Diaa Jubaili is from Basra, Iraq. He has published six novels and two collections of short stories, and his story “The Worker” was included in the anthology Iraq + 100: stories from a century after the invasion. He can be found on Twitter and Goodreads.
We would like stories that are joyous, horrific, hopeful, despondent, powerful and subtle. Write something that will take our breath away, make us yell and cry. Write unapologetically in your local patois and basilects in space; make references to local events and memes to your heart’s content. Write something that makes you laugh and cry. Indulge in all the hallmarks of your heritage that you find yourself yearning for in speculative literature, but know that we will not judge you based on your authenticity as a Southeast Asian.
