An author has described how reading and storytelling became a source of personal freedom during a childhood marked by bullying, shaping both their relationship with literature and the themes explored in their fiction.

According to the author, childhood experiences often left them feeling constrained and unable to experience the sense of ease and security they sought in everyday life. They said that books provided an alternative space in which they could exercise imagination, process difficult emotions and engage with experiences that felt inaccessible in their immediate surroundings.

The author said reading offered opportunities that extended beyond entertainment. Through stories, they found what they described as freedom, allowing them to explore emotions and perspectives that were difficult to express elsewhere.

Literature became a place where they could confront the effects of bullying and reflect on the fear those experiences created.While acknowledging the negative impact of being bullied, the author said those experiences also prompted them to seek broader intellectual and emotional horizons.

They noted that bullying narrowed aspects of their world by creating fear and limiting confidence, but at the same time encouraged them to pursue new forms of connection and understanding through books and storytelling.

“Being bullied forced me to find ways to make my world bigger,” the author said, describing reading as a means of expanding opportunities for imagination and self-discovery.The experience has continued to influence their professional work.

The author said their writing is informed by the books that provided comfort during challenging periods of their life. They aim to create stories that offer readers a similar sense of support and encouragement, particularly those who may be facing difficulties of their own.

According to the author, an important objective in their fiction is to produce narratives that balance realism with optimism. They said they understand the significance of finding books that connect with readers’ experiences while also providing reassurance and hope. That perspective has become a guiding principle in their approach to storytelling.

The author’s latest novel, described as a contemporary retelling of Little Women, provided an opportunity to explore themes related to family life and motherhood. Through the process of developing the novel, they examined their own ideas about parenting and family relationships, using fiction as a framework for reflection.

They said imagining and fictionalising what motherhood might feel like proved to be a significant creative experience. Writing allowed them to engage with questions and possibilities that had not been available to them in childhood, offering a space to explore different aspects of domestic life through narrative.

The author characterized the process as personally meaningful, explaining that fiction enabled them to revisit forms of imaginative play that had been difficult to access when they were younger. Storytelling, they said, created opportunities to engage with family dynamics and personal relationships in ways that extended beyond their own lived experiences.

According to the author, one of the defining qualities of fiction is its ability to create encounters with different people, perspectives and communities. Through writing, they said they are able to inhabit a variety of worlds and experiences, broadening their understanding of human relationships and social realities.

This capacity for exploration remains central to their understanding of literature. The author suggested that stories serve not only as vehicles for entertainment but also as mechanisms for connection, empathy and discovery. By creating fictional characters and settings, writers are able to investigate experiences that may differ significantly from their own.

The author’s comments highlight the role literature can play in helping individuals navigate difficult circumstances. Reading provided a means of coping with feelings of isolation and fear during childhood, while writing later became a way of transforming those experiences into creative work.

In both cases, stories functioned as a means of expanding possibilities rather than accepting limitations.The relationship between personal experience and creative expression is evident throughout the author’s account.

Experiences of bullying shaped the search for refuge in books, while those same experiences later influenced the desire to write stories that offer encouragement and understanding. The progression from reader to writer reflects an effort to recreate for others the sense of possibility that literature once provided.

The author emphasized that stories have the ability to meet readers at particular moments in their lives. For individuals facing uncertainty, loneliness or adversity, books can provide both recognition and perspective. That belief informs their commitment to producing fiction that is accessible, uplifting and rooted in human connection.

Their latest work continues that approach by examining themes of family, care and belonging through a contemporary adaptation of a well-known literary text. By reimagining elements of Little Women, the author sought to engage with enduring questions about relationships, identity and the meaning of home while also incorporating their own reflections on motherhood.

Throughout the creative process, the author said fiction offered a space where imagination and personal experience could intersect. Through storytelling, they were able to revisit aspects of childhood, explore alternative possibilities and engage with lives beyond their own.

For the author, that process represents one of literature’s most enduring strengths.The author said that reading first provided the freedom they struggled to find elsewhere, while writing later became a means of extending that freedom through stories designed to offer comfort, understanding and hope to others.

Running through January 15, the festival offers daily programming from 4 p.m. to midnight, blending heritage, modern cultural expression, and interactive experiences that honor writers, readers, and creative minds across generations.

The festival spans four main sites — Aldarb, Almatal, Alfanaa, and Alsarh — and includes over 270 events, comprising 176 cultural activities, 84 theatrical performances, seven musical and poetry evenings, and 45 literary and artistic works, creating an immersive experience for attendees.

Interactive platforms, storytelling sessions, and hands-on workshops provide opportunities for children, families, and literary enthusiasts to engage directly with authors, illustrators, and publishers, enhancing participation and learning.

Approximately 42 publishing entities from both domestic and international markets participate, showcasing contemporary literary releases and facilitating exchanges between readers, writers, and the publishing industry.

Programs such as Al-Fina’ zone’s “Between Reality and Imagination” combine visual storytelling with animated narratives, guiding visitors through creative journeys and exploring Arab and global literary dimensions in an engaging format.

The festival highlights Taif’s designation as the Kingdom’s first UNESCO Creative Cities Network literature city and reinforces the city’s role as a hub for cultural exchange, creative discovery, and literary innovation.

It encourages the development of reading culture and fosters interaction among writers, readers, and thinkers, promoting intellectual growth and cultural enrichment while offering recreational and educational experiences for attendees.

Participants can enjoy diverse events, from theatrical performances to poetry evenings and interactive literary workshops, all designed to celebrate creativity and provide accessible opportunities for audiences to connect with literature.

The festival also serves as a platform for Saudi and international creatives to exchange ideas, discuss literary trends, and explore innovations in publishing and storytelling, enriching the broader cultural ecosystem.

Visitors benefit from exposure to contemporary literature across multiple domains, including literary, intellectual, and knowledge-based works, while interactive zones and workshops provide opportunities to engage with content in hands-on and immersive ways.

By combining cultural programming with recreational experiences, the festival promotes lifelong learning, artistic appreciation, and cross-generational engagement in a dynamic, festive environment.

Attendees can participate in interactive storytelling sessions, educational workshops, and creative demonstrations, allowing young audiences to explore literature while encouraging adults to deepen their engagement with contemporary and classical works.

The festival reinforces the role of literary events in fostering a strong cultural identity, encouraging dialogue, and promoting appreciation for literature as an essential aspect of modern life and societal development.

Through a diverse range of events and activities, the Taif Festival creates a vibrant, participatory environment for literary engagement, cultural exchange, and creative expression for residents, visitors, and literary enthusiasts alike.

The festival’s programming emphasizes accessibility, inclusivity, and creativity, highlighting the value of literature and reading culture as vital components of community enrichment and cultural development.