Throwing Sparks

Abdo Khal (born August 3, 1962, in Al-Mijannah, Jizan, Saudi Arabia) is a Saudi Arabian novelist and journalist known for his satirical works critiquing corruption, wealth disparity, and social taboos. He won the prestigious International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2010 for his novel Throwing Sparks (also known as Spewing Sparks as Big as Castles), making him the first Saudi author to receive this award, and has authored numerous novels and short story collections including Death Passes From Here, Cities Eating Grass, and The Anguish of the Seductress. A prolific writer with a career spanning over four decades, he has published over 10,000 articles and serves as editor-in-chief of the Okaz newspaper while teaching Arabic.