Book Talk with Palestinian-American Playwright and Author Betty Shamieh

Please join the Arab American Cultural Center for an evening of fiction filled with lively discussion, humor, and book reading with Betty Shamieh, Palestinian-American award-winning playwright and author and Grace Redman, Palestinian-American entrepreneur, executive coach, speaker, author, and podcast host.

Betty recently launch her debut novel, Too Soon, an important book for Palestinians—and for broader audiences—because it explores Palestinian identity, trauma, resistance, and diaspora through a deeply personal and artistic lens. Too Soon is an exploration of the lives of three generations of Palestinian Women.

Too Soon amplifies Palestinian Voices, centering Palestinian characters in Western literature, where they are often marginalized or misrepresented. By doing this, Betty contributes to a growing body of work that insists on Palestinian presence and complexity in global conversations.

Too Soon delves into how trauma—especially from war, displacement, and occupation—passes down through generations. For Palestinians, this resonates deeply as many live in exile or under occupation, carrying the psychological weight of their people's ongoing struggle. This novel allows for a more humanizing and nuanced portrayal of Palestinians—not just as victims or political symbols, but as individuals with full emotional and intellectual lives.

Many Palestinians live outside of Palestine, in the diaspora, and Too Soon gives voice to that experience—how it feels to grow up with an inherited identity shaped by both belonging and displacement. This dual perspective can foster empathy and understanding between generations and across cultural divides.Too Soon contributes to the cultural and political movement of telling untold or suppressed histories, reminding readers that art is a powerful form of political engagement.

Following the discussion, Betty Shamieh will be personally signing her book. Order your copy today to ensure arrival by June 8th: https://bookshop.org/p/books/too-soon-betty-shamieh/21534158?ean=9781668046548&next=t

Suggested event donation: $15-$20. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Co-sponsored with:

• Ramallah Club of San Jose

Bios:

Betty Shamieh (she/her) is a Palestinian American novelist, screenwriter and playwright. Her debut novel, Too Soon, was selected as a PEOPLE Magazine's Book of the Week and an NPR Book of the Day. Too Soon is a February 2025 Indie Next Pick and featured as one of the Hottest Debut Novels of 2025 in Goodreads. Her six New York play productions include the off-Broadway premieres of Roar and Malvolio, a sequel to Twelfth Night, which were both New York Times Critics Picks. A graduate of Harvard College and the Yale School of Drama, Shamieh was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and named a UNESCO Young Artist for Intercultural Dialogue. She is currently the Mellon Playwright-in-Residence at the Classical Theatre of Harlem and working on a tv pilot based on Roar with support from Pop Culture Collab. www.bettyshamieh.com

Grace Redman is a Palestinian-American entrepreneur, executive coach, speaker, author, and host of the Real Talk with Grace Redman podcast. With over 25 years of business and life experience, she brings wisdom and warmth into every conversation and connection. Real Talk with Grace Redman showcases voices from her community—sharing powerful stories of perseverance, growth, and meaningful impact. DareToAchieve.com

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