Julia Johnson creates a literary world as bright as Dubai’s sun
UAE culture, heritage strong components of the stories she writes for children
British expat Julia Johnson came to live in Dubai with her husband Brian in 1975. It was a thirst for adventure that brought the couple to Dubai. Johnson has lived every bit of that adventure in Dubai with her family and decided to pen children’s stories with UAE’s rich culture and heritage as the background.
Her first book The Pearl Diver was published in 2003 and is now part of the curriculum of primary schools in the UAE and the Gulf region.
“I spent my early life in drama and the performing theatre. I acted in several plays and it was a natural progression to start writing,” said Johnson speaking at the opening ceremony of the 16th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2024 being held at the Dubai Festival City.
Why children’s book
About 22 years ago, Johnson decided to start writing books. And she decided to pen children’s books with a focus on UAE culture and history.
“I want to arouse children’s curiosity and interest, their desire to find out more. When you arrive in a new place, it’s natural to want to find out about it, to understand it. It’s important for all of us to appreciate and
British expat who came to Dubai with her husband Brian in 1975
respect and celebrate local culture and traditions. Stories help us understand one another.”
She recalled she did considerable amount of research before publishing her first book.
“I met an old man who was a pearl diver and got to understand more about his profession,” she recalled.
Johnson said she showed her story to Isobel Abulhoul, trustee and chief executive at the
Emirates Literature Foundation. “She read the story and said a publisher would be interested. I met the publisher who liked my story. The rest is history as they say.” Johnson said after her first book was successfully published she wanted to write more.
I want to arouse children’s curiosity and interest, their desire to find out more. When you arrive in a new place it’s natural to want to find out about it, to understand it... Stories help us understand one another.”
Other notable works
The Goat Who Wanted To Fly is a heartwarming tale of a young goat’s perseverance in pursuing her dream of flying. In The Turtle Secret, 10-year-old Hessa embarks on a mission to save turtles.
Johnson received the Best International Children’s Book award at the Sharjah International Book Fair twice, for The Turtle Secret in 2014 and The Secret of The Cave in 2019. The Leopard Boy earned a Kirkus star. Her first collaboration with illustrator Maitha Al Khayat, Aisha’s Pearl was published in 2022. Their second book, Aisha’s Cake, released in 2023, is showcased at the Emirates LitFest 2024.
Julia Johnson |