer Gökmen joined thirty expats and five Turks at a dinner with Turkey’s newly appointed Minister to European Union Affairs, Mr. Egemen Bagis, and his wife Beyza (shown in photo). Hosted by businesswoman Mutlu Alkan at the Rahmi Koc Museum’s restaurant Halat, this new community forum rotates groups of professionals from various sectors. The third such event, this was the first to be composed of expatriates.
Among the expatriate opinion leaders participating in the evening’s discussion were foreign correspondents and authors on modern Turkish politics Gareth Jenkins, author of Political Islam in Turkey, and former reporter for The Economist; Nicole Pope, co-author of Turkey Unveiled and former reporter for Le Monde; Dorian Jones of Deutsche Welle Radio, BBC, NPR, and Radio Netherlands; Sarah Rainsford of BBC; and Ariane Bonzon of Arte TV France and TSR/Swiss State TV. Business leaders included top management of foreign multinationals UPS, Cisco Systems, TEB Paribas Bank, as well as the director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, the director of organic agriculture group Mavi Deniz, a professor of fine arts from Isik University, textile exporters, industrial machinery procuders, and independent consultants.
The open, frank dialogue ranged from amiable to intense: the history of Turkey’s struggle for EU accession, the probability, and the arguable necessity of it. The minister answered comments about the ruling Ak Party’s successes and lapses during the past five years. The evening ended in a consensus about the impressive infrastructure progress Turkey has made in recent years, overhauling labor laws, the tax code, foreign direct investment laws, and soon the commercial code as well as Turkey’s strides towards fully implementing the EU’s Copenhagen Criteria to preserve democratic governance and human rights. The minister’s active solicitation of ongoing outside opinion may be an indicator of increased advancement in this direction.
On Friday, February 27th, Jennifer Gökmen joined thirty expats and five Turks at a dinner with Turkey’s newly appointed Minister to European Union Affairs, Mr. Egemen Bagis, and his wife Beyza (shown in photo). Hosted by businesswoman Mutlu Alkan at the Rahmi Koc Museum’s restaurant Halat, this new community forum rotates groups of professionals from various sectors. The third such event, this was the first to be composed of expatriates.
Among the expatriate opinion leaders participating in the evening’s discussion were foreign correspondents and authors on modern Turkish politics Gareth Jenkins, author of Political Islam in Turkey, and former reporter for The Economist; Nicole Pope, co-author of Turkey Unveiled and former reporter for Le Monde; Dorian Jones of Deutsche Welle Radio, BBC, NPR, and Radio Netherlands; Sarah Rainsford of BBC; and Ariane Bonzon of Arte TV France and TSR/Swiss State TV. Business leaders included top management of foreign multinationals UPS, Cisco Systems, TEB Paribas Bank, as well as the director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, the director of organic agriculture group Mavi Deniz, a professor of fine arts from Isik University, textile exporters, industrial machinery procuders, and independent consultants.
The open, frank dialogue ranged from amiable to intense: the history of Turkey’s struggle for EU accession, the probability, and the arguable necessity of it. The minister answered comments about the ruling Ak Party’s successes and lapses during the past five years. The evening ended in a consensus about the impressive infrastructure progress Turkey has made in recent years, overhauling labor laws, the tax code, foreign direct investment laws, and soon the commercial code as well as Turkey’s strides towards fully implementing the EU’s Copenhagen Criteria to preserve democratic governance and human rights. The minister’s active solicitation of ongoing outside opinion may be an indicator of increased advancement in this direction.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Expat Harem Editor Joins Live Discussion on Foreigners' Views of TurkeyOn January 10th, Expat Harem editor Jennifer Eaton Gökmen joined three other representatives of Istanbul’s resident expat community on TV8’s live program Iste Biz Boyleyiz with Professor Dr. Haluk Sahin. Giving voice to "What foreigners think of Turkey", Jennifer and the other guests examined topics ranging from the nature of Turkish culture, how urban and rural Turkish society have changed over the
past two decades, the opening of the market since 2000, to the rising influence of both westernism *and* Islamism. Other guests included Dutch photojournalist Wilco Van Herpen, star of IZ TV's travel show Wilco'nun Karavanı; Polish star of Turkish TV and film, Tatsyana Tsvikeviç; and Japanese freelance journalist Niinomi Makoto.Monday, January 05, 2009
Expat Harem Editors on Twitter
Joining the micro-blogging powerhouse Twitter, with its live stream of 140-characters or less “tweets” about the poster’s daily personal and professional life, Anastasia and Jennifer invite all friends and fans of Expat Harem to follow them.
This easy to master social networking phenomenon promises an “ambient intimacy” with the people whose tweet streams you choose to receive. Let us know you’re out there and we’ll follow you too!
Anastasia: www.twitter.com/Thandelike
Jennifer: www.twitter.com/Expat_Istanbul
Joining the micro-blogging powerhouse Twitter, with its live stream of 140-characters or less “tweets” about the poster’s daily personal and professional life, Anastasia and Jennifer invite all friends and fans of Expat Harem to follow them.
This easy to master social networking phenomenon promises an “ambient intimacy” with the people whose tweet streams you choose to receive. Let us know you’re out there and we’ll follow you too!
Anastasia: www.twitter.com/Thandelike
Jennifer: www.twitter.com/Expat_Istanbul
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Expat Harem Editor Gives MSNBC Commentary on Obama Election
Following the election of Barack Obama, on November 5th, Jennifer Eaton Gökmen was invited to NTV/MSNBC’s Sade Vatandas program to give her reaction to and assessment of the historical event. Broadcast live (in Turkish), the evening talk show is hosted by Turkey’s most popular late night personality, Okan Bayulgen.
Other panelists that evening included Galip Sukaya, head of the American Business Forum in Turkey; Istem Erdener, translator of Obama’s book Dreams from my Father; and Istanbul-based African-American photographer Frank Payne , with discussion ranging from the emotional impact of the election to America’s economic recovery and the world’s expectations of the 44th president to be.Thursday, October 30, 2008
Expat Harem Contributors Win Award
Three Expat Harem contributors --Katherine Belliel, Amanda Coffin, and Trici Venola—whose writing appears in the Travelers’ Tales anthology Encounters with the Middle East (December 2007) are happy to announce the anthology’s recent awards.
Three Expat Harem contributors --Katherine Belliel, Amanda Coffin, and Trici Venola—whose writing appears in the Travelers’ Tales anthology Encounters with the Middle East (December 2007) are happy to announce the anthology’s recent awards.
With an introduction by Bruce Feiler (author of Walking the Bible), Encounters has garnered both the 2008 Indie Book Award for Current Events and the 2008 Thomas Travel Journalism Award for Best Travel Book.
The Expat Harem contributors’ stories in this collection include Katherine Belliel’s “Instant Mother, Just Add Tea”; “Repatriation and Regret" by Amanda Coffin; and “Just Under Your Feet” by Tricia Venola.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Honored Guests of the Guests of Honor at Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt Book Fair –the largest annual event for the publishing industry—will be focusing on Turkey this year as its country of honor. In turn, Expat Harem will be promoted as well, not only at Dogan Kitap’s stand (the original publisher of both the English and Turkish editions of Expat Harem), but also highlighted at TURSAB’s stand (The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies).
In addition, Expat Harem will be featured at the Ministry of Culture’s main stand for Turkey. Expat Harem is being eagerly considered for the Ministry of Culture’s TEDA Project to promote foreign language editions of the anthology through government underwriting of the production cost for foreign publishing houses. With all eyes on Turkey at FBF this year, Expat Harem may soon be gracing bookshelves in many more languages...
Frankfurt Book Fair –the largest annual event for the publishing industry—will be focusing on Turkey this year as its country of honor. In turn, Expat Harem will be promoted as well, not only at Dogan Kitap’s stand (the original publisher of both the English and Turkish editions of Expat Harem), but also highlighted at TURSAB’s stand (The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies).
In addition, Expat Harem will be featured at the Ministry of Culture’s main stand for Turkey. Expat Harem is being eagerly considered for the Ministry of Culture’s TEDA Project to promote foreign language editions of the anthology through government underwriting of the production cost for foreign publishing houses. With all eyes on Turkey at FBF this year, Expat Harem may soon be gracing bookshelves in many more languages...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Multi Media Mania: Expat Harem Popping Up Everywhere
DOCUMENTARIES
Official production on Istanbul-based VTR’s film about the making of Expat Harem will begin in October, destined for the Istanbul European Culture Capital 2010 celebrations. Designed as a 90-minute film in four 23-minute parts, it will be able to be shown both as a full length film and as a television series.
Expat Harem editor Anastasia Ashman has been consulting producers of the History Channel’s production of Underground Cities, and with the help of Expat Harem writer Maureen Basedow recommending local archaeologists and ancient historians as on-camera experts for the Istanbul shoot in October. Expat Harem writer Kathleen Hamilton will appear in the program leading the crew into some of her favorite subterranean spots.
For a Channel 4 (UK) production of a television travelogue based on Lord Byron’s transformative 19th century Grand Tour (with actor Rupert Everett following in his footsteps), Anastasia is helping the filmmakers find what’s “Byronic” about modern day Istanbul, and what expatriate high-life and low-life Everett might like to investigate when he hits the former Constantinople in October.
LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINES
Expat Harem editor Jennifer Eaton Gökmen’s travel writing advice has been quoted by the award-winning Vagabonding author Rolf Potts in his recent 19 September interview on the Lost Girls World blog , a trendy travel site penned by three twenty-something New Yorkers who abandoned their media jobs to embark on a yearlong, round-the-world journey. In discussing his latest book, Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer, Potts, who has reported from more than fifty countries for media outlets like National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, and Conde Nast Traveler, lists Jennifer’s travel writing advice in his “seven lessons learned from a decade of interviewing top travel writers”. Among the quotes Potts culled from seven years of interviews, Jennifer’s stands alongside words of wisdom from notable travel scribes Arthur Frommer, Pico Iyer, and Tim Cahill.
Anastasia is the subject of a profile in the October issue of Swissper, the state-of-the-art lifestyle magazine of Swissotel, a member of the Raffles Group of worldwide luxury hotels. She answers questions about her favorite Turkish landscapes, historical sites, pasttimes and cuisine. The magazine is distributed to 15,000 business executives, society figures and opinion leaders as well as Swissotel guests.
Expat Harem editors have been asked to contribute a mini-portrait of city for the March 2009 issue of National Geographic Traveler, and women-savvy suggestions for 2008’s Best Travel Tips at Journeywoman.com.
Anastasia is contributing insider Istanbul tips for an upcoming issue of NBpulse, the high-end publication for discerning international travelers. (See the web version at www.nbpulse.com)
DOCUMENTARIES
Official production on Istanbul-based VTR’s film about the making of Expat Harem will begin in October, destined for the Istanbul European Culture Capital 2010 celebrations. Designed as a 90-minute film in four 23-minute parts, it will be able to be shown both as a full length film and as a television series.
Expat Harem editor Anastasia Ashman has been consulting producers of the History Channel’s production of Underground Cities, and with the help of Expat Harem writer Maureen Basedow recommending local archaeologists and ancient historians as on-camera experts for the Istanbul shoot in October. Expat Harem writer Kathleen Hamilton will appear in the program leading the crew into some of her favorite subterranean spots.
For a Channel 4 (UK) production of a television travelogue based on Lord Byron’s transformative 19th century Grand Tour (with actor Rupert Everett following in his footsteps), Anastasia is helping the filmmakers find what’s “Byronic” about modern day Istanbul, and what expatriate high-life and low-life Everett might like to investigate when he hits the former Constantinople in October.
LIFESTYLE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINES
Expat Harem editor Jennifer Eaton Gökmen’s travel writing advice has been quoted by the award-winning Vagabonding author Rolf Potts in his recent 19 September interview on the Lost Girls World blog , a trendy travel site penned by three twenty-something New Yorkers who abandoned their media jobs to embark on a yearlong, round-the-world journey. In discussing his latest book, Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer, Potts, who has reported from more than fifty countries for media outlets like National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Adventure, and Conde Nast Traveler, lists Jennifer’s travel writing advice in his “seven lessons learned from a decade of interviewing top travel writers”. Among the quotes Potts culled from seven years of interviews, Jennifer’s stands alongside words of wisdom from notable travel scribes Arthur Frommer, Pico Iyer, and Tim Cahill.
Anastasia is the subject of a profile in the October issue of Swissper, the state-of-the-art lifestyle magazine of Swissotel, a member of the Raffles Group of worldwide luxury hotels. She answers questions about her favorite Turkish landscapes, historical sites, pasttimes and cuisine. The magazine is distributed to 15,000 business executives, society figures and opinion leaders as well as Swissotel guests.
Expat Harem editors have been asked to contribute a mini-portrait of city for the March 2009 issue of National Geographic Traveler, and women-savvy suggestions for 2008’s Best Travel Tips at Journeywoman.com.
Anastasia is contributing insider Istanbul tips for an upcoming issue of NBpulse, the high-end publication for discerning international travelers. (See the web version at www.nbpulse.com)
