Elif Şafak to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Şafak fans. Speculation had been rife that the author of the Island of Missing Trees is about to announce her retirement from all public activities, at age 54, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an author isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an author just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouElif

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouElif was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“Elif Şafak was unlike any other author we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouElif”
— @universalObserver, 19 Mar 2026

“Şafak wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 19 Mar 2026

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