A fantasy world born in Bahrain: Eva Shafiee publishes debut novel

TDT | Manama

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At just 13 years old, young Bahraini writer Eva Mohammed Shafiee began working on what she assumed would become another unfinished childhood story. Instead, years later, that imagination turned into Mystical Realms - her first published fantasy novel in English.

Now 18 and a university student, Eva is part of a growing wave of young Bahraini creatives finding their voice through storytelling. Published by Austin Macauley Publishers, 'Mystical Realms' reflects not only fantasy and adventure but also the thoughts, emotions and experiences that shaped her upbringing.

The story follows a ragtag team of five who join forces to stop a magical corruption spreading across their land, facing unexpected challenges and twists throughout their journey.

“When I first wrote Mystical Realms, I didn’t really expect it to go anywhere,” Eva said in an exclusive interview  with The Daily Tribune.

“Seeing it now being published is like a dream come true for me.”

Creative Roots

Eva's love for storytelling began early, fuelled by books, films and TV shows - especially The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer, which she says deeply inspired her as a child. Together with her younger sister, Eva often created characters and unfinished plots, unknowingly laying the foundations for her future as a writer. 

Many of the characters in Mystical Realms were shaped by real life emotions and relationships, she explained.

“Whether it’s on purpose or not, the people you know and the experiences you’ve gone through are always going to bleed through into the things you create,” Eva told TDT.

“For example, Gabriella was based on the kind of person I wanted to be when I grew up - someone kind and caring, but willing to stand up for what she believed in.”

“Molly and her brother were inspired by my relationship with my own siblings at the time. We used to fight a lot growing up, but eventually became much closer.”, she added. 

Next Chapter

Beyond publishing a novel at a young age, Eva hopes her journey sends a larger message: fantasy stories and imaginative worlds can also emerge from Bahrain and the Gulf region.

“Most of the creators I grew up watching or reading were from places like the US or the UK,” she explained. “I wanted other young people from Bahrain to see that someone from here can create something special too.”

Eva is already working on her next project, a fantasy series blended with sci-fi elements - proving that for this young  Bahraini  author,  Mystical Realms is only the beginning.