Hala Saadani – Editor

I have recently joined the team of TLC Middle East which provides a dedicated manuscript assessment service tailored to writers from the Arab world, writing in English, who are based in the Middle East. My focus with TLC Middle East is children's, middle grade and YA fiction

Responsible for seeking out new authors, illustrators, and translators,
review all titles to be acquired by my division for translation and/or publication,
working closely with Sales team to direct acquisition in line with our market,
provide mentorship to first-time authors in order to refine their work for publication,
developed a database of authors, illustrators, and translators
currently acting head of English Publishing division (adult books in English, fiction and non-fiction).

GIZ was working on a great project to rehabilitate the Old City of Damascus, working out of a 200 year-old house right in the heart of the town. From here I worked on project publications, including editing a number of children's books designed to enhance awareness of water conservation, and two larger-scale studies about the conservation of ancient buildings in the Old City. The academic nature of the books took a bit of getting used to, but I had minored in Islamic Architecture, and my passion for the subject was rekindled during these editing tasks.

For new arrivals to Canada, familiarization with their new way of life sometimes takes years; this is especially the case with women who leave very traditional societies where their access to information is limited. The CCMW undertook a project to provide these women with information about the rights accorded to them under Canadian Family Law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in their native languages. I served as consultant editor on the original English text and on the accuracy of the Arabic portion. Because I was in charge of the Arabic, which is the language of the Quran and the main Shariah texts, this was a very intricate and enjoyable project because there were corrections and edits to be made in both languages.

Over the years I have provided various editorial services to a very interesting range of clients. A lot of people came to me to access the bi-cultural and bilingual input that I am uniquely positioned to offer; so I have been asked to check a lot of publications (and video scripts) to ensure flow, consistency, and cultural sensitivity.