OUR BLOG

Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Why It Matters
May 19, 2022
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) takes place every year on the third Thursday of May. As the term clearly indicates, it is about making the web (and everything else) more accessible for all o…
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Head Above Water: Shahd Alshammari Exploring the Disabled Body
April 27, 2022
This week is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week which runs from 25th April to 1st May. It provides an opportunity to highlight what is often an invisible and misunderstood condition, currently affectin…
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In Conversation with Shahd Alshammari, author of Head Above Water.
April 19, 2022
From her research on illness narratives and disability studies comes a thoughtful reflection on a personal journey with Multiple Sclerosis. Kuwaiti-Palestinian author and academic, Dr Shahd Alshammari…
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What is Multiple Sclerosis, an insight into Shahd Alshammari’s Head Above Water.
March 18, 2022
Shahd Alshammari’s upcoming memoir, Head Above Water takes us into intimate conversations on illness and society’s stigmatization of disabled bodies. We are invited to ask the big questions about life…
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Female Authors and Characters that inspire us on International Women’s Day 2022.
March 8, 2022
This International Women’s Day we are spotlighting some of our favourite female characters and authors that inspire us. From Sara in The Three Hares: The Jade Dragonball to Pâtca in The Book of Perilo…
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Interview with Literary Translator James Christian Brown
February 21, 2022
To celebrate International Mother-Language Day we interviewed literary translator James Christian Brown. He tells us all about his journey into becoming a book translator, his recent work translating…
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Q&A with Doina Rusti, author of The Book of Perilous Dishes.
February 17, 2022
With less than one month until the publication day for The Book of Perilous Dishes, we wanted to celebrate by interviewing Doina Rusti all about her journey as an author, the inspiration behind this d…
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Coping With The Loss Of A Loved One This Christmas
December 13, 2021
There’s nothing quite like spending time with loved ones in the Christmas holidays. The festive season is for gathering together with family and friends. But for others, the holidays can be an incre…
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence
December 10, 2021
Over the last sixteen days Hira Ali has been sharing key tips on her Instagram (@advancingyourpotential) from her latest book Her Allies: A Practical Toolkit to Help Men Lead Through Advocacy. She’s u…
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2 Amazing Reads to Start a Conversation on the Environment Ahead of COP26
September 9, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought devastation to millions around the world, disrupting many parts of the global economy. During this time, governments have stepped up to protect our lives and liveliho…
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In Conversation with Tatti de Jersey
September 9, 2021
Tatti de Jersey has worked in children’s book PR for over 18 years. During that time she has worked for both traditional and independent publishers as well as a wide-range of authors such as Michael M…
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Find Your Perfect Summer Read with Neem Tree Press
August 24, 2021
Summer is the perfect time to catch up with that reading goal you set yourself all those months ago and whilst many countries have been added to the green list, still so few of us are able to travel a…
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In Conversation with Victoria Olajide
August 11, 2021
Victoria Olajide founded TVOTRIBE in July 2019, a Pan-African community building culturally aware creatives in Africa and in the Diaspora. Olajide started this venture on her own and has since expande…
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The Books You Should Read For Women In Translation Month! – August
August 9, 2021
August is Women in Translation Month (#WITMonth) – an annual celebration (which, if we’re being honest, might as well be yearlong for Neem Tree Press) of literature written by women that has been tran…
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In Conversation with Chris Moody
July 29, 2021
Chris Moody is the founder of Bang the Drum. He has over 35+ years of experience in publishing and has worked with some of the largest UK publishers prior to going freelance and moving to working with…
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In Conversation with Rumana Yasmin
July 15, 2021
Rumana Yasmin is the founder of BokBok Books, an independent book publisher specialising in both English and Bengali children’s books. Starting the company with no industry knowledge, Rumana’s journey…
Read moreIn the news
We love to read more about the topics our authors write about or just explore interesting news items! Here are some things that have caught our eye recently.

Between Illness and Exile in “Head Above Water”
Tugrul Mende reviews Head Above Water: Reflections on Illness.
Read more (The Markaz Review)
Shahd Alshammari will be at PRIMADONNA FEST 2022
The 2022 Primadonna Festival Lineup, including Shahd Alshammari, author of Head Above Water.
Read more (Primadonna Festival)
Author Profile – Shahd Alshammari
As a University of Kent Alumna, I studied English Literature with great faculty and scholars of literature. I was inspired by the various scholars I encountered and their research areas. At the same time, I always knew I wanted to write. I started writing poetry, fiction, and finally came to narrative nonfiction.
Read more (The University of Kent)
Shahd Alshammari in Conversation with Mikey Muhanna from Afirkra.
Shahd Alshammari talked about her work as a writer, academic, and researcher in the field of Gulf literature and disability studies with Mikey Muhanna from Afirkra.
Read more (YouTube)
France’s burkini ban affects all women – not just Muslims
In France last Tuesday, the country’s highest court voted to overturn a decision made in Grenoble, a city that contravened its burkini ban and permitted women to wear full-coverage swimwear if they so desired.
Read more (The National News)
‘Head Above Water’ by Shahd Alshammari – Book Review
Head Above Water is not a memoir but a reflection on illness and it doesn’t just focuses on the narrator’s journey but divulges into the stories of some of her students and peers whose lives have been affected by illness.
Read more (Nasher News)
How Workplaces Can Support Refugee Women
This article examines the challenges these refugee women face and explores strategies to help overcome obstacles and promote their integration into host country societies and labour markets. Team leaders can deploy the following strategies to lessen the sting of acculturative stress impacting immigrant women.
Read more (Ellevate Network)
5 Must Read Memoirs from Disabled Women
In Head Above Water Shahd Alshammari shares her experiences of MS as an Arab woman, confronting the intersection of culture, religion and disability with her personal narrative of illness.
Read more (Refinery29)
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