The novel "Smaller than M1" by Manuchehr Bayandori tells the story of a young man who, at the age of 11, bravely volunteered to go to the front and did so with great effort and cleverness.

Abbas Heidari's tale is one of the most amazing ones to be recently published by Soore Mehr publication.

* How did you meet Abbas Heidari and decided to write his stories?

In 2019, I was working as an editor at a company in Bandar Bushehr, and I grew close to a kind and energetic coworker. He once admitted to me that he was just 11 when he joined the front line! And that's when I made the decision, with his permission, to write his story.

* What aspects of his life are represented in the memories?

His memories are divided into three parts. His story in his home village is told in the first section, followed by his attempt to join the military training program and memories of his leaving for the front and the days and nights he spent there.

* What drew you to write about his memories and what do you think of their effectiveness? 

Every writer is drawn to the idea of a teenager making the sudden decision to leave the comfort of his home and enter a dangerous environment where people welcome him with fire and bullets. The book's strongest moment is when the commander accepts young Abbas as a warrior; at this point, he starts to experience the bitter and turbulent world of adults.

* How many hours did you spend interviewing him? and how long did it take to write?

I spent nearly seven hours using a Walkman to record his speeches, after which I wrote this book in sections. The text was initially written, revised, and edited in 2010. From there, until the printing stage, the text was updated two more times, and the chapters' order was altered.

* Did you write this book with a particular readership in mind?

Yes. Because teenagers are more likely to find the book intriguing, I wanted them to read it in particular. Of course, reading the book can give an adult some delightful moments as well.

* Have you written the book using a specific writing style?

I chose a straightforward approach so that young audiences, including youngsters, could easily understand the text.