Today we’d like to introduce you to Meri Tumanyan
Hi Meri, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I published my very first children’s book, Mommy, the Dreamweaver, in 2017. The experience was so rewarding that it inspired me to write Daddy’s Waltz, which was published in 2018. During COVID, my first poetry collection, Love in the Time of Corona, won the Four Feathers Press Poetry Chapbook Contest and was published in 2020. Since then, I have alternated nearly every year between publishing a poetry collection and a children’s book.
In March 2022, Never Be Anyone Other Than You, inspired by my younger daughter, was released and earned a Notable Book Seal by Pacific Book Review. That same year, in September, I published Shadows, a narrative in poems about abusive relationships.
In 2023, my children’s book, The Girl with the Purple Umbrella was released, followed by The Promise of the Pomegranate Tree, a collection of poems and letter reflecting on COVID quarantine and the Armenian war of 2020. In 2024, I published Black Roses, another poetry collection.
I’m currently working on Whispers, another collection of poetry and prose, which should be released by this summer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but a smooth road–far from it. But the rougher it got, the more I wrote, which made the struggle more meaningful–at least for me. I think writing has become one of my main coping mechanisms. I’ve learned to turn every bump into a story, every detour into a poem–and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an educator, teaching English at both the high school and college levels. I also advise the Creative Writing and Poetry Clubs at my school, where my students and I actively participate in literary events. Over the past year, we’ve engaged in activities such as Armenian Poetry Day, hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library, and welcomed notable guests, including Raffi Wartanian, the Poet Laureate of Glendale, and renowned writer, Luis J. Rodriguez.
In March, poet and educator Don Kingfisher Campbell visited our school to lead a workshop for students. This April, we will be hosting a poetry reading at a local coffee shop where students and esteemed poets, including Arthur Kayzakian, will share their original work.
On a personal level, one of my proudest accomplishments has been being featured in Armenian Creators as both an author and educator. Additionally, I’ve had the honor of being invited as a featured poet at several public readings–moments that reaffirm the relevance and impact of my work.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Perseverance, creativity, optimism, and the desire to inspire. It’s easy to be strong and resilient when things go our way, but true strength lies in the ability to rise, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward when life throws its hardest punches. That, to me, is the true mark of a survivor–and a hero.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meritumanyanbooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mt_musings/?utm_source=qr#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063575230107&mibextid=wwXIfr
