Welcome to my author page. My name is Valéria Tari, and I am a writer with a deep passion for history, culture, and the intricate, often untold stories that have shaped humanity. My fascination with the Edo period in Japan and the enigmatic world of the Yoshiwara pleasure district led me to write Oiran, a literary fiction novel that offers readers a rich and immersive journey into the life of a high-ranking courtesan.

However, writing Oiran has been far more than a historical exploration for me—it has been a profoundly personal experience. I’ve often found myself drawn to the quiet strength required to navigate a world filled with rigid expectations, both in my own life and in the lives of the characters I’ve created. In many ways, the story of Aikohime, the oiran at the center of this novel, is also my own story. Her struggles with identity, freedom, and inner resilience mirror my own path, as I, too, have learned to balance societal pressures with a deep desire for authenticity.

Each character in Oiran carries a piece of me, whether it’s Aikohime’s quiet defiance, the sacrifices of those around her, or the unspoken desires they all harbor. Writing this novel allowed me to explore the different facets of my own identity—each character is a reflection of some aspect of my life, my emotions, my thoughts. In many ways, I feel that I am not just the author of this story, but also a part of it. Every character’s journey, every hardship, and every victory resonates with something within me.

My own experiences—whether personal loss, the need for inner strength, or the pursuit of a deeper sense of self—pushed me to write Oiran. I have faced moments where, like Aikohime, I had to find beauty in the midst of adversity, where the façade of elegance masked the emotional turbulence underneath. As Aikohime herself reflects in the book, “In a world that covets perfection, it is often the scars we hide that define us most.” That sentiment has guided much of my writing, as I sought to give voice to the complexities of human experience, both in my characters’ lives and in my own.

Writing Oiran was also an opportunity to bring my love for Japanese art and literature to life, weaving the beauty of Edo-period aesthetics with the timeless struggles of identity, love, and personal freedom. Through extensive research, I aimed to create a story that is not only historically authentic but also deeply emotional. My hope is that, as you turn the pages, you feel transported not only to another time and place but also into the heart of a woman who is both a prisoner of her role and a master of her own soul.

The creation of this novel has been a form of self-discovery, where every character, every conflict, and every moment of beauty allowed me to reflect on my own journey. Perhaps this is why Oiran feels so personal—because in telling Aikohime’s story, I have also told my own. And as much as this is a tale of historical intrigue and cultural exploration, it is also a meditation on the choices we make, the resilience we find within ourselves, and the quiet hope that persists even in the darkest moments.

Thank you for joining me on this literary adventure. I hope that Oiran offers you not just a window into the world of Edo Japan, but also an emotional connection to the timeless human experiences of love, loss, and the pursuit of freedom. Each reader brings their own story to the books they read, and I hope you find, in the story of Aikohime and the world she inhabits, a reflection of your own journey as well.