Interview With Authors Abdulhaq Sodais and Spencer Sullivan

Most war stories take place during the conflict, but what happens in the aftermath of a war? Not Our Problem is the true story of Abdulhaq Sodais and Spencer Sullivan. An Afghan refugee and an American Army officer, they have survived the war, but when the United States withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban reassert their rule, Abdulhaq must flee for his life. Abdulhaq Sodais and Spencer Sullivan recently spoke with me about what it took to write this war memoir.

What is Not Our Problem: The True Story of an Afghan Refugee, an American Promise, and the World Between Them about?

Not Our Problem tells the true story of Abdulhaq Sodais, an Afghan refugee who survived war, displacement, and his Taliban pursuers while trying to reach the West. The book also follows Spencer Sullivan, an American Army officer who became closely involved in helping Abdulhaq survive long enough to secure legal asylum in Germany.

Together, the story explores friendship, responsibility, sacrifice, and the human side of war and refugee resettlement. It investigates the distance between a promise and its keeping, and seeks to reveal the consequences of America’s actions on a world stage.

What made you both decide to write this book?

The book was initially an artifact in Abdulhaq’s case file as he applied for asylum in Germany. As the story grew and grew, Abdulhaq saw it as an opportunity to be a voice for other refugees and other Afghan interpreters to have their own stories brought to a larger audience.

We wanted to share a personal story that reflects the reality behind the headlines about Afghanistan. So many people hear about war and refugees in abstract ways, but we wanted readers to understand how these events affect real families and real lives. We also hoped the book would encourage empathy and remind people that even small acts of kindness can change someone’s future.

Author Abdulhaq Sodais

How did the two of you collaborate on this process?

It took us four years of video calls, trans-Atlantic trips, and thousands of hours of conversation to reach the final product you find in the book today. Abdulhaq shared his memories, experiences, and perspective from Afghanistan and his refugee journey, while Spencer helped organize the narrative, conduct interviews, and shape the manuscript into a book. We spent many hours discussing events, reviewing details, and making sure the story remained honest and authentic.

The most fascinating part of the process was when we revisited shared experiences from our respective viewpoints. We learned a lot about each other through these conversations years after the events we were describing. It’s what gives the book its beating heart- the often painful juxtaposition of our places in the world and the implications that had about our choices and agency (or lack thereof) in the face of an uncaring bureaucracy.

Author Spencer Sullivan

Why is now such an important time for people to learn about your experiences with the war and its aftermath?

S: It is never a bad time to understand the long-reaching impacts of a war. That is especially true of America’s longest war. The news cycle moves very quickly, and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been particularly vulnerable to this effect.

The effects of war do not end when the headlines disappear. Millions of Afghans are still dealing with displacement, uncertainty, and trauma. At the same time, many refugees are trying to rebuild their lives in new countries. We believe it is important for people to understand these long-term human consequences and to remember that global events continue to affect ordinary families every day.

Taking a moment to pause and reflect on how we as nation states and a species so readily throw ourselves into violent conflict is worth it. These events are not limited to a distant battlefield. The victims and benefactors of war are our neighbors, our friends, our elected officials, and our policymakers. Books like ours force readers to bear witness to the fallout.

What advice would you share about writing a memoir? What about writing as a team?

Be honest, and don’t hold back. These days audiences have seen so much that they can spot inauthenticity or performative sincerity from a mile away. Abdulhaq and I are very clear about where we fall short and make grave mistakes. Readers connect with real emotions and experiences, not perfection.

Writing as a team requires patience, trust, and communication. We came from very different backgrounds, but that difference actually strengthened the story because we could each bring a unique perspective.

Do you two plan to write additional stories? Either together or independently?

Yes, we are open to writing more stories in the future. There are still many experiences and perspectives connected to Afghanistan, immigration, and cultural adjustment that we feel are important to share. Whether together or independently, storytelling will continue to be meaningful to both of us.

Where can readers get Not Our Problem?

Anywhere books are sold online! Our publisher is purely print-on-demand, so you are unlikely to find it on physical bookshelves.

·        Amazon

·        Barnes & Noble

·        Bookshop.org

Where can they follow both of you?

You can find all information about our book, including our various press and media appearances over the years at NotOurProblemBook.com. To follow us as individuals, you can find us here:

·       Abdulhaq Instagram: @Abdulhaqsodaisauthor

·       Spencer Instagram: @Spencersullivanauthor

·       Spencer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencersullivan