iProgress

I had a meeting today with the tech guys of Al Maseerah to talk over a few things regarding Moments, the book. It went well. But I was kind of taken aback by the lack of variety when it came to the type of paper they use for their books. They usually either use glossy paper, or normal white sheets. We will, of course, have to go with the white paper. But I was assured that the cover will be exactly how I wanted it, and that the book will be hard-bound.

I've also gotten in contact with two potential venues for the book launch. I should be meeting with one of them in the next few days to see what could be done to co-ordinate an event.

I'm sure you'll be overcome with joy and jump up and down at learning that I actually got some writing done on Buried, my second novel! Horay horay?! No?!

Well, I started with chapter 20 and have written closer to 1500 words. As you can see from the gauge bar to the right, it's not a big leap ahead, but its still progress. A slight progress has also been recorded on Against, my third novel. I've also worked a bit more on the short story Riding In The Backseat. I'm at the very end of it now and just need to wrap it up with a strong closing.

What? More news you ask? Ok, the website is still undergoing another update. There'll be a few things missing, replaced with one or two new bits. And some changes here and there. I will update it probably August 1st, in time with the release of the press release announcing the Moments book launch.

MoS: The Journey Now Available

MoS The Journey
Originally uploaded by Ali Al Saeed.

Take a peek at the book, Models of Success: The Journey, out now in hardback from Al Maseerah Publishing.

You can purchase your copy from Booksplus, Seef Mall, for BD8 ($21) or by emailing me with your details.

The book, for now, is only available here in Bahrain. Hopefully, we'll sort out wider distribution soon.

You See, You Like, You Get

As you can see on the bar to the right, two new things. I've opened up shop at CafePress.com! Now you can get your hands on a little piece of memorabilia / merchandize with stuff like t-shirts, mugs etc. The designs – created by myself – are all going to be inspired by my work, including novels and stories.

So click on that button and browse through the shop. See anything you like? Get it. Like, now!

I've also created a myspace.com account, but I'm still trying to get a hand of it. Hopefully I'll be able to add more content to it soon enough.

Two possible writing related things are in the oven as you read this! A couple of publications (including a daily paper and a monthly mag) have asked me to contribute to them on a regular basis. Details here once confirmed.

They Said... 'Magical, 'Powerful' & 'Original'!

The first reviews are in! Jump over to the Moments website and click on the Reviews page to take a look at the early reviews pouring in from a number of published/established authors (including the wonderful Shay Youngblood) as well as academics and editors.

Just yesterday I received the latest 'mini' review from the editor-in-chief of the Gulf Daily News. It's safe to admit that I'm quite pleased with the feedback I've gotten so far on Moments and I hope there will be more to come.

It seems that the launch of Moments will be pushed back a couple of weeks to early September. That's because I'm told August is a really bad time to launch anything here in Bahrain.

I met Nijad, my publisher, again yesterday and had another positive meeting. The book is just about all ready now. The other day, I received my ISBN from the Publications Directorate, along with a publishing license (which you apparently need to publish anything in this country).

The final touches are being made on the cover designs and manuscript. More updates here.

Tinged With Darkness

As the world plunges into yet another dark and gloomy phase, with Israel's war on Lebanon, there is only one person that can bring the smile back to our faces, and cracks us with laughter.

I give you...

Jerry Jackson.

Blowing Off Some 'Steam'

I really don't have much to say, or rather anything specific to talk about. You get these like that don't you? When there are a thousand things on your mind, and a thousand things to do, but you just can’t bother?

I watched Steamboy earlier tonight. It was another masterful Japanese animated film. I love those. Give me any Miyazaki film and I'll savor every second of it. This one was full of action and dealt with a very current subject matter, war. Great fun to watch and the animations, combined with some stunning digital imaging, makes for a thrill ride.

I also watched Running Scared last night. I wouldn't normally pick that kind of movies but it was there to rent and I went on impulse for a change. The film wasn't bad, but it wasn’t that good either. The story was intriguing and, to some extent, original. And a good chunk of it was visually appealing, but it appears that the director was one of those who had to throw in a snappy, flashy shot here and there, whenever he got the chance, which, after a while, gets really annoying.

Enough movie talk. I've been working on updating the alialsaeed.com website and I'm hoping to upload all the changes sometime during the next week or so. Over at 'Collection of Moments' website, I'm introducing a new feature. Every week, leading to the launch of the book, I will be posting a 'moment' from the stories featured in the collection.

We start with the title story Moments.

This Week & Every Week

Click on the A Collection of Moments link to read the latest update on the project.

I'm expecting things to pick up from now on as I try to organise the producting and launch of Moments. Yesterday I had a positive session and meeting. For now though I'll leave you with this...

This Week You Will...

Watch:-
- Dear Wendy ****
- In Good Company ***
- Wolf Creek ***

Listen To:-
- Jenny Lewis ''Rabbit Fur Coat" *****
- Thom Yorke "The Eraser" **
- Muse "Black Holes & Revelations" ***

A Cause For A Hopeless Case

Now I know I'm not a prolific writer, if I were I'd have at least 4 or 5 completed novels hanging around by now. I go on long droughts where nothing comes out at all. Yesterday though, finally, I broke that drought. It wasn't easy, I tell you. I sat there, staring the laptop in the face, gaping at that blinking line and empty page and just willing the words out of my head, through my fingers tips, and onto the keyboard.

You see, the thing is, I have a short attention span. That's probably why I didn't fare too well at school. I space out a lot. So if I'm sitting and not writing, my head swims away with the fairies.

I wrote a bit more on chapter 20 of Buried. It wasn't much, but it felt good nonetheless. Even though, I must admit, I had thought briefly about abandoning that particular project, I can't help but think about it. It'd be a waste to drop it now. I'm relatively close to the finish.

Believe it or not, I've still not had my own copy of Models of Success: The Journey… which feels odd as I wrote the darned thing! The book has not yet been released in the local bookstores, but will let you know as soon as it does.

No more progress on the Moments film and book, but I has another session (my third) tomorrow at Mello Studio to record the third story, Bow. I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to narrate this one as it needs more tension and urgency than the previous two.

Another piece appeared in yesterday's GDN talking about the recording of the audio book, which I didn't know about till now!