Who was Enheduanna—the woman recognized as the world’s first known named author? Long before Homer or Moses, a patriarchal society remembered a brilliant, powerful woman whose name remains synonymous with the birth of literature.
On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s Books & Authors Show with Books Forward, host Lisa D. Smith welcomes award-winning poet and debut historical fantasy novelist Ellen Rachlin to celebrate her upcoming book, Enheduanna’s Song From the Sands (coming August 25, 2026, from Histria Fiction).
Listen to the Podcast Episode Below (Goes Live on Aug 12 at 7pm ET) or Watch it on YouTube:
Unearthing a Lost Legacy
Set in ancient Mesopotamia around 2300 BCE, the novel follows Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon the Great (the world's first emperor) and the High Priestess of Ur. Discovered by Rachlin during a deep dive into overlooked historical figures, Enheduanna’s surviving work was buried for millennia before being excavated and painstakingly translated from intricate cuneiform tablets.
In this captivating conversation, Ellen shares insights into:
- The Power of a High Priestess: How Enheduanna was not just a religious figure, but an economic powerhouse managing vast temple wealth and land.
- Betrayal and Exile: The dangerous political maneuvering that saw Enheduanna cast out by rebels, prompting her to write brilliant, fierce poems pleading to the goddess Inanna to save her life.
- Blending Myth with History: The fascinating process of writing a history-dense fantasy that draws heavily from the actual Sumerian and Akkadian pantheons—including her bargains with Ereshkigal, Queen of the Underworld.
- The Transition from Poetry: How Ellen used her background as a poet to truly connect with the lyrical rhythm of the oldest surviving literary works.
"Even if she didn’t write them, the fact that she was a high priestess of Ur and she was remembered for them means that she must have been extraordinary... Great men had legends written about them. Women really didn't have much. And so the narratives in these poems are almost like creating a legend for this incredible woman." — Ellen Rachlin
Featured Book Review
"Enheduanna’s Song From the Sands is a lively, convincing and beautifully written historical fantasy that takes readers deep into an ancient world rarely explored in fiction. Rachlin's characters are relatable despite the enormous distance between their world and ours, and the novel combines history, mythology, humor, romance and intrigue into an immersive story. It takes a remarkable imagination to recreate such a long-ago world while making readers feel part of it.
The characters are especially engaging, with passions, emotions and decisions that feel surprisingly familiar. As I read, I often found myself thinking, “I know someone just like that!”
The story is fascinating, thought-provoking and wonderfully different. I could easily see it becoming a television series, and I hope there will be a follow-up novel continuing this epic journey into the past."
Nancy J. Reid, Big Blend Media House
Connect & Learn More:
Visit the author's official site: EllenRachlin.com
Discover more great reads: BooksForward.com
This episode is part of Big Blend Radio's Books & Authors Show with Books Forward, airing every second Wednesday.