A young Bahrain-based author is set to celebrate the first anniversary of her literary platform this New Year, reaffirming her commitment to supporting writers in the kingdom and beyond.
Indian expatriate Farah Naaz, aged 18, launched the Literaire Milestone Book House in India, in February, this year and has so far completed 62 projects, including publishing, marketing, author branding, and other creative collaborations.
A former Ibn Al Hytham Islamic School student, Ms Naaz faced numerous challenges when releasing her first novel – a journey that inspired her to establish the publishing house. Today, she hopes to help fellow wordsmiths bring their stories to life.
“When I began exploring publishing, I realised that self-publishing resources in Bahrain were extremely limited,” Ms Naaz told the GDN.
“Initially, I assumed local printing shops handled book publishing, but through research and trial, I learned the entire publishing process independently,” she added.
“Many publishers demanded high fees without offering value or transparency. These experiences motivated me to take control of my work and build my own publishing path.”
After extensive research, the creative talent from Gudaibiya released Just a Flight Away last year and received a ‘warm’ response, selling more than 250 copies so far.
Just a Flight Away is a tender, cross-border love story set between Bahrain and India. It explores love that survives distance, cultures, and personal struggles, capturing the emotional reality of relationships shaped by migration.
“The book reflects longing, hope, and the quiet strength required to hold on when love is separated by borders, but never by the heart. Growing up between India and Bahrain gave me a unique perspective, which naturally found its way into my stories,” added the young entrepreneur, who has been living in Bahrain for the last 14 years.
Additionally, Ms Naaz has written two self-help titles Dumbass to Kickass – Uncensored and Unfiltered (2024) and Not My Circus Always My Monkeys (2025), both of which draw from her experiences and observations.
“The first poems I wrote started as a school project, but writing soon became a passion rather than an assignment. My teachers were extremely supportive of my interest in writing and my mother has always been my biggest support system, standing by me through every phase of my journey,” she noted.
Her mother Sultana Badar runs a cafeteria in Gudaibiya, which she manages with her husband Shaikh Lutuf Bakhs, who previously worked with Bahrain Airport Services.
Ms Naaz added that she wants to pay it forward by helping other writers realise their dreams.
Other authors’ titles that she has launched through her literary platform include Book of Nightmares by Masih Rahmani, Super Nine vs Ghosts of London by Mahidhar KSS and When Sakura Blooms by Nikhil Sampath.
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The cover of a book published via Literaire Milestone Book House
So far, Literaire Milestone Book House has published the works of writers primarily from Bahrain and India, as well as some from Kuwait and Europe. There are plans to expand and set up another base in the kingdom in the New Year.
“My publishing platform supports both e-book and print editions and we are also preparing to expand into audiobooks, with plans to begin releases from 2026,” revealed the aspiring marketing enthusiast, who has plans to pursue a degree in the subject next year.
Speaking of her writing goals for the New Year, Ms Naaz said she is currently working on a rom-com fiction novel that is set to hit the shelves in March 2026.
“At present, I have taken a one-year academic gap to focus on building my writing and publishing journey,” she added.
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