Hayat spoke with thriller author Amina Akhtar about the inspirations for her dark, twisty, comedic thrillers, her latest book Kismet, and more.
Both Fashion Victim and Kismet explore a dark side of circles often seen as glamorous or upper-crust, which is a fascinating area to explore. What is so appealing about thrillers centering on the dark side of the bourgeoisie?
To be honest, I’ve lived and worked in those areas and have seen the dark sides myself. A lot of what I put in my books that people call satire are things that actually have happened or been said to me. Which I find hysterical. I think we’ve had this notion of an aspirational life shoved down our throats on social media and what have you. So it can be really fun for readers to see that world isn’t as great as it’s made out to be. I kind of want to do a tiny house/van life one so we can see the horrors of that lifestyle which instagram doesn’t show us.
How much of yourself do you put into your characters, and particularly Ronnie? Do you find it difficult, cathartic, rewarding, something else?
So much. I like to think of FV as my cathartic ode to fashion. (I mean, I killed everyone in it.) And Ronnie in Kismet was a challenge because she’s my opposite. I’m not a doormat, I go out and do things to make my life happen, whereas she’s been floating around letting others rule her life. But I was once her, when I was younger and moved from Tx to NYC at 18. I felt like a fish out of water among these sophisticated people. So I drew on that feeling for Ronnie.
You’ve lived in a lot of very different places—Texas, New York City, Arizona. How have these places inspired what you write? Is there anything that never changes, no matter where you live?
Well, AZ for sure because I put it as a key setting in Kismet—and also a character. I think setting is so important for a lot of stories. My current one is in NYC because I need the sense of danger, of too many people around. But for Kismet, I wanted that feeling that this world in the mountains of AZ is teeming with life that we may not notice. It’s a magical place to sit and write to be honest. Just the silence and the animals are so inspiring.
How has your life changed since shifting to writing novels? Any really unexpected changes?
My life was shifting as I wrote my first book. I think we all go through moments that change our lives.. For me, back in 2014-2015, when I wrote Fashion Victim, I had lost my mother to cancer and that was a hard blow. She was my cheerleader and losing that unconditional love was a moment that changed me. I also was aging out of fashion. So I was in my mid thirties and couldn’t find a job because I was too senior, and I had to decide what I was going to do with my life. I had no idea what else I could do. So I sat down and wrote a book. It sounds easier than it was! And then soon after I moved to AZ to live with my father who was by himself. I didn’t get a book deal until I was almost 40 and living with my dad.
Life is always changing and we have to learn to roll with it and make it work. And it’s a challenge!
Writing has absolutely changed my outlook in that each book is a challenge for me. Whether it’s my first one and not believing I can write a book, to my second one and trying different POVs, I learn that I can do a lot more than I think I can. I’m not as intimidated by the idea of doing things. I like to think I undid the last twenty years of fear and anxiety and have become more my true self.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers, especially of novels/fiction?
Just write. Honestly, sitting down and writing is not easy. But do a little every day or whatever your schedule allows. Don’t give up. Be proud of yourself for how much you’ve done and grown. I think we all have that voice in our head that say, “no, you’re not a writer!” Kill that voice. Stop listening to it. It won’t help you.
Purchase Kismet by Amina Akhtar here.
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