About

Samira Shakib-Bregeth is an Iranian-American writer from Chicago who lives and teaches in suburban Atlanta. Samira was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award. She earned an English M.A. in Literary Studies and is the Communications Manager at Chestnut Review. Some of her publications can be found at Literary Mama, Hawai’i Pacific Review, Wild Roof Journal, Heartwood, Parhelion, Fig & Quince, and Hungry Chimera. Currently on submission, Samira’s #ownvoices novel with a feminist bent is about a struggling artist and her Iranian mother. Her manuscript was a finalist in 2021 for UCLA’s Allegra Johnson’s Writing Prize.

Interests

• Re-reading/Reading:
  • Writers & Lovers and Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King, All Fours by Miranda July, Lean Against This Late Hour by Garous Abdolmalekian, Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour, The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, The Persians by Sana Mahloudji, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, Once for Yes by Allie Millington, The Mothers by Brit Bennett, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, Forest of Noise by Mosab Abu Toha, Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.
• Watching/Re-watching:
  • Younger, My Brilliant Friend, Interview with the Vampire, Mo, Finding Ola, Felicity, Like Water for Chocolate, Normal People, Another Self, Wednesday
• Listening
  • Ray LaMontagne, Kendrick Lamar GNX, Frank Ocean Blond, Taylor Swift Folklore, Golden Hits of Googoosh, Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft (and any album ever!), Adele, Lauryn Hill, Cigarettes After Sex, Beyonce, Hozier, Brandi Carlile, Forever playlist, George Ezra, SZA, Mamma Mia!, anything that was on the radio in the 90s, anything with “Piano Man” vibes, Hayedeh, Cris Mj, Daniel Caesar, and…..