By Johanna McCalmont

This week we’re excited to celebrate World Kid Lit Co-Founder Marcia Lynx Qualey as she receives the 2024 Ottaway Award, a prize awarded by Words Without Borders (WWB) recognizing an individual whose work and activism have advanced WWB’s mission of promoting cultural understanding through the publication and promotion of international literature.

For many years, Marcia has not only been a passionate translator of all kinds of literature from Arabic, receiving several awards for her work, she has also found the time and energy to become a powerhouse behind many other initiatives promoting Arabic literature more generally. From launching the online magazine ArabLit in 2009, to recording the BULAQ podcast, co-founding World Kid Lit, and speaking at festivals, Marcia has tirelessly promoted the work of both Arabic writers and her fellow Arabic to English translators.   

“Marcia Lynx Qualey, and the wide network she has fostered through ArabLit, has had a huge impact on the amount and range of Arabic literature available in English today. We applaud her heroic efforts to bring greater exposure to today’s Arabic writers while cultivating emerging translators and critics.” Samantha Schnee, WWB Board Chair.

Ahead of the ceremony, Marcia took some time out to share a few thoughts with us on what it means to her to receive this prestigious award.  

WKL: What was your reaction when you first heard that WWB picked you for the award this year?

Marcia Lynx Qualey: So what I thought when I heard was, “Me?” After all, the projects I’ve started up are pretty modest—back when I was the main person behind the curtain WorldKidLit, it was nothing like the impressive, multi-pronged organization it is now! But that is another aspect of what makes WWB great: they are interested in these small projects that aren’t necessarily flashy or well-funded, but that are doing interesting things.

WKL: We’re all fans of WWB here at World Kid Lit, it’s such an amazing organization, isn’t it? What do you think makes it so special?

Marcia Lynx Qualey: Words Without Borders is a literary institution that I love, not just because of their interest in literature & translation, but because they are unassuming & good listeners. First, WWB puts the promotion of literature, writers, and translators ahead of their own branding, and second, I find they really listen to their authors, translators, and readers. Anton Hur had some great thoughts recently on social media about the benefits of staying small, and—even as WWB has grown—they have managed to stay small in the sense of being flexible, thoughtful, and in touch with their readers, unlike some lumbering literary institutions that seem to think only about their donors or their next grant application.

WKL: What sort of impact do you think an award like this has?

Marcia Lynx Qualey: I hope that if people see our small project being applauded, they will start their own! I was talking with author-translator-editor Ali al-Jamri recently about how ArabLit could support new small publications—and that’s something I’d really like to be able to do. 

WKL: And before you go, are there any great new Arabic books for children and young adults coming out in translation soon?

Marcia Lynx Qualey: Yes, Sawad Hussain and I are so excited for people to read Maria Daadouche’s YA novel Golden Eyes, coming next spring. Maria is a hugely talented, funny, insightful, and award-winning children’s book author in Arabic and it will be great when people can read some of her work in English. Of course I’m also excited about the third book in Sonia’s Thunderbird trilogy (for readers 8+) being out this fall.

The award will be presented by translator and writer Yasmine Seale at a ceremony on June 4 in New York City. A recording of the event will be made available on the Words Without Borders website. And read the WWB award announcement in full here.