A writer, a vision, a journey: a conversation with Karen Leggett Abouraya
Venue: Online via Zoom
Date: November 27, 2021
This episode took place on Saturday 27 November, 2021 at 7 p.m. Cairo time. You may watch the full video here:
Through this series of in depth conversations with Arab and international authors, arabworldbooks.com aims to explore the vision, motivation, process, and of course, the outcomes of a writer's journey. These conversations will, hopefully, shed some light on the values and experiences that are common to writers and readers across the world, while taking into account their respective idiosyncrasies and cultural specificities.
We are delighted to feature American author Karen Leggett Abouraya in this event.
Karen Leggett Abouraya reviewed children's books for many years on ABC Radio in Washington DC and the New York Times. She is author of Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt’s Treasured Books and Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words. She is co-chair of the Friends of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina within the Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister Cities Committee.
The discussion will be conducted in English and moderated by Egyptian novelist Mohamed Tawfik.
Read more about Karen Leggett Abouraya, her books and writing here.
Press here to register for the discussion.
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Admin - 4 years ago
Chat messages and questions received during our conversation with Karen Leggett Abouraya
19:24:47 From Roba Shehata to Everyone:
is such chat with a child is considered as part of your research when u start a new book
19:25:39 From Roba Shehata to Everyone:
interviewing kids to learn more about the themes of interest ??
19:47:53 From Omayma to Everyone:
هل تختلف قصص الأطفال باختلاف البلد او الثقافة المحلية للمكان. . ام ان القصص عادة متشابهة و تناسب الطفل في كل البلاد.
19:48:22 From Manuel Knight to Everyone:
Has there ever been a children's book fair or festival in Egypt held every 5 or so years showcasing this kind of literature? Is there scope for this in the near future? Alexandria's Bib. Alexandrina would be a major sponsor.
19:52:48 From Karen Leggett Abouraya (she/hers) to Everyone:
Any Refugee - post cards to refugee children https://www.anyrefugee.org/
19:54:23 From Amani Amin to Everyone:
Thanks Karen this is a very interesting link
20:06:43 From Karen Leggett Abouraya (she/hers) to Everyone:
Sheikh Zayed Book Awards https://tcaabudhabi.ae/ar/media.centre/press.releases/sheikh.zayed.book.award.announces.longlisted.titles.for.young.author.childrens.literature.aspx
20:12:53 From kay heikkinen to Everyone:
There’s I think a Roman maxim that the purpose of literature is to educate and to entertain.
20:17:32 From Karen Leggett Abouraya (she/hers) to Everyone:
Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi https://www.npr.org/2020/03/14/814630039/a-history-book-that-isnt-finding-a-way-to-teach-racism-to-a-new-generation
20:18:09 From Amani Amin to Everyone:
Thanks Karen for the share
20:27:00 From Karen Leggett Abouraya (she/hers) to Everyone:
The Giving Square https://www.thegivingsquare.org/ - “We see the power of books and personal narratives as critical tools for empathy building.”
20:27:30 From Nahla Hanno to Everyone:
Thank you