1, Could you
tell us a little bit about your YA debut, Seven Days, please?
‘Seven Days’
can probably be best described as a diverse YA romance about finding love after
loss. There’s sassy Noori who bumps into her misunderstood and troubled
counterpart, Aamir. Both have recently experienced tragedy in their lives and
are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. While ‘Seven Days’
is about first love, the book delves into other themes such as grief, cultural identity,
and family – all told with humour.
2, Was there
anything in particular that inspired Seven Days?
I wanted to
write an unconventional love story featuring unconventional characters. Both
Noori and Aamir don’t conform to norms and their life choices reflect that.
Representation was also important to me as Noori is of mixed heritage and
Aamir’s parents are immigrants, which reflects my own upbringing in a way.
There aren’t that many YA novels out there that look at what it’s like to grow
up between different cultures. My own experience of loss also inspired me to
write about two grieving teenagers and their struggles with grief feel very
real to me.
3, Did you
need to do any research for Seven Days?
The novel
didn’t require a lot of research but there were still a few things I needed to
look up – about Lahore, the partition of India, Bollywood, and Bristol Zoo.
Frankly, it was just very random things I ended up researching. My favourite: cinnamon
gum and water bears!
4, What made
you decide to set the book across seven days?
I wanted to
write a story that is relatively fast-paced and seven days seemed perfect to
me. I also like the number seven! Fun fact: initially I wanted to name the
novel ‘Severn Days’.
5, Without
any spoilers, is there a particular scene or character you most enjoyed
writing?
I enjoyed
creating Noori’s character. She’s so bold and passionate about life despite the
heartaches she has suffered. Of course she has flaws and is convinced that her
life could be turned into a Bollywood movie, but she’s also incredibly kind and
has a generous heart. She tries to really understand her pain, using it as an
opportunity to grow. In terms of my favourite scene, I’d probably pick the
unexpected bathroom encounter between Noori and Aamir in which Noori sees more
than she bargained for.
6, Seven
Days is dual narrative, did you find one voice easier to get into than the
other?
I think it
was easier for me to write Noori’s character because she’s a teenage girl and I
very much remember what it was like to be that age! But I also had a lot of fun
writing from Aamir’s perspective and getting his voice right was key to me.
Overall I wanted to create a dual narrative that allows readers to truly
connect with both protagonists, including their relationships, conflicts, and realities
– and I do hope this comes across to readers.
7, Do you
have any writing rituals or a favourite place to write?
I’ve
developed some strange writing rituals over the years. For instance I like to
wear a special necklace and light a candle before I start a new project or a
new chapter. There’s just something calming about gazing at a flickering flame.
During a writer’s retreat a few years ago I also learned about the benefits of
meditation before starting a writing session, so that’s something I also like
to incorporate into my writing.
8, Are you a
plotter or pantser?
Definitely a
pantser! I admire writers who are plotters as I find it difficult to outline an
entire novel in advance. I will say though that being a pantser has its
benefits as it allows me to get to know the characters and the plot organically
as I write, which can be quite exciting.
9, Can you
tell us anything about what you’re currently working on, please?
I’m
currently on maternity leave so I feel my main job is changing nappies! But I
am planning to write another YA novel and although I’m a pantser I’m in the
middle of writing a rough outline for this.
10, Do you
have any writing tips or advice for other writers?
Read and write
whenever you can. Find your own style and unique voice. And most of all,
believe in yourself and your abilities. Oh, and try not to procrastinate –
easier said than done!
Book credit:
Seven Days
by Rebeka Shaid (£8.99, Walker Books) available now.
You can follow Rebeka on Instagram, and Seven Days is available now at bookshops, including Hive 📚
