Elif Shafak
Elif Shafak was born in Strasbourg, France. She holds a degree in international relations from Middle East Technical University, a master's degree in gender and women's studies and a PhD in political science. Shafak is the author of fifteen books, including the bestselling The Bastard of Istanbul and The Forty Rules of Love. Her books have been published in forty-seven languages and have been long- and short-listed for numerous awards. Shafak is also a political commentator, TEDGlobal speaker, a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.