Her diary slowly grows into a chronicle of horror – but also a record of unimaginable courage.

“I will only believe what I see with my own eyes” – Samar Yazbek with that intent, begins her diary immediately after the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in the small town of Dara’a. In the Alawite community, she will henceforth be regarded as a traitor, vilified and threatened. Nevertheless, she goes boldly on the road, traveling through the country, writes down what she sees and hears. Again and again she get news of deaths, casualties, arrest of friends. She speaks with protesters as well as with police officers, interviews dissidents released from prison.

These posts are a little redundant, but I had to make three of them for the information to be really clear! Finally, Yazbek’s ‘In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries’ were acquired by Haus publishing, UK. The book is expected to be out in May.

German rights to Yazbek’s ‘In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries’ were acquired by Nagel & Kimche, Hanser. The book is expected to be out in March.

French house Buchet-Chastel acquired the rights to Samar Yazbek’s book ‘In the crossfire: Syrian revolution diaries’. The book should be out in the end of March.

Khaled KHALIFA Two days ago, Khaled Khalifa sent me his address below in Arabic. He needed it to be translated into French and English for starters. His aim was for it to reach as many people as possible. Less than 48 hours later, I find his address on @arablit’s blog, and I receive an e-mail from Transworld, his publisher in the UK. I know the internet sometimes makes wonders. But I’m still amazed at his voice being heard!