Darya is a writer and cartoonist who has recently graduated from the University of Chicago. Her first book, My Eyes, Your Gaze, will be published in August 2024 by Chicago’s Bridge Books. She has self-published two graphic novellas, “Somewhere Far From Here” (2022) and “I Wish I Didn't Think About This” (2021) and two of her zines are also featured by indie distributor Radiator Comics. She is the recipient of the 2022 Seidel Scholars Grant, which funded her self-directed adaptation of the Persian myth the “Shahnameh” into a graphic novel. She is interested in exploring how comics can elevate nonfiction and is working on several related projects. Outside of writing, Darya likes to make music, do the NYT crossword, and take long, long walks.