On April 21, “Becoming Jinn,” a novel written by a Lehigh alumna, Lori Goldstein, will be welcomed to the literary world.
Goldstein, a Lehigh graduate of the Class of 1995 and a journalism major, wrote the first book of her two-book series.
According to Goldstein, “Becoming Jinn” is a modern take on genies. However, these genies are based off of a creature called a Jinn. She said a Jinn is a spiritual creature in Middle Eastern and North African culture, and Goldstein bases these spirits in her home state of Massachusetts. The book’s main character is Azra, who acquires a special bangle that begins her journey of wish fulfilling. The book follows Azra’s journey of becoming Jinn.
Goldstein discussed her role on The Brown and White, and the experience she gained from being the editor-in-chief was beneficial in her future career.
Goldstein also said the knowledge she attained through the journalism department at Lehigh has stuck with her. She applies what she learned at Lehigh to her writing everyday.
Other than her own writing, Goldstein also mentors young writers on Wattpad.com. Wattpad is an online site where writers are able to post their short stories, essays or any works of writing. The site is a positive environment for writers to receive constructive criticism from professional authors. She said the site doesn’t foster negative feedback, which can happen sometimes online. She said she wishes she had something like that when she was younger, and she stressed that it is important to her and other authors she works with on Wattpad to act as mentors for these young writers.
Goldstein, along with the other authors who participate on Wattpad in mentoring young writers, created a competition. In the competition, young writers are able to pitch their short stories to Goldstein and the other authors, and they each pick one to work with.
“We mentor them through the process of writing and editing that story, the same way we sold our book to the publisher and worked with an editor,” she said. “So it gave them the experience of working with a published author and getting that kind of feedback.”
Becoming Jinn will be available for purchase April 21.
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