We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dhara Parekh. Check out our conversation below.
Dhara, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
In-person book events! Two years ago, before I published my debut novel, if someone had told me I’d be standing in the middle of a huge convention hall, chatting with hundreds of people and selling my own books, I’d have laughed nervously and hidden behind a stack of paperbacks. As someone who once found small group interactions intimidating, this level of engagement felt impossible. Yet just last week, I was at LA Comic Con, cosplaying, signing books, and loving every second. So far, I’ve done book fairs, festivals, and panels, and even given talks. It’s astonishing what humans are capable of when they stop letting fear have the final say. Every event chips away at my anxiety a little more, reminding me that exposure therapy works!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dhara Parekh, an indie author of two books. I write stories that explore identity, belonging, and what it means to be human in strange, often cosmic settings. My debut novel Unearthing Idyll released in 2023, and my second book, Take a Seat at the Cosmic Campfire, is a collection of introspective sci-fi tales spanning multiple sub-genres. As a first-generation immigrant and lifelong nomad now based in San Diego, my work blends emotion, wonder, and curiosity in equal measure. I’m currently focusing on expanding my reach through conventions and book events while developing my next story that, true to form, scares and excites me in the best way.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That’s a powerful question. Just as hard to answer. Let’s see… Growing up, I always thought life was divided between the watchers and the stars, those who stood on the ground, looking up in awe, and those who somehow belonged to the sky, doing grand, unreachable things. That belief probably came from growing up in a small town in India, where opportunities felt distant and shining lives existed only in a certain class of society. But after the life I’ve lived and the places I’ve reached, I no longer believe in that separation. There is definitely a line, but I am not bound by it. I might still get nervous, and imposter syndrome visits from time to time, but the quiet confidence I once lacked has finally taken root. I’m comfortable in my own skin, and deeply proud of the work I do now.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being seen.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to writing stories that matter, stories that need to be told, even if they take time to finish and find their audience. Every project I take on has to mean something to me first; that’s the only way I know how to write with honesty and heart.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m doing what I was born to do, just using a few methods I was told to. Born to write stories, told to market them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dharaparekh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dha.raiter/
- Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dha.raiter
