Join Read & Run Chicago guide and Associate Professor at Valparaiso University George Potter for an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), 4-mile guided run in Bridgeview, a Southwest Chicago suburb with one of the highest concentrations of Palestinian Americans. Inspired by Sahar Mustafah's coming-of-age novel set in fictitious Tempest, Illinois, The Beauty of Your Face*, you'll discuss the novel and learn about the real-life situations facing Palestinian-Americans in the Chicago suburbs highlighted in the text, including domestic and international migration and post-9/11 surveillance of Palestinians in Chicago. Following the route, we'll meet with author Sahar Mustafah at Al Bawadi (7216 W. 87th, Bridgeview) for an intimate meet-and-greet. Light bites are included in the ticket and additional food will also be available for purchase.

A portion of all ticket sales will be donated to humanitarian relief in Gaza.Register here!

Join us as we welcome Palestinian American authors Sahar Mustafah and Hannah Moushabeck to the store for an enlightening conversation on the power of writing as a form of resistance. Mustafah, the daughter of immigrants and author of the critically acclaimed The Beauty of Your Face, explores themes of identity, displacement, and resilience. Moushabeck, a second-generation Palestinian American and award-winning author of the picture book Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine, co-runs Interlink Publishing, the only Palestinian-owned publisher in the United States. Together, they will discuss how their writing serves as a powerful tool for challenging narratives, inspiring change, and honoring the rich history of Palestine.

We’ll excavate our origin stories in a 90-minute session of guided writing. Registration requires proof of minimum of a $20 donation to HEAL Palestine. 100% of proceeds will go directly to this non-profit organization to support humanitarian relief in Gaza including medical treatment abroad in the United States for children of Gaza.

This virtual workshop is ideal for new and beginning writers—everyone is welcome! A signed copy of The Beauty of Your Face giveaway and other raffle prizes!

Once you’ve completed the form, you will receive a Zoom link 24-48 hours before our session.

An online writing workshop for new and emerging writers sponsored by The Center for Fiction. Please register here.

Sahar Mustafah will join other Chicago creatives and Justice 4 Palestine at NEIU, a student-led group, for a concert to raise funds for organizations that are providing relief to the people of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Palestine. Specifically, we have chosen to uplift Darfur Women Action Group (Sudan), Friends of the Congo, and Pious Projects (Palestine).

Gather for an event for the community, by the community in an effort to raise funds for Gaza. Profits and proceeds from the event will be donated to Pious Projects Emergency Relief Fund for Gaza.

Center Stage - A Literary Mash Up - Presented by The Guild Complex, Hypertext, and RHINO Poetry. Featuring Nazifa Islam, Sahar Mustafah, Cheryl Dyer, Luis Tubens, Timothy David Rey, and Jameka Williams. Emceed by Virginia Bell, Andrea Change, and Chris Rice. 

Join Sahar in a virtual conversation with afikra, a grassroots movement that evolved into a global media and educational platform focused on the history and culture of the Arab world. RSVP

“2022 is the year of new vision for life and for work. Join us this spring as we explore what it means to deepen the work we’re already doing and reimagine what it means to be women writers and creatives. We’ll talk craft, explore new ways to gain inspiration and of course go in depth on the work of revision.

So come re-vision yourself (and your writing) this spring at the 2022 conference.” HerStry

In this workshop, we will explore ways of re-entering our stories, as well as strategies to expand characters and scenes in meaningful ways. We will also examine the roles trauma and joy play in shaping our narratives and bridging the distance between writer and characters. With the aid of mentor texts and hands-on application, participants will generate new writing to support current projects or discover leads to new ones. Register here.

A reading and Q&A with Columbia College alumni hosted by

https://colum.zoom.us/j/97135416758

Meeting ID: 971 3541 6758

Passcode: ECW

Join us for a roundtable chat with local author Sahar Mustafah! She will discuss her critically acclaimed book, The Beauty of Your Face. Read the book ahead of time and bring your questions to the chat.

Join Sahar Mustafah as she reads from and discusses her novel. Register here for this free virtual event.

Contributors will read from their published work alongside celebrated Chicago author Sahar Mustafah.

Sahar Mustafah will be moderating a Q & A with writer Marda Dunsky about her new book Stories From Palestine. Registration is free.

Join Sahar Mustafah for a writing workshop "Origin Stories” Exploring How Our Character’s Past Shapes Present Action , as part of Hypertext Magazine & Studio’s Writing Project Series. New and emerging writers welcome.

Sahar Mustafah will be in conversation with Al-Bireh Society and fellow Palestinian American author Nasser Nabhan. Join here.

Join writers Susan Muaddi Darraj and Sahar Mustafah in conversation about Minor Detail, the critically acclaimed novel by Palestinian author Adania Shibli. Her book was a 2020 finalist for the National Book Translation Award and long-listed for The International Booker Prize. Minor Detail is this year's One Book, Many Communities selection by Librarians and Archivists with Palestine. Celebrate by reading the book and joining the discussion.

The most compelling stories center conflict and trauma. But characters don’t lead single-layered lives and even fictional ones deserve moments of joy to expand their complexity as human beings. How can you meaningfully develop a nuanced character who experiences both pain and pleasure?

Imbuing joy into your character’s life should not be intrusive to plot, but a facet to engage your audience on an intimate, familiar level, as well as provide an authentic balance to conflict. Through memoir-based strategies, participants will be able to infuse the element of joy to enrich character intricacy and plausibility.

Author Sahar Mustafah will guide participants through techniques to effectively unearth and incorporate joy in stories. This class will include close readings of model excerpts, a writing exercise, craft discussion, and Q&A.

Join Sahar Mustafah among 50 writers, poets, artists, and translators to discuss World Literature Today’s historic “Palestine Voices” Issue. Read Sahar’s short story “The Bodies” included in this special issue.

Join Sahar Mustafah for a celebration of books, writers & literary excellence.

Join Sahar Mustafah for a reading & conversation with activist Linda Sarsour on Islamophobia in America. Tickets & registration required.

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Bookie’s in Homewood and meet the author!

Sahar Mustafah will be in conversation with Macarthur Fellow poet and translator Khaled Mattawa. Free and open to the public with registration.

Six authors on stories that come from homelands outside of the United States. Free Registration.

Join Sahar Mustafah in a reading and panel discussion hosted by The New York Writers Workshop.

Join Sahar Mustafah and StoryStudio for our (first ever!) Staff & Faculty Reading. Get to know the staff and new members of our team + trivia & prizes.