Director: S. E. Jihad Levine (Sister Safiyyah) Assistant Director: Mahasin D. Shamsid-Deen Secretary: Balqees Mohammed Financial Officer: Linda D. Delgado (Sister Widad) Marketing Officer: Zabrina bint Abu Bakar Legal Officer:Deborah McNichol (serving in a non-voting, advisor capacity)
Each of these elected positions of the Board of Directors is on a volunteer basis.
Work for Hire Positions –
Sister Umm Junayd bint Naeem is the Editor in Chief of Islamic Ink, IWA’s quarterly magazine, as well as Web-Admin for the IWA’s official website: www.islamicwritersalliance.net
The Poetry anthology Many Poetic Voices, One Faith produced by IWA and published by MWP (Muslim Writers Publishing), was published and released in August 2009. Complimentary copies (one each) were sent to the contributing authors, illustrators, and other professionals who made this anthology possible.
The Islamic Fiction anthology Many Voices, One Faith II-Islamic Fiction Stories was published and released during the month of October 2009. Contributors’ complimentary copies were sent to those authors and artists that contribute to its completion.
For more information on both anthologies and directives on how to purchase, log onto the IWA website: www.islamicwritersalliance.net, or go directly to the publisher: www.muslimwrietrspublishing.com. You may also contact any of the IWA Board directors for information on purchasing.
For those outside of the USA or having an international shipping address, you will most likely need to make your orders via an international retailer. Listings should be available through Amazon as well as other various international booksellers.
Although books will not be sold or distributed on consignment, retailers are eligible for a 40% discount off list price, which is $8.95.
For those interested in advertising the books on your sites or blogs, contact Sr. Zabrina, IWA Marketing Officer, to attain the new IWA logo/banner and jpg with text for the anthology for addition to your site.
Orders from buyers and retailers can also be obtained and referred back to the IWA or MWP for sales.
IWA Catalog:
A comprehensive listing of all participating IWA members who have paid for advertisement for their inclusion, this catalog is an excellent additional marketing tool at a reasonably low price for all and any members interested in being included in future updates It is also an excellent and helpful marketing tool to have on hand when visiting bookstores, schools, educational professionals, or anyone else who you are interested in raising interest with for the presence and purpose of the IWA.
For those interested in downloading a printable version, please contact the IWA Marketing Officer, Sr. Zabrina or the IWA Director, Sr. Safiyyah.
501C3 Non-Profit Status & Administrative Measures
As of September 11, 2009, the IWA achieved non-profit status, and is now officially known as Islamic Writers Alliance, Inc.
Two of the first and foremost benefits of this status means that the IWA will be able to open a checking account in its name rather than having its funds in a private account of the name of any one of its members. It also means that the IWA will be able to have its own paypal account, enabling members and customers to take care of their financial dealings with the IWA directly online through the secure paypal system.
IWA Website
The IWA website has much to offer all in the form of information about the IWA present and past, as well as the various products and services available through this international group of professionals dedicated to producing and dispersing quality Islamic Literature.
IWA members and associates-do not miss out on this grand opportunity for yourselves in the form of some free and some very nominally priced advertising opportunities. For the members, there is free of charge the chance to publicize your talents via the Members’ Page venue. Attention Associates: this is a great incentive on its own to become a due-paying member. There is also the Bookstore, which is a listing of those published authors desiring this additional spotlight to showcase their work. In addition, there are pages to update you on the history and evolution of the IWA, as well as regular monthly updates concerning important news as well as updates to the members’ pages.
Islamic Ink is the quarterly published online magazine showcasing both IWA talent as well as news and updates of the organization, available for subscription via the IWA website: www.islamicwritersalliance.net.
Two Important Notices of Organizational News:
IWA WebAdmin Position vacated: Sis Umm Junayd announced, in mid-December, her resignation from the position of WebAdmin, to take effect as of January 1, 2010. The announcement of the vacancy was immediately posted to the IWA egroup, giving IWA members first priority in applying for the position, before announcing it to the general public in search for a competent Administrator for the IWA’s website.
Position swap of two Board members: Due to complications from health problems in addition to increasing responsibilities elsewhere, our Director, Sis Safiyyah, was pressed to regretfully resign from her position as IWA Director. In attempt to remedy this situation, at least temporarily, and to give a sense of continuity to the organization, Sis Widad, IWA Financial Officer and past Director, offered the possibility of the two persons simply switching positions. This offer was accepted by Sis Safiyyah, and agreed to by the remainder of the Board members, under the legal guidance and advice from Sis Deb, IWA Legal Advisor. Hence, the result being that Sis Widad will now officially become the Director, while Sis Safiyyah will become the Financial Officer. This will be represented officially in next month’s report.
IWA Member News & Accomplishments:
Linda D. Delgado,( Sr. Widad), wrote an article for her monthly FOCUS column, FOCUS: “Reflections-A Decade Being Muslim”, which will be published in print and on line in the January 2010 edition of the Crescent Times-Australia.
Linda D. Delgado, publisher and owner of Muslim Writers Publishing, www.MuslimWritersdPublishing.com, is pleased to announce that MWP books will be listed and available with a new Muslim wholesaler, IMC Books at www.Imcbooks.com
Linda D. Delgado, author of the award winning Islamic Rose Books series is pleased to announce that the Managing Director of Bangkok Crescent Co., Ltd and owner of Lana Publications-Thailand, is reviewing the 4-book youth Islamic fiction book series for consideration of translation and republishing of the series. Discussions are underway for contract terms and the publisher stated the goal is to have the books translated, published, and available for schools in Thailand by May 2010.
In December, Sr.Enith Morillo became part of the Associate Editors team at the popular online publication AltMuslimah.com, which is currently featuring a series of articles written by her on Corrupt Scholars.
Sr. Marwa Elnaggarlaunched her blog, Writer, Reader, Chocolate Eater, at http://marwaelnaggar.wordpress.com. She also finally got herself a Twitter account and invites all members to join her at @marwame.
Br. Yousuph Ola Abdl-Azeez joined the IWA during the month of December 2009, after the invitation by Sr. Widad. Although his more formal training is in Food Technology and Television Journalism, he began his own writing career in 2000, publishing his first story My Little Angel in December 2002, going on to publish an Islamic short story The Obedient Faruq in 2005, with the sequel in the following year. He currently has 20 self-published books to his name, and the first of the Islamic Short-stories was adapted to a home movie.
In addition to all of this, he has organized an Award Ceremony Program for School Chidren, distributors, retailers and more, on December 20, 2009. This is an ongoing and growing project in Nigeria working towards the promotion of literacy. To learn more about his organization and work, visit: www.crescentaward.blogspot.com
Sr. Brandy Chase tells us of her great strides in promoting literacy and encouraging reading among adults and children alike. During the month of December 2009, she personally hosted a group of approximately 8 women and 15-17 children, all muslims, for a Poetry and Book Party, which she reports was a fabulous success, encouraging her to doing more such activities in the future. In preparation for the Party, each woman invited was told to bring any two topics, either an Islamic book or a poem, which they were to share during the session. The children were involved also by being told to bring along with them one topic for sharing. The Party began with the children doing their sharing before being allowed to go off to play while the mothers then took their turn at reading the poems or sharing the essence of the books that they brought along. As she plans to host more similar Parties in the future, she will tell us more of the progress and development as things arise.
On a second note, Sis Brandy also tells us of her plans in creating an Islamic Bookstore in UAE, which she plans to call The Crescent Pen Bookstore & Café. After doing much research, she has found a definite niche and need for such a business, and hopes to make a successful go of it. We are looking forward to hearing more good news from Sis Brandy on the developments of this venture. To learn more about this, you can view her blog at: http://americanmuslimawriter.blogspot.com/2009/12/crescent-pen-bookstore-cafe.html
Sr. Saba Nagashitells us about a contest her business is sponsoring, which is an attempt to involve young muslim artists from around the globe.
Do you like to draw? Art is a wonderful way to express ones creativity. If you like to draw, then this contest is just for you. Family Reads is hosting an art contest featuring local masajid around the world. Young artists, you are invited to participate in the contest by submitting hand-drawn or computer drawn illustrations of the local masjid you attend. Please include a 50-100 word description of your masjid, ie name, location, history, what makes your masjid unique or special. Winning art work will be featured on Family Reads. Please send submissions to familyreads@ymail.com and type "My Masjid art contest" in the subject line.
Sr. Balqees Mohammed, IWA Secretary, published author and experienced editor, is pleased to announce the completion of a second editorial review of the novel manuscript she previously reviewed, this time the editing was of the ‘artistic style’, as per request of the author, rather than the regular editing for spelling, grammar and punctuation.
She also completed a rush-order editing of a manuscript of over 30,000 words, which was a translation into English from Arabic, of a recently written book explaining in the simplest possible way the manners and etiquettes of those setting out on Hajj or Umrah or simply a visit to the two holy mosques. This particular editing job was a double-load, due to the need for translation abilities in comparing the original Arabic book to what had been translated, finding many various mistakes and areas which needed adjustment, in addition to the regular editing particulars of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
During the month of December, she also established her own website as well as officiating her presence in the business world, offering her services online to the worldwide audience.
Her monthly article on Islamic Awareness was published at www.islamunveiled.org, under the title of “Knowledge and Islam”, which she intends to expand upon and continue for next month as well.
In the meantime, she is working on her own manuscript of a non-fiction book she hopes to get to publishing sometime in 2010. More on this as the work develops.
We are working to make Taalib al-Ilm Educational Resources publications available through distributors worldwide. As such, we now offer quantity discounts worldwide including North and south America, Europe and UK, Africa, and Asia, on all quantity purchases by individuals, masjids, Islamic centers, local study groups, Muslim homeschooling groups, conference vendors, and retail stores. Additionally, there is now a standard "New Book Release Discount" valid only for the first two weeks following the release of a new book, which is an additional 10% off that new title purchased during its first two weeks after initial publication."
For details, please email Sr. Safiyyah Jihad Levine privately at Jihadlevine@yahoo.com and she will provide you with contact information and discount table. They further announce:
"Publication Contributors" Additionally, in an effort to further expand our publication library, we are seeking contributing authors, translators, and compilers with beneficial works of any area of Sharee'ah knowledge for submission of their works for potential publication by us. authors, translators, and compilers receive a CONTINUING PAYMENT OF 50% of the profit from their published work, as opposed to a single payment compensation."
IWA Members - please contact Sr. Safiyyah privately for above if you are interested. There is a referral bonus for individuals who refer a new distributor or publication contributor to them of $25 PayPal payment upon a confirmed contract with a publication contributor or receipt of a newly referred distributor's initial order at the 40% discount level. Sr. Safiyyah has pledged any funds she would receive as bonus for referring people to them to be donated to the benefit of the IWA, but you must go through her as stated above, for any of this to happen.
If you contact them directly, please mention that you were referred to them by Safiyyah Levine and give them my email address Jihadlevine@yahoo.com
I personally own most of the titles offered by this company. I can attest that their books are of extremely high quality and benefit. All knowledge is from Qur'an and Sunnah, free of innovation, deviation, etc. Members familiar with the Salafi Dawah are probably aware of this company.
One of the things I love about them is that they have published one of our best female Salafiyyah students of knowledge, Umm Mujaahid Khadijah Bint Lacina. A unique accomplishment, Masha Allah, for the sister, may Allah (swt) reward and protect her/Ameen.
Reminder for WebAdmin: The deadline for "in-house" applicants is rapidly approaching (1/4/10). At that time, we will be seeking outside applicants.
If you're interested, please apply!
Membership Update:
Members: 61 (1 honorary), total members 60
Associates: 36
Total: 96
Report Prepared and Posted by:
Balqees Mohammed
IWA Secretary 2009-2010
January 5, 2010
