Launch of SEVEN HEAVENS AWAY - Ashraf Zaghal (with Saeed Teebi)

Another Story Bookshop, House of Anansi, and Toronto Lit Up present the launch of Ashraf Zaghal's Seven Heavens Away!

In this taut and heartbreaking debut novel, a Palestinian teenager comes of age amid escalating violence in Jerusalem. After their friend Hassan is killed by an Israeli, Aziz and Mustafa are shaken to their core, drawn into the orbit of Hassan's father-a respected community leader known for his charity and fiery speeches-as they grapple with grief, guilt, and an uncertain future. As Aziz's forbidden feelings for Dafna, a Jewish girl, deepen and his mother searches for a way to secure his safety, he's forced to confront painful truths about loss, survival, and what it means to find hope amid the ruins.

Ashraf Zaghal is a Palestinian Canadian author who was born and raised in Jerusalem. He has published four poetry collections, and his work has been translated into English, French, and Hebrew. He is an editor of an online magazine focused on progressive literature and translation. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia.

Saeed Teebi is an acclaimed writer and lawyer. His newest book, You Will Not K*ll Our Imagination: A Memoir of Palestine and Writing in Dark Times, was released in September 2025. His debut short story collection, Her First Palestinian, was a finalist for several awards, including the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Prize. His other writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail and The New Quarterly, and was a finalist for a National Magazine Award.

This launch is catered by Palestine Bakeshop! Their mission is to preserve endangered Palestinian cuisine and contribute to the preservation of the identity, history and culture of the people of occupied Palestine. They offer a delicious menu of Levantine cuisine, desserts and baked goods.

This launch event is part of the Toronto Lit Up programme, which is designed to spotlight new works and empower Toronto's writers. Toronto Lit Up is funded by the Toronto Arts Council and spearheaded by the Toronto International Festival of Authors. You can learn more about the programme and upcoming events at FestivalOfAuthors.ca/torontolitup.

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