Author Interview: Yasmeen Abdellatif, Thriller

With Halloween being one week away, it's the perfect atmosphere for reading horror, thriller, and suspense. At Tuma's Books, we're spotlighting authors who write thrillers, horror, or suspense writers to give you more books to add to your to-be-read list. 

Author Spotlight: If you're a fan of thrillers and looking to support Palestinian authors, then keep reading!

Yasmeen Abdellatif @yasmeenabdellatifwriter is a thriller writer of Palestinian descent. She was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and now lives in California with her husband. 

Yasmeen writes stories that center the Muslim American experience and heavily feature Islamic traditions.

When she’s not writing or tutoring high school and college students in writing, she enjoys reading, going on walks, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Her debut, Black Widow and White Shroud is a twisty, page-turning novel masterfully handles the intricacies of community trust amid undercover spies, US immigration, and social media's role in it all.

Enjoy this interview with Yasmeen:

1. What led you to writing horror/thriller/suspense stories?

I didn’t originally intend to write thriller/suspense stories. I wrote in other genres first, but I always lost interest in the stories I would start. Then I had an idea for a story about an FBI informant and a murder coverup, and I loved writing it! I decided I wanted to keep writing thrillers because I think there is a need for more Muslim focused stories in this genre.

2. What role do you think "fear" plays in our lives?

Fear plays a pivotal role in our lives. It can determine what we choose to do or choose to avoid. Our lives might look completely different, either positively or negatively, if we never act (or avoid acting) out of fear.

3. How much or little does your cultural heritage play a role in your writing?

My cultural heritage plays a major role in my writing. As a Palestinian, I was always raised to care about what my people are going through and to do what I can to raise awareness about it. As a Palestinian American, I deal with the guilt of having a much easier life here in the States and not feeling like I do enough to make up for my privilege. So that is a feeling often explored in my writing through Palestinian American characters.

4. Since it's almost Halloween, what is the "scariest" thing about being a writer? 

The scariest thing about being a writer is knowing that eventually I must decide that my work is “finished” and ready to be read by others. This is scary because I know my writing will never be perfect, and I could endlessly edit my work if I let myself.

5. Lastly, what are you currently reading, and/or who are your favorite horror/thriller authors?

I am currently reading Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler. My favorite horror authors are Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Stephen Graham Jones. My favorite thriller writers are Gillian Flynn and Lisa Jewell.