Farah’s books are about joy and about giving Brown people the happily ever afters she couldn’t find in books growing up. Her characters come to life with their unique personalities and quirks, and genuine joy that oozes off the paper. To write joy, you have to know it, and she is so happy to be living out her writer fantasies. Farah lives at home with her two kids, husband, and two adorable cats.

-Written by Anissa Heron

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Which ’hood are you in?

I currently live in Scarborough, very close to the buffs. It’s such a vibrant and diverse part of Toronto, and it has been a great place to raise my kids. I’m pretty outdoorsy, so I love that there are amazing hiking trails and breathtaking scenery right here, but it’s also so easy to get downtown for events, theatre and restaurants. That said, as a lover of great food, nowhere in the city compares to Scarborough for food. I was born and grew up in Toronto suburbs, so have lived the GTA my whole life and don’t see myself ever leaving.

What do you do?

I’m a romance writer for both adults and teens. I have 6 adult romantic comedies, all set in Toronto, about south-Asian Canadians navigating culture and family expectations while falling in love. And I have four young-adult (teen) novels (three YA rom-coms and one YA mystery) about south-Asian teens figuring out who they are and their place in the world, all (of course) while falling in love.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m in promotion mode for my newest book, A Little Holiday Fling, which is my first holiday romance. It’s about a Christmas loving free-spirit who is weeks away from fulfilling her and her late mother’s dream of owning an inn in England. She needs to impress a grumpy holiday-hating dermatologist so he’ll introduce her to his hotel-owning family to get a foot in the door in the UK hotel industry. The book is full of all my favourite Christmas in Toronto places, like the Distillery Winter Market, skating at Nathan Phillips Square, and even shopping at the Eaton Centre.

Where can we find your work?

My books can be bought wherever books are sold! I encourage you to visit one of Toronto’s many independent bookstores, and if my book isn’t on the shelf, the bookseller can order it for you.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Farah Heron appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

-Written by Christine Armstrong

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in Portsmouth Village in Kingston. It is a historic part of the city and a hidden gem. I live in an apartment building that looks out over the lake; I can hear the waves crashing as I write this. I pretend it is the Atlantic Ocean, and that helps me stay connected to people and places I love.

What do you do?

I am a professor of Drama at Queen’s University. I am also a writer, theatre maker, and mother. That last part has become important and takes up most of my time and energy.

What are you currently working on?

I don’t have much writing time these days but I am currently working on three projects: a literary memoir about IVF and parenting called Dreambaby; a scholarly article related to Dionne Brand’s masterpiece A Map to the Door of No Return; and I am also revising an old play that I previously abandoned because the characters were telling me things I found too scary.

Where can we find your work?

My play Heartlines: A Love Story about the lives and love of Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore is out now with Talonbooks; you can find it wherever books are sold. In terms of other recent work, you can find my first published play, Monstrous, in the journal alt.theatre issue 13.3. A creative non-fiction piece I wrote about IVF was published last year by MUTHA Magazine here. A few years ago, I had the chance to write about race and the future of Canadian theatre in an essay entitled “We Are Holding Our Breath” in Theatre Research in Canada. I hope to find a publisher for that above-mentioned memoir so you can eventually read it too! In the meantime, I’m also hoping to make Substack my friend via @writingwhilemom

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Sarah Waisvisz appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

-Written by Jackie’s husband

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live with my family in Markham Village, which is a GO Train ride away from the city core. I never get tired of the view of the CN Tower when I step outside of Union Station. When I was first married, we lived in a 1970s house in Unionville, which we loved, but soon the area became a little too busy for us.

What do you do?

I’m a young adult author, but currently working on my adult fiction debut. I’m also a mother of two girls, 10 and 12 and a dog mom.

What are you currently working on?

Have been surviving the last months! I had three separate deadlines for three different projects. I attended EVER AFTER, a romance festival organized by TIFA, and planned two birthday parties while reminding my family to send me their Christmas wish lists!

Where can we find your work?

My first two YA novels, Something More and You Started It, are available wherever books are sold, or via my website if you’d like a signed copy. I’m also fairly active on both Instagram and TikTok. My third YA novel, Everything Comes Back to You, releases August 4, 2026, as well as a novella sequel to my debut, Something More. There are a couple of unannounced projects that I’m excited to talk about soon!

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Jackie Khalilieh appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

She is an internationally acclaimed speaker, physician, and bestselling author who turned her own pain into purpose – a purpose to help others through her work. Her first book, A Good Wife: Escaping the Life I Never Chose, is a powerful memoir that opened hearts and minds around the world to the realities of gender-based oppression and the courage it takes to break free.

Because she’s never content just telling her story (she wants to help others rewrite theirs), she founded Brave Beginnings, a mentorship community for survivors of abuse, to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Her second book, Unconditional, released earlier this year, became an instant Globe and Mail bestseller and helps readers break free from their own limiting beliefs to lead their fullest lives. Through her words, her work, and her heart, Samra reminds us that resilience isn’t about what breaks us; it’s about how we choose to rise.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live in downtown Toronto, and I truly feel at home here. As someone working long, often unpredictable hours in psychiatry, the location is practical; Mount Sinai is just a short walk away. Beyond convenience, it’s the spirit of downtown Toronto that makes me feel like anything is possible…like the next opportunity could be just around the corner, even if I don’t know what it is yet.

Sometimes, that opportunity looks like a new dish I’ve never tried, from a part of the world I’ve never been! I’m obsessed with good food, and being surrounded by the culinary gems that are downtown Toronto’s cafés and restaurants means I always have a soul-soothing spot to catch up with friends or host visitors from out of town. It’s like I get to travel the world through my plate — Ethiopian, Pakistani, Korean, Mexican — often in the same week. Food is one of the ways I stay connected to culture, community, and joy when my schedule is full and time feels especially precious.

Some days, all the nourishment I need meets me on a plate at a downtown Toronto restaurant. And on the days that ask for a little more, I find it in the sky. Watching the sun settle below the skyline reminds me that no matter how hard the day, it will come to an end and that there’s always a chance to begin again tomorrow. The best sunsets of my life have been collected from my home in downtown Toronto.

What do you do?

By profession, I’m a resident psychiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital, completing my medical training. It’s work that keeps me grounded in purpose every single day. I work alongside brilliant mentors and peers, and I still attend classes… learning never really stops in medicine!
Outside of the hospital, I’m an author and keynote speaker. My two bestselling books, A Good Wife and Unconditional, are stories that speak to resilience, trauma, and healing. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to speak across Canada and beyond, to institutions, corporations, and nonprofits, about mental health, neuroscience, and belonging.

I’m also the co-founder of Brave Beginnings, a Toronto-based registered charity that provides resources and support to survivors of gender-based violence and trauma. And, most importantly, I’m a mom to two amazing daughters who are growing into fierce, kind women. They’re my greatest pride and joy.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m fully immersed in my residency, splitting my time between hospital work and classroom training. I’m in the thick of learning how to be both a scientist and a healer, which is humbling and energizing.

I also released my latest book, Unconditional, earlier this year. It’s been a whirlwind: speaking engagements, book club events, national media and a cross-Canada book tour connecting with readers who are navigating their own mental health journeys. It’s been incredibly meaningful to bring science and storytelling together in ways that connect with both readers and people in corporate and healthcare spaces. At the heart of it is my passion for sharing the science behind trauma, healing, and human connection. When we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, we’re better able to meet ourselves and each other with compassion, clarity, and care.

And on the creative side, I’ve started to brainstorm ideas for my next writing project. It’s early, just notes in my phone and the occasional sentence that comes to me in the middle of the clinic when I’m nowhere near a pen. But I’m being patient with myself. I’ve learned not to rush it because the stories that matter take their time.

Where can we find your work?

You can find me on Instagram and LinkedIn, where I share stories, reflections, and conversations around mental health, resilience, and personal growth.

Both of my books — A Good Wife and Unconditional — are available at Indigo, Amazon, and independent bookstores across Canada. I’m also a guest on podcasts regularly and would love to connect with more local hosts. Toronto’s creative scene is full of amazing voices I’d love to collaborate with!

And for more about my speaking, writing, or nonprofit work, visit my website.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Writer Samra Zafar appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

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Which ’hood are you in?

I live at College and Ossington, so I’d say I’m on the cusp of Little Italy/Little Portugal. I can walk to everything I need and am surrounded by parks. I feel lucky to live here.

What do you do?

I’m a food and travel writer, cookbook author, casting producer for Top Chef Canada, cinnamon bun entrepreneur and most recently, new novelist.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve always got a few irons in the fire, but recently I’ve been especially eager to appear at TIFA’s first-ever Romance Festival, Ever After.

Where can we find your work?

My book Off Menu is available at bookstores everywhere, and you can also find my food and travel features in the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, Food & Wine magazine and others.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Writer Amy Rosen appeared first on Toronto Guardian.