“Comma Press offered us a choice from several short stories from two forthcoming books, ‘Iraq + 100’ and ‘The Sea Cloak.’ We were then asked to translate a short extract of our choice by a deadline and, if they liked the translation, then it would be used in the final book.”
Lebanon’s Raya Agency, run by Yasmina Jraissati, has had a good number of new rights sales in the recent months. Several are worth noting: There have been multiple sales for works […]
“But also, I honestly do think that he himself, just in the act of publishing with a non-Moroccan publisher…he is reaching for a larger audience. And I don’t mean that in a commercial sense. I think he would like to reach readers beyond Morocco. Frankly, I don’t blame him, when books in Morocco sell in the dozens.”
If Amal Farah could go back in time, “I would read much more in physics and philosophy. I have read a great deal of the books that helped me become the writer I am today, but I would advise everyone to indulge in these two areas to write for children, those amazing and wise creatures.”
They were driven apart involuntarily, and Sumaiya was forced to exit, against her will, the ring performing tawaf – the circling of the Kaaba. Faisal raised his arm in the air, like a ship mast. “Sumaiya! Sumaiya!” he cried at the top of his voice. They both rowed their way in the direction of the other, their hands met, and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him.
“The way the world works — it’s designed such that we’re transformed into consumers, and it consumes the individual by making them into a consumer. By entering into this cycle, we lose ourselves and the true voice we hear in our heads when we experience setbacks in this world. It’s upon the writer — all of us actually, not just writers — but writers in particular to go up against this way of life.”
“His highly sensitive poetry is dedicated to the Palestinian cause, mixing themes of heroism with a deep recognition of the dangers and tribulations of the contemporary Palestinian experience.”
Over email, both judges clarified there is no requirement that poets reside in the US or have US citizenship. This prize is for Arab poets, working in English, living anywhere in the world.
Novelist Sami Michael described his relationship with Kanafani’s book as “like love. You can’t explain why you fell in love with someone.”
