Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, arrived on March 20 this year and technically, so did spring—along with sleet and rain and snow as is tradition here in Canada. (Winter does not truly leave us until May!)

According to Zoroastrian legend, Nowruz or “new day” was established on the first day of spring by the ancient mythological king, Jamshid (or Yima in ancient Avestan1). In India, Zoroastrians call it Jamshid-e Nowruz, commemorating the king who had command over all the angels and demons of the world and was responsible for many of the world’s innovations. Nowruz is celebrated with family and friends (usually with a haft-seen table at home), symbolizing the victory of spring over the harsh winter.

As a writer, I have one specific Nowruz tradition. Every spring, I engage in the process of completing or beginning a new project. In 2024, I had begun a book that would become my first ever Persian mythology retelling. The book did not sell, but it helped me find my current agent.

In 2025, I was feverishly writing Witch Daughter at the request of an editor who wanted to see the full manuscript. This time, the book did sell—at auction.

This year, I am scribbling research notes for another book and hoping it, too, will find a home.

In some excellent news: Barnes & Noble currently has a preorder sale going on for their Premium and Rewards Members from March 24-March 26. You will receive 25% off the list price for Witch Daughter by entering the promo code PREORDER25 at checkout!

In today’s newsletter, I’m sharing art that’s more book related—a dragon drawn in the Saz style of ornamental art common during the Ottoman period in Türkiye and the Safavid period in Iran. In Witch Daughter, Tahmineh’s husband, Rostam, was famous for having killed a dragon (creatures of great evil in Zoroastrian mythology). Interestingly, Rostam also had a dragon sigil for his banner and was often referred to as a dragon in poetry and songs.

I am beyond thrilled to reveal the absolutely BREATHTAKING cover of Witch Daughter, which releases on September 22, 2026! ♥️

As my newsletter subscribers, you get to see this cover before anyone else! It will be releasing later today on my Instagram at 12 pm EST. Please do keep it confidential until then. 🥰

And now, without further ado…

For those who are new here, Witch Daughter is a Persian mythology retelling of the story of Tahmineh—a wife, mother, and rumored witch who desperately tries to stop a tragic prophecy in which her husband and son kill each other on the battlefield.

I’m so grateful to the designer Albert Austin Tang and the illustrator Phil Pascuzzo for the care they took in capturing my vision and the mythological landscape on this cover, which not only evokes a sense of ancient pre-Islamic Iran, but also incorporates clothing and symbols that reflect the culture of that era. Everything is perfectly rendered—from Tahmineh’s necklace with the Faravahar pendant to her crown, which was inspired by Bactrian treasures found at a burial mound at Tillya Tepe. Best of all, the background also features a tiny silhouette of the fierce knight Tahmineh falls in love with—Rostam.

You can read the official book description and preorder Witch Daughter below!

PLUS as a special surprise for my newsletter subscribers, I’m offering an exclusive sneak peek into the opening pages of the book. The password is shah ♥️✨

Purchase links: Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Bookshop | Hachette Book Group | Indigo | Target | Wal Mart | Libro.FM

In her adult debut, award-winning author Tanaz Bhathena expertly weaves a tale of love and loss in ancient Persia with her take on the timeless tragedy of Tahmineh, a temptress, a witch, a victim, or, perhaps, a woman trying her hardest to protect her loved ones.

Rumors of witchcraft follow Princess Tahmineh like a storm cloud, making it impossible for her to secure herself a marriage or any kind of future. With her father, the king’s, health in question, it becomes shockingly clear how desperate her situation will soon become in his absence. If she doesn’t act now, she will quickly find herself destitute and desperate.

Tahmineh seeks out a prophecy, from which she learns she will fall in love with a warrior of great renown named Rostam and bear him a son. However, she is warned this match is a dangerous one for her. Heedless of the warnings, Tahmineh boldly orchestrates a meeting with Rostam and the two develop a close friendship and ultimately fall in love and marry. At the peak of her joy, Tahmineh gives birth to Sohrab, Rostam’s son.

All too soon, Tahmineh learns the tragic second part of the prophecy. Father and son will meet as enemies in battle and one will die at the hand of the other. What follows is a mother’s desperate attempt to undo the threads of fate and try to protect her son at all costs.

Add to: Goodreads | Storygraph

xo

Tanaz

I recently finished copyedits for Witch Daughter. (Now available to add on Goodreads!) This is stage of the editorial process where a book is checked for accuracy and flagged for inconsistencies within the plot, timeline, and characters. Here’s a sneak peek at what my working draft looked like:

I am also in the middle of drafting my next contracted book for my publisher and, as always, this process is a challenge. However, first drafts are always messy and as a writer who mostly relies on discovery and intuition to write stories (see this book for reference), I have now learned to trust my instincts and not worry too much if I can’t immediately visualize the way forward in a book.

From my library:

I have been reading a lot this year (thanks to audiobooks!) and here are 10 of my top reads in no particular order. Some of these are advance reading copies (ARCs) and I will mark those for your reference.

1. If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang

   There is something about the way Ann Liang writes teen characters that is instantly absorbing and utterly relatable. I was hooked throughout this story about a girl at an elite Beijing boarding school, who discovers her magical powers of invisibility and teams up with a cute academic rival/love interest to create an app to monetize them.

2. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

   As a huge fan of The Hunger Games trilogy (and Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), I was looking forward to reading Haymitch’s story and it did not disappoint! This book gutted me in the best way possible and I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a good cry.

3. Bad Girls of Ancient Greece by Lizzy Tiffin

   A smart and sassy introductory primer to the various women in Greek mythology. This book was an utter delight!

4. Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

   I was captivated by this book about a woman who owns a unique pawn shop in Japan, which trades not in objects, but in a person’s life choices and deepest regrets.

5. The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygın Ersin

   I loved this book about an Ottoman era master chef who infiltrates the palace to rescue a girl he loves from the imperial harem. The magic system of this book was so incredibly unique—I’ve never read anything like it before! Thanks Shannon Chakraborty for the recommendation.

6. The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak

   Ottoman-era Istanbul comes to life in this historical novel that traces the story about a young Indian boy named Jahan (and his white elephant Chota!) who becomes an apprentice of chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan, who built various architectural masterpieces, including the Süleymaniye Mosque.

7. Boudicca’s Daughter by Elodie Harper

   I was a big fan of Elodie Harper’s The Wolf Den series and so it’s no surprise that I loved Boudicca’s Daughter as well, a complex and nuanced exploration of the British heroine from the POV of her daughter. This book reminded me that there are no true heroes nor villains in the midst of a war.

8. The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi (ARC, releasing Jan 6, 2026)

   This whimsical and inventive take on mythology and fairytales is possibly Roshani Chokshi’s best work!

9. The River She Became by Emily Varga (ARC, releasing Apr 23, 2026)

   Emily Varga hits it out of the park with this searing and heartbreaking story of love, rebellion, and colonization in a magical land full of fae and monsters, all inspired by Pakistani folklore and mythology.

10. Proto by Laura Spinney

    Pick this one up if you, like me, are obsessed with etymology and the history of the Proto-Indo-European language.

Were there any books that you loved this year? Let me know your recommendations!

From my sketchbook:

I finally watched KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and (naturally!) had to draw these two adorable characters!

See you in 2026!

xo,

Tanaz

After 10 years of writing for young adults, I’m thrilled to finally announce my newest book, also my debut adult fantasy—Witch Daughter—to be published by Grand Central Publishing in fall 2026! (final date to come)

Here’s an exclusive first look at the official deal report from Publisher’s Marketplace:

Behind the book:

The story of Princess Tahmineh comes from the Shahnameh, a 50,000 verse epic about the kings and queens of ancient Iran written by the poet Ferdowsi in the 11th century.1

As someone who loves ancient history, mythology, and strong female figures, Tahmineh fascinated me from the very beginning. We first meet her in the Shahnameh by candlelight, when she boldly orchestrates a meeting with the great warrior, Rostam, offering to reunite him with his missing horse in exchange for bearing his child.

Here’s a folio from the Shahnameh, depicting this scene:

If you’re familiar with the Shahnameh, you’ll know that Tahmineh doesn’t feature heavily in the text outside this particular episode. But a woman this daring deserves to have her story told and I knew I had to write a book about her!

Here’s an exclusive first look at some stunning character artwork that I commissioned from Danielle Balanga!

Nothing has given me more joy than working on a book that allowed me to explore the history and mythology of my Zoroastrian ancestors. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in the coming weeks!

What I’ve been Reading:

I’ve been on an Ottoman era kick since I started watching the Turkish historical drama, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, over the summer. Here are two books I really enjoyed from this period:

The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygın Ersin: A clever, inventive novel about a master chef who infiltrates the sultan’s palace and uses his magical powers with food to rescue the woman he loves from the imperial harem.

The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak: A novel about a young Indian boy who stows away on a ship to Istanbul with a white elephant and becomes an apprentice to the master architect at the Ottoman court.

From the sketchbook:

A couple of years ago, I began drawing birds (and occasionally other things) as a way to have a hobby that isn’t writing or reading. And so, for this inaugural newsletter, here’s an osprey:

xo,

Tanaz

Welcome to my Substack! Those of you who follow me on social media may be wondering why I started this newsletter and why now?

Answer:

While social media helped me form many connections in the bookish community in the past, current algorithms have made reaching my readers more and more difficult in recent years.

Hence, this newsletter for you all, who read and love my books! I look forward to connecting with you!

Subscribe now

What will you get from subscribing?

• News about my forthcoming book releases—delivered directly to your inbox

• Author events

• First look at bookish content like excerpts and cover reveals

• Answers to your questions about my books, characters, writing and publishing

• Occasional book recommendations and bird art!

How often will I update?

4 times a year or less. This is a free newsletter meant to give you information about my upcoming releases and I don’t plan on spamming your inboxes.

How can I ask you questions?

I’m still figuring out the Substack platform, but for now, you can leave your questions for me in the comments section. If you are subscribed to me, I will answer the question in a future newsletter!

xo, Tanaz