Guzel Shamilyevna Yakhina (Russian: Гузель Шамильевна Яхина, Tatar: Гүзәл Шамил кызы Яхина, romanized: Güzäl Şamil qızı Yaxina, born 1 June 1977) is a Russian author and screenwriter.

She spoke Tatar at home and learned Russian only after she started going to daycare.

[2] She studied at the Department of Foreign Languages in the Tatar State University of Humanities and Education.

Zuleikha was transported to Siberia and left in a remote location on Angara River with little means of survival.

Zuleikha had to overcome the harsh conditions, build relationships with other exiles and forge her new identity and reasons for living.