A vacation can be so stressful! Yes, I know, it’s supposed to rid you of stress, but does it really? The anxiety begins with packing. Am I allowed to bring my eyebrow tweezers or is that a lethal weapon? And what should one pack? Is there anybody out there who packs the right clothes every time, or does everyone pack a raincoat and umbrella for a surprisingly sunny London? Am I the only passenger who brings a toothbrush and forgets the toothpaste? When it comes to check-in, people are two types: those who aim for the last minute, and the [...]

A writer’s life offers few luxuries, though the hard work is far from labor. Long after the overwhelming support my first novel received, my days are once again enriched with book discussions, interviews, and talks regarding my new novel The Moon Daughter. This has taken me back to my readers and continues to provide the boost I need, but it leaves me no leisure time. However, even in my crazy schedule, there are some opportunities that can’t be missed: a good play, a concert, and a chance to have a cup of Coffee with Kafka! How often does one have [...]

“Aah, you’re so lucky!” my friends said as I announced an upcoming trip to Paris. Indeed to return to a place believed by many to be the most beautiful city on earth is exciting. So I responded to their enthusiasm with equal amount of my own and promised to enjoy a pain au chocolat on their behalf. It is fascinating how Paris remains the same, yet each time I seem to discover a new facet of it. Gone are the days when a trip to the Louvre, a walk around Montmartre, and a ride in a Bateaux Mouches were the [...]

For those of us who maintain the student within, education come through people we meet each and every day. As I make my rounds to present two novels, it’s not surprising to find myself at the campus of a high school, college, or university. The shocker is how much of the old me returns as I find my way to a certain classroom and mingle among students. When I was invited to speak at the 2014 Spring Writes Festival at Rio Hondo, I felt honored. Here was a college with which I had no previous connection, and it was located [...]

When the call came in, I held on to the receiver and tried to absorb the magnitude of the news. “I am so sorry,” my doctor said. “Your biopsy results just came back. They found a combination of two malignancies.” She sounded so devastated that I wished I could offer her words of comfort. Then I remembered this was about me. Denial helped a little. Somehow this did not sound real. Labs made mistakes all the time. All I could think about was the statistics, numbers that sounded untrue, or at least exaggerated. I am one out of five?  How [...]

Zoe & Tell Posted on: August 24th, 2013 Zoe Ghahremani is not your average writer. Actually, she’s not your average anything. A dozen years ago, this gutsy gal ditched a wildly successful dental practice in the Windy City and moved her family to San Diego. While moving to warmer climes might not be something to write home about, starting a new chapter as an author is. Zoe’s first novel “Sky of Red Poppies” was a page-turning success. And her second novel “The Moon Daughter” has her fans howling with joy. I snagged an interview with this literary maven and found her to [...]

Life is like a stream. When it runs smoothly, all we sense is its gentle pulse, a hum. But when it hits a rock, or faces a fall, the roar can be deafening. Sitting by the stream does not offer its full view. To see more, we need to stand, walk away, and distance ourselves. Life is to be enjoyed through all our senses. It isn’t enough to taste, smell, and touch the many good things it has to offer. One must also look at it from all sides and listen to its sounds. A time old teacher, life's lessons [...]