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A biography is presented for author Jim Shepard. He was born in 1956 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and attended Catholic grade school. He earned a master of fine arts (MFA) degree in creative writing, which he selected over a concentration on film studies at Brown University. In 1983 he began a teaching job at Williams College in Massachusetts and published his first novel, "Flights." Several of his other works are also noted including "Paper Doll" and "Lights Out in the Reptile House."

This text is a collection of retellings of various love stories from different cultures and time periods. The stories include "Shirin and Khusraw" from Persian literature, "Rustam and Tahmina" from the Epic of Kings, "Vis and Ramin" from ancient Persia, "Miqdad and Mayasa" from Swahili-Arabic texts, and "Antar and Abla" from the Arabian epic Sirat Antar. Each story explores themes of love, heroism, and the triumph of love over adversity. The retellings aim to preserve the cultural and literary elements of the original stories while making them accessible to a wider audience. [Extracted from the article]

This text recounts the tragic love story of Layla and Majnun, two young lovers who are forbidden to be together by their families. Despite their deep love, Layla's father arranges for her to marry another man, leaving Majnun heartbroken. He becomes known as a madman and retreats to the desert, while Layla remains faithful to him. They have a brief reunion, but are ultimately unable to be together. Layla dies, and Majnun dies on her grave, and they are buried together. [Extracted from the article]

This document introduces the book "Jewel & the Ember," which explores love stories from the ancient Middle East. The author shares their fascination with these stories, which began when they watched a movie in Bolivia. They discuss the portrayal of love and romance in these stories, as well as cultural and religious perspectives on marriage and relationships. The book aims to provide an alternative to Western interpretations of Middle Eastern literature, featuring complex female characters and vulnerable male characters. The author hopes that the stories will encourage readers to embrace and understand those who are different and remind us of the power and beauty of love. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents a biography of fantasy author Sarah J. Maas. It notes that as a high school student, she read the "Harry Potter" book series and was inspired to begin writing fan fiction and posting it online. It discusses her fantasy books for young adults, including "Throne of Glass" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses."

A biography of Carleigh Baker, the Western Canadian short-story author, poet, and essayist, is presented, and it mentions her fictional book "Bad Endings." Baker's parents are addressed, along with her Cree-Métis and Icelandic heritage and her education at the University of Victoria. Baker's effort to complete a master of fine arts degree at the University of British Columbia is assessed, along with her role as a member of the Indigenous Collective group.

A biography of Yangsze Choo, the Malaysia-born author, is presented, and it mentions her best-selling book entitled "The Ghost Bride." Choo's parents and her Chinese heritage are addressed, along with her education at Harvard University and her desire to write novels that depict Southeast Asian traditions. Chinese ghost stories are examined, along with mythology and the supernatural in literature.

A biography of Morley Torgov, the Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario-born author, is presented, and it mentions several of Torgov's books which include "The Abramsky Variations" and "The War to End All Wars." Torgov's law degree from the Osgoode Hall law school is addressed, along with his upbringing in a Jewish family and his memoir entitled "A Good Place to Come From." Torgov's law practice is assessed, as well as the depiction of Jewish Canadians in literature.

A biography of Alexander Chee, the Rhode Island-born author of books such as "Edinburgh" and "The Queen of the Night," is presented. Chee's childhood experiences in Seoul, South Korea, Hawaii, and Maine are examined, along with his education at Wesleyan University and the University of Iowa. Chee's role as an associate professor at Dartmouth College is assessed, along with his authorship of essays and works of fiction and nonfiction.