 from Western Michigan University in Creative Writing and American and British Literature from Western Michigan University in 1994.Gökmen has lived in Istanbul with her Turkish husband since 1994.She is the daughter-in-law of Turkish politician Dr. Sami Gökmen, former Member of Parliament from the Republican People's Party (CHP) for the district of Muğla during the 16th session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).