Arlington, VA Author Publishes New Book

The Legend of Kawa, a new book by Shirzad Alkadhi, has been released by RoseDog Books.

The Legend of Kawa is a Persian legend with Kurdish roots. The story centers on the meaning and importance of freedom, loyalty and friendship in thwarting injustice and the tyranny of evil rulers. It details the origins of Newroz, a holiday prevalent in central Asia that marks the beginning of the New Year. According to Kurdish-Persian legend, Newroz celebrates the defeat of Ajdehak, the tyrant ruler of Persia, whose brutality against his subjects was rivaled only by the frightfulness of the snakes that grew out of his shoulders, and whose demonic hunger could only be curbed by human sacrifices.

"Ajdehak's army is vast, and we need all the help we can muster. I want you to ask our friends in Zoristan for their support. I would rather handle this by myself, but if the king orders an attack on the city, the people need to be prepared to stop him," Kawa tells his daughter, Nure.

Ajdehak was eventually overthrown by Kawa, a mythical figure who planned and led the revolt against him, freeing all those under Ajdehak's rule.

The Legend of Kawa was edited by Nora Cohen, former Senior Editor and Managing Editor at G.P. Putnam's Sons.

About the Author

Shirzad Alkadhi lives in the Washington, D.C., area and works as a writer/news editor for the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN) in Springfield, Virginia (USA). He also served as a broadcaster and news editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague (Czech Republic). Dr. Alkadhi began his professional career in agriculture with a Ph.D. The years he lived in Dohuk, Iraq, as a child, Alkadhi enjoyed listening to different stories and folktales. Alkadhi's book, The Legend of Kawa, is inspired by his Kurdish-American heritage and the desire to pass the wealth of this heritage to younger generations.

The Legend of Kawa is a 30-page paperback with a retail price of $16.00. The ISBN is 978-1-4349-8658-0. It was published by RoseDog Books of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information or to request a review copy, please visit our virtual pressroom at www.rosedog.com/pressroom or our online bookstore at www.rosedogbookstore.com.