Anxiously Awaiting 2007

I've been watching loads of movie trailers online and I gotta admit 2007 already looks very promsing. Some of these films below are so hot they'll burn your eyes!

300

Spider-man 3

Stardust

Transformers

Hot Fuzz

Pan's Labyrinth

The first two alone would make the next year worthwhile! That's all for now. And by the bye...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Walk The Line

How do you know when it's time to move on?

How do you know you're making the right choice?

Is there such a thing as a right choice?

Things happen for a reason.

Things don't.

We live the life we can grab.

We walk the line we see ahead of us.

I don't believe in the future. I only believe in the moment.

Does that make me any less human than I am?

This is not a poem.

If it is, then it sucks.

Tomorrow is Another Day

Tomorrow is the auditions for the short 'comedy' film I had been working on the past few weeks, which I can't remember if I had mentioned here before or not. Regardless, it should be, erm, interesting to say the least. We've had a bit of a disappointing response to the casting call so far, but we're keeping positive.

Production has been pushed a little back to around early February, which should give us enough time to cast and prepare for the actual shoot. The script is still under maintenance, I've change a few bits here and there after receiving more feedback and comments. It's looking good, but our real concern now is with the acting and finding the right people for the roles!

A few days ago I had actually done a bit of writing. I penned about 350 words on Buried, and a couple of hundred on Against. Pitiful I know. But I always say that. Buried has already been two years in the making, while Against is having a similar fate. I think I need to take some time off from everything thing else to focus on my writing. I struggle big time to concentrate on one thing when there are a dozen things on my mind at the same time. Maybe I just need a good kick in the arse!

Elham – the new group for creative people which had been inaugurated last month – has had a good reception. Its very encouraging. People seem to be getting into it and I hope that it grows into something bigger and unique. We are now thinking of where to take it next, and how. We want to create something exciting, fun and stimulating.

So if you are interested in joining us please leave a comment or email me or info@alriwaqgallery.org.

What Kind of Worm Are You?

Each one of us has their own personal reading ratio. Some are higher than others. I would say mine leans more towards the lower figures. I've heard of people who read a book each month or, more astonishingly, each month! Me? Really depends.

Many people seem to assume that being a writer, I must read a whole lot. To an extent, that would be a safe assumption, if only it were true. I don't read as much as I should or would like, we all say that don't we? But people for some reason seem a little disappointed at me or let down when I tell them I'm not a fanatic reader. I'm pretty moody when it comes to it. I suppose I should feel bad, because I always advise aspiring writers to 'read' more! Practise what you preach and all that nonesense.

Anyway, I decided to find out how many books I did read so far. And the ones I could remember came up to more than I at first imagined. Here is my book list (in no particular order)....

See You Later – Christoper Pike
Crime & Punishment – Dostoyevsky
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulks
For Love of the Game – Michael Shaara
The Sandman series (12 graphic novels) – Neil Gaiman
Smoke & Mirrors – Neil Gaiman
Stardust – Neil Gaiman
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Fragile Things – Neil Gaiman
Wolves in the Walls – Neil Gaiman
The High Cost of Living – Neil Gaiman
1602 – Neil Gaiman
Across the Nightingale Floor – Lian Hearn
Brilliance of the Moon – Lian Hearn
Grass for His Pillow – Lian Hearn
Surrender, Dorothy – Meg Wolitzer
Bluegrass – Brat Schneider
The Five People You Meet in Heaven – Mitch Albom
Coastliners – Joanne Harris
Five Quarters of the Orange – Joanne Harris
Blackberry Wine – Joanne Harris
Uncle Rudolf – Paul Bailey
Survivor – Chuck Palahniuk
Choke – Chuck Palahniuk
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy – Tim Burton
The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
Tell No One – Harlan Coben
One False Move – Harlan Coben
Gone for Good – Harlan Coben
No Second Chance – Harlan Coben
Revolutionary Road – Richard Yates
Flying Leap – Judy Budnitz
Mortal Engines – Philip Reeve
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
Goodnight, Nebraska – Tom McNeal
Kingdom Gone – Frank Lean
Beggars Banquet – Ian Rankin
On Writing – Stephen King
The Partner – John Grisham
A Painted House – John Grisham
The Testament – John Grisham
The Brethren – John Grisham
The Client – John Grisham
The Summons – John Grisham
The Man Who Ate the 747 – Ben Shrewood
Our Fathers – Andrew O'Hagan
Disgrace – J.M. Coetezee
Gravity – Erica Wagner
The Constant Eye – Candida Clark
Bee Season – Myla Goldberg
Soho – Keith Waterhouse
The 13th Warrior – Michael Crichton
With Your Crooked Heart – Helen Dunmore
Dangerous Parking – Stewart Browne
Dressing Up For the Carnival – Carol Sheilds
Green for Danger – Cristina Brand
Foreign Correspondence – Cindy Blake
God is a Bullet – Boston Tearn
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Time Traveler's Wife – Audrey Niffenberger
Yes Man! – Danny Wallace
Preacher series (9 graphic novels) – Garth Ennis

I think that comes up to around 85 books, give or take. I probably left out one or two. I suppose that's not bad considering I've only really started reading books at the of 20!!! Does that qualify me as a book worm?

Smile When You're Singing

This is AWESOME!

If it doesn't make you smile, sue me. Seriously.

And if you're deadly serious about becoming a writer I strongly advise you to read these very important 'rules for writing'!

And while I'm at it, THANKS to everyone who's turned up for the 'Elham' evening at Alriwaq on Tuesday, it went all oh so well. You've earned yourself a latte for the effort, now go get it.

Be A(muse)d

This coming Tuesday we will have a special 'gathering' at Al Riwaq Art Gallery which will include readings by me and two other local writers. It will start at 7pm and ALL are welcome. If you have an interest in literature, arts, music or fancy yourself a writer, poet, musician, artist, filmmaker etc, then be sure to be there. (Click image for more details)

Today I attended an art workshop, by Dutch artist Theodora Plas. It was fascinating as it focused on the connetion of music with color. I have mixed feelings about the whole experince. I struggled a great deal trying to get my mind to think in terms of colors and shapes and lines instead of words! It was actually a bit intimidating and I wasn't comfortable to begin with. If it taught me one thing, its that the two (painting and writing), even though sharing some similarties, are nothing alike... I suppose it's safe to say that you won't see me replacing my pen with a brush anytime soon!

Take Offs And Landings

What a hectic few days these've been.

The events at the British Council and the Muharraq School both turned out spectacularly well. I enjoyed both immensely and I was pleased with the response I got from the students, especially at the government school, which was a very pleasant surprise.

I'm starting to enjoy these kinds of affairs. Four, three, maybe even two years ago, I would never has seen myself doing something like that, but the fact is, the interaction with the young students is refreshing and it's wonderful to see their level of interest in literature, books and writing.

This is something we (and by we, I suppose I mean my generation) never had the chance to experience. To meet with local creative people and discuss their crafts and backgrounds and professions. I wish there is more schools and more artists and writers out there doing the same.

I don't think I'd mind doing more of these at all actually.

I got my copy of The Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 yesterday and I've skimmed through it and I'm happy and ecstatic and over the moon with it! Its fabulous and I can't wait to get some time alone with it! Its HUGE!

I remember the first time I read the Sandman, I even remember how it felt reading the very first issue, which Tariq (my ex-colleague at the GDN) lent me. I got hooked instantly and I never looked back since… So in a way, I owe you big thanks Tariq!

The Sad Truth

I was gonna write a detailed post about my trip to Dubai - which was fine by the way and I quite enjoyed - but I'm really tired and not in the mood. Last night, moments after I got home from the airport, we got a call telling us one of my aunts has passed away. That wasn't nice to hear at all, as you can imagine.

In the meantime, you can see some images from the trip on my flickr account. The event at the XVA was a nice, low-key event, during which I talked a little about my work and read a short piece from Moments.

My impression of Dubai - having visited it for the first time in 5 years - is a mixed one. There's plenty to do and you get to meet interesting people and it could be a lot of fun, but its a spiritless city, like a wild boar in search of a heart. It seemed to me as if it were an architectural hungry monster that would eventually devour everything (and everyone) that is around it, and within it.

Tomorrow morning I have to deliver my talk at the British Council and I feel that I am under-prepared and a little out of focus. So wish me luck.

Off to Dubai

I'm leaving tomorrow morning to Dubai for a couple of days. My first book event/appearance in Dubai will be on Wednesday (Nov 15) at the XVA and starts from 7pm. This will be followed by a film screening, I'm told. So if you happen to be in Dubai, you better make sure you be there on time! I've not been to Dubai in almost five years. Everyone tells me I'm in for a shock!

This morning we had a presentation for Models of Success at Al Hoora Secondary School for Girls which turned out pretty well. We showed the film, talked about the project and I shed light on the book, which I wrote. I am glad that the whole thing was well received. Ideally, we hope that every government school would take in a copies of the film and the book to feature in their libraries or learning centres.

I also yesterday visited the British Council to go over the details of the workshop with the council staff on the 18th. I'm told there's interest from the part of the students, so fingers crossed there'll be a good turn out.

I should probably go and pack now.

Melty Cheese Is Sticky

It seems I've become more of a secretary than a writer lately. I'm my own personal assistant! Phone calls to make, planning to do, scheduling to arrange, meetings to set, dates to pur right, deadlines to be reminded of… Ok, maybe I should stop whining about it. I mean, seriously, it's not like I'm running for office is it? No, now that would be hard work. Yeah. Right.

The British Council event is all set to go down on November 18th. There will be two separate sessions at 10.30am and at 12noon. And I'll be talking to a bunch of 12 to 17 year olds about writing, creativity and whatever comes to my mind on the day really! I might end up talking about how to make a proper *egg & cheese on toast for breakfast! Details here.

Meanwhile, I'm loosing more hair than I am allowed to over planning this Dubai trip. I'm getting a bit muddled. Too many numbers you see. I hate numbers. But in case you were curious, the event will be hosted by the XVA Gallery in Dubai on November 15th from 7pm.

Yesterday we went out to scout locations for the shoot of the TV show thing I talked about before. In fact, a casting call shall be put out very soon. So keep an eye out, if you're interested in giving it a shot. A date for the audition will be revealed soon and I will post the call on this blog in the next day or so.

*the slice of cheese melts in between the egg and the toast from the heat. Sometimes that's how my brains feel.