In this compelling duology, Dawn Bates shares with the world a rare and unique insight to what it means to be a 'Posh Paki' and a 'traitor' to those who knew her, her ethnicity, nation and her faith, simply because she embraced the faith of Islam at the age of 15 – without having ever met a Muslim!Dawn shares how she discovered Islam and knew she wanted to become a Muslim, and the journey that followed.Becoming 'revert' rather than a convert to one of the most hated, if not t...

Becoming who we truly are is a defining moment in every woman’s journey; yet many women are still hiding amongst the self-imposed shadows of life.Becoming Annie is a story about a woman who not only redefines what it means to be a woman in the corporate world, but also what it is to be a woman in each and every area of life. And more importantly, how we relate to each other. Annie Gibbins has been championing others her entire adult life, giving back and consistent...

Friday Bridge is a glimpse behind the veil into Islam untainted by cultural influence from the lived experience of a woman who navigated life between East and West, White and Brown, hedonism and piety.Navigating the cultural landscape of Islam in Britain, the racial divides, Islamophobia, as well as the prejudices within the various Islamic communities themselves and their varying belief systems, Bates takes us on an insightful journey of a faith unfolding...

Abused and bullied by the Imam during Qur'aan class, the children left one by one. They didn't tell their parents because they had been sworn to secrecy, and to question the Imam or the religion was just not something you did.Questioning any kind of religion or those who held a role of leadership was not respectful and you could go to hell fire because of it.Questioning the holy books means you are an unbeliever, an infidel, and yet questions gives us clarity, a deeper unde...

The world watched as Egyptians rose up together for the first time in history to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak. It could've been a gripping tale straight out of a movie, with communication blackouts, violent and bloody protests, police and army brutality, curfews, and fighter jet flybys. But for those living in Egypt this was real life. Living through it all was British author Dawn Bates and her family.Walaahi is her epic account of living and working in Egypt ...

Becoming who we truly are is a defining moment in every woman's journey; yet many women are still hiding amongst the self-imposed shadows of life.Becoming Annie is a story about a woman who not only redefines what it means to be a woman in the corporate world, but also what it is to be a woman in each and every area of life. And more importantly, how we relate to each other.Annie Gibbins has been championing others her entire adult life, giving bac...

Book 1: Friday Bridge - Becoming a Muslim, Becoming Everyone's BusinessThink you know someone? Then think again.This book blows stereotypes out of the window and makes you stop and analyse what you think you know about the world we live in. Racism, raving and religion, it's all in here.A book about self discovery, inner strength and never giving up. An inspirational journey through life which will make you laugh and cry. Sometimes shocking, but always ...

This is a story of love, compassion and forgiveness; of taking control of your own life and fighting for what you believe in. A story of strength, courage and resilience.Becoming a single parent is tough enough as it is, but when the police arrest you and throw you in a cell for 2.5 days, without questioning, without telling you why; and then social services tell you to sign your children over to them, or they'll take them off you anyway, life takes on a whole new l...

Her breathing became shallow and laboured and the paramedics were talking about what was happening… "milligrams of this, heart rate dropping, breathing erratic… need to get there quick" all of it sounding as though she was back underwater where she belonged.She imagined herself floating, sun on her face, bobbing along on the crest of the waves miles out to sea.He said he loved her. Everything seemed perfect. She wanted to believe it. Apparently, she'd find it hard to have s...

He was outgoing, the shining star in the social firmament. She was reserved and timid as a mouse. He seemed to have it all; the notoriety, the love of the community, the successful business and the money that came with it. She rarely left the house and had the love of a man who protected her fiercely.And then there was Pandora.A defiant loner, quiet like her mother, she was obsessed with cold water, with holding her breath until she turned blue, scaring her mother and father...

There are wifely duties, and there is obeying your husband. In public he was the kind hearted Pastor, the voice of reason and wisdom in those moments of need. Behind closed doors he was a monster, and the reign of terror he inflicted was worse than the devil himself.Finding the courage and the strength to leave is one thing, taking that courage out on to the streets is another. No longer was it acceptable for women and girls to be mutilated, raped and abused, but just how far was sh...

Looking at her younger brother and sister, she knew something bad had happened. The silence in the house was no longer a welcome relief; it was deafening, all encompassing.Then the police came, and then a nice lady, then something about a new family.Everything a blur, until she became lost in her own silent world of colour and canvas.Being the unwanted child of a prostitute, life was never going to be easy.Becoming a sister gave her life meaning, then they w...