Interlink Publishing

With a call to “raise the voice of peace and moderation and reinforce the call for peace and prosperity” through the dissemination of knowledge, the 2016 Sharjah International Book Fair was underway. These words from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, leader of Sharjah (one of seven emirates in the UAE), resonated with the four NYU MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media students sitting in the audience for the opening ceremony. With peace and the sharing of knowledge in mind, fellow students Marina Salamon, Bernadette Deron, Eric Greene, and I spent our six-day trip fully immersing ourselves in the fair’s goals of bridging countries and markets to foster understanding.

Center for Publishing Director Andrea Chambers (far left), Professional Programme faculty Seth Russo (far right), and M.S. in Publishing student volunteers with author Dan Brown (center) at the 2014 Sharjah International Book Fair — Center for Publishing Director Andrea Chambers (far left), executive education program faculty Seth Russo (far right), and M.S. in Publishing student volunteers with author Dan Brown (center) at the 2014 Sharjah International Book Fair

A sea of sheikhs in white robes and a moonlit dinner served from gold tureens on a rooftop terrace: that marked our last night in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, where four NYU M.S. in Publishing: Digital and Print Media students, Jessica Lei, Allie Levick, Kevin Murphy and I were fortunate enough to have attended the 33rd annual Sharjah International Book Fair. When we embarked on our six-day journey, we had no idea we would have the chance to attend a dinner presided over by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. Nor did we know we would pose for a photo with bestselling novelist Dan Brown, who attended the fair and gave a keynote address broadcast all over the Arab world.