Zara Raheem received her MFA from California State University, Long Beach. She is the recipient of the James I. Murashige Jr. Memorial award in fiction and was selected as one of 2019's Harriet Williams Emerging Writers. Her debut novel The Marriage Clock was named a "must-read book of the summer” by Cosmopolitan, POPSUGAR, Bustle, Book Riot, among others and has been translated into Italian and Portuguese. Her second novel The Retreat will be out April 2023, and she is currently working on a short story collection that centers around the South Asian diaspora, the Muslim-American experience, and the struggles and hardships faced by first and second-generation immigrants. She resides in Southern California where she teaches English and creative writing.
1. Can you share with us your journey as a writer and what inspired you to pursue a career in writing?
> Ever since I was young, I’ve always loved the process of creating and exercising my imagination through storytelling. Although writing for me began as a hobby, it wasn’t until my mid-twenties when I finally found the courage to pursue it as a career path.
2. Your debut novel "The Marriage Clock" received critical acclaim. What was the inspiration behind the story, and how did you approach the writing process?
> The idea for the book was initially inspired by my own life. When I was going through the arranged marriage process, I turned to writing to make sense of my experiences. As I continued developing the story and the characters, however, it began taking a life of its own that was separate from mine. So, while most of the novel is fiction in terms of the suiters that Leila meets, the situations she finds herself in, her interactions with the other characters, the part that remains autobiographical is the emotional journey that she goes on.
3. "The Marriage Clock" explores themes of cultural identity, tradition, and societal expectations. How important is it for you to incorporate such themes into your writing, and what message were you hoping to convey through your novel?
> I remember grappling with those elements in my own experiences, so I wanted to share those ideas with readers who also saw a part of themselves in Leila’s journey. I hope the story sheds light on the pressures of marriage and family often imposed on young women and inspires those reading to carve out their own paths to happiness even if it challenges societal and cultural expectations.
4. How do you approach character development in your writing? Are there any strategies or techniques you employ to create authentic and relatable characters?
> There is something deeply satisfying about seeing a character transform, of seeing them come out of the story a different person than who they started as. When developing my characters, I think about not just what that transformation will look like, but also how that journey of growth might resonate most strongly with readers.
5. "The Marriage Clock" delves into the complexities of relationships and the pressures of marriage. Can you discuss the significance of exploring these topics in your work and the impact it may have on your readers?
> A lot of the topics explored in the book are issues that we, in the South Asian community, don’t often talk about. And because we don’t openly talk about things like ageism, colorism, gender biases, etc., many of these behaviors and expectations become accepted and normalized when they are anything but. I hope reading stories like “The Marriage Clock” might help create a starting point for readers to discuss those issues more critically.
6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are looking to make their mark in the literary world?
> Continue writing. Continue trusting yourself. Continue sharing the stories that matter to you because if you don’t believe in your stories, no one else will.
7. Are there any specific themes or subjects that you are interested in exploring in your future writing projects? Can you provide any insights into your upcoming works?
> I’m interested in exploring themes that speak to me and will hopefully speak to readers as well. I’m currently working on another novel. It’s still in the early phases, so there’s not too much to share just yet, other than it’s something I’m really excited about and can’t wait to share more soon!
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