Portrait by Amina Kaia McDyess

Hi,

I’m glad you’re here.

I don’t know where I’d be without writing. I consider it my art, a way to process life and express myself, a way to connect and contribute to the world. I love it.

But growing up, I didn’t allow myself to dream of becoming a writer. I was set on being a lawyer, like my father. You can read about my journey in this piece I wrote for Time Magazine or listen to me talk about it in this On Being episode of This Movie Changed Me.

Besides writing, I also love reading, dancing, yoga, hanging with loved ones, and being in nature.

Texas is my big, beautiful home and all three of my novels are set here.

I live in Houston with my daughter, husband, and cat named Eazy.

Love,

Official Bio

Liara Tamani lives in Houston, Texas. She is the author of the acclaimed young adult novels Calling My Name, All the Things We Never Knew, and What She Missed. Her words have appeared in Time Magazine, NPR, and The New York Times. And her work has been featured by Good Morning America, Buzzfeed, Essence Magazine, Teen Vogue, and more. Before becoming a writer, she attended Harvard Law School and worked as a marketing coordinator for the Houston Rockets & Comets, production assistant for Girlfriends (TV show), home accessories designer, floral designer, and yoga and dance teacher. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Duke University.