Zohreh Ghahremani

Zohreh Ghahremani is an author, speaker, and painter whose work is heavily influenced by her experiences as a Middle Eastern immigrant and her background as a poet. Following her graduation from London University, for two decades she ran a busy pediatric dentistry practice in the Chicago area and taught at Northwestern University’s Dental School before pursuing her love of literature.

Zoe published her first novel – Sky of Red Poppies – in 2010 and was blown away when it was selected for KPBS’ One Book, One San Diego, the annual city-wide reading selection. Her experience speaking to groups near and far and her joy at connecting with readers everywhere assured her that she had made the right decision. Her sophomore novel, The Moon Daughter won Writer’s Digest Book Awards for Best Literary Fiction. She is also the author of The Commiserator (in Persian) and has contributed to numerous other literary volumes. Zoe was profiled in the book A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives by Lisa Congdon, alongside Vera Wang, Cheryl Strayed, Laura Ingalls Wilder and others. The book showcases the remarkable experiences of women who pursued and achieved their ambitious dreams slightly later in life.

She now writes for both adults and children. Her debut picture book, Memory Garden, illustrated by her daughter Susie, was published by Godwin Books/Macmillan in 2024, with another to come.

Zoe enjoys giving lively and often humorous talks about the immigrant experience, family relationships, bicultural identity, Persian culture, and other themes of her work. She enjoys connecting with audiences of any age and any size, whether a class, a packed auditorium or a cozy meeting in a private residence (or on Zoom!) with a book club.

She has been featured on WBEZ in Chicago, Voice of America, KPBS, Radio Iran, Osher Club, at the Iranian-American Women Foundation Conference, and at universities nationwide including: Georgetown University, University of Chicago, UC Berkeley, San Diego State University, UCSD, and many more. Her books are also recommended reading at several colleges and high schools. Among her favorite recognitions is that she was named to the local Girl Scouts’ Cool Women list!

Born in Iran, Zoe became a US citizen nearly fifty years ago and now lives with her husband in San Diego, where she lives this dream routine, taking breaks to participate in literary events, go antiquing (another passion!), or visit with her children and grandchildren.

Visit Zoe online at www.ZohrehWrites.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zohreh.k.ghahremani
Twitter: @SkyofRedPoppies

Reviews for Memory Garden:

“Children and adults will thoroughly enjoy this vivid memoir that weaves past and present in a timeless celebration of family and culture. A recommended, essential purchase.”
– STARRED review, School Library Journal

“Amber-toned illustrations and lyrical, child-friendly text paint a poetic picture of both the present and the past.”
– Kirkus