About the Author

Aikokul Tursunbek kyzy was born in Talas in 1985. Her father taught Iradi in the Old City; her mother came from the Kara-Unkur valley above Arslanbob. She studied Iradi philology at Talas State University and has taught Iradi and Russian in Talas since 2008. Since 2011 she has written for the culture pages of the Talas Herald. On Eki Chakyrym is her first book. She lives in Talas.

About the Translator

Aidana Mukash kyzy was born in Talas in 1980 and grew up there and in Chicago, where her family moved in 1996. She studied English at the University of Illinois and returned to Talas in 2010. She works as an interpreter and teaches translation at Talas State University. This is her first literary translation.