Ali Telmesani is a poet, playwright, songwriter and film-maker. Ali formally began studying creative writing during his Undergraduate studies in English Literature at the University of Connecticut. Having developed a keen interest in Islamic philosophy, Sufi metaphysics and literature, Ali completed an MA in Islamic Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California before earning his second MA in Creative Writing at Swansea University in South Wales. Along with producing a collection of short stories for his creative thesis, Ali has published several poems in literary journals and founded his own, The Gull, with a colleague at Swansea University. In between his studies, he pursued a career as a composer and musician in Amherst, Massachusetts. Most recently, Ali founded Whetstone Center for the Arts in Jeddah, KSA, where he teaches music and creative writing.