A Collection of Moments

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE 

Bahrain’s New Best-sellerLocal author Ali Al Saeed’s new book becomes an instant best-sellerMOMENTS 

MANAMA – Sept 23rd: Moments, the new collection of short stories by Bahraini award-winning author Ali Al Saeed, has become an instant best-seller among local bookworms one week after its official release. 

Moments, published by Al Maseerah Publishing House, is Ali’s second published work of fiction following his successful debut novel QuixotiQ in 2004 and was launched at a special ceremony last Thursday (14/9) at

Albareh
Art
Gallery under the patronage of Culture & National Heritage under-secertary Shaikha May bint Mohammed Al Khalifa.  

“Shaikha May has shown interest in my work and I was privileged to meet her. She is a supporter of the art and literature and I hope that we will have the chance to collaborate in the near future,” the 28-year-old author said “The public’s response in the first week has been very promising and very encouraging. At one event, we sold two thirds of the total stocked copies within a couple of hours!”.  

Moments has been hailed as whimsical and magical by critics, praising the author for his artful style of storytelling and originality. Like critics, the Bahraini reading community has received Moments with interest. 

“The book signings we had at Booksplus in Seef Mall and the Bookcase in Budaiya were a tremendous success, it was such a joy to be able to interact with the public and get their feedback on Moments,” said Ali. “And the launch at

Albareh
Art
Gallery was a wonderful evening. It’s not only encouraging to receive such response, its also touching.” 

Ali is on a mini book tour which kicked off with the official launch of Moments and will concluded it with a special reading at the La Fontaine Art Centre on September 27th from 8.30pm.    

“I’m hoping to be able to do similar events across the Gulf and eventually promote the book on an international scale,” Ali added. 

Described as “whimsical and charming”, Al Saeed’s stories are a wild hodgepodge of fantasy, horror, literary, children’s and adventure stories. They are broken into segments that celebrate life, dreams, love and growth.  

For more information on Ali Al Saeed visit www.alialsaeed.com. For more information on Moments visit www.momentscollection.wordpress.com 

Contact:39854720 / 17680369ali.alsaeed@yahoo.commedia@alialsaeed.com 

Ali Al Saeed’s new book, Moments, a collection of short stories, was officially launched at Albareh Art Gallery last Thursday (Sept 14) under the patronage of Culture & National Heritage under-secretary Shaikha May Al Khalifa. The event was also attended by US Ambassador William Monroe, British charge’ d’affaires Steve Harrison and other dignitaries, guests, writers, artists, fans, family and friends.  A book signing was also held at the Booksplus in Seef Mall on Saturday (Sept 16). This will be followed by another signing at Bookcase in Budaiya, on Wedesndary (Sept 20) from 5-6pm, and a reading at La Fontaine Art Center (Sept 27) at 8.30pm. All events are open to the public. Moments, the new critically-acclaimed, best-seller, is available from the venues mentioned above for only BD5 ($13.95).

Review by Sara Horton

Gulf Daily News 

This is Al Saeed’s third book and his first collection of short stories. The follow-up to his novel QuixotiQ features a varied menu of glimpses into other people’s lives.From the struggles of the depressed to the persecution of the innocent in times of terror on to fairy tales and romance, it certainly offers something for everyone.Short stories are excellent when you have little time to get into a book or simply want something to dip into when the mood takes you and this collection is no exception. It may have been written by a Bahraini and printed here, but its scope is far wider and is bound to appeal to readers of all nationalities. 

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE Author Prepares for book tour

MANAMA – August 30^th:

Albareh
Art
Gallery will host the official launch of author Ali Al Saeed’s new book, Moments, on September 14^th. The event will be held from 7.30pm at the gallery’s premises in Adliya.  

The event, held under the patronage of Cultural & National Heritage assistant undersecretary Shaikha May Al Khalifa, is expected to be attended by a number of officials, dignitaries, writers and artists and will celebrate the release of Al Saeed’s follow up to 2004’s debut novel QuioxtiQ, the first novel written in English by a Bahraini. 

The book launch will kick start a ‘mini’ book tour which will see the 28-year-old award-winning author appear in numerous book events including signings, readings and talks.  

These dates include a book signing at Booksplus, Seef Mall, on Saturday 16^th from 11am to 1pm and the Bookcase on

on September 20^th, from 5pm to 6pm; these will be followed by a reading at La Fontaine Art Centre on September 27^th, at 8pm. 

“I’m excited about this. I hope it will provide an opportunity for me to meet with the public and interact with them,” Al Saeed said, “I’m looking forward to see my readers response to the collection and the audio book,” 

Al Saeed’s stories are a wild hodgepodge of fantasy, horror, literary, children’s and adventure stories. They are broken into segments – across 224 pages - that celebrate life, dreams, love and growth.  

For more information on Ali Al Saeed visit www.alialsaeed.com. For more information on Moments visit www.momentscollection.wordpress.com

”I am not angry, just confused, devastated. Perhaps I even feel a little abandoned, by the one thing I took for granted. Today, I didn’t think that I would be going through what I am right now. You see, my closest uncle, Bob, has died. I always considered him to be like the big brother, or even the grandpa, I never had. What makes it worse is how he left us… He shot himself.”

You can now visit the new ‘Events’ page to learn more about the upcoming Moments Book Tour, with a number of events and appearances being lined up for the second part of September; starting with the launch ceremony on the 14th which will be hosted by the Al Bareh Art Gallery.

Other apperances will include book signings, readings and talks.

”Her hair was full and as golden as pure gold itself. Her body was fine and delicate, her face full of innocence and her eyes were like a pair of gorgeous diamonds; she was a virgin of love and beauty. She was the secret fantasy of every man and boy. On the island of ancient gods and religions, she was the angel of light. Her name was Gloss.”

The final touches on Moments have been made after spending next to three hours with the inhouse desinger/editor smoothing out all the rough edges on the cover and the inside text.

The cover looks pretty good and I’m happy with how its coming out. Today, I should get the final approval copy before it is send to the printers. Following the adjustments in margins, dimensions etc, the final page count for the collection will be 216 pages.

Watch out for a new press release coming out soon

”She sat alone in the dark silence of the night, on the wet sticky grass, looking up at the yellow crescent moon, thinking about the last twenty-four hours. She was thinking about what happened and what was supposed to have happened, thinking about the choices, the decisions, and about the actions, how they kept coming, flowing, spiralling out of control. She held back her tears. Or maybe there were no more to be shed. All the anger was fading. She was surprisingly calm.”

“The hotel room was spacious and perfectly arranged. The king-size bed sat to the right, faced by a television set. A thin leather chair sat behind an office desk a little to the left of that. To the right was the large window, which gave the room’s occupant a spectacular view of the world below. Between all of them there were spaces… empty spaces.”