Daughter of Indian African parents, Mira V Shah is a former City lawyer turned writer. “Her” is her first-ever novel which she wrote in 2020 during the first UK lockdown. The #1 bestseller, HER was published in e-book and audio in March 2023 with the paperback was recently released on November 20, 2023.
“Her” explores the story of two- women: Rani and Natalie. Rani, who always felt like an outsider, imagines owning the beautiful house across the street, recently put up for sale, while living in a tiny rented flat. When Natalie, with her lavish lifestyle, adoring husband, and high-powered job, moves in, Rani is drawn to her, but as they become friends, she questions if Natalie's seemingly perfect life is too good to be true.
In an interview with Asian Voice, Mira discusses her novel and the art of writing psychological thrillers.
Can you provide a brief overview of "Her"?
I would describe “Her” as a psychological drama/domestic noir set on a North London suburban street about two young women in their twenties, Rani and Natalie, who strike up an unexpected friendship that leads to chilling consequences. While the novel explores many different themes like flawed perception, trauma, grief, racial prejudice, and class, at its heart it is a story centred on the nuances and complexities of female friendship.
What inspired you to write this psychological thriller?
“Her” is inspired by different threads of my life. After losing my mother in my late teens, I wanted to explore the subject of loneliness in young people, which is rarely spoken about. Your twenties are supposed to be an exciting period of discovery and growth, but for many people, myself included, it can be bitterly isolating and stifling. On the surface, my protagonists Rani and Natalie have very little in common. But what unites them is their crippling loneliness.
I started writing the novel that became “Her” while living in a tiny flat during the pandemic. Writing became a means of escaping from the uncertainty of the world and when reality felt confined and limited. This experience inspired the tense claustrophobia and voyeurism seen throughout the novel.
How do you approach crafting suspense and maintaining a sense of mystery?
Crafting suspense and maintaining a sense of mystery is primarily about pacing – deciding the best points in your novel to slow the pace down or create a faster pace that puts the reader on the edge of their seat.
The original draft of “Her” was very different to the published version. I’m a character-driven writer rather than a plot-driven one, which I understand is rare for thriller/suspense writers. I never plan chapters before writing. All I have are the main characters, general themes, the setting, and an idea for an opening. This means that I find out what happens in the novel in real time as I’m writing it – and often my characters take me to some very dark places!
Are there any authors, books, or films that influenced your writing?
Unlike many writers, I have never studied creative writing and learnt the art of storytelling organically through books, TV dramas and films. I read widely, and often outside my genre. Literary fiction is great for interesting character observations – think Elizabeth Strout, Elena Ferrante, Zadie Smith and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Women’s fiction is brilliant for relatable themes and trends – Lianne Moriarty and Sally Hepworth are favourites of mine. I read a lot of character-driven thrillers too, particularly those that explore the darker side of ordinary people – Lisa Jewell and Sabine Durrant do this extremely well. I’m also influenced by diverse novels that steer away from stereotypes and create underrepresented characters with agency – Kia Abdullah and Celeste Ng are huge inspirations.
How do you aim to connect with your readers, and what do you hope they take away from the experience of reading "Her"?
In “Her” I hoped to create main characters who feel like real people, and whose lives continue off the page. They may not always be likeable, and readers may judge them and the decisions they make, but I hope my characters remain relatable. I hope readers become invested in them enough to care what happens to them and to keep turning those pages.
I also wanted to show that it is possible to create a fast-paced, twisty, and entertaining novel whilst simultaneously exploring profound themes such as racial prejudice, trauma, grief, and loneliness. And if my novel lives on in readers’ heads after they’ve turned the final page then that is a huge bonus.
Were there any particular challenges you faced while writing the book?
“Her” is the first novel I have ever written or even attempted. So, the main challenges I faced when writing the first draft was overcoming self-doubt and accountability in terms of keeping going when I had no confirmation that what I was writing showed any promise. While most first novels are semi-autobiographical, allowing the writer to draw on their own life experiences, I also explored themes in the novel that I have no personal experience of. This was particularly challenging as I wanted to write from a place of authenticity and do justice to these very real experiences. Sometimes this involved desk research. Other times, I was able to speak to people and delve into these subjects in more detail.
Can you provide any hints or insights into your future projects?
My second novel, “The House Sitter” will be published in June 2024. I’m currently juggling the editing stages with a demanding full-time job and a busy family life. I would describe it as a locked-room family drama with a twist, set in a picturesque yet isolated region of rural Italy.
I’m also in the early stages of planning my third novel – currently unnamed. I hope to explore themes of trauma, the infallibility of memory and revenge, as well as tapping into the current true crime trend.
