Desk Tour: Iman Hariri-Kia
Desk Tour: Iman Hariri-Kia
I promise this is going to make you smile.
Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. Be sure to check out ’s Desk Tour from last time if you missed it!
When I first started thinking about creating this series, I made a big ol’ list of all the people I would want to feature. Mostly, these were people who I associated with creativity, style, talent, humor… the list goes on and on.
was very close to the top of that list. The author of A HUNDRED OTHER GIRLS and the forthcoming THE MOST FAMOUS GIRL IN THE WORLD, Iman is as smart, vibrant, and as chic as it gets. I’ve long admired her style and taste and have admittedly personally attempted to copy her outfits over the years to no avail (but hey, I tried!!!). In other words, I knew — I just knew — that her workspace would be a visual feast. And, of course, it is, but it’s the small details that really made me fall in love with Iman’s office: The warm glow of her desk lamp, the note of reminders from her therapist that’s pinned over her desk, the gallery wall full of career milestones and art and mementos. Taking a peek into her office feels a little bit like taking a peek inside her brain, which sounds weird, sure, but it’s actually pretty great. You’ll see what I mean in a minute.
OM: Describe your workspace.
IHK: I have a home office in my Brooklyn apartment, which has long been a dream of mine!!! In my previous apartment on the LES, I had to write at the dining room table (while my fiancé worked from a desk less than a foot away) and take calls from my bedroom. When we initially toured our current place, my office was being used as a spice closet — but I saw the vision!!! It's tiny, but perfect for me.
When we initially toured our current place, my office was being used as a spice closet — but I saw the vision!!! It's tiny, but perfect for me.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
IHK: Omg so hard to pick... I think I'll go with: 1. A glass bookend rendering of my debut novel, A Hundred Other Girls. 2. My "Cherry Picked" custom day planner from Papier, which was a gift from my friend Aidan and is a total lifesaver. 3. My grandfather's medals of honor, bestowed onto him by the Shah of Iran for his civil service. Before the revolution, my grandfather served a foreign ambassador, and when he passed I inherited his accolades. They're very dear to me.
OM: Do you keep anything specific at your desk that you use as inspiration to stay creative or positive?
IHK: Yes!!! I keep a list of reminders above my desk that my therapist encouraged me to write down whenever I feel anxious, and I use them as mantras. I also keep a stack of advances copies of both my debut and sophomore novel, along with their original unedited bound manuscripts, and books I've recently blurbed. They feel like physical symbols of how far I've come. Then behind my desk is a whole other story... my framed publisher's weekly announcement, newspaper clippings about my work, my 30under30 profile, gifts from readers, and a bulletin board full of sweet messages from friends, family, my fiancé, my team, and my readers. The entire space feels like a warm hug!
I keep a list of reminders above my desk that my therapist encouraged me to write down whenever I feel anxious, and I use them as mantras
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
IHK: They literally make you look like a construction worker, but industrial grade sound blockers... I've been using to write papers in cubicles since high school. I'm pretty sure this pair was actually stolen my high school library (sorry ms. crow :/). They're my dirty little secret + key to productivity. I also collect pens from NYC restaurants, so I keep a very cool collection in my "Sourcebooks Author" mug. Lately, I've been obsessed with my HART'S pen. Then, of course, my erasable whiteboard calendar, which hangs directly above my laptop. I update it, like, 10,000 times a day.
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
IHK: I have big plans to buy a little display situation for the books I'm blurbing, so I can show them off instead of allowing them to just pile up on my desk! I just need to pick one and commit to buying it lol. Also, I've started an arts and crafts project, where I'm filling a canvas full of the bookmarks that kind booksellers and readers give me while I tour, so that I can remember everyone I met along the way. I can't wait until it's full and I can frame it <3
They literally make you look like a construction worker, but industrial grade sound blockers... I've been using to write papers in cubicles since high school. I'm pretty sure this pair was actually stolen my high school library (sorry ms. crow :/).
OM: Describe your "ideal" work day at your desk.
IHK: As a freelancer writer and author, every day of the week looks different for me. But lately, I've been spending my mornings sitting at my desk in my PJs, drinking an iced coffee with vanilla almond creamer, answering emails, and handling scheduling. After getting ready for the day, I'll usually dedicate several hours to writing or revising (either a chapter of a WIP, my newsletter, or a freelance writing assignment). I'll break in the afternoon to eat, then read on the chaise by my window. It's my favorite spot to annotate books I've committed to blurbing, because I keep my reading journal on the sill and have a view of the freedom tower. Finally, I'll wrap the day by doing a Zoom call or podcast interview back at my desk, which gives me a chance to show off my hall of fame. My friends call it "my shrine," which always makes me laugh.
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
IHK: You can find me @Imanharirikia on IG & TikTok, you can subscribe to my newsletter Cherry Picked (Imanharirikia.substack.com) for weekly current state of the unions, reading reports, and monthly coming of age essays, and you can preoder my sophomore novel THE MOST FAMOUS GIRL IN THE WORLD out September 17. My website is imanharirikia.com :)
Note from Olivia: Like I said, Iman’s office is an absolute delight. I loved that list of reminders from her therapist so, so much, and I also appreciate how much of the space celebrates her published work and accomplishments. I am a firm believer that we should all be proud of the work we’ve created and put into the world, and we should celebrate it all the time. We deserve it. Stay tuned for the next post in this series, which will feature the one and only
. I can’t wait!One last thing before I go… you can pre-order my first novel now! Pre-orders are so important (more on that here) and one of the most impactful ways to support debut authors.
A portion of March’s subscriber proceeds will go toward Save the Children to support its work in providing essential services and support to children affected by violence in Israel and Gaza.
I absolutely love this idea and can't wait to see more! In such an overshared kind of world, it still feels like workspaces are not often shared, so it's one of those rare thing that offers us the simple joy of a behind the scenes peek. I hope that makes sense! LOL.
Love this series! And can't wait for Iman's next book!