Farzana Doctor is a psychotherapist, writer, and activist with a diverse background. She was born in Zambia in 1966, where her family was based for five years before immigrating to Canada in 1971. Doctor's ancestry is Indian, and her experiences as a member of the South Asian diaspora have influenced her writing and activism.
Doctor is the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including "Stealing Nasreen" (Inanna 2007), "Six Metres of Pavement" (Dundurn, 2011), "All Inclusive" (Dundurn, 2015), and "Seven" (2020). Her writing has received numerous accolades, including being named one of CBC Books’ “Ten Canadian Women Writers You Need to Read Now” and the recipient of the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Dayne Ogilvie Grant in 2011. Her second novel, "Six Metres of Pavement," was particularly successful, winning the Lambda Literary Award in 2012 and being shortlisted for the Toronto Book Award in the same year.
In addition to her work as a novelist, Doctor also writes poetry and has published on social work and diversity-related topics. She is a licensed psychotherapist and maintains a private practice, providing consulting and therapy services. Doctor is also an activist and co-curates the Brockton Writers Series in Toronto. She is available to speak at events and chat with book clubs.