Dima Alzayat on writing and mother hood - and the problem with how we talk about books

The Sunday Salon with Alice-Azania Jarvis

Dima Alzayat has had a fascinating life. Born in Damascus, Syria, she grew up in California before moving to the UK to study creative writing. Her collection of short stories Alligator and Other Stories is a riveting read, in which she ranges across genres and formats in a way I’ve not seen before. I loved talking to her about this - hearing about her process and path to publication (not to mention how motherhood has changed that) as well as about some of the frustrations she has felt in having her work pidgeonholed as “a muslim, Arab book” simply because of her background. It was a fascinating conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Buy the book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/alligator-and-other-stories/dima-alzayat/9781529029918

Edited by Chelsey Moore