Hassan El-Tayyab

Composing Temple Sunrise: Overcoming Writer's Block at Burning Man Hassan El-Tayyab

Literary Nonfiction. Music. Arab American Studies. California Interest. In this candid, inspiring memoir, singer-songwriter Hassan El-Tayyab of American Nomad takes us deep into the heart of what it means to chase a creative dream. After experiencing multiple losses (family, home, love, job, self- confidence), El-Tayyab sets out on a transcontinental quest that eventually lands him in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. His vivid descriptions, paired with artist's renderings, capture both the vast, surreal landscapes of the Burning Man festival and the hard practice of art-making. COMPOSING TEMPLE SUNRISE is both a page- turning adventure and a road map for anyone struggling to forge their way.--Faith Adiele