Huda Hamed

Huda Hamed is an Omani writer and journalist, with a degree in Arabic literature from Aleppo University, Syria. She is the author of Namima Maliha [Salty Gossip] (Alintisha Alarabi, 2006); Laysa Beldabt Kama Ureed [Not Exactly As I Wanted] (Alintishar Alarabi, 2009); Alashiyaa Laisat Fee Amakinha [Things Are Not in Their Place] (Dairat Althaqafa Wal Ilam, 2009); Alishara Burtuqalia Alaan [The Signal Is Orange Now] (Alintishar Alarabi, 2013); Allati Ta’ud Assalalim [She Who Counts the Stairs] (Dar Alaadaab, 2014); Cindrellat Muscat [Cinderellas of Muscat] (Dar Alaadaab, 2016); Ana Alwaheed Allathi Akala Altufaha? [Am I the Only One Who Ate the Apple?] (Alintishar Alarabi, 2018); Asameena [Our Names] (Dar Alaadaab, 2019); Taammul Aldeb Kharij Ghurfat Almikyaj [Contemplating the Wolf outside the Makeup Room] (Alintishar Alarabi, 2020); and La Yuthkaroon Fee Majaz [They Are Not Mentioned in Metaphor] (Dar Alaadaab, 2022), long-listed for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. Hamed is the managing editor of Nizwa, Oman’s premier literary magazine.

Zia Ahmed is an American writer and translator. He lived in Muscat, Oman, for three years. His work has appeared in TMR, The Washington Post, Asymptote, Denver Quarterly, Sard Adabi and Nizwa, Oman’s premier literary magazine.

6 December, 2024 • Huda Hamed, Zia Ahmed

“Envy”—a story by Huda Hamed

The ambivalence that leads to the break up of a decade-long marriage must first face a mother's wrathful disappointment.

5 July, 2024 • Huda Hamed, Zia Ahmed

“Besara”—an excerpt from Things Are Not in Their Place

An excerpt from Omani writer Huda Hamed’s bittersweet coming-of-age novel about race and self in a new English translation by Zia Ahmed.