Kataru Yahya X VICTRICES – author of Home is a Silhouette

When did you decide you wanted to write a book? & what inspired you?

I have started many books in the past but never finished them. I would give up on the manuscripts about halfway through. Then came 2021. I wrote a short story titled ‘Asiya’. It was the first story I ever wrote to completion, albeit being short. Asiya went live on my website, and I received many reviews. The most common sentiment was that it was too short. After deliberating, I saw the novel/novella potential my short story had and got to work writing a novella. I would say my inspiration was me wanting to actually finish writing a manuscript for the first time ever… That pushed me to write (and complete) Home Is a Silhouette.

How did you come up with the title “home is a silhouette”?

The working title of my manuscript, when I finished writing, was ‘Home’. It was an all-encompassing title⎯or so I thought. After editing the manuscript with my publisher, I had a novel (no longer a novella) and a new title, ‘Home Is a Silhouette’. In order to not spoil the book for people who have not read it yet, the title is a phrase I got from one of the main characters’ internal monologue. And I think it’s a more suitable title than ‘Home’.

You just made your debut as a published author this month, how does it feel to finally be published?

It feels surreal. It felt like a dream until I had my book in my hands, and afterwards, it just felt unreal. I’ve been a reader all my life. I knew I wanted to write a book someday⎯maybe in ten or twenty years, but I didn’t think it’d happen now.

Can you briefly tell us about your book?

Home Is a Silhouette is about two girls who find themselves in an impossible situation for different reasons. Now, they must work together to get out of this situation, which involves a murderous villain. In the process, they discover things about themselves and each other that they wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. It is a story of sisterhood, friendship, motherhood, trauma, and mental illness.

How long did it take you to finish writing this book?

It took me three months to write Home Is a Silhouette. I started writing in October of 2021, and by December of the same year, I was finished.

Do you plan on sticking to one genre or would you try other genres for future books?

Not at all. I have been writing for ten years now, and my writing journey started with poetry. I started to dabble in fiction about eight years ago, and I have mostly written contemporary fiction all this while. I love fantasy, though, and in Shaa Allah, my future books will be fantasy.

Do you have a favorite author or a favorite book?

I honestly can’t choose. There are so many authors and books I love. It’ll be unfair to pick a favorite.

I know your book was just released, but how soon do you think it’ll be before you’re ready to start writing another book?

I started working on my second when Home Is a Silhouette was on submission two years ago. I finished the first draft some months later and finished editing last year. I’m currently working on other projects, but I’m in no hurry to finish.

What is the one thing you hope readers would take away from your book?

I want readers to relate to my characters and feel represented.

What advice would you give to young writers yet to be published?

Keep writing, and keep reading.