Arab American Book Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 17 (2023) Winner
Chelsea Abdullah
チェルシー・アブドゥラ
Chelsea Abdullah
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- Kuwait
- Nationality
- Kuwaiti-American
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Kuwait (birth and upbringing) → United States (study and residence)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, novelist
- Active Years
- 2022-
- Influenced By
- One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights), Emirati folk tales and oral traditions
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne University | — | English | 修士（英語） | — | United States |
| University of Colorado Boulder | — | Information not specified | 学士 | — | United States |
Duquesne University
English
Degree:
修士（英語）
Country:
United States
Earned an MA in English
University of Colorado Boulder
Information not specified
Degree:
学士
Country:
United States
Completed undergraduate studies (major not specified in sources)
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Stardust Thief
2022 Fantasy (One Thousand and One Nights-inspired)Set in a One Thousand and One Nights-inspired world where jinn are persecuted and hunted for their healing blood and enchanted relics, the novel weaves stories within stories to create a sense of mystery and enchantment.
oral storytellingjinn and persecutionhealing and sacrificestories-within-stories
The Ashfire King
2025 Fantasy (series sequel)The second installment following The Stardust Thief; part of an intended trilogy. Detailed plot information is limited in available sources.
continuation of seriesmythic elementspower and relics
Bibliography
- The Stardust Thief (2022)
- The Ashfire King (2025)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lush, descriptive prosestories-within-stories (nested narratives)
- Recurring Motifs
- use of oral traditionblood and healing as motifsthe presence of jinn
Legacy
Noted for incorporating Middle Eastern oral storytelling and folk tales into modern fantasy; praised for lush descriptions and skillful narrative structure. Anticipation remains for the completion of the planned trilogy.
Quotes
-
“Lush descriptions bring the setting to life and create a sense of mystery and enchantment.”
Source: Publishers Weekly (review) (2022)
Trivia
- She is a Kuwaiti-born Kuwaiti-American author.
- Her debut novel The Stardust Thief was published in 2022.
- Her work is influenced by the Arabian Nights and Emirati folk tales.
- The Sandsea Trilogy is planned as a trilogy; the third volume has not yet been published.