Hossein Lotfali

Hossein Lotfali is an Iranian writer, illustrator, editor, computer programmer, web designer, and the Managing Director and License Holder of Felfel Ghermez Publishing House.

With experience spanning literature, visual arts, publishing, and technology, Lotfali has developed a multidisciplinary career that brings together creative writing, illustration, editing, digital design, and publishing. His literary work includes books for children and young adults as well as adult readers, reflecting his diverse interests and range as an author.

To date, 31 book titles have been published under his authorship and creative work. In addition to writing, he has been involved in illustration and editing, while his background in computer programming and web design has provided him with a broader perspective on the intersection of creativity, technology, and modern publishing.

As the head of Felfel Ghermez Publishing House, Lotfali is also involved in the publishing process, supporting the development and publication of literary works and contributing to the promotion of books and authors.

A Conversation with Hossein Lotfali

Writer, Illustrator, Editor, Programmer, Web Designer, and Managing Director of Felfel Ghermez Publishing House

Interviewer:
Mr. Lotfali, you have worked in several different fields, including computer programming, web design, writing, illustration, editing, and publishing. How did this journey begin?

Hossein Lotfali:
My journey began with computers. I was interested in technology and programming from an early stage, and over time I became involved in web design as well. However, alongside technology, I always had a strong interest in literature and creative work. Eventually, writing and publishing became an important part of my professional life. Looking back, I don't see these fields as completely separate. They have all contributed to the way I think and work today.

Interviewer:
When did you become seriously interested in writing?

Hossein Lotfali:
Writing gradually became more than just an interest for me. I began to take it seriously when I realized that I had stories and ideas that I wanted to communicate through books. The more I wrote, the more I understood that writing requires discipline, patience, and continuous learning. It is not simply about having a good idea; it is about developing that idea into something meaningful for the reader.

Interviewer:
You write for children and young adults, but you also work on literature for adults. What attracts you to different age groups?

Hossein Lotfali:
Each age group has its own way of seeing the world. Children often look at ordinary things with curiosity and imagination, while young adults are beginning to question the world around them and form their own identities. Adult literature allows me to explore more complex experiences, relationships, and social issues.

I enjoy moving between these worlds because each one challenges me in a different way.

Interviewer:
You currently have 31 book titles to your name. What does that number mean to you?

Hossein Lotfali:
The number itself is less important to me than the experience behind each book. Every title represents a period of my life, a particular idea, and many hours of writing, editing, revising, and working with others.

Thirty-one books also remind me that writing is a long-term process. You learn something from every book you create.

Interviewer:
Do you have a favorite among your books?

Hossein Lotfali:
It is difficult to choose just one. Writers often have a special connection with different books for different reasons. Sometimes a book may be technically stronger, while another may have a more personal meaning.

For me, the most important thing is whether a book succeeds in establishing a genuine connection with its readers.

Interviewer:
What is the biggest challenge of writing for children?

Hossein Lotfali:
One of the biggest challenges is simplicity. Writing simply does not mean writing carelessly or making everything childish. Children are intelligent and sensitive readers. They quickly recognize artificial language or stories that are written only to teach them a lesson.

A good children's story should respect its young readers while still being enjoyable and imaginative.

Interviewer:
Do you believe children's books should have an educational message?

Hossein Lotfali:
They can, but I don't think the message should dominate the story. If a writer begins with a lesson and simply builds a story around it, the result can become too didactic.

I prefer to let the message emerge naturally through the characters and events. When children discover an idea for themselves, it can have a much stronger effect.

Interviewer:
How important is illustration in children's books?

Hossein Lotfali:
Very important. In a children's book, the illustrations can tell part of the story that the words do not tell. A good illustration adds another layer to the book.

Because I have experience as an illustrator myself, I pay close attention to the relationship between text and image. They should complement each other rather than simply repeat the same information.

Interviewer:
Since you are both a writer and an illustrator, do you usually imagine the visual appearance of a story while writing it?

Hossein Lotfali:
Quite often. When I write, I can sometimes visualize the characters, locations, and scenes in my mind. That helps me think about how a particular moment might eventually appear on the page.

However, I also believe an illustrator should have creative freedom. A different artist may see something in the story that I didn't initially imagine, and that can make the final book even better.

Interviewer:
You also work as an editor. Has editing changed the way you write?

Hossein Lotfali:
Definitely. Editing has taught me to look at my own writing more critically. When you edit someone else's work, it becomes easier to notice unnecessary sentences, weak transitions, repetition, and problems with structure.

I try to apply the same discipline to my own writing. Sometimes the best improvement you can make to a text is to remove something rather than add something.

Interviewer:
What usually comes first for you when creating a story: the character, the idea, or the plot?

Hossein Lotfali:
There is no fixed rule. Sometimes a character comes first. Sometimes I have a situation or a question in my mind, and the story develops from there.

I often begin with a simple question: “What if...?” That question can open the door to an entire story.

Interviewer:
How much does your background in technology influence your work as a writer and publisher?

Hossein Lotfali:
Technology has influenced the way I organize information and solve problems. Programming teaches you to break a complex problem into smaller parts, and that way of thinking can also be useful when working on a long manuscript or managing a publishing project.

Web design has also helped me understand how readers interact with information in the digital world. Today, publishing is no longer limited to the printed page.

Interviewer:
Why did you decide to establish Felfel Ghermez Publishing House?

Hossein Lotfali:
Publishing gave me the opportunity to become involved in the entire process of bringing a book to readers. As a writer, you experience one part of that process, but as a publisher you see many other stages: editing, design, illustration, production, distribution, and communication with readers.

I wanted to create a publishing environment where I could use my experience in different areas to develop books more carefully.

Interviewer:
What does the name “Felfel Ghermez” mean to you?

Hossein Lotfali:
The name has a lively and memorable character. “Felfel Ghermez,” or “Red Pepper,” suggests energy, color, and a distinctive personality. I wanted the publishing house to have an identity that was easy to remember and not overly formal or distant from readers.

Interviewer:
What do you look for when deciding whether a book is worth publishing?

Hossein Lotfali:
The first thing is the quality of the work. But quality has several dimensions. The writing must have something to say, the structure should work, and the book should have a clear relationship with its intended audience.

For children's books, I also pay attention to language, age appropriateness, characters, visual potential, and whether the story can genuinely engage a child.

Interviewer:
What do you think makes a book memorable?

Hossein Lotfali:
A memorable book usually creates an emotional connection. It may make you laugh, make you think, surprise you, or remind you of something from your own life.

Technical quality is important, but readers ultimately remember how a book made them feel.

Interviewer:
How do you deal with criticism of your work?

Hossein Lotfali:
Constructive criticism is necessary. A writer who believes everything he or she writes is perfect will have difficulty improving.

Of course, not every criticism is correct, and a writer doesn't have to accept every opinion. The important thing is to listen carefully, understand the reasoning behind the criticism, and then decide whether it can improve the work.

Interviewer:
Do you think social media has changed the relationship between authors and readers?

Hossein Lotfali:
Absolutely. In the past, the relationship was more indirect. A reader bought a book and perhaps never had an opportunity to communicate with the author.

Today, readers can comment, ask questions, share their opinions, and follow an author's work directly. This is a valuable opportunity, although it also means authors and publishers need to understand how to communicate responsibly in digital spaces.

Interviewer:
What is your opinion about the future of printed books?

Hossein Lotfali:
I don't believe printed books will disappear. Digital formats, audiobooks, and online platforms are changing the publishing industry, but printed books still offer a unique physical experience.

I think the future will involve different formats existing alongside one another. The important question is not whether the book is printed or digital, but whether the content deserves to be read.

Interviewer:
After working across so many different fields, what would you say is the common element connecting programming, writing, illustration, and publishing?

Hossein Lotfali:
Creativity and problem-solving. At first glance, programming and literature may seem completely different, but both require you to create something from an idea.

In programming, you build a functioning system. In writing, you build a world, characters, and experiences through language. Illustration creates another form of communication. Publishing brings all these elements together and connects them with readers.

Interviewer:
Finally, what would you like readers to remember about Hossein Lotfali and his work?

Hossein Lotfali:
I would like them to remember the books rather than the person behind them. If a child discovers a new idea through one of my books, if a young reader finds a character they can relate to, or if an adult finishes a novel and continues thinking about it afterward, then I feel the work has achieved something.

For me, that is ultimately what writing and publishing are about: creating something that continues to live in the reader's mind after the book has been closed.

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