Novels from Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Sudan, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait are on this year’s longlist.
Egypt’s Naguib Mahfouz Medal Releases Its First Shortlist
Delayed in its jury deliberations, AUCPress’ prize program releases a shortlist of authors from Egypt, Syria, Algeria, and Yemen.
Yemen’s Ali Al-Muqri: In Reading and Writing, “Everyone is Equal”
Yemeni author Ali al-Muqri discusses his latest novel, Hurma, and his determination to write about women’s issues, despite opposition.
Distribution, Piracy Woes Still Challenge MENA Publishers
The military conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq have cut into MENA publishers’ ability to sell and distribute books, while piracy remains a top concern.
Publishers in the Middle East Hustle to Cope with Instability
Publishers in the Middle East describe how they are trying to get around daily challenges, in particular falling book sales, resulting from instability.