The best and most beautiful beings and things found on earth are best not to be acquired but admired. They must be seen by and felt with the heart  Armida

It’s inspiring that inspiration can come from everywhere.

When I began to develop my characters for DAUGHTERS OF THE DANCE, the photograph (left) of Little Suhaila of California was my inspiration for the character Nona . . . and then she became Ayana as well.

At that time, when the inspiration came, I was studying belly dancing in South Beach, Miami Beach with such teachers as Amar Gamal, Maja, and Tamalyn Dallal. It was Maja who introduced me to a video of Suhaila Salimpour dancing.

* Inspiration is defined as something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create; a force or influence that inspires someone;  a person, place, experience, and the like that makes someone want to do or create something.

It is all of the above.

Please let me know who is your favorite and why?