Everything Is Possible in Yemen: The Misadventures of a First-Time Journalist in the Middle East

Heather Murdock is an American intern at a local newspaper in Yemen, spending her days proofreading copy and dreaming of being a real reporter. After months of struggling to get her stories published, an editor in Boston mistakes her for someone else and gives her an assignment.

Soon after her tentative entry into the world of professional journalism, Heather is flush with new assignments. With the enthusiasm of a newbie and the grace of a bull, she traverses the country, visiting child brides, refugees, rebels and ordinary Yemeni families. In every corner of Yemen’s ancient cities and lawless countryside, she finds humor, hardship and blazing Yemeni determination.

Over the Christmas holidays, Yemen unexpectedly becomes famous when a young man attempts to blow up a plane over Detroit. The man says al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen built the bomb sewn into his underpants and the media turns its eye towards Sana’a. With so few reporters in town, Heather is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, covering al-Qaeda for CBS Evening News, Time and The New Statesman.

But life in Yemen does not stay so glamorous for long. After almost a year in the country, Heather is arrested for visiting rebel strongholds in the south. While being detained, she finds her “prison” is as unusual as the characters inside. Guards offer to help her escape, while her captors work to prove that Yemeni hospitality extends towards everyone, including detainees.

Other officials are not as kind, making it clear that there are some stories in Yemen that they want left untold.