What began as a personal keepsake for her children and grandchildren has become a published memoir for author Patricia Mousa Jordan. In her debut memoir My Palestinian American Life, Jordan reflects on growing up in a close-knit immigrant family, preserving cherished memories, and navigating life between two cultures.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, the book and what inspired you to write it now?
A: I was born and raised in the Detroit vicinity of Michigan. My parents were newly immigrated from Ramallah, Palestine. I grew up with a constant influx of relatives that my family brought over from Palestine. I grew up working in the family grocery stores and, upon moving to California at 17, built a career in the grocery business. Writing a book for my family was always on my mind and I’ve been working on My Palestinian American Life for about six years, mostly on weekends as I worked full-time.
Q: Was becoming an author always something you wanted to do, or did this memoir come about unexpectedly?
A: It started as a legacy book for my family; my children and grandchildren something that I could pass on but it turned into much more than that. I would read chapters to my mom, who still lived in Michigan, and share some of the stories with family and friends, and everyone inspired me to get the book published.
Q: What was the biggest challenge of writing about your own life and your family?
A: The biggest challenge is knowing that your family may remember things differently than you, but it became very clear to me that this was my story and my memories, and that was OK. In the end, all of my sisters, I have four, have been delighted with the book and are so happy that I was able to trigger so many new memories for them.
Q: Did you discover anything about yourself while writing this book that surprised you?
A: I was surprised to learn through writing my memoir that many of my stories, some of the more challenging moments in my life, were very tender still. Writing a memoir is one of the most cathartic experiences, and I am so grateful to share my stories with the world. As I say in my book, not sharing them is their burial, and I have so much gratitude for the abundance and joy in my life and would like to leave that behind to breathe on long after I’m gone
Q: The memoir touches on identity, family and belonging. What do you hope readers take away from your story?
A: My stories are stories of childhood, of resilience and strength, of tradition and family, and of living in a country while yet part of you has been left behind in the country of your parents and ancestors. My readers and reviews share how much these first-generation stories have resonated with them. It’s really a story for anyone who grows up into cultures and this is such a part of the American identity.
Q: Is there another book in the works? If yes, tell us a little about it and when we can expect it.
A: I am working on my second book, my Palestinian American Kitchen, which will be published in 2027. This is a book that everyone has been asking me to write since food has been central to my life. It is a book of Palestinian dishes that not only includes recipes but stories and tips on all the amazing ingredients in a Palestinian kitchen. It will not be like other recipe books and I am so very excited about its evolution. It’s the natural extension to my memoir.