Denise Derya Brandt
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt
Author of Istanbul Dreaming: A Novel
In 1950s Turkey, against the backdrop of the social and political unrest that will culminate in Turkey’s 1960 military coup d'état, a dutiful daughter is torn between family expectations and her dream of becoming a modern Turkish woman.
One night, seventeen-year-old Ayten sneaks away to Istanbul for a night of dancing with her best friend. When her father discovers her rebellion, he forces her into an arranged religious marriage to a distant relative who bullied her as a child. Initially, Ayten resigns herself to her fate—but after her husband sexually assaults her on their wedding night, she flees him and her family for haven in Istanbul.
Living with friends and working as a seamstress at her friend’s boutique, Ayten tries to rebuild her life. Then she meets Earl, an American airman, and they begin to fall in love—but as their connection deepens, secrets and her past threaten to upend all she’s built. Torn between her family and a future with Earl, Ayten must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice for freedom and forbidden love.
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt
Author I draw inspiration from:
I can't pick just one!
• Elif Shafak - 10 minutes & 38 Seconds in This Strange World, There are Rivers in the Sky, The Island of Missing Trees, The Bastard of Istanbul
• Marjan Kamali - The Lion Women of Tehran, The Stationery Shop
• Alka Joshi - The Henna Artist, Six Days in Bombay
• Kristin Hannah - The Women, The Four Winds
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
My screened porch
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Six-Thirty, the dog from Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. First, I love dogs, and this dog is exceptional, understanding everything. Second, he would sense my discomfort with being stuck and would lean into me, his weight against my leg, making the situation feel manageable. We would sit on the floor together and he would curl up next to me as I stroked his fur. His comfort and calm would become mine, like a meditative vacation. Eventually, when the elevator doors re-opened, we would both stand and calmly exit.
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had the goal of writing a book. Specifically, I've always wanted to write a book somewhat inspired by my parents. For years it was just a dream, a goal I would note in my journal every year. Finally, after my husband and I moved from Arizona to Kentucky in 2020, I decided to do more than dream about it. I took a memoir writing class but wasn’t quite ready for memoir. Then during a visit to Turkey in 2021, I discovered a photograph of my mother that offered more questions than answers and became the inspiration for Istanbul Dreaming. So, I enrolled in The Book Incubator writing program with an idea and graduated with a solid draft of the novel.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Hardback – I’ll generally buy a hardback if it’s an author or book I really love and want to own as soon as possible OR if it’s a beautiful, display-worthy cover. For example, I loved the beautiful cover of Brené Brown’s latest book, Strong Ground, so I bought it in hardback when it came out. I dislike how large and heavy they are and how expensive they can be, however.
Paperback – this is what I generally buy and read. Paperbacks are usually lighter and easy to keep inside my purse, which means I read more often.
eBook – I generally do not read on screens because I’m already on them so much. When I lived overseas, however, I loved getting eBooks on my Kindle because they were easy to buy and download online and easy to carry with me. Still, I prefer paperback over eBooks.
Audiobook – The majority of the books I read are audiobooks now because I’m able to multitask while I listen. I usually get them from my library and always have several in my queue. If I truly love the book or think I can learn something from how it’s written, I often buy it in print as well, to better study the author’s writing craft.
The last book I read:
I just finished listening to the audiobook Homebound by Portia Elan. When I heard it was centered around a video game, of course I thought of Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, which I loved. I can’t say I loved Homebound in the same way, but I thought it was an interesting premise. It’s an ambitious book, spanning centuries, and I was impressed by the fact that the author had to be authentic to the 1980s, and then world build for the future. I also enjoyed the found family and connection among the characters. I think I would have preferred it in paperback because it was challenging at times to follow the time jumps and multiple points of view while listening. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book.
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Both! I often do generative writing by hand, usually a scene or two at a time, then clean it up on the computer. Doing this helps me avoid getting hung up on good or bad writing and instead keeps me focused on getting the story out of my head and on paper (or screen).
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Elizabeth Best from Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. She’s the undisputed leader of the club, smart, sassy, and fiercely loyal and protective of her friends. And she’s a former spy! Think of the (unclassified) stories she could share! She would be endlessly fascinating.
Author Interview - Denise Derya Brandt | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I spent more than twenty years working in international development, leading life-saving women’s health projects in Afghanistan, Liberia, and Myanmar before I sat down to write a novel. When USAID was dismantled in early 2025 and my employment contract was terminated, I didn’t polish my CV; I reached for my manuscript. If things had worked out differently, I would probably still be working in international development, because I found it to be a very rewarding career.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
I love the fashion of the 1950s and early 1960s, the time period of my novel and of the TV show Mad Men. I love the hourglass silhouettes of the clothing of that era. I appreciate that people, men and women, made an effort. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy comfortable clothing and styles, but nowadays it seems like it’s more common to see people in pajamas than in a dress or shirt and tie!
Place I’d most like to travel:
I cannot pick just one place! I want to visit all the US national parks! I’ve traveled widely outside the US, but there are so many stunning places to see in my own country, so that’s my next frontier. Internationally, I would also like to visit Iceland for nature and adventure, Argentina for tango, and Kenya for safari.
My signature drink:
Turkish coffee or diet Dr. Pepper (though I’m trying to wean off diet sodas). And on a hot summer day, I love a cold Blue Moon beer with an orange slice.
Favorite artist:
It’s difficult to pick one favorite. There are lots of artists in different fields I admire. For example, author Elif Shafak is a masterful storyteller whose novels transport me through time and space while highlighting important social issues. I love every single one of her books. A very different example is Dolly Parton. She’s an icon, one of the most talented singer/songwriters alive, and I love her art and her as a person, including her tireless efforts to bring books and reading to people who need them most.
Number one on my bucket list:
Writing a novel has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Now that I’ve done that, I want to write more and have an author career. Beyond that, honestly, I’ve done some pretty cool things in my life. When I lived and worked in Kabul, I was required to take leave once a quarter (a mental health necessity), so I took advantage of that and traveled to 25 different countries in six years, knocking out a lot of my international travel bucket list. But there are still places I want to visit (see my answer to the travel question) and things I want to do. For example, my husband and I are toying with the idea of having an animal sanctuary! I adore animals but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that lifestyle yet.
Anything else you'd like to add:
I spent more than twenty years working in international development before I sat down to write Istanbul Dreaming. The transition from leading teams and multi-million-dollar projects to sitting alone at a desk, learning the craft of fiction, was humbling in ways I hadn’t anticipated. But it taught me something about the courage it takes to begin again, which is exactly what my main character Ayten does. I’m still in the middle of my new chapter, but I’m moving toward it with commitment and intention, just now at a treadmill desk instead of around the world.
Find more from the author:
Website: www.denisederyabrandt.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseDBrandt
Instagram and Threads: @DeniseDeryaBrandt
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/denise-derya-brandt-30788124
Substack: http://substack.com/@denisebrandt
About Denise Derya Brandt:
Denise Derya Brandt
Denise Derya Brandt is a debut author whose writing is inspired by her life and the lives of the people she met while working for more than twenty years in international development, leading life-saving women’s health projects in Afghanistan, Liberia, and Myanmar (with shorter stints in other interesting places).
She’s a graduate of The Book Incubator writing program, was a 2024 finalist for the Women's Fiction Writers Association Rising Star Award and was a 2025 Poets & Writers Get the Word Out publicity incubator fellow. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Arizona State University and a master's degree in development management from The London School of Economics.
After graduate school, Denise lived in Istanbul, where she worked as an Associate Publisher for Turkish Business World, an English-language business magazine. As a Turkish-American with moderate Turkish language skills, she claims she can fool tourists but not taxi drivers! Originally from Arizona, Denise now lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband.
