About Beste Filiz

(Bes-teh Fee-liz) My name is a spondee

I was born in Istanbul, Turkey. When I was 3 years old, my parents and I became refugees and had to flee Turkey and seek asylum in London, England. The different parts of my identity come out in my writing for children. I want to write diverse books for children and young adults with LGBTQ and BIPOC characters that reflect their identities, struggles, and lives.

I write about refugees and how they contribute to society rather than the stereotypical portrayal of them in much of mainstream media. I want to give refugees their dignity back in story, especially during this time when there is so much anti-refugee and anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media. I want to show that political asylum seekers stand up against injustices in their home countries, that they are persecuted for their bravery, and that is why they are forced to leave their homes and become refugees.

I would like to write about Turkish children for young people to display the rich and vast tradition that is inherent to Turkish culture and people. Istanbul is a city where two continents meet, literally, across the Bosphorus. It is steeped in centuries of mystery and story. I would like to celebrate the diversity of my people and their stories. I think it is time.

I am candidate in the Writing for Children and Young Adults MFA program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) on a merit scholarship. I was the recipient of the Picture Book Award in 2023 from VCFA and a 2024 Fellowship from the Center for Arts and Social Justice.