CREATIVEPORTLAND ME

84 Free Street | Portland, ME | 04101 | 207-370-4784 | info@creativeportland.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 4, 2020

BOOK LAUNCH - Reading & Book Signing
Indigo Arts Alliance
Wednesday March 11
5:30-7:30pm
60 Cove Street, Portland, ME 04101

MOUNTAINS WITHOUT PEAKS - by Kifah Abdulla
On Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30pm, Indigo Arts Alliance, Creative Portland, Greater
Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, Office of Economic Opportunity, and Gateway
Community Services are co-hosting a book launch for Kifah Abdulla's new
self-published book, Mountains Without Peaks (2020) at Indigo Arts Alliance, 60 Cove
Street, Portland. Rising Tide and Coffee By Design are co-sponsors.

In August 1990, after 8 years in prison in Iran, Kifah Abdulla, returned home to his
native Iraq. Today, Mr. Abdulla is a poet, artist, writer, performer, teacher, social and
environmental activist, and a Portland citizen.

Born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, Mr. Abdulla completed a bachelor’s degree in Biology
at the University of Baghdad before entering compulsory service during the Iraq-Iran
War. His memoir reveals his harrowing story. His life experiences have carried many
challenges.There were parts that were full of pain, trauma, loss and fear. There has also
been hope, dreams and love. Mr. Abdulla expresses today that he has healed because
he decided to heal. Kifah is an active artist and community “Rebel” who lives in
Portland, Maine. The public is invited to hear him read and answer questions about his
journey to freedom, on Wednesday, March 11 at 5:30pm. Books will be for sale at the
event.

Testimonies

“An exquisitely written. This could be the story of any soldier- but it’s not. This is an
extraordinary book. It is a testament to the human spirit.”
- Judith Hansen-Childers: Associate Professor of Humanities, Thomas
College
“Breathtakingly beautiful and harrowing book. Read it, be haunted, and rejoice in the
resilience of human spirit.”
- Molly McGrath: Writer and Editor
“An exceptional, lucid, crisp, meditative and heartbreaking memoir.”
- Jenny Van West: Musician, Singer, and Songwriter
“Kifah Abdulla’s memoir is filled with love, wisdom, compassion and unexpected beauty
on every page. Kifah puts me in the frontlines where he and his fellow soldiers cling to
their dreams as bombs and artillery shells explode around them both night and day.”
- James McCarthy: A journalist and photographer.