That’s a wrap on Emirates LitFest 2025! I’m already feeling the LitFest blues because I have to wait a whole year until the next one…

It’s the most wonderful weekend where I buy too many books to sit on my nightstand, learn from famous authors (Abraham Verghese, Hala Gorani and Jeff Kinney were personal highlights) and – best part – mingle with fellow booklovers.

I’ve made some of my best friends at the Emirates LitFest – through the fellowship and by attending author talks. Writing and reading can be solitary activities to begin with, but they flourish in group settings designed to dissect plotlines and admire pretty covers. Friends who read together, stay together 📚

This was also a special year for me because I got to call myself an author on stage and introduce my book that’s coming out soon.

It’s officially 100 days until the publication date on May 20!!

I am so excited my novel, about a Palestinian American standup comedian named Mia in NYC, is coming out this year.

I’m standing on the shoulders of giants - please drop everything you’re doing to watch MO Season 2, one of the most incredibly funny and moving TV shows I’ve ever seen, from comedian and creator Mo Amer.  We attended a Netflix party in his honor and I couldn’t be happier for him:

Hear Me Out: Podcasts

I’ve been busy recording video podcast episodes with some people I greatly admire and I just can’t wait to share the first episodes with you. Watch this space…

Until then, my interview on the Emirates World Podcast is officially out - hear me talk about my author journey on 215+ Emirates flights worldwide!!

—> Listen here:

Write: Beyond Rejection

Huge congrats to the latest Emirates LitFest Seddiqi fellowship cohort - they are in for a treat with a trip abroad to attend a writing workshop, a dedicated mentor and a group of new writer friends!

I know several people who applied and didn’t make it, and while it’s disappointing, rejection is a normal and expected part of the publishing journey. There’s another Emirates LitFest writing competition that I entered and lost four years in a row. The key is to keep learning, honing your craft, and don’t give up because your time will come.

I talked about navigating rejection to fellow writer Fadi Zaghmout, who has a great novel out this year, too. Read our interview in his LinkedIn newsletter here.

And check out his latest book, The Man of Middling Height!

Browse: These Links

Take a break from the horrors of current world order with these bits and pieces from the WWW:

• Check out Mo Amer’s interview with Jon Stewart here

• 6 beauty trends of 2025, according to Huda Kattan

• Ronaldo celebrates 40th birthday in Saudi Arabia

• The most romantic hotels in the world by CNT

• Blake Lively x Justin Baldoni escalates with new website telling all

Countdown to My Novel’s Publication Day:

Thanks for reading! See you soon!

With kindness,

Sara