Q&A with Samah Kamil
Please welcome guest columnist Samah Kamil to our Featured Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. Enjoy!
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About Samah Kamil
Samah Kamil is from Saudi Arabia, born in Jeddah.
She’s a freelance artist and Mangaka (Manga artist.)
She has a Master’s degree from the College of Art and Design from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, with a specialization in drawing and painting. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Art from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. She’s participated in many art events and competitions, and was the first Saudi awarded with a Master’s in research about Manga Art.
On to our interview!
Q: Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write.
A: Samah kamil from Saudi Arabia, I was born in Jeddah. I am a Freelance artist and Mangaka (Manga artist) I am a researcher, I did a Masters on Manga Art. I can’t say that I am a writer because both my two published books are the summary of my Master’s research.
Q: How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!
A: It all started when I was a teenager, when I first watched Pokémon Anime on TV. Then I started to draw manga character and Anime. I felt that I wanted to be a Mangaka (Manga artist and writer).
Q: What are you most passionate about?
A: I am most passionate about art. I can express myself through drawing and painting. Sometimes a song, a movie and even words inspire me to draw anything.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?
A: As I said before, I am a researcher. All I need before I start researching or writing is a quiet environment around me, a cup of coffee, and a piece of chocolate.
Q: What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.
A: People who don’t understand these types of books (Manga stories). Unfortunately some people have a shallow look of Manga and comics because of the drawings. They think it’s only for kids to read, but actually Manga is for all ages, even adults. Even people such as businessmen have Manga books for them. So all you can do is to convince them about your story, and that drawings add more creativity to it.
Q: What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?
A: I haven’t written fiction yet, but all I need is to read more about it so I can write one in the near future.
Q: What’s next for you in your creative work?
A: I am thinking about making my own Manga story (drawing and writing) in an Arabic modern way for all ages and cultures.
The Art of Manga
Manga Art is from Japanese comics, a social phenomenon that covers all topics of Japanese stories, like social issues, historical stories, and science fiction. Manga Art is a culture that points to different ages — men and women from a young age to adults.
The book is available in the Jarir bookstores in all Saudi Arabia, Virgin mega store in Dharan and Jeddah, Ithra store in Dharan and in the khayal website.
Connect with Samah Kamil
Website: https://artistsamah.wixsite.com/myportfolio
Twitter: https://twitter.com/artist_soosa?s=08
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/artistsoosa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samah-kamil-18568133
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artistsoosa
