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. Contributers’ 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/distributors.
Although books will not be sold or distributed on consignment, retailers are eligible for a 40% discount off list price (list price $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.
IWA Membership News & Accomplishments:
Sr. Linda D. Delgado, owner of Muslim Writers Publishing (MWP), announced the publishing and release of the publishing house's 22nd print book: Many Voices, One Faith II - Islamic Fiction Stories. The 236-page anthology priced at $12.95 a copy reflects the very diverse writing styles and cultures of the 30 contributing Islamic Writers Alliance, Inc.’s contributing members. The book cover art and interior black & white illustrations are also the work of IWA contributing members.
Linda D. Delgado wrote an article for her monthly FOCUS column in the Crescent Times Newspaper-Australia. The article titled, FOCUS: Are You Too Busy? will be published in the November 2009 Anniversary Edition of the Crescent Times. This article and more can be viewed at the paper’s website: www.crescenttimes.com.au.
Linda D. Delgado wrote about her life as a writer, earliest memories about wanting to write and why she continues to write (and publish) Islamic fiction. Included are some little-known things about her life and writing. Sister Umm Juwayrriyah requested the 'story' as part of a university research project she is completing about Islamic fiction and Islamic fiction writers. Umm Juwayrriyah is the author of the Urban Islamic fiction novel published this year by MWP, The Size of a Mustard Seed. She is also a well-known poet and spoken word artist...and a member of the Islamic Writers Alliance.
Linda D. Delgado completed MWP's 2009 publishing year and is grateful to Allah for the opportunity she has had to have worked with so many talented, creative, and fine Muslim authors and book industry professionals this year and during the past four years. All 11 authors published by MWP are IWA members. Having published 22 print books, 13 ebook novels, 3 Arabic translated ebooks and 6 teacher study guides for 6 MWP published Islamic fiction novels, the future of MWP continuing to publish in 2010 remains uncertain. Many thanks to all the readers who have bought books giving support to MWP books and authors and to those who have helped along the bumpy road of publishing and trying to sell Islamic fiction books to Muslims.
Linda D. Delgado, as publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing, is happy to announce sponsorship of the Miftaahul Uloom Academy, Union City, New Jersey school book fair scheduled for the first week in December 2009. A copy of each of the MWP published books have been donated to the school's library and will be on display at the book fair. The PTO members will be taking book orders in the weeks leading up to the book fair. Money raised through book sales will be used to help support school projects/needs for our Muslim students.
On October 22, Sr.Jamilah Kolocotronis gave a presentation about Islam at Berea College of Kentucky. This activity was organized by the Berea MSA during their Islam Awareness Week
IWA's Director, S. E. Jihad Levine (Sister Safiyyah) read her paper, "The Role of the Prison Chaplain in the AOD Forensic Therapeutic Community" at the annual conference of the Pennsylvania Prison Chaplains Association. Sister Safiyyah is currently putting the finishing touches on the paper for submission to a professional journal.
Sister Safiyyah was also notified by Church Women United that she, along with Rabbi Nina Mandel, will be receiving the Human Rights Award at their 2009 "Seeking Shalom" celebration in November. The Human Rights Award recognizes individuals from all faith perspectives who work for peace in some manner in their local communities.
In October, IWA's Legal Advisor, Sr. Debora McNichol, had an article published in the Crescent Times, and wrote two pieces for CT's November anniversary issue. One of those pieces is an editorial response to a critic of the paper and of Debora's controversial October article. The other article is an appeal to Muslim readers to support Muslim media in the West. These articles are posted on her blog: www.MuslimahConfessions.blogspot.com.
Obama's Credbility Problem
Letter to Mr. Thompson
Plug for Muslim Media
Debora is finally using Twitter! If you'd like Debora to follow you, or you'd like to see posts relevant to business, copyrights, books, and the occasional 140-character movie review, hook up to her! Her user name is DebMcNichol.
Alhamdulillah, Debora and several other Muslimahs in her community attended the first Triangle Area Professional Muslim Women Association (TAPMWA) in Raleigh, North Carolina. Debora remains impressed and thankful for the large number of talented, educated, and pious Muslimahs in her community.
The goals of TAPMWA, insha Allah, include acting collectively in improving the perception of Muslim women in the eyes of the general public. The group also aspires to provide mentors for the burgeoning numbers of young Muslimahs in the area who find themselves wanting to train for professional careers, but lack Muslim influences to lead them in the right direction. May Allah make the TAPMWA and Muslims strong and successful, insha Allah.
Debora posted several articles on her business blog this month, which include commentary on the Federal Trade Commission's new guidelines. These guidelines address blogger-advertiser relationships and truth in advertising. Bloggers who receive advertising dollars or merchandise would do well to read up on the Guidelines, before they come into effect in December, insha Allah. A link to the FTC's Guidelines is available at Debora's blog: http://MacksBiz.wordpress.com/
Sr. Balqees Mohammed, IWA Secretary and published author, announces that she has only recently finished yet another major editing project in association with the Dawa and Translation offices of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The 285+ paged manuscript that she edited was Human Rights by Jamaal al-Din Zarabozo. Information on when it will be available for viewing will come in a future edition.
She is currently working on editing another manuscript, which is a novel, as well as working on some of her own writing as well.
Sr. Balqees has also written her monthly article for the local southern chapter of the Dawa & Communities Centers of Saudi Arabia, in affiliation with and under the supervision of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Islamic Affairs. This month’s article is titled “Hastening to do Good”, and can be viewed at: www.islamunveiled.com.
In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness month, Sr. Enith Morillo created and launched a new blog for the Healthy Families Initiative, a program of the Rhode Island Council for Muslim Advancement. The blog features her writings on the development and most recent events of this initiative. For more information, please visit http://healthyfamiliesinitiative.blogspot.com.
Enith Morillo has also introduced a personal blog, with original writings and photography. A work in progress, you can visit her blog at http://cygnusoliloquy.blogspot.com
Last but not least, Enith's Islamic fiction story "The blessing of hope" is featured in the newly published book of the Islamic Writers Alliance Many Voices, One Faith II: Islamic Fiction Stories.
Mambership Update:
Members: 57 (minus one deceased) total: 56 Associates: previously 38, one unsubscribed, total 37 Total: 93
