Mohamed Shalabi, Writer to Writer Mentee, Awarded Go Finish Your Book! Grant
The Association of Writers & Writing Programs is thrilled to announce Mohamed Shalabi as a recipient of the Go Finish Your Book! Grant, a brand-new initiative from James Patterson. With the help of partner organizations like AWP, the Authors Guild, and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Patterson has awarded grants to a dozen promising new writers, allowing them to dedicate the time and resources needed to bring their stories to life. This initial funding round is part of an annual campaign designed to eliminate some of the financial barriers that prevent talented writers from finishing their manuscripts.
Shalabi worked with mentor Neil Connelly as a fiction mentee in fall 2017 through the AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program. “When James Patterson’s team approached AWP for a partnership, we were delighted to extend this application opportunity to AWP members who had participated in any season of Writer to Writer,” said Micaela Tore, AWP’s program manager. “The Go Finish Your Book! Grant and AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship Program share a common goal of supporting emerging writers, so it seemed like a natural fit.”
In addition to financial support, winners will receive mentorship opportunities, resources, and encouragement from Patterson and his publishing partners. This initiative continues Patterson’s long-standing commitment to championing emerging voices, expanding access to storytelling, and investing in the future of literature.
Patterson personally knows the importance of being able to carve out time and space to do this hard and rewarding work and how difficult it can be for many writers to reach the finish line. We are so pleased to join forces with Patterson in a shared effort to support writers at every stage.
—Michelle Aielli, Executive Director of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs
AWP would like to extend a huge congratulations to Moe Shalabi on being selected for this exciting new grant. We are grateful to James Patterson and his team for the opportunity to partner with them on this initiative, and we are excited to see how this campaign takes shape in the future.
More About Shalabi & His Project
Mohamed (Moe) Shalabi is a Palestinian American author of speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror), a neuroscientist, and a former educator. His writing appears in multiple literary magazines, such as NonBinary Review, Reed, HyphenPunk, and Superstition Review, as well as the book Passport of Witness. His short story “Palestina” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Additionally, Shalabi is an alumnus of multiple writing workshops, including the Tin House Writers Workshop. When he’s not working on his multiple manuscripts, Shalabi does professional development in Washington, DC. He is represented by Kat Kerr of the Donald Maass Literary Agency.
Shalabi describes his winning science fiction project BY JOVE as “Black Mirror meets Severance. In a near-future world where technology can preserve and manipulate memory, Dalia, a young neuroscientist, joins Jove, a powerful corporation at the forefront of this revolution. What begins as a dream job quickly unravels into a labyrinth of secrets, blackmail, and buried family truths. As she delves deeper into the company’s hidden agendas, Dalia is forced to confront the dangers that can reshape both history and humanity itself.”
When asked about what this grant will mean to him and his writing, Shalabi said, “This grant provides me with the support and flexibility I need to continue developing my manuscript while balancing the demands of a full-time position in Washington, DC, and aiding my family that recently closed their business. It allows me the time and focus to nurture this project and others waiting in the wings and move them closer to completion. I am extremely grateful to Mr. James Patterson and his team for this wonderful opportunity. Just as importantly, it gives me the opportunity to bring Arab stories to the forefront of speculative fiction, amplifying voices from the MENA region while offering fresh perspectives to the genre.”