Sharjah – The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), currently underway at the Sharjah Expo Centre, continues to bring together writers from around the world who believe in the power of storytelling.
Among the featured voices is Jeffrey Manson, author of the bestselling Hear Your Story series.
Manson says storytelling traditions in many African cultures remain rooted in communal memory and lived experiences.
“I believe in Africa, there’s still a deep appreciation for storytelling… where grandfathers and grandmothers and fathers and mothers are telling their stories.”
Manson sees families as the place where identity takes shape through shared memories, recipes, and lessons.
“Everyone has an amazing life story… and it’s meant to be preserved.”
His message fits well with this year’s theme, “Between You and the Book,” which conveys the idea that the space between a person and their story should never feel distant, and that writing is the bridge that brings personal history back into view.
When asked whether this is his first visit to Sharjah, Manson smiles and responds: “It’s my first time in Sharjah”.
Manson adds: “It’s my first time in the UAE. It’s my first time in this part of the world.”
He spoke with admiration about the atmosphere inside the Expo Centre.
“Westerners forget that this is where medicine began, this is where math (s) began, this is where literature began,” Manson stated.
“I’m in love. It’s the atmosphere, the people, the kindness, the generosity.”
The scale of the fair and the enthusiasm of young readers made a strong impression on him.
“There’s such a love for books here. You come in during the day and see all the kids arriving in school buses… all for books.”
Earlier in the week, Manson visited a local school and met a group of middle-school learners.
“It was about 80 kids, seventh through ninth grades. The kids had so many amazing questions,” he recalled.
“They love words, they love reading… they love stories. It was just so exciting to talk with them.”
Manson’s first book, Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story, began during a painful moment in his family.
“I never intended to write a book,” he reveals.
“My father was going through Alzheimer’s in 2019, and I just wanted to know him as a boy, a teenager, a man in love, heartbroken, successful, and struggling.
“So one night, I wrote all these questions in a spiral-bound notebook.”
By the time he was ready to ask the questions, his father could no longer respond.
“He was already too far gone,” lamented Manson.
“So I talked to my mom, my uncles, my aunts, and his friends.
“And the more I knew about my dad, the more I saw how we were alike.”
“My father was going through Alzheimer’s in 2019, and I just wanted to know him as a boy, a teenager, a man in love, heartbroken, successful, and struggling.
“So one night, I wrote all these questions in a spiral-bound notebook.
“My journals are full of writing prompts that you give to your mother, your father, your grandmother, your grandfather… to help them think back on their life, write about it, and then create this wonderful heirloom preservation of their story.
“I purposefully start with easy questions to kind of trick you into writing.
“As the pages progress, the questions deepen, guiding the writer through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, parenthood, and the many moments in between.”
Even with the growth of digital journalling, Manson holds on to his love for handwritten stories.
“There’s something sacred about handwriting. I have recipe cards from my grandmother,” he says.
“When I cook with them, it feels like she’s there with me.
“That’s what I want for others, that sense of presence.”
Today, the Hear Your Story collection includes titles for parents, grandparents, couples, and even pet owners.
The books are available in several languages, including Spanish, French, Greek, and Polish.
Manson has spent more than two decades helping individuals, couples, businesses, and organisations reach their goals, strengthen their relationships, and create meaningful change.
His work now centres on writing, publishing, and supporting people who want to tell their stories.
The Sharjah International Book Fair, which opened on Wednesday, November 5, will run until Sunday, November 16.
For more information, visit www.sibf.com
