Bahraini Best-selling Author Wins Online Award

Ali Al saeed, author of the best-selling novel QuixotiQ, won the 2004 BABA Award for Best Bahraini Blog.

MANAMA (PRWEB) February 3, 2005 -- Ali Al Saeed, the national best-selling author of QuixotiQ, the very first novel written directly in English by a Bahraini, received an award for the best on-line journal.

Alis QuixotiQ Writings", the official online-journal of Al Saeed, won the 2004 Best Bahraini Blog Award at the very first Best Arab Blog Awards (BABAs).

The awards, to be held on an annual basis, were created by well known Bahraini web-loggers Mahmood Al Yousif and Haitham Sabbah, with the aim of celebrating the finest and best of blogs" from around the Arab world. There were around 30 different categories to compete in for the BABAs.

Al Saeeds online journal, which he created last year to coincide with the publication of his debut novel, was voted as the Best Bahraini Blog for 2004 by visitors to the awards official website. The results were announced yesterday (Feb. 1)

In the journal, the former GDN and Bahrain Tribune journalist speaks about his life as an Arab, Gulf writer emerging into the English Literature scene, his thoughts on the craft and experience in the publishing industry. He also drops light on the literature, art and cultural movement in Bahrain in particular and the Arab world in general.

This is really the icing on the cake!" the 27-year-old author said, 2004 has been a tremendous year for me in terms of my writing career. But its always been a result of the continuous support I got from the public,"

Al Saeed thanked the creators of the BABAs and all those who voted in the awards and those who supported him in his journey to become an established published writer on the loca, regional and international level.

I started the journal as a way of keeping tap on my writing and simply talking about my book and my stories. The response from the public over the past six months or so has been fabulous,"

Ali Al Saeeds debut novel, the critically-acclaimed thriller QuixotiQ, was released in Bahrain late October through Booksplus, and has received a positive response from the public, locally and internationally, ever since it was published.

I hope this award will interest more people in the novel and in my writing" Al Saeed added. The important this is for the rest of the world to realize that the Arab world has outstanding intelligent and creative talents,"

Currently Al Saeed is preparing a collection of short stories for publication later this year and planning for more promotional activities and public appearances in the near future.

QuixotiQ is available from Booksplus or through any of the major online bookstores.

Those who wish to get more information about Al Saeed and his work can log onto the official website at www.quixotiq.bravehost.com where theyll find news updates, excerpts, synopsis and book reviews as well as the authors online writing journal.

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