Ask the Author: Liara Tamani

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French novelist and essayist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Liara Tamani, author of the YA novels, CALLING MY NAME and ALL THE THINGS WE NEVER KNEW. 

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Spending time in nature with my daughter and boyfriend.

What is your greatest fear? Dying or having a loved one die.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Dang, deplore is kinda harsh. 🙂 But I could definitely be more patient.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? I hate when people are judgmental, especially when also being hypocritical.

Which living person do you most admire? I can’t choose just one. I admire so many people for so many different reasons, primarily for uplifting humankind in some way.

What is your greatest extravagance? I splurge on travel and good food.

What is your current state of mind? Lately, I’ve been all over the place emotionally. But I’m trying to stay chill, optimistic, and connected to the people I love.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Friendliness, which I consider different from being genuinely kind.

On what occasion do you lie? I’m a really bad liar. I try not to lie. Lies eat me up.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? Singing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Raising a loving daughter and being in a loving relationship.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what would it be? An Andean Condor. Did some research on this one. It’s a really high flying bird (the highest) and they love to glide in the wind.

What is your most treasured possession? Old photos and cards.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Stagnancy.

What do you most value in your friends? Honesty and openness.

Who are your favorite writers? I would need a lot of space to name them all, but here are some: Toni Morrison, Gwendolyn Brooks, Zadie Smith, Rita Dove, James Baldwin, Sandra Cisneros.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? I know she recently died, but I’d say Toni Morrison.

What is your motto? “You better utilize your time wisely.” (Taken from a dude in college. He said it to my friend when they were on a date. A*hole, but my friends and I thought it was both hilarious and highly useful when applied to life generally.) Been saying it for many years.

LIARA TAMANI lives in Houston, Texas. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College. She is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and a 2018 SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew. Learn more about Liara on her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.