Kimon

9/6/2026

by Mohsen Bahonar and Zahra Rahimnezhad

Co-authors Mohsen Bahonar and Zahra Rahimnezhad introduce us to their debut novel a dark, fantasy story based on an ancient Japanese myth, “Kimon”:
KIMON
Death would not take him.
When Takeshi was still a child, blood and fire spread beneath the shadow of the forbidden Kimon Gate. Priests called him cursed. The empire marked him for death. By dawn, his name had vanished from history.
But something beyond the Kimon Gate answered him that night.
Years later, Japan is collapsing beneath war, famine, and an unnatural darkness. Villages vanish into the mist. Yokai roam the mountains. Ancient spirits walk beside the living. Across the land, frightened whispers speak of a silver-eyed samurai riding through the fog on a black horse that leaves no tracks behind.
Takeshi wants no throne. No glory. No legend.
He wants only to survive with what remains of his humanity.
But the Kimon Gate is beginning to open.
As armies march and forgotten gods awaken, Takeshi is drawn into a war between the living and the dead. Monsters hunt him. His own shadow follows him. And a destiny older than the empire itself tightens around his life.
Beside him walk:
a shinobi woman carrying hidden scars,
a half-burned warrior whose heartbeat sounds like war drums,
a silent swordswoman bound to a sacred duty,
and a wandering keeper of ancient rituals who knows what waits beyond the gate.
Because the darkness beyond Kimon is no longer sleeping.
And every soul it touches returns changed.
Blending Japanese mythology, samurai warfare, yokai horror, and dark epic fantasy, KIMON is a haunting journey through a world of ash, blood, prophecy, and sacred terror.
Perfect for readers who love atmospheric dark fantasy, mythic storytelling, and Japanese folklore woven into a brutal and emotional epic.

Kimon is a most unusual story in content and form. The authors' writing style is very spare; they use few adjectives and very short sentences and paragraphs. The story is clear and the action is quick most of the time. I like it because there is a lot of room for my imagination. Every book is a collaboration between author and reader.
The fullness and depth of the writing lead me to think the authors must have grown up steeped in Japanese culture. Thank you, Wikipedia, for explaining many of the Japanese terms. The story was all the richer for that information.

Co-authors Zahra and Mohsen, wife and husband.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Kimon-Mohsen-Bahonar-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-kimon
You can connect with the author:
https://x.com/arash_bahonar
https://www.facebook.com/arash.bahonar.2025
https://www.tiktok.com/@bahonarstudios

Zahra has written a number of books for children. Here is a link to one of those books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCWZL6RR

Copyright © 2026 Mark L. Schultz, except for the authors’ introduction.

75 Comments

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/7/2026 03:16:59 am

Hi Mark,
Thank you very much for your review of Kimon and for giving us this opportunity. Zahra and I truly appreciate it. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and share our experiences with you and your readers.

Mark

9/7/2026 08:38:27 am

I am grateful for the opportunity to help promote your book. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to learning more about your book and your experiences writing and publishing as a team.

First question.

Can you please tell us more about yourself and your wife? Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Mohsen bahonar link

9/7/2026 09:15:03 am

Thank you, Mark. I’d be happy to tell you a little more about us.
Art has been part of my life since childhood. I began learning traditional Iranian arts at an early age, and over the years I became involved in several different forms of art, including traditional calligraphy, charcoal drawing, wooden geometric gereh work, mirrorwork, wood marquetry, and traditional Iranian khatam work. These arts have very deep roots in Iranian history and culture, and I have always been fascinated by the craftsmanship and history behind them.
Eventually, this interest became a profession. For many years, I had my own artistic workshop and worked in traditional arts as well as the restoration and reconstruction of historic and traditional houses in Iran, particularly in my hometown of Shiraz.
My wife and co-author, Zahra Rahimnezhad, also has an artistic background. She is a painter and calligrapher and has experience in marquetry as well. She was also a high school physics teacher, so in our home, art and science have always lived rather comfortably beside each other.
But there is something else we have shared since childhood: a love of books and writing. We have both always been fascinated by stories, and we are especially drawn to historical fiction, fantasy, mythology, and the worlds created where history and legend meet.
Eventually, that shared interest led us to write a project together, and Kimon was born. For us, it is not simply a single book. It is a larger story that we intend to continue, and we are very interested in seeing how its world and characters develop as the series grows.

Mark

9/7/2026 10:41:09 am

The artistic crafts you both pursue sound lovely. Iranian culture has been around for a long time. Being able to work in so many different mediums and styles is admirable.

I have enjoyed martial arts movies for most of my life. The acrobatic moves and careful coordination of strikes and reactions amaze me at times. Two nights ago, I rewatched "Ip Man" starring Donnie Yen. Last night, I rewatched "The One" starring Jet Li. Jet is so fast!

Your fans will be happy to learn that Kimon is not a standalone book.

New question.

What makes Kimon different from other samurai and historical fantasy novels?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/7/2026 11:16:56 am

Thank you, Mark. I think that to understand what makes Kimon different, it helps to first understand the meaning of its name. In traditional Japanese beliefs, “Kimon” means “Demon Gate” and refers to the northeast direction, which was traditionally regarded as a gateway through which evil forces, misfortune, and supernatural beings could enter the human world. In our story, we take this ancient concept and turn it into an actual gateway between the human world and another realm. When it opens, yokai, spirits, the dead, and beings that do not belong in the human world begin to cross over.
The story takes place in the fourteenth century, during one of the most unusual and turbulent periods in Japanese history, when Japan had two rival emperors, the Northern Emperor and the Southern Emperor, who were at war with each other over power and legitimacy. It was a time filled with warfare, betrayal, and political intrigue. This historical turmoil forms an important part of the setting of Kimon.
But Kimon is not simply a story about samurai fighting supernatural creatures. As readers move deeper into the story, they gradually discover that many of the events, places, rituals, and beings they encounter have roots in Japanese history, mythology, folklore, and ancient beliefs.
I think this is one of the things that makes Kimon different: on the surface, you enter a story of samurai, war, and supernatural beings, but as you go deeper, you begin to discover layers of Japanese history, culture, mythology, and ancient beliefs woven into the story.

Mark

9/7/2026 11:59:58 am

Yes, Kimon has many layers. I learned a great deal while reading.

Spies were everywhere and betrayal was served daily with tea.

New question.

Without giving away any spoilers, what kind of world and journey should readers expect when they enter Kimon?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/7/2026 12:51:41 pm

At its heart, the journey in Kimon is, for us, a story about real human life, only set in a distant time and told within a world of legends, mythology, and supernatural forces. Readers enter a world where temptation, power, betrayal, good and evil, and the moral choices people make all play important roles.
One of the central ideas of the story is that we should not always look for the source of evil in monsters or supernatural beings. Sometimes evil begins in human thoughts and choices, and then spreads like a form of corruption into the world around us. A person can live in a corrupt environment surrounded by evil without becoming evil themselves. Likewise, someone can live in a good environment while allowing darkness to grow within. In the end, it is our choices that reveal who we truly are.
There is also a moral principle behind this story that comes from ancient Iranian culture and is expressed in three simple but profound ideas: Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. These principles are not only part of the way we see Kimon; they are also a philosophy that we try to follow in our own lives. From our perspective, when a person knowingly turns away from good thoughts, good words, and good deeds and allows evil to take control of their thoughts, words, and actions, there is no longer any need to search for the demon somewhere outside the human being. The human being can become the demon.
So when readers enter Kimon, they are not simply beginning a journey among samurai, spirits, and Japanese legends. Beneath all of that, they encounter the same questions we face in real life: What choices do we make when confronted with power, fear, temptation, and betrayal, and how far can we go without losing our humanity?

Mark

9/7/2026 01:15:35 pm

We need fiction in our lives. It provides a framework for truth to be encountered and brought into our hearts. Sometimes truth seems hard because we are soft and weak. In those conditions, truth is all too easily rejected out of hand and sometimes beligerantly.

New question.

I cannot recall reading a book written and formatted like Kimon before.

What caused you both to use such short sentences and paragraphs?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/7/2026 01:39:44 pm

We wanted Kimon to be like a house that readers could enter without us having to explain everything to them. We wanted them to see the house for themselves, feel its atmosphere, and complete some of its details through their own imagination. That is why we deliberately chose not to describe every scene, setting, and emotion down to the smallest detail.
We wanted readers to join us in creating the world of Kimon. We give them part of the picture and leave another part to their imagination. In this way, each reader can form a different image of certain characters, places, and moments in the story based on their own personality, experiences, and interests. We believe that leaving some space for the imagination can create greater curiosity and allow readers to become more than simply observers of the story. In a way, they participate in creating its world.
We also felt that very long descriptions of settings and details could sometimes draw the reader’s attention away from the main storyline, its excitement, and the events unfolding within it. That is why we chose short sentences and paragraphs, to maintain the pace of the story while leaving enough room for the reader’s imagination.
Of course, we do not know whether this choice was the right one for every reader, and that is something we find interesting as well. For this reason, within the next few months, we plan to publish a fuller and more expanded edition of Kimon, with much richer descriptions and considerably more detail. But with this edition, our intention was to let readers sometimes make their own guesses, create their own images, and, to some extent, build their own world within the world of Kimon.

Mark

9/8/2026 08:16:24 am

Your writing plan worked well for me. I enjoyed filling in the details of the story I saw in my mind. Your plan for a second edition is interesting.

New question.

Will the new edition be marketed as the same book or as a different book?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/8/2026 09:10:01 am

Yes, it will be published as a new and more complete edition of Kimon, not as a separate book. Kimon is actually the beginning of a much larger story, and we are planning it as a three-book series. Many significant events still lie ahead for the characters, and their lives, relationships, struggles, and destinies will undergo major changes as the story continues.
The new edition will keep the same core story and characters, but the details, descriptions, historical and mythological atmosphere, and the world of Kimon will be expanded, allowing readers to enter this world more deeply and experience it in a richer way.

Mark

9/8/2026 09:59:34 am

That sounds interesting. I like the sound of it.

New questions.

Will this expanded volume lead into an expanded trilogy?

Have you thought about making it/them into a deluxe, hardback version with a deeply embossed leather cover?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/8/2026 10:34:18 am

Yes, absolutely. The expanded edition of the first volume will actually be the beginning of a larger and more expansive trilogy. The following volumes will introduce new locations, unique rituals and traditions, new characters and mythological beings, and events on a much greater scale. We also have some major surprises planned, but for now, we would rather not reveal them so readers can discover them at the right moment in the story.
Our goal is for this series to be more than simply a samurai fantasy. We want to create a world where samurai, history, Japanese traditions and rituals, ancient beliefs, mythology, yokai, and supernatural elements all exist within a single interconnected story. We believe the combination and scope we have planned for the series will make it very different from many traditional samurai stories. We would like readers to become familiar with aspects of Japanese culture and beliefs while following the story and its characters, without ever feeling as though they are reading a history book or textbook.
And yes, we have thought about a deluxe edition as well. The idea of a collector’s edition with a hardcover and a deeply embossed leather cover is very appealing for Kimon and would fit beautifully with the historical and mythological atmosphere of the story. If the opportunity becomes available, we would love to publish a special deluxe edition after the series is completed, one whose physical appearance also gives readers the feeling that they are entering the world of Kimon.

Mark

9/8/2026 11:48:17 am

Your vision for the expanded series is exciting. The special hardcover will be nice, especially in a three-volume set. Here is a copy-and-paste link about how a famous author did what you are dreaming about. https://kriswrites.com/2020/07/22/business-musings-the-kickstarted-game-changer-part-two/

New questions.

What are your three favorite genres to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/8/2026 12:15:53 pm

If we had to choose among our favorites, the three genres we enjoy reading most are science fiction, historical fiction, and mythology. Of course, our interests are not limited to those three. We also enjoy Marvel comics and romance. For us, what matters most is how engaging a story is, rather than whether it belongs to a particular genre.
As for your second question, no, writing has not diminished our pleasure in reading. Reading has always been one of the great pleasures of our lives, and we do not think we could ever grow tired of books. If anything, writing has made us realize even more how much there still is to read, learn, and discover.
Alongside writing Kimon, we have also been working for about fifteen years on another book about ancient Iran. So far, that project has grown to more than 2,000 pages with over 100 characters, and it is still not finished. A significant part of those years has been devoted to studying and researching the history, culture, and world of ancient Iran. The more we study and research, the more we realize how much there is still left to learn.
Perhaps that is why reading is more than entertainment for us. Every book can be a doorway into a world we have not yet discovered, and we still never grow tired of opening those doors.

Mark

9/8/2026 01:11:58 pm

Science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction are my three favorite genres for personal reading. In my middle school years, I read a lot of mythology from different cultures. It was a small town with a small library and a limited selection of books.

You are lucky! More than one author has told me that they can't help analyzing passages that stand out for one reason or another. Thus, their reading pleasure is somewhat diminished.

Your ancient Iran project sounds like it is approaching the size of a set of encyclopedias. In my Bible this morning, I read about King Darius, in the sixth and ninth chapters of Daniel. Those politicians tried every trick in the book to get rid of Daniel.

New questions.

Why do you write?

Do you also journal?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/8/2026 01:55:12 pm

We have loved reading and creating things since childhood. We have always been fascinated by the idea that people can turn their thoughts and imagination into words and share a world that once existed only in their minds with others. We both wrote things here and there from an early age, and over the years that interest grew stronger and more serious until writing became an important part of our lives today.
But there is another reason we write. We believe that human life is limited, but thoughts and written words can remain long after we are gone. We would like to leave something behind as a legacy, not simply stories, but works that might make a reader think, raise a question in someone’s mind, or perhaps make even a small contribution to thoughtful and meaningful ways of looking at life. Maybe that is one of the most beautiful things about writing: a part of a person’s thoughts can live much longer than the person who first had them.
As for journaling, yes, we write down more or less anything that comes to mind in our notebooks, although they are not really traditional daily journals. One day, an idea about the ending of a book might come to us, and the next day we might suddenly think of something related to the beginning of the same story. Sometimes we simply write down an image, a character, an event, or a few sentences so we can return to them later.
Our writing process may also be a little different. Most of the story first takes shape in our minds and imaginations. We do not usually wake up in the morning, sit down at a desk with a blank sheet of paper in front of us, and spend hours trying to force an idea to appear. We usually begin writing when the idea has already come to us. Once an image, an event, or the next part of the story begins to form in our minds, that is when we start writing.
Interestingly, our imaginations seem to be at their most active when we travel. When we are on the road, our stories often make their greatest progress in our minds, and sometimes entire parts of a story seem to take shape almost by themselves. Perhaps it is the effect of nature, the changing scenery, the fresh air, or simply being away from the routines of everyday life. Nature gives us a tremendous amount of energy, and many of our best ideas have come to us not while sitting at a desk, but while traveling on the road.

Mark

9/9/2026 08:56:04 am

Our lives on this earth are limited, no question about that. You are so right, writing is a wonderful legacy to leave for those who come after us.

It sounds to me that you are keeping an idea or story log or journal. That is a smart move!

More than one author has mentioned that the best ideas come to them at inopportune moments. One woman told me she was visited by her muse around 2:30 in the early morning, almost daily. She kept a notepad and pencil beside her bed to jot the ideas down. She felt lucky when she could read them. Another woman complained that the ideas arrived when she was in the shower and she lost so many because she couldn't get out of the shower and write the ideas down fast enough. I recommended she get an outdoor notebook with waterproof paper and a Space pen because it would write in a watery environment.

I don't recall anyone telling me their best ideas came to them on a road trip. I love that thought. Traveling is always an adventure.

New questions

How has writing changed your life?

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/9/2026 09:29:20 am

Writing has made us pay closer attention to life and to the people around us. We might hear someone’s life story and simply move on, but when you write and use your imagination, you naturally begin to see that story from different perspectives. We find ourselves asking: What would have happened if that person had made a different decision? What if they had chosen another path at that particular moment? What would their life look like today? We have come to realize that the world is full of endless stories, and every one of them can teach us something. We believe this is one of the most important ways that writing and imagination have changed our lives.
As for your second question, yes, our past work has had a significant influence on our writing. Years of working with traditional Iranian arts and restoring and reconstructing historic buildings and traditional houses gave us a very close connection to the history and art of our country. That experience motivated us to research Iran’s past more deeply and inspired us to introduce some aspects of Iran’s ancient history and civilization to people around the world through storytelling.
The more we researched, the more amazed we became. For example, at Shahr-e Sukhteh, or the Burnt City, in Iran, the world’s oldest documented prosthetic eye was discovered. Discoveries like this are more than historical facts to us. They make us think more deeply about the lives, knowledge, art, and abilities of people who lived thousands of years ago. That curiosity has become one of our strongest motivations to continue researching and writing about ancient Iran.

Mark

9/9/2026 10:18:30 am

I love that perspective. Every person makes choices that shape their life. Sometimes the lives of others are impacted also. Some consequences appear immediately; others are not felt for years. Everyone has a story, several stories, actually, depending on who they think is listening. I believe that the most important question a writer can ask is, 'What if?' That is the beginning of every story.

History teaches us many lessons. The ancient prosthetic eye reminds us that the roots of many modern achievements go back further than many want to admit. Thank you for sharing that information.

New question.

What did you believe about writing in the past that you now know is false?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/9/2026 11:55:03 am

In the past, we believed that when someone wanted to write a book, they needed to know almost everything from the very beginning: where the story would start, what events would happen, what paths the characters would take, and exactly how the story would end. We thought writing meant first having a complete map in your mind and then putting it down on paper.
Today, however, we know that, at least for us, it does not work that way. Once we begin writing, the story sometimes finds paths that we had never even considered at the beginning. A minor character may become so interesting that they take on a much larger role. A small event may change the direction of several later chapters, and sometimes an idea that comes to us while traveling, or even during a completely ordinary moment, changes part of what we had originally planned.
It may sound strange, but sometimes even we do not know exactly what is going to happen to our characters until we reach that part of the story. That is one of the things that makes writing so exciting for us. We are not only creating the story; sometimes we are discovering it along the way, much like the reader will.
So one thing we no longer believe is that a writer must have the entire story completely worked out before beginning to write. We have learned that having a direction and a goal is important, but you also have to give your imagination the freedom to open new doors along the way.

Mark

9/9/2026 01:14:09 pm

There are many writers who write the same way. More than one has echoed your sentiment: "I write to see how the story turns out."

It's okay to start writing the story at whatever point is easiest. Writing the ending first can make the rest of the story easier. Easier to plant clues and red herrings.

Many writers start with an outline and find that the characters have other ideas sometimes. I think outlines are good. If I were a writer, I would probably use an outline. Since I get lost in research so easily, it's unlikely I will ever write a book.

New questions.

How long did it take you to write and publish this book?

Who made the fabulous videos on your X page?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/9/2026 01:51:44 pm

The first volume of Kimon took approximately three months to write. Of course, as we mentioned earlier, this is only the beginning of a much larger series. As the story expands, much more time will be devoted to research, historical details, Japanese beliefs and mythology, and the further development of the characters.
As for the videos, we’re very glad you enjoyed them. I created all of the videos you saw on our X page myself. Making them is another way for me to bring the atmosphere of Kimon and the world we imagine while writing it to life. In the future, I plan to create and share more videos about Kimon, with greater detail and more complete scenes.

Mark

9/9/2026 05:19:58 pm

The videos are quite good! If you keep making these, you might wind up with enough to assemble into a movie. Here is an idea: an ebook with a nice cover locked to your books that would offer the reader the opportunity to play the video in the scene it is from.

New questions.

Who was the first person to inspire you to write something to publish?

What inspired you to write this book?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/10/2026 03:50:10 am

If we had to name the first person who inspired us to write, it would undoubtedly be Ferdowsi, the great Persian poet and author of the Shahnameh. The Shahnameh is filled with epic stories, heroes, battles, mythology, and tales of ancient Iran. We became familiar with its stories as children, and reading them had a profound influence on our imaginations. Perhaps we could say that Ferdowsi, centuries after his lifetime, was one of the people who inspired in us the desire to someday write our own epic, historical, mythological, and imaginative stories and share them with others.
As for what inspired us to write Kimon, we had long been interested in Japanese history and culture. The more we studied Japan’s history, the samurai, ancient beliefs, legends, and mythology, the deeper that interest became. Gradually, the real history of Japan began to merge with the world of our imagination, and different ideas and characters started to take shape.
Eventually, Kimon awakened from this combination of history, mythology, and imagination. Perhaps the best way to describe it is that we did not initially go looking for Kimon. Kimon awakened in our imagination, and we decided to tell its story.

Mark

9/10/2026 08:41:44 am

Stories are so important. They connect us to our ancestors and history at many levels. I think we need stories; we need connections with our past. Stories give us hope and courage. The stories in books carry far beyond the storyteller and are of paramount importance for that reason.

"Kimon awakened in our imagination and we decided to tell its story." That is a great way of describing what happened to you and Zahra.

New question.

Does everyone in your family enjoy reading your writing?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/10/2026 09:02:40 am

Yes, everyone in our family reads our writing and enjoys following the stories. In fact, sometimes they become so invested in the characters that they constantly ask us questions like, “What is going to happen to this character?” or “What will eventually happen to that character?”
Sometimes, even before we have finished the next part, they ask, “Haven’t you finished the new section yet?” and eagerly wait to find out where the story is going. Of course, we usually try not to give anything away or give them a clear answer!
For us, this is one of the enjoyable parts of writing because our family members are often the first readers of our stories. Their reactions, questions, and curiosity show us just how deeply they have connected with the characters and events in the story.

Mark

9/10/2026 10:31:36 am

How wonderful! Your family members are quite invested in your writing! I am not surprised. Most writers I have talked with use their family members as alpha readers. After a rewrite or two, they seek out beta readers for impartial criticism of the story and writing. Some members of a family struggle with giving anything but praise.

New question.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/10/2026 10:53:13 am

No, neither of us has ever had the experience of seeing a UFO or UAP. But we imagine that seeing something in the sky that you cannot clearly or logically explain must be an incredibly exciting and unforgettable experience. We think anyone lucky enough to experience something like that during their lifetime would probably never forget it. We have not had that chance yet, but we hope that someday something that strange and fascinating might happen to us.
The mysteries of space have always fascinated us, however, and that interest plays an important role in another one of our stories, Dormant Diamond. The first volume of the Dormant Diamond novel has already been published, although we believe it still needs considerable editing and rewriting, and we intend to prepare a much more polished and complete edition. This story is also planned as a trilogy.
The story begins in Iran, at the ancient site of Shahr-e Sukhteh, the Burnt City, where a mysterious spacecraft is discovered. Inside it, six men and women with bodies made of black diamond are found. From there, the story expands, with events taking place in the United States and Italy. At the end of the first volume, the story reaches Japan, where another spacecraft emerges from beneath a field. But that is not the end. From that point, the story enters a new stage that will continue in the following volumes.
In addition to the novel, I have also published a comic-book version of Dormant Diamond in eight languages, with all of its images created using AI. The novel and the comic book were published separately.
Soon, I also plan to create a series of short, connected videos based on the world of Dormant Diamond and share them on X and other social media platforms. Perhaps until we are lucky enough to see a real UFO or UAP ourselves, we can explore some of the excitement and mysteries of space through our stories.

Mark

9/10/2026 11:25:40 am

Many of the authors I have talked with haven't seen a UFO either. My sisters claim we saw one as children, but I have no memory of that event. I am the oldest and find it curious that my memory is blank about a UFO. Many reports about UFOs expose nefarious intentions, so maybe not remembering is a good thing.

Dormant Diamond sounds like a fun story. Sci-fi is my favorite genre for casual reading.

New question.

Have you ever seen a cryptid, an animal unknown to modern zoologists, or found evidence of one?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/10/2026 11:55:40 am

No, unfortunately, neither of us has ever seen such a creature or found any evidence of one, although we would truly love to have the chance to encounter something unknown like that someday. The thought that there may still be creatures somewhere in the unexplored corners of our world that science has yet to discover is fascinating to us.
But sometimes we think that we do not always need to search for legendary monsters to find something frightening. Throughout history, and even in our world today, some people have committed acts that perhaps even the most terrifying mythical creatures in our stories would not be capable of. Mythical creatures may not exist in the forms described in legends, but unfortunately, there are sometimes people whose actions are so cruel and inhumane that it becomes difficult to use the word “human” to describe them.
Perhaps that is why one question has always been important to us in our stories: What is the real monster? A frightening creature with supernatural powers, or a human being who consciously chooses to abandon their humanity?
We hope that one day the world will reach a point where war and violence give way to peace, and people, despite all their differences, can live together peacefully.

Mark

9/10/2026 01:08:49 pm

I grew up on a small farm in the southwest corner of the state of Washington. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States. There are rumours and legends about large, man-like, hairy apes called Bigfoot or Sasquatch. The creatures seem to be in many different places around the world with many different names. Neither my high school friends nor I ever saw one. But many of my friends knew someone who claimed to have seen one or found evidence of a Bigfoot. The reports were always third-hand at best. The creatures might well exist.

You make an excellent point about monsters, real and otherwise. Monsters do exist and some of them look like us.

New question.

Have you ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/10/2026 01:29:00 pm

No, neither of us has ever seen a ghost or had an experience that we could confidently describe as supernatural. However, we know someone who had a very strange and fascinating experience.
When he was around eighty years old, he fell into a coma and remained in that state for about a week. After he regained consciousness and was eventually discharged from the hospital, something remarkable happened: he began composing poetry. What made it so extraordinary was that he had never written poetry before at any point in his life.
After that, all you had to do was give him a single word, and he could begin with that word and spontaneously recite poetry almost without stopping. Sometimes he could continue for several pages, even as many as ten pages.
We do not know whether there is a scientific or medical explanation for what happened, and we would not necessarily call it a supernatural experience. But such a sudden change in a person after emerging from a coma is certainly strange and thought-provoking. Sometimes the human brain itself can be every bit as mysterious and astonishing as any supernatural story.

Mark

9/10/2026 01:46:53 pm

That certainly has a spooky angle to it. Our brains are definitely amazing. We have a long way to go before we can fully understand the human brain and its inner workings.

New question.

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/10/2026 02:16:23 pm

Before publication, Kimon went through three main drafts. We rewrote and revised the story three times before reaching the version that was eventually published.
But our work on the world of Kimon did not end with the publication of the first volume. We are still working on and expanding the world introduced in Volume One, while at the same time continuing the story and building an even larger world for the volumes that follow. New characters, locations, legends, ancient beliefs, rituals, and new parts of this world are taking shape, and each volume will reveal more layers of the world of Kimon.
For us, Kimon is not simply the story of a single volume. It is a world that continues to grow, and as the series continues, readers will discover more and more of it.

Mark

9/11/2026 08:13:23 am

For only three drafts, your book is quite polished! Many authors do more than three drafts, and their books don't fare as well as Kimon did when I read it. Congratulations on that.

New questions.

Is there anything unconventional about your writing technique?

If so, how does your writing technique differ from other authors?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/11/2026 08:31:58 am

Yes, we think one of the more unconventional aspects of our writing technique is the way we challenge our ideas and characters. Usually, a concept or idea first takes shape in our minds, and then we discuss it together. Sometimes we spend hours talking about a single idea and asking different questions about it. Interestingly, by the end of the conversation, we may completely abandon the original idea that started the discussion because the questions we asked along the way have led us somewhere very different and much better.
But perhaps the most important question we ask each other while writing is: “What would happen if we removed this character from the story completely?” Or, when considering an event, we ask: “If this event never happened, what would the story lose?”
That is where an interesting game begins for us. No character in our stories is safe from the possibility of being removed! Even a character we love has to prove why they deserve to remain in the story.
Sometimes we actually hold an imaginary trial for our characters. One of us becomes the judge, while the other has to defend the character. The judge essentially says, “Why should I keep you in this story? Show me your value, or you’re out.”
The other person then has to step into the character’s mind and defend them in their own voice. They have to convince the judge of what that character contributes to the story, how they affect the other characters, what could not happen without them, and why they deserve to stay.
If we cannot find a convincing answer, the character may be removed, changed, or combined with another character. But sometimes, during this “trial,” we suddenly discover something about a character that we had never considered before. It is almost as though, when faced with the possibility of being removed, the character is forced to reveal their true value to us. Sometimes that process can transform a minor character into someone extremely important.
We do the same thing with events in the story. No scene, character, or event earns the right to remain simply because it was part of our original plan. It has to have a reason for being there.
Perhaps that is one of the most unusual parts of our writing process: our characters have to defend their right to remain in the story. No one is safe from the writers’ courtroom! And any character who can prove their value earns a real place in the world of the story.

Mark

9/11/2026 12:58:04 pm

A judicial event to prove their value! I think that is brilliant. There is a saying, 'be willing to kill your darlings, ' that I have seen floating around for years. It's not that different from your idea, but yours is more precise and gives the character or scene the opportunity to explain their worth.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a copy-and-paste link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/11/2026 01:27:10 pm

I designed the cover of Kimon myself, from beginning to end. From the very beginning, I wanted the cover to be more than simply a beautiful image. I wanted someone seeing it for the first time to feel something of the dark, historical, and mysterious atmosphere of the world of Kimon before reading even a single page.
The final design did not come together all at once. The cover went through approximately twelve different stages and versions. At each stage, I examined and changed different elements, including the composition, the placement of the characters and other key elements, the background atmosphere, the balance of light and darkness, the style and size of the title, the colors, and most importantly, the feeling the cover should create at first glance.
Some of the designs were visually beautiful, but I felt they did not belong to the world of Kimon. Others had the right atmosphere but could not communicate the identity of the book at a glance. So I set them aside and approached the design again from a different direction.
This process continued for about twelve stages until I finally arrived at the design and style that I felt truly matched the identity of Kimon. So the current cover is not simply an initial design with a few minor revisions. It is the result of a series of experiments, changes, removals, and creative decisions until I finally reached an image that made me feel: Yes, this cover belongs to Kimon.

Mark

9/11/2026 02:03:45 pm

The cover is outstanding! The detail is exquisite, and the darkness of the story is displayed wonderfully on the cover.
I suspected something like that because of the fantastic videos you have made based on scenes from Kimon. Twelve iterations or versions might seem like a lot to some people, but I have learned how precise you are, and twelve makes a lot of sense to me.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title?

What was the process?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/11/2026 02:20:47 pm

Choosing the title was not easy, and we spent a great deal of time thinking about it. We considered several different names, but eventually chose Kimon because we felt that this single word could represent much of the world and the central idea of the story.
Kimon literally means “Demon Gate.” In traditional Japanese beliefs, particularly Onmyodo, the northeast direction was known as Kimon and was considered an inauspicious direction associated with the entrance of evil forces and misfortune. This belief even influenced certain aspects of historical Japanese architecture.
The name was especially appropriate for our story because evil and dark forces play an important role in it, while the human world, the middle world, and the world of the dead become connected. The boundaries between these worlds are also an important part of the story.
Then we asked ourselves: What if Kimon were not merely an inauspicious direction, but an actual gate? A gateway between the human world and another realm, a gate that should never have been opened.
That question became one of the foundations of the story. In the end, we realized that we did not need to search any further. Kimon itself expressed the world we wanted to create.

Mark

9/11/2026 02:42:35 pm

I love how particular you and Zahra are with every aspect of this story. It is a perfect title!

Some authors start with a title and work from there. Others search for the title while they write the book.

New questions.

Were the character names difficult to develop?

How did you choose them?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/11/2026 03:25:20 pm

Choosing the character names was one of the parts of the process that required a great deal of research. We did not want to simply choose names that sounded Japanese. Since the story takes place in the fourteenth century, we wanted the names to feel as consistent as possible with the historical and cultural atmosphere of the story.
We first looked through Japanese history and researched names and historical figures that had endured from earlier periods. Then we studied the meanings, origins, and age of the names, and in some cases considered how closely a name or its meaning might connect with ancient Japanese beliefs and the Shinto atmosphere of the story.
We also tried, as much as possible, to avoid names that felt overly modern. It was important to us that when readers encountered a character’s name, it would not feel out of place in the historical world of Kimon.
So we did not choose names simply because they sounded beautiful. Meaning, age, history, and how well a name fit the character’s identity and the world of the story all played a role in our final choices.

Mark

9/11/2026 04:42:08 pm

Based on your previous answers, I knew a great deal of thought and research would go into character names. You did well in that regard.

There are websites devoted to popular names in many countries, and some are quite thorough, going back hundreds of years. They pull names from early church records, tax rolls, and recorded births and deaths.

New questions.

Do you sing or play a musical instrument?

Any musical family members?

Mohsen bahonar link

9/12/2026 03:15:09 am

No, neither Zahra nor I sing, but music is an important part of our lives. Zahra plays the setar, a traditional Persian stringed instrument. We also have other musical members in our family. My sister plays the guitar, my uncle plays the ney, a traditional Persian wind instrument, and my maternal uncle plays the flute.
We both love music and do not limit ourselves to any particular style or country. We listen to many different kinds of music from around the world because we believe you do not need to understand someone’s language to enjoy their music.
For us, music is one of the universal languages of humanity. People may speak different languages and come from different cultures, but a melody can communicate joy, sadness, love, fear, or hope from one person to another without needing any translation. Perhaps it is this ability of music to cross the boundaries of language and nationality that makes it so beautiful to us.

Mark

9/12/2026 08:28:36 am

I agree with you about music being a universal language on Earth. It can bypass regular modes of communication and transmit important messages without using words. It can be beautiful or ugly depending on the heart and desires of the composer or musician.

New question.

Which famous person’s death shocked you the most?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/12/2026 08:52:39 am

If we had to choose one person, we would probably say Stephen Hawking. His death was sad and deeply affecting for us because he was not only a great scientist, but also a remarkable mind who spent his life exploring some of humanity’s biggest questions about the universe, space, time, and black holes.
One of the things we found most inspiring about his life was that despite his severe physical limitations, his mind never stopped. He continued researching, thinking, and asking questions about the universe, some of which humanity still does not have answers to.
Perhaps because we are so interested in science, space, the unknown, and science fiction, his death had a special meaning for us. When someone with such a curious mind passes away, it feels as though the world has lost not only a human being, but also a great questioner.

Mark

9/12/2026 09:32:22 am

Stephen Hawking left quite a legacy. He was excellent at posing questions. Not many can articulate questions as well as he did. So many just want to know why the microwave popcorn takes so long.

Followup question.

Do you think his handicap helped or hindered his scientific inquiries?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/12/2026 09:49:41 am

We think Stephen Hawking’s disability undoubtedly created enormous physical challenges and obstacles for him. Things that are simple and ordinary for most of us could be extremely difficult for him, and in his later years, even communicating with others required the assistance of technology.
What amazes us, however, is that those physical limitations could not limit the freedom of his mind. His body faced tremendous restrictions, but his mind could travel to the farthest reaches of the universe, explore black holes and time, question the origins of the cosmos, and contemplate things none of us can see with our own eyes.
We cannot say that his disability helped his scientific work, because we cannot know what else he might have accomplished without those limitations. But we can say that he did not allow his disability to become a barrier to his curiosity and scientific thinking.
Perhaps that contrast is one of the most remarkable aspects of his life: a body with tremendous limitations, but a mind that accepted almost no boundaries.

Mark

9/12/2026 11:05:11 am

I was thinking along the same lines, but you answered more eloquently.

New question.

Had you written and published any short stories before writing your book?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/12/2026 11:44:27 am

No, we had not published any short stories before Kimon. However, before entering the world of Kimon, we had already been involved in other creative work, design, and writing.
Since design is also part of my work, I previously published a book featuring my own distinctive concepts and designs for skyscrapers. For me, design and writing have never been completely separate worlds. Both begin with an idea in the mind and then have to be transformed into something that other people can see or experience.
Before Kimon, we also published our science-fiction novel, Dormant Diamond, the story we mentioned earlier involving the mysterious spacecraft and the diamond men and women. So Kimon was not our first published novel.
In addition, as we mentioned earlier, Zahra and I have spent many years researching and writing our much larger project about ancient Iran. We have been working on that project for more than fifteen years. It has grown to more than two thousand pages with over one hundred characters, and we are still working on it.
So although we had not published short stories before Kimon, design, research, writing, storytelling, and creating different worlds had already been an important part of our lives for many years.

Mark

9/12/2026 12:37:34 pm

Given the quality of your writing, maybe writing short stories isn't as important for you and Zahra as it is for other writers.

Many authors beginning their writing careers start with short stories to learn the ropes. Reading short stories by famous authors can be enlightening and entertaining. Wordiness has to be eliminated to meet a set word count. There are classes and contests devoted to the compact format.

I have recommended to writers that short-story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning: there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet; others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links to on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New question.

Have you done any marketing for your book before deciding to work with me?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/12/2026 12:55:27 pm

No, we had not done any specific advertising or marketing for Kimon before working with you. I first discovered you and Word Refiner through X. Before deciding to work with you, I did some research into your work and background and found your book review and promotional work to be very reputable and professional.
That is why we decided to work with you for Kimon. In fact, so far, you are the only person we have worked with in this way to review and promote the book.

Mark

9/12/2026 01:45:39 pm

I am honored to be the first to help you get exposure for Kimon. Exposure is all I, or anyone else, can promise. Be wary of anyone promising sales. Check them out thoroughly.

Marketing is something that needs to be attended to at least weekly. I recommend to authors that they set aside an hour or two each week for marketing efforts. It is a complicated field, and there are lots of traps. For example, advertising on Amazon, Facebook or other major sales platforms is a lot like gambling. The author puts money on the table as an advertising budget. They specify how much they are willing to pay per click. The 'click' is exposure, not a sale. What works one week may not work the next. It is not a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. The results must be analyzed carefully. Frequent adjustments are necessary. What works for one author may not work for another author.

I have been reading emails from Dave Chesson of kindlepreneur.com for several years. He seems practical and shares a lot of information freely. He does have a paid program/service that looks pretty good to me as a non-writer. Something to investigate carefully.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence and books?

Did you use AI in any of your planning, writing or editing for your books? I am not including research in this question because most of the major search engines have embedded AI in the browser.

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 02:52:07 am

No, we do not have a negative view of artificial intelligence. On the contrary, we think AI is an extremely useful tool for research and finding information, and in many cases it can be faster and easier than traditional internet searches. For research, comparing information, and discovering new directions to explore, it can save a tremendous amount of time.
We believe AI is gradually becoming an inseparable part of human life, much like smartphones, which over the years have gone from being a luxury to becoming an ordinary part of everyday life. The world is constantly changing and advancing, and we cannot fight technology and progress. What matters more is learning how to use new technologies properly, creatively, and responsibly.
I personally use AI for creating images and making videos. One of the most exciting things about it for me is that it gives me the opportunity to turn things that previously existed only in my imagination into something I can actually see. Watching a scene, character, or imaginary world from my mind become an image or a video is something I find tremendously enjoyable.
When it comes to concerns about AI affecting jobs, we should also remember that this has happened many times throughout history. As technology advances, some professions disappear while entirely new ones take their place. There was a time when people built horse-drawn carriages or made horseshoes. Later, the automobile industry, car manufacturers, repair shops, tire dealers, and many other new professions replaced much of that work. This process of change continues today.
For that reason, we believe that rather than standing against technology, it is better to learn how to move forward with it and make the best possible use of the opportunities it gives us.

Mark

9/13/2026 08:39:38 am

I am going to take the first word of your answer, "No", as the answer to the second question. Please correct me if I am wrong.

AI can be useful for research in a big way. I have used it recently to diagnose a car problem that only appeared when I filled the gas tank. It provided several likely diagnoses and showed me the part that probably needed replacing. I linked to videos and provided a price range for repair from a dealer, an independent shop and mobile auto repair in my area. I bought the part and was able to install it by myself. My car ran better.

You are right about progress. Some jobs go away and others appear.

New question.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid?

How old were you?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 09:13:09 am

The first job I ever got paid for goes all the way back to when I was in the second grade. Even though I was still very young, I had already learned some traditional Iranian arts, and I loved making things by hand. After coming home from school and finishing my homework, I would spend part of my time creating these traditional handicrafts.
Almost every week, I would take the pieces I had made to a handicraft shop in the old bazaar and sell them. For a child, there was something incredibly exciting about making something with my own hands and then discovering that someone was actually willing to pay for it.
I saved the money I earned for about a month, and eventually I had enough to buy an Atari game console with a classic joystick. At that age, it felt like an enormous achievement, and I can still remember it very clearly.
Looking back at those days now, it is hard to believe how quickly the years have passed. It feels like only yesterday that I was a second-grader, finishing my homework and then making handicrafts so I could save enough money to buy an Atari!

Mark

9/13/2026 09:57:37 am

That is a wonderful story! Your talent was shining even then! An Atari is a great prize to work towards. You did well.

I started babysitting for a neighbor down the gravel road from us when I was 12. I started picking beans and strawberries at commercial farms when I was 13. I ate most of the strawberries I picked in the first hour each day.

New questions.

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 10:35:02 am

Yes, both of us have considerable experience speaking and teaching in front of groups. I previously worked as an art instructor and taught at art institutes and technical and vocational art schools, which are similar to high schools. Because of that, speaking in front of different groups is not unfamiliar to me. On some occasions, I have even spoken before audiences of around a thousand people.
Zahra also has a great deal of experience teaching and speaking in front of others from her years as a high school physics teacher. So teaching and communicating directly with an audience have been part of both of our professional lives.
In the future, we would definitely like to do more public speaking. As our future books are published and our writing activities expand, we hope to have more opportunities to speak about our books, stories, history, culture, and the subjects we research and write about. We think connecting directly with readers and hearing their questions and perspectives could become a very interesting part of our future journey as writers.

Mark

9/13/2026 11:50:29 am

You and Zahra are pros! So many authors avoid public speaking about their books partly because they don't realize people want to hear about the books from an expert. No one knows their books better than the author. The author is the expert. The nervous feeling can be transformed into passion about the books and everyone will enjoy the speech.

One of my favorite blogs is about pursuing the local author angle. How to be a marketing star right where you live. A copy-and-paste link or search the title in the search box below: https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/

I know you and Zahra live in Turkey, so I don't know if all of this will be useful for you. I am certain that some of it will be.

I would add a few tips: seek out literature teachers at the high school and college level to share in their class and there might be a club in the school. Local newspapers are a good resource for an interview as well as local cable access. There might also be a broadcast arts curriculum and/or a club at the high school and college level. Have some questions ready to hand the interviewer if they seem uncertain.

Senior centers are another good possibility and they usually welcome any sort of activity like that. Contact the events director.

If there are tourist destinations try to place your books with the local author angle. Museums, gift stores, motels, hotels, tourist attractions are all possibilities. Keep a box of books in your trunk. Get a counter-top holder for a few books, paste a picture of the cover on the holder behind the books and put re-ordering information on the back of the holder.

Some restaurants or bars have an open mic time.

Consider renting a table at a comic convention, county fair, farmer's market or a flea market. Have free swag to hand out such as a bookmark and sell mugs or posters. There are so many ways to be the 'local author' I doubt I have exhausted the list of possibilities. Always have copies of your books in your trunk or car boot.

New questions.

Have you entered any writing contests?

Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 12:08:05 pm

No, we have not entered any writing contests so far, and naturally, we have not received any awards from writing contests. Our main focus has been on writing, research, and developing our stories and books.
However, considering what you have shared with us about writing contests and the importance of choosing reputable ones, we may consider entering some in the future. It could be an interesting experience and an opportunity to receive feedback from others in the writing community.

Mark

9/13/2026 12:57:38 pm

It is nice to get feedback about your writing. Every author is looking for feedback and reviews.

New question.

Among present or past family members and friends, how many are or have been writers or authors?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 01:40:33 pm

No, there have not been any writers in either of our families before us, and currently, apart from the two of us, no one else in our families is actively pursuing writing. In a way, we are the first in our families to take writing seriously and publish our work.
Perhaps that makes our journey even more interesting to us, because writing was not a family tradition that was passed down to us. It was a path that grew from our shared love of books, stories, history, and imagination, and gradually became an important part of our lives.

Mark

9/13/2026 02:15:28 pm

You and Zahra have carved a new path for your families. You have opened a door that was previously shut. I bet it won't be very long before some child in your families wants to pick up a pen too.

There were lots of readers in my family tree, no writers that I am aware of.

New question.

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/13/2026 02:56:22 pm

Yes, there is actually one friend I can think of. After reading some of my writing, he became curious about writing and decided to pursue it more seriously himself. He is now writing while also studying and learning the principles of storytelling, including reading Leonard Bishop’s books on fiction writing.
At the same time, I am working alongside him on a project we are developing together. He is writing, and we regularly discuss and work on the story, its characters, structure, and the direction of the narrative. Our project is a novel involving slavery and Native Americans, so naturally, historical research will also be an important part of the process.
It is very interesting to me that this journey began with his curiosity after reading my work, then developed into studying and learning the craft of writing, and has now reached the point where we are working together on a novel. We hope that, in the end, we can create a story that is both beautiful and meaningful.

Mark

9/13/2026 06:25:42 pm

What a wonderful relationship that expanded into a shared interest! Sharing and mentoring became a regular part of the shared experience. The novel sounds interesting.

I promoted a book, "Indomitable," written by J. D. Edwards. He discovered in the course of genealogical research that an ancestor had owned slaves and another helped slaves escape their masters. His book is quite moving and very well written.

New question.

I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/14/2026 02:40:27 am

No, there was no particular reason why we did not put Kimon in Kindle Unlimited. The truth is that when we published the book, we did not know enough about the program or the potential benefits it could offer in helping the book reach more readers, so we did not enroll it.
Now that you have brought it to our attention, we will definitely look into it more closely and will probably enroll Kimon in Kindle Unlimited as well. Thank you very much for pointing this out and for continuing to share your experience and suggestions with us throughout this conversation. Your guidance is truly valuable to us.

Mark

9/14/2026 08:03:51 am

You are welcome. I have learned a great deal from authors over the years. Take a look at the previous interview with Paula Braley. Her answer about Kindle Unlimited was thorough and might be useful for you.

New questions.

What is your favorite food and beverage?

Has that changed much since you were a child?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/14/2026 08:27:47 am

Our favorite food is Iranian koobideh kebab served with rice and Shirazi salad, and our favorite drink to have with it is traditional Iranian doogh, a chilled yogurt-based drink. It is a combination we have loved for many years, and it is still one of our first choices.
At the same time, we are very curious when it comes to food. One of the things we really enjoy is trying foods and flavors from different countries around the world. Rather than simply hearing about a foreign dish or reading about what it tastes like, we would much rather try it ourselves and discover the flavor firsthand.
That is why, whenever we have the opportunity, we enjoy experiencing foods from different cultures. For us, food is more than simply something to eat; it is also part of a country’s culture. Sometimes, by tasting a traditional dish, you can learn something about the people, their customs, and their culture that cannot quite be captured through description alone.
But despite all the new flavors we would love to discover, koobideh kebab, rice, Shirazi salad, and a glass of traditional doogh still hold a special place for us.

Mark

9/14/2026 09:09:24 am

We have a shared interest in trying new foods.

I have a hard time answering that question. I like so many different foods it's difficult to pick a favorite.

New questions.

What is your least favorite food and beverage?

Has that changed much since you were a child?

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/14/2026 09:26:26 am

When it comes to food, there is no particular dish that we can say we truly dislike. As we mentioned, we enjoy trying different foods and flavors from around the world. However, we have always preferred fully cooked food and generally do not seek out raw dishes. Both of us simply have a stronger preference for cooked food, and that has remained largely unchanged since childhood.
Our experience with beverages is a little different. I used to really enjoy soft drinks and drank them quite often, while Zahra has disliked them since childhood. As I learned more about the health effects of drinking too many soft drinks, I gradually stopped drinking them as well, and now I no longer drink them.
Even when we go to a restaurant and order something like a sandwich, we usually drink only water instead of a soft drink. So in my case, my beverage preferences have definitely changed since childhood, while Zahra’s have remained pretty much the same.

Mark

9/14/2026 10:49:16 am

I have several foods that I don't like from my childhood and I still don't like them. I can't eat cottage cheese unless it's in a recipe, and I can't taste it. Thinking about it makes my stomach clench a little. I am not fond of rutabagas, liver and eggplant unless it's in a recipe. I can eat those three, but I don't seek them out.

I learned to like raw food, raw fish when I lived in San Francisco. My father and his wife took me to Japantown a number of times.

My experience with soft drinks mirrors yours. Water is my preferred beverage in all situations. I do enjoy a glass of wine or craft beer occasionally.

Last question.

Have you or your publisher purchased an ISBN for your book? It is a unique number and barcode assigned to a book. It is not the same as an Amazon stocking number.

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/14/2026 11:23:40 am

Yes, the print edition of Kimon has an ISBN, but we did not purchase it separately. When we published the book through Amazon KDP, we used the free ISBN that KDP provides for print editions.
At the time, since we were publishing directly through KDP, using their free ISBN was the simplest and most suitable option for us, so we did not purchase an ISBN independently.

Mark

9/14/2026 11:48:33 am

Free is a very good price! Each version and format of your book must have a separate ISBN.

Another promotion starts tomorrow, so this one must come to an end. I am very grateful that you hired me to help promote your book. We garnered a lot of exposure for Kimon and hopefully that translates into sales.

I have so enjoyed our conversation; you have provided a unique perspective on being authors.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Mohsen Bahonar link

9/14/2026 12:09:05 pm

Mark, thank you very much for everything you have done for Kimon and for the time and attention you devoted to this interview. Zahra and I truly enjoyed our conversation with you. Your questions gave us an opportunity not only to talk about our book, but also to share our experiences, thoughts, and journey as writers.
We are also grateful for the advice and suggestions you shared with us along the way. We learned several things from this experience that will be useful as we continue writing and publishing our future books.
We hope this will not be our last conversation. We will certainly stay in touch, and we look forward to working with you again as our future books are published.
Finally, we would also like to thank everyone who followed the interview, read our answers, shared the posts, or took an interest in Kimon. We hope you enjoy entering its world, and perhaps we will meet again when the next chapter of our journey begins.
Thank you again, Mark. Until next time!

Kimon

by Mohsen Bahonar and Zahra Rahimnezhad

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