Zara D. Garcia-Alvarez was born in Toronto. She received the York University Entrance Scholarship and earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Vanier College at York. Other areas of study included: Women’s Studies and Ethnic Minorities in Canadian Society.
Throughout her academic career, Zara has received numerous awards and honourary achievements including: Valedictorian of her 1989 graduating class; Peel Co-op Education Teachers Association Award, Ontario Scholar Award, and Brampton Rotary Club Award of Excellence.
She has always been actively interested in the creative writing community and has been associated with: The Brampton Writer’s Guild Association (1994-1997); The York Creative Writing Student Collective (1995-1997); executive officer of Writers at York (1996-1998); co-founder of Writers’ Read (1996-1998); editorial assistant for the literary magazine, Existere (1995-1998); and winner of the Word Guild Writing Contest (2007). Her continuing education training has included “Eight-Step Editing” and “Proofreading” through The Editors’ Association of Canada (2010).
Formerly an editorial assistant for eight years for the publishing house, UCPH, her interests have varied from: reviewing fiction and Canadian literature; writing short stories and poetry; critiquing film; photography; beading; scrap-booking; drawing; mehendi; collecting fair trade ethnic artifacts; visiting art galleries, museums, historical buildings, and churches; fashion; long-distance running and Pilates; ethnicity, cultural customs, religious practices, and justice for marginalized peoples.
Between being a freelance writer, editor, and book reviewer, a mom, and a housewife, she confesses a recent addiction to Twitter, lipstick, and vintage thrift shops.
Zara currently lives in Brampton with her husband, her two young children, and their imaginary dog, Pirate.
To contact, please email me.
