twofour54 creative lab launches first publishing projects on the occasion of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

Abu Dhabi, April 29, 2013 (WAM) - twofour54 creative lab has entered into partnerships with two UAE-based businesses who are leading experts in their respective fields of publishing, Rufoof and Midas Consulting. Rufoof is the first-of-a-kind e-content store application, offering thousands of Arabic books and publications covering various fields. Midas Consulting is a twofour54-based publishing expert, working with some of the largest organisations in the field of international publishing. The partners will be working jointly on bringing several Arabic publishing projects to market. This announcement marks an exciting step forward into a new sector of the media industry for twofour54 creative lab, complementing twofour54 creative lab's various other talent development initiatives. This entry into the world of publishing, and the collaboration with Rufoof, means that twofour54 creative lab can provide talented Arabs with a digital platform to promote their literary ideas, offering creative lab projects a dedicated bookshelf, while Rufoof will benefit from exposure on twofour54 creative lab's social media and online channels. The partnership with Midas Consulting ensures that commercially viable publishing projects are supported with industry publishing expertise and are represented to national and international markets in the best way possible. The announcement, which coincides with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair held between April 24 and 29, highlights twofour54 creative lab's continued support of the broad range of talent needed for the sustainable growth of the media industries in the Middle East and North Africa, in the key field of writing, so important for the development of the creative industries. twofour54 creative lab's first project with Rufoof is an Arabic e-book titled Before Sunrise' by Iraqi authors Jenan Alwan and Naba Abdel Amir. The book, which is about a group of young people trying to save the world from an evil force, was chosen by twofour54 creative lab for its fantasy literature appeal and for the authors' potential to become known contemporary writers. The book's cover was designed by Emirati illustrator and creative lab community member, Noura Al Mazrouie. Before Sunrise' is available for download on Rufoof and has already received 291 downloads since being uploaded in February 2013. The next publishing project in partnership with Rufoof will be with Maitha Al Khayat, the well-known and bestselling Emirati author of I Love My Dad's Long Beard' and My Own Special Way.' The new interactive digital children's book titled I Love My Mom's Pretty Veil' will show the beauty of different veils across the Arab world and will soon be available in English and Arabic on Rufoof. This is Maitha's first e-book and was chosen for its ability to engage children interactively through its rhymes, colourful illustrated costumes and culturally relevant to young Arabs. twofour54 creative lab's first project with Midas Consulting is the development of a boxed set of four inspirational children's stories by Jordanian author Aroub Soubh. These will be produced through the participation of young cancer patients. The book, which Midas Consulting featured at the London Book Fair in the UK, will be published in Arabic and English and will be accompanied by an exercise book that allows children to create their own story books as part of this series. It hopes to instil in them a passion for storytelling. The next project in the pipeline with Midas Consulting is a compilation of short stories from 10 different writers from across the GCC. – Emirates News Agency, WAM