KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28, (Agencies): The Kuwait International Book Fair celebrated its forty-sixth edition under the theme "Your passion has a book," coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. The fair, inaugurated by Al-Rai, featured 29 participating countries, including 11 foreign ones, and 486 publishing houses showcasing 171,000 titles, including 11,000 new titles.

Salma Saud, a Kuwaiti writer, shared her journey with Al-Rai, stating, "I am primarily a novelist with writings on self-development. My first publication, 'My Mind Speaks,' started as a simple book with pictures and short phrases, but with determination and reader support, I established my publishing house, attracting writers from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council."

Khatwa House, represented by Abdullah Al-Dulaimi, highlighted their diverse titles catering to readers of all ages and interests. A special release, "The State The Deep" by Farouk Al-Omar, was presented.

Abdul Wahab Al-Baghli, founder of Bubashir Publishing House, focused on helping people document their memories through blogging. Anwar Al-Otaibi shared insights into her eighth literary publication, "The Journey," emphasizing that life is a series of journeys beyond physical travel.

Abdullah Safar aimed to pique curiosity with his publication "We Are the Sons of Cain," a thought-provoking work spanning life, death, fate, and the world in between. Iraqi publisher Bilal Al-Baghdadi from "Sutour" introduced Mesopotamian publications with a focus on Iraqi identity.

Children's books received special attention, with 64 pavilions dedicated to them, along with a child monitoring pavilion by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Literature. The exhibition also featured an automated inquiry service, allowing visitors to access book information through a code scan.