*Brave Women of Tehran* by Marjan Kamali... (Shir Zan. Women descended from lions. That is who we are. Can’t you see that, Ellie? Someday, you and I will do great things. We will live a life of our own, and we will help others. We may be mere cubs now, but we will grow into lionesses—two strong women who make things happen.) In my small library in Tehran, I traveled back through Iran’s history to explore the story of a bookish young woman who falls in love during the military coup in Iran in 1953. In this new novel, I delve into the story of a friendship between two girls belonging to families and social classes that are vastly different. I am neither a researcher nor a historian; I am a novelist, and I know the power of a story. It was storytelling that helped Scheherazade survive, and through stories, we find solace, sanctuary, hope, and understanding. Dear reader, I hope to share with you, through my writing, the joys, losses, hopes, dreams, and struggles experienced by two young women from Iran. I have invented this tale, yet to me, it feels true. I hope you enjoy their journey, and I hope you recognize some of your own hopes reflected in theirs. Furthermore, through their story, I hope you come to feel that all our hearts are, in essence, one.