Filipino authors Candy Gourlay, Kerby Rosanes in spotlight at Dubai Lit Fest

Among over 180 authors from more than 30 countries all over the world, two Filipinos brought their work to the “largest celebration of the written and spoken word in the Middle East”—the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Candy Gourlay and Kerby Rosanes joined fellow artists in celebrating the international culture of reading from March 3 to 11 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Rosanes, whose doodles can be seen in the collections “Animorphia,” “Imagimorphia,” “Mythomorphia,” and “Sketchy Stories,” showed off his talent at a live doodling session at the event.

 

From yesterday's live doodling @emirateslitfest ???? ????: @maaaemo #DubaiLitFest

A post shared by K E R B Y R O S A N E S (@kerbyrosanes) on

Mar 4, 2017 at 6:08pm PST

Read: Young artist Kerby Rosanes tells stories with doodles

Meanwhile, Gourlay, who penned the National Children's Book Award- and Crystal Kite Award-winning novel “Tall Story,” took pleasure in meeting young readers from Asia, Middle East, and Europe.

“I was so lucky to be invited to appear in this year's Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai this March. It is the tenth year of this festival which takes place over a whole month and includes everything from fringe musical performances to a massive contingent of authors from all over the world,” she said.

The proudly Pinoy author added, “A teenager in the signing queue told me it was the highlight of her year and the months couldn't pass quickly enough until the next litfest came along!”

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which has been held annually for a decade, aims to bring “people of all ages and backgrounds together with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and above all else, love of reading and writing.”

This year's festival was under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in partnership with Emirates and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News