Aizhan Yesbolatova

What was your favorite book as a child?

When I was about twelve years old, my mother handed me Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. I was first intimidated by its size, but it was winter break, and I had nothing much to do, so I read it over the following two weeks and absolutely fell in love with the book. Jane Eyre is one of the few books I like to reread from time to time to find something new with every reading.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

I always had the urge to write. At first, I kept diaries where I spilled everything that excited and terrified me. I handwrote long letters to my cousins who lived in different cities. And later, after moving to the United States, feeling so lonely and disconnected, I started posting on Facebook fragments of my life as an immigrant to restore the feeling of connection. And at that moment, I realized that I wanted to be a professional writer and signed up for creative writing classes.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

Saying yes to my future husband after knowing him for only six days and moving to the United States shortly after.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I don’t listen to music while reading or writing. I feel distracted and irritated. And for that reason, I can’t write in coffee shops or anywhere else except for my daughter’s desk at home while she is at daycare.