On the 'write' path

The perks and perils of being Dana Alblooshi, one of the region's youngest published authors

The walls at the entrance of the Alblooshi residence in Al Furjan can be intimidating. Dotted with photographs of teenagers Adeeb and Dana - the Emirati teenagers, who have captured the imagination of the world with their respective achievements - they reflect on the promise that both siblings have shown at a young age. At the age of 15, Adeeb has already invented a prosthetic foot and an automatic vacuum cleaner. Dana was all of nine when she trained with NASA. At 13, she is one of the youngest published authors in the region, having penned 13 Amazing Women of Arabia - a book that, as the title suggests, is an ode to women achievers in the Middle East.
Of all the distinctions that both Alblooshi children have earned over the years, Dana's achievements in fields as diverse as the science and arts have been admirable. And while Adeeb continues to be the more popular of the two (through the course of our conversation, Dana insists that it is him who prepared her for 'stardom'), she is slowly and steadily carving her own niche. At a time when the young are believed to not read enough, writing a book would seem like an achievement. It is, however, just a page in Dana's scheme of things. It was a fate that she was waiting to embrace.
"The first time I realised I wanted to be an author, I was in first grade," she recalls, as we settle down for a chat on a hot Saturday afternoon. "We used to do this thing in primary school called Big Write, where we would be given topics to write on. I am still not sure what exactly I wrote about, but I used some words that first-graders normally wouldn't use. My teacher was fairly impressed. But the next day, my parents got an email from my teacher asking them to meet her. I got scared and thought I may have done something wrong. It was only later that my mother told me that she was all praises."
This small anecdote offers an insight into the person that 13-year-old Dana is - poised, even self-assured, but not without her vulnerabilities, much like any other teenager. In the publishing world, Dana may just be one-book-old, but the very act of penning something that celebrates trailblazing women speaks about a maturity that's beyond her years. Fortunately for Dana, she also had the opportunity to meet some of these trailblazing women. "It took me about six months to finish," she says. "I have looked up to these women; I aspire to be like them. Some were well-known, but not all. I just wanted the spotlight to be on them."
Today, Dana has become a prominent name in the literary circles of the UAE, routinely talking about her book at events such as Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. She reveals that she doesn't feel intimidated. "I am just fortunate enough to be a part of this community. Authors, who have written amazing books, come up to me and ask if I am Dana. They already know me, and it makes me proud," she concurs.
The world of a 13-year-old is not one with many ambiguities. Neither is Dana's, and this reflects throughout the conversation. This is also largely due to her parents, who have always offered space to their children, even when they made mistakes. "My brother and I were raised in a certain way," says Dana, as she admits mostly standing by her brother's side since he is the better known of the two. "My father (Sulaiman Alblooshi) had always told us to do whatever we wanted to do. Even if we wanted to take out the garbage, they would support us. It's largely been an open-minded household."
It is this open-mindedness that took Dana to NASA. "There was an age requirement for it, but I told them that age cannot, and should not, limit our dreams. I was determined to go to NASA and told them that even if they'd give me one chair outside the room, I'd still sit and learn." No wonder then, Dana is most excited about the UAE's space mission. "It's one of my biggest interests, and it's nice to see my country moving towards that direction."
If social media following were to be a measure of one's achievements, it could be said that Dana has left an imprint there as well. Commanding a following of 18,000+, one wonders if she has ever faced any embarrassment online. "I don't post anything that can be remotely offensive. Social media can be a toxic space, but my page is clean," she says, adding that she focuses on content that relates to her work.
A sense of normalcy is the first casualty of celebrity. Dana and her mother Farida, who is seated right opposite us, are aware of the perks and perils of being in the limelight. Farida insists that while it's good to be spoken about, she is careful not to let her children get carried away or work round-the-clock for it. "As a mother, I have my worries. If she has even a bit of a cough, I wouldn't want her to attend an event." She is quick to add that if, today, she is comfortable being in front of the camera, it is because of her brother's achievements. "I would be in a stroller when my mum took me out to attend Adeeb's events," she laughs. "So, I guess I was always prepared for it."
"You see these medals and achievements," says Dana, pointing at the walls of fame. "I am able to do this because I don't miss out on anything. I do feel pressured from time to time, but I read a book and I am back to being normal. Ordinarily, kids my age would play video games, I guess. I have always been taught that there's time for everything. When my dad was growing up, technology hadn't evolved so much. There weren't any electronics."
Her first book may be out on shelves, but, for now, Dana is concentrating on her writing. One of her interests is in supernatural stories. "My mother and I watch a lot of supernatural dramas. So, I tend to write a lot about those things." Cue taken!
anamika@khaleejtimes.com