Controversial novel about Prophet Muhammad by Spokane author is published

SPOKANE — Today was the biggest day in the writing career of Spokane author Sherry Jones, but she wasn't doing anything special to mark the day.

Jones' first novel, "The Jewel of Medina," reached bookstores today, amid fears that the book about the Prophet Muhammad's child bride might lead to violence and threats.

Jones said she had received no threats of any kind, and was spending the day quietly, except for talking to reporters and being photographed.

"I'm going to a dinner party tonight, but it's not in my honor or anything," Jones said.

The celebrations will occur Friday, when she reads from her book in Spokane and is feted afterward.

Jones said she first saw a hard copy of her novel last week while in New York City.

"I burst into tears," she said. "This has been my dream since the second grade."

It was a fight to get "The Jewel of Medina" into print.

The original publisher, Random House, backed out at the last minute because of fears it would spark violence because of its provocative topic. Beaufort Books recently agreed to publish the novel, then sped up the release date to today instead of Oct. 15 in an attempt to short-circuit any possible violence.

Publication in Britain remains in doubt after the arrest of three men in London in connection with a firebomb attack on the offices of publisher Gibson Square.

Jones said she had received no information from Gibson Square on whether it plans to proceed with publication.

But she said she hoped that publication in the United States would finally show people that the book is not insulting to Muslims.

Her novel is about Aisha, who according to tradition was 9 when she became the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, and later a political and military leader in her own right. Jones has already completed a sequel about Aisha's adult life that Beaufort plans to publish next year.