Farnoosh Moshiri is an Iranian-born novelist, playwright, and librettist. She teaches creative writing and literature at University of Houston–Downtown. Moshiri has published five books of fiction: At the Wall of the Almighty, The Bathhouse, The Crazy Dervish and the Pomegranate Tree, Against Gravity, and The Drum Tower. Among other grants, fellowships, and literary awards, Moshiri is the recipient of Barthelme Memorial Award, C. Glenn Cambor/Inprint Fellowship: Presented by Inprint, Inc., Two Barbara Deming Awards Award from Voices Breaking Boundaries for artists who have taken risks to speak out and act as advocates. Her third novel, Against Gravity, was chosen by Barnes and Noble for Discover New Writer Series and by Borders Books in Original Voices selections. Moshiri has spoken about her work and writing in exile at Columbia University, West Carolina University, Syracuse University, Bronx Community College, University of Houston Campuses, Rice University, Lone Star College Campuses, Houston Community College Campuses, San Jacinto College, University of the Incarnate Word, Asia Society, AWP Conference, Voices Breaking Boundaries, and more. In 2012, in collaboration with the composer, Gregory Spears, she created a chamber opera by the name of "The Bricklayer" commissioned by the HoustonGrand opera. The world premier was on March 16, 2012. Moshiri has been a professor of literature, drama, and creative writing in College of Dramatic Arts of Tehran, Houston Community College, Lone Star College, Kabul University, Syracuse University, and the University of Houston–Downtown. She lives and writes in Houston.
Early life and education
Moshiri grew up in a literary family. Her uncle, Fereydoon Moshiri was one of the most prominent and popular poets of Iran. Moshiri wrote fiction and poetry since she was a child. Her first short story was published in "Sokhan" when she was eighteen-years old. She was also a ballet dancer and a member of the National Iranian Ballet Company, where she danced in major classical ballet performances in the 60s and the early 70s. Moshiri left the ballet company to study playwriting at the College of Dramatic Arts. During the 70s, she wrote plays and short stories and went onstage as actress. In 1977, with a scholarship, she entered the graduate studies of drama at the University of Iowa. In 1979, after receiving master's degree in dramatic literature, she returned to Iran to teach at the College of Dramatic Arts. In this period, she wrote plays and short stories, and published translated literature from English into Persian. In 1983, the rehearsals of her full-length play were interrupted by the guards and the director and actors were arrested. She was purged from her job as a professor and a dramaturg and had no way other than exile. She left the country on foot, living in the refugee camps of Afghanistan and India. In the summer of 1986 she received right of asylum from the U.S. and a few months later entered the graduate program of creative writing at the University of Houston, where she received MFA in Fiction. She published novels and stories, taught literature, and held fiction workshops for the decades to come.
