The time is Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

This event will be video RECORDED for our archive. It will be uploaded in Qahwa Art Cafe YouTube channel.

Let's gather online to listen to the Muslim American Writers At Home (MWaH) Anthology launch reading. The writers of the book in Canada and US will be invited to read their poetry online.

I am very proud to announce that my poem "Alhuwiyya (The Identity)" has been published in the Muslim American Writers At Home Anthology by Freedom Voices Publications freedomvoices.org in San Francisco in the new year 2021. The book will be released in March 1st.

Also, we will enjoy a multicultural multilingual open mic poetry night. The theme of the open mic will be about Women's History Month. People read and sang before in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Tagalog, Irish and African languages.

You can read in any language and it is always good to read the English translation or summary of your poetry, share it in the Zoom shared screen or put it in the Zoom chat section for audience to read it.

Let us know if you are interested in getting feedback for your poetry from the audience. If you don't want to read about the theme, it is OK. You can read about anything you like. If you want to read poetry written by other Poets, it is OK.

If you don't want to read, it is OK. You can enjoy others poetry and cheer for them. If you wanna slam, rap, sing, play guitar or play any musical instrument you have, please do.

Every Poet/Performer is allowed for 3 to 5 minutes only. If there is still more time, we will go for a 2nd and a 3rd round. Let us know in which language are you going to read your poetry in the comment section bellow.

Please make sure to have a real profile name and a visible picture there to recognize you in the online event. Thanks!

I would encourage all participants to turn their camera on to know them. It is a social and networking event. Thanks!

Spread the word and tell your friends to join us.

Happy poetry sharing😊

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We are absolutely thrilled to inform you that the Muslim American Writers at Home (MWAH) Anthology is now available for pre-order!!

You can read more about the book and pre-order a copy from the publisher here:

http://freedomvoices.org/new/Muslim-American-Writers-at-Home

You can also pre-order copies from your local bookstore (if available):

https://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder

Or from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Muslim-American-Writers-Home-Diversity/dp/0915117320/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=muslim+american+writers+at+home&qid=1611550774&sr=8-1 (U.S)

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Muslim+American+Writers+At+Home&i=stripbooks&creative=330641&tag=x_gr_w_bb_ca-20&ref=x_gr_w_bb_sin (Canada)

If you're interested, other ways you can help support the book:

• Share this post!

• Request a copy from your local library.

• If you've read the book already, write a book review on Goodreads or on Amazon.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55812454-muslim-american-writers-at-home

• Tell others about the book via word of mouth, email, social media, etc.

• If you're an instructor, consider teaching Muslim American Writers at Home in your course ( the book is suitable for College and University level courses as well as High School)

• Let us know if you'd like to host an event or facilitate an interview with the editors/authors, or if you have any other ideas or suggestions for how to spread the word about Muslim American Writers at Home Anthology. Feel free to forward this message to others who might be interested.

Thank you so much for your time and support!!

***

Muslim American Writers At Home (MWAH) is an anthology comprised of stories, essays, and poems about identity, diversity, and belonging from North American writers who self-identify as Muslim.

Edited by Valerie Behiery, Kitty Costello, and Hanan Hazime, this timely collection allows us to hear firsthand the amazingly diverse voices of North American Muslim writers speaking for themselves. Stereotypes are overturned on every page.

Shaped by an impressive interweave of cultures, languages and ethnicities, these writers reflect on what it means to find home—especially when prejudices and distortions abound—and how powerful it can be to feel heard, recognized, welcomed.

They share their family lore, spiritual journeys, childhood dreams, memories of homes they left. They offer prayers for our world. They show us how astonishingly vast and varied Muslim American identity and experiences really are—from Miꞌkmaq Muslims to Muslims whose ancestors came on the Mayflower; from Indian Americans to American Indians, from Tunisian-Canadians to Puerto Ricans to Palestinians to Irish-American Muslims inspired to convert by reading Malcolm X, and more.

In this chorus of unique voices, there is a unity—whether Muslim-born or a convert, immigrant or North-America-born, a seasoned elder or a budding young poet, each writer invites us to fall in love with their humanity.

Advance Praise:

Muslim American Writers at Home is a compelling compilation that sheds light on the lived experiences of Muslims from diverse backgrounds, living in Canada and the U.S. Works like this are especially important in our current times as it is critical that Muslim artists take ownership of their own stories and narratives.

- GAMA (Gathering All Muslim Artists)

These authentic, diverse and multidimensional voices lift "layers of ignorance" about Muslims and Islam as they take us beyond and beneath the mainstream, fake narrative. Interweavers of creativity and spirituality, these Muslim authors, whether born in, brought to, or fled to North America, take us to their "real" world of being "racialized, minoritized, and thus dehumanized," via firsthand story-tellings of lived experiences, as we forge ahead toward understanding, faith, love, peace and justice, inshallah. An insightful, painful, impressive, hopeful read.

- Laila Hasib, Inked Resistance Islamic Publishing

At times heartbreaking and beautiful, and at times raw and unvarnished, this worthy anthology provides non-Muslim readers with the perfect antidote to the stereotypes that pervade popular media. This collection contains true gems.

- Graeme Truelove, author of Un-Canadian: Islamophobia in the True North

This anthology gives voice to diverse Americans and Canadians whose identities include being Muslim. These writings are moving, powerful, and a celebration of our common humanity. It is not a book to be read once and then stored on your library shelf. Rather, these stories should be shared and discussed with others so as to develop a greater understanding of the life experiences of North American Muslims

- Alia Hogben, Former Executive Director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.

These powerful, poignant, personal stories about being a Muslim in North America make for a compelling and very readable collection - one that cries out for our attention.

- Linda McQuaig, Canadian journalist & author

Upcoming readings & events:

March 23, 1-2pm PT (reading organized by Katie & Tehmina)

March 27, 7-9 ET @ Qahwa Art Café (reading organized by Ghadeer)

April 12, 7pm PT, featured readers at Bird & Beckett, plus open mic

May 12, 7pm PT, featured readers at Sacred Grounds, plus open mic

Other readings in the works through San Francisco Public Library and Canadian Council of Muslim Women.