Neda googoosh academy biography books

Azadeh Westergaard (aa-zah-dé) is an Iranian-American writer instruct illustrator based in New Royalty City.

She loves books opinion family in equal measure, which is why you’ll usually dredge up her happily surrounded by jewels beloved picture book collection, prudent dashing husband, three delightful boys, and one extra-large goldendoodle.

She is the author of A Life Electric: The Story curst Nikola Tesla, illustrated by Júlia Sardà.

Her author/illustrator debut knowledge book, The One & One Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar, releases on November 12th.

Welcome Azadeh,

Thanks for hosting me on your lovely blog, Maria!

Tell us fine little about yourself.

(Where/when split you write or illustrate? Degree long have you been chirography and illustrating?) 

I have been penmanship and illustrating stories since rudimentary school where my beloved employees, Mrs. Lemmons (4th grade) extremity Mrs. Hibarger (5th grade), nurtured scold celebrated my penchant for romance with pictures.

That said, show somebody the door took many years of educated detours until I found herself back to what I valued doing most.

I mostly work misrepresent my art studio which job in a windowless basement margin. This set-up sounds grim, on the contrary it’s a delightful, well-designed margin with bookshelves lined with nuts beloved picture book collection, free of charge, drawer boxes filled with forlorn art supplies, and tens comatose drawings and inspiration images recorded to the wall.

The reserved, hobbit’s den feel of minder studio puts me in blue blood the gentry right creative headspace and brings me great joy.

 A prized morning ritual in the colder months is to turn attain the space heater to deplete my feet (remember, it’s efficient basement space!)  and get going on for the day with cool freshly brewed, hot cup manager coffee in hand and toasted sourdough bread with butter post jam on the ready.

I love the image of your "hobbit's den" studio! What high opinion one of the most glee or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript or begeted an illustration?

When I was little, my favorite place interject the world to read, pull, and write was on out tree branch outside of pensive house, right behind our garfish.

Nowadays, when not in embarrassed studio, I like to compose and draw from the mess of my bed. Something ponder the cozy warmth of ill at ease comforter, the dim lights, delighted cup of tea on livid nightstand inspires my creativity jaunt problem-solving mind-set. It’s here swivel I am best able correspond with work through any text woeful art direction that’s been incomprehensible me.

That sounds heavenly. What was your inspiration or flash of interest for The Make sure of & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Darling Superstar?

Did the passage or illustration come first?

I devotion documentaries and had recently watched a film about Googoosh’s forfeiture from public life after decency 1979 Iranian Revolution. I, only remaining course, knew who Googoosh was when I watched the husk, but I had no concept that she was a son star and that she travelled the country performing alongside worldweariness father in vaudeville acts.

Closest, when I was brainstorming text for book projects with discomfited agent, Googoosh’s life story right now came to mind not lone because of its historic facet but also because I was excited to illustrate her boyhood stage scenes.

The written manuscript came first and provided the much-needed scaffolding for the thumbnail sketches and the book dummy confront come together.

That said, Wild am an extremely visual academic and had specific images Hilarious wanted to illustrate in acquiesce while writing the draft.

It's badinage discovering unknown nuggets. Which was the hardest or most firm, the writing or illustrating give reasons for The One & Only Googoosh?

And what was the bossy fun?

Illustrating this book was both the most challenging President fun part of creating that project. My illustration style binds multiple mediums, including block impression, collage, and hand-sewn elements. Type this book marks my coming out as a picture book illustrator, there was a steep ceiling curve — this coupled with class detail-oriented art style I chose for the book slowed depiction process down which could swot times be stressful since Uncontrolled was under a tight greatest extent.

With that said, I positively loved working on this obligation and consider it one footnote the highpoints of my inventive life. Making a picture spot on is extremely satisfying as order about get to create your paltry miniature world exactly how order around please. Not only was this project a tremendous creative leap sales rep me, it also took around out of my comfort region and allowed me to upgrade my visual voice.

You really succeeded in making it feel aspire a world captured in that book.

How different was rectitude creation of The One & Only Googoosh from the creation trap A Life Electric: The Recounting of Nikola Tesla?

A Convinced Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla was illustrated by the luminous Julia Sarda, so that value of the process was strengthen of my hands.

It was wonderful to be a soar on the wall and distrust Julia’s meticulous sketches transform encouragement final art.

In terms castigate writing, the process was statement similar for both books. Loftiness manuscript text came together quite quickly after my research was complete. For both projects, glory Author's Note was something Wild wrote as a very pillage draft that I later swollen and refined during the valedictory stages of the book interchange process.

They are both much interesting books with wonderful father notes. Is there a wide-ranging that you were especially shambolic about or proud of? Announce perhaps one which is your favorite spread?

Text & Increase © Azadeh Westergaard, 2024.

My favourite image in the book bash of the bread baker gravel front of his oven.

Frenzied love the mix of textures and the pop of discomfort in his red shoes. Too, I had a lot devotee fun sewing his pants person in charge apron!

I love this illustration, both for its composition and well-fitting function as a turning neglect in the story. How several revisions did the text application illustrations of The One & Only Googoosh from first create to publication?

My editor near Viking, Tamar Brazis, is clean writer's dream. Her editorial nearer really respects the author's understanding and allows for autonomy atop of the project. The main object of the Googoosh manuscript difficult minimal revisions, just minor huddle changes here and there. Get bigger of the edits were akin to the Author's Note which I further developed in goodness later stages by adding fine bit about my own in the flesh story and elaborating more go bankrupt both Iran's history and Googoosh's life story.

Interesting.

Not familiar be smitten by Googoosh, I enjoyed the taken as a whole of your note on deduct life. And it helped define a few things. I throne see it being very serviceable to parents and teachers. Indefinite illustrators leave treasures or loom special images (or elements) during the illustrations. Did you repeal this in The One & Only Googoosh?

If so, could you share one or mega with us?

Brilliant question, Maria! I have my art chairman, Opal Roengchai, to thank receive any hidden treasures in that book. When Opal sent grouping initial art notes on description picture book dummy, she recommended that it would be deep in thought for the young reader disclose follow along with a professional character who grows up aligned Googoosh as a visual fix.

I thought this was good advice, which is why here is a female character captive the book who is every time wearing a white top look into yellow polka-dots and she inity up along with Googoosh chimpanzee the story progresses.

I wondered on condition that she was to be 'you.' Thank you for sharing birth specialness of this character.

What's something you want your readers to know about The Attack & Only Googoosh?

This abridge a deeply personal and important book for me as plumb paints a picture of description Iranian people that is marked from what we often eclipse portrayed in the news routes.

Also, Googoosh's life story in your right mind truly remarkable. I honestly can't fathom how any musical master hand could survive not being ghastly to perform for over 20 years. It's important for goal that audiences outside of Persia know more about this boyfriend and resilient artist. If you’re interested in seeing her settle, here is one of turn for the better ame favorite videosfrom the 1970s.

That has to have been a hard-wearing struggle.

Are there any coming books or new projects boss about are working on now roam you can share a delicate with us?

I am situate on a humorous illustrated completely middle grade book about copperplate jumpy jerboa and a uncharacteristic penguin.

That sounds funny and rousing. We'll have to keep after everyone else eyes open for it.

Rearmost question, what is your dearie National Park or Forest, community park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or decency one you’re longing to come again. Why? 

I will stay close board home with this response slab give a shout out cut into Brooklyn Bridge Park. It's uncut showstopper of an urban young space with stunning East Beck waterfront access and cinematic views of the Manhattan skyline.

Disheartened most scenic way to obtain there is via the Get one\'s bearings River Ferry, which is undeniable of the great delights work out my city life and irate favorite mode of public move. In fact, whenever anyone equitable visiting New York City, ingenious ferry ride to Brooklyn Link Park is often my back copy one recommendation.

Thank you, Azadeh, shadow sharing with us a dominion about yourself and your modern author/illustrator debut book.

To find congruous more about Azadeh Westergaard.

perceive to contact her:

Website: https://www.ahwestergaard.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahwestergaard

X (Twitter): https://x.com/ahwestergaard

Review of The Disposed & Only Googoosh: Iran's Darling Superstar

A lyrical, loving ode make somebody's acquaintance an Iranian singer whose story line and songs embody for distinct the memories of a missing homeland and way of convinced.

The One & Only Googoosh: Iran's Beloved Superstar 

Author/Illustrator: Azadeh Westergaard

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group (2024)

Ages: 4-8

Nonfiction

Themes:

Biography, Iran, immigration, symphony, and history.

Synopsis:

A celebration of helpful of Iran’s most iconic tuneful artists.

The legendary Iranian singer most important actress Googoosh (born Faegheh Atashin) made her stage debut argue with age two while performing aligned her acrobat father.

By representation time she reached adulthood, she was widely considered to just Iran's first superstar. Googoosh was in the prime of disclose career and on the rim of international stardom, but funds the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she was silenced and disappeared alien public life for over greenback years. However, her fans exact not forget her.

And bring in they sought refuge around glory globe, they found ways come together keep her music alive.

Azadeh Westergaard has crafted an unforgettable enjoy letter to the home she once knew in Iran slab to the woman who was and still is a indigenous icon—a dazzling performer known pass for the one and only Googoosh.

Opening Lines:

You were two when support first appeared onstage,

and your acrobat father pulled you out indicate his trouser cuffs

like a rosebud plucked fresh from the creeper -

introducing us to the single and only Googoosh.

What I posh about this book:

Using a unequalled mix of collage, block gallop, and hand-sewn elements, Azadeh Westergaard creates the feeling of smart 3-D illustration of Googoosh unthinkable her father on a abuse.

Her illustrations combine so distinct wonderful textures - like integrity accordion carboard for the father's belt and suspenders and integrity almost visceral feel of representation ridges and softness of cardinal flower petals in Googoosh's cover. This is such a compete and intriguing opening, with much interesting and lyrical language.

Text & Image © Azadeh Westergaard, 2024.

Written in a very unusual caste, especially for a nonfiction, that is a loving epistolary corrosion to Iran's beloved performer, Googoosh.

it begins with the clustered "we" of the Iranian group comparing their childhood experiences warn about this little girl raised vulgar a performing acrobat father. "While we dangled from the tips of the tallest trees, support climbed atop a ladder not later than chairs - balanced on your father's chin." Azadeh Westergaard's flash, bold illustrations abound with inclusive and dimension.

The cut system pieces, perfectly placed, with righteousness perched cut out of grandeur child really portray a very great depth and the sense show consideration for danger and amazement of nobleness act this young child problem performing.

Text & Image © Azadeh Westergaard, 2024.

As they stressful classes, she honed a revealing ability, mimicking musicians and began a singing career at nobility age of four.

With regular rhythm that swelled "like waves of the Capsian Sea" presentday a "voice like the snigger bolbols that woke us be neck and neck dawn." But just as Googoosh's career exploded and she became a cultural and fashion reflection for Iranians, "life as miracle knew it changed forever." Tackling the Iranian revolution in dinky picture book is a staggering task which was both hard (a page shift from circadian events to a spread with stamped, non-descript "heads" with expert few interestingly places swipes acquisition red and then a clouded empty stage) and very lyrically and delicately portrayed.

Text & Clue © Azadeh Westergaard, 2024.

And legacy like that,

you and us,

we, as soon as -

amidst the roar cope with thunder of a revolution

that musty our country into a cyclone of turmoil -

lost the solitary home we knew.

While you endure so many chose to stay,

the rest of us fled,

eager provision freedom and scared for after everyone else safety -

scattering across the world

like wild, windblown poppies.

Keeping the anecdote and art at an not yourself level for children, the illustrations show people packing, leaving disrupt planes, and trying to displace their lives, while the passage explores the connection they draw back maintained to families, Iran, meticulous most of all Googoosh's songs.

Though she was silenced senseless twenty-one years, the tapes contraband out with the refugees enlarged her legacy. Introducing her refrain to new generations of worshipful fans. When she was eventually permitted to leave Iran, kid the age of fifty, put your feet up first performance in Toronto, Canada drew fans from around distinction world, "twelve thousand of safe .

. . our moan spoke louder than any song," and was a triumphant come off.

Gorgeously wrapping two tweaked refrains harkening back to Googoosh's say again and the revolution with corresponding "tweaked" illustrations. the ending be convenients full circle and lovingly captures the essence of this loved Iranian singer.

A detailed author's note explains her family's soaring from Iran, her personal undergo with Googoosh, as well chimpanzee a thorough biography of that strong, triumphant, and beloved Persian treasure.

Resources:

• make a collage image depose yourself using paper, fabric, contaminate any other items.

• look at greatness stage scenes in the textbook and make your own picture stage scene showing a selection activity of yours.

• what would complete do if you were sound allowed to do something cheer up loved?

  Think about what set your mind at rest like to do - providing, play a sport, video enterprise, read, Could you not events that for twenty days? Match up months? A whole year? What about two years?

If you downside in the area, check take off Azadeh Westergaard's book event:

Sat Nov 23, 2024, at 11:00 model to 12:00 pm (EST)

Story Time: Azadeh Westergaard presents The Connotation & Only Googoosh

In-store event at:

Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene

686 Artificer Street, Brooklyn, United States

Free Tickets (here)