There was a season in my life when I lost everything. Amid that period, I lost all hope. As time passed, the need to heal from my own excruciating experience would give me the courage to walk back down memory lane to a place where a group of refugee women would come together to create a sanctuary in which we could share our hopes, fears, and memories. I kept these women in my heart for years, and never forgot how we found a place to gather and bond together as we prepared favorite meals from our different homelands. In some aspect, as human beings, we are all refugees looking for a safe haven in the new places we hope to call home. Tears of Onions is about life, love, struggles, fighting to survive, injustice, unfairness, and how we all share a common ground when it comes to our human nature. In the end, love and simple human compassion can save us all.
Category: BooksShahla Shahmiri was born in Iran. At an early age, her parents sent her to live in a small town north of Iran with her grandmother who was an herbalist with a vast knowledge of nature, herbs, spices, and the healing power of nature. Her grandmother taught all she could, and Shahla learned how to use those powerful tools to create the perfect dish and later become a chef.
After escaping Iran, Shahla lived as a refugee for many years. Eventually, Australia became home. It was there she finished her higher education while holding tightly to many lifelong dreams, three of which came true. One dream was to have her own café where she could interact with people, cook the perfect meal, and just be herself. The second was to become a photographer to capture moments in people’s lives, nature, or anything beautiful in her surroundings. The third was to become a storyteller to celebrate the many people who influenced her along the way.
Shahla currently resides in Flowermound, Texas, where she operates her own catering company called Saffron Girl (www.saffrongril.com). Local patrons and various groups enjoy participating in her cooking classes to expand their knowledge of food and bond over elegantly prepared dishes. Tears of Onions is her first novel.
