Spotlight On: Aliya Ali-Afzal
We spoke to the lovely Aliya Ali-Afzal, whose engrossing and page-turning debut novel Would I Lie to You? will be released on July 8th. It is available to pre-order now from Waterstones, Amazon, and Hive. You can follow Aliya on Twitter @AAAiswriting.
I enjoy writing the sort of books that I love to read - gripping, twisty, page-turners which I can lose myself in. I am fascinated by what makes people tick. My novels explore relationships and how we react when faced with a crisis or a moral dilemma. Above all, I want readers to escape into my books and forget their own problems for a while. I love it when my stories also prompt people to think about what they would have done, if faced with similar situations.
My debut Would I Lie To You? is about Faiza, who has secretly spent her family’s savings. When her husband Tom suddenly loses his job, she must replace the money before he discovers the truth. It’s about lies in relationships, trying to fix a terrible mistake and wanting to fit in and belong. Think real housewives of Wimbledon Village, but a thriller!
The novel is commercial women’s/ book club fiction and would appeal to fans of Adele Parks, Lianne Moriarty and Kiley Reid.
What’s the first novel you remember completing and was this the first book you had published?
Would I Lie To You? is the first and only novel I’ve ever written. Before this, I had only written short stories and poems for fun, for friends and family. I had always dreamed of writing a novel, but for most of my life it seemed like too far-fetched an idea to pursue. It seemed like something other people did. One day, the urge to write about an idea that had been in my head for years was too strong to resist. That’s how I started writing Would I Lie To You?
What has been a highlight of the publishing process so far, and what are you looking forward to?
Without a doubt, the highlight was holding a physical copy of my proof in my hands. To see the story that had lived inside my laptop for years as an actual book (almost) was overwhelming. I had to just sit alone with the proof for a few hours to let it all sink in.
I am very excited about publication day in July. The book is on sale already for pre-order, but in July it will be in people’s hands and they will be able to read it! That will be the biggest thrill for me. Plus, of course, I can’t wait for a big publication day cake with my book cover on top!
What was your journey to gaining representation like, and what advice would you give to writers who are submitting to literary agents?
A couple of agents requested my full manuscript when I met them in person, at a pitching event at a literary agency, and at a writing conference. The rest of my submissions were via the slush pile, including to Juliet. I had braced myself for months of waiting and rejections but after submitting to five agents who all requested the full novel, I was offered representation within seven weeks. A lot of this was probably also down to timing and luck, but it shows that it is impossible to predict how long the submissions process will take.
Juliet was always my dream agent, for many reasons. She represented some incredible writers, who all raved about what a great agent she was. She was super successful and brilliant at her job, but also seemed very passionate about it, which I admired. I followed her on Twitter and found that we shared a similar sense of humour and a love of beautiful dresses, which also convinced me that she would be my perfect agent! I attended an excellent Guardian masterclass that she presented, and was impressed by her expertise and her drive. By the time I submitted to Juliet, I had done months of research on her wish list and wrote a targeted and personalised cover letter. Five days later, she emailed me to offer representation. It was, without doubt, the best email I had ever received in my life!
I would advise writers to research their target agents thoroughly. Besides making sure that your work matches their wish list, also see check what their clients say about them, the deals they have done recently, and follow them on social media to get a sense of their personality and interests. I also watched videos and read articles by my target agents, to find out what kind of submissions stand out for them. Above all, be brave and try to be resilient. It is a scary, emotionally draining and inevitably disappointing process along the way. You just have to keep going!
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m now writing book two. I find it impossible to talk about a book until I have completed a first draft, but I can say is that it will be a fast-moving plot, with lots of twists, and some strong, yet flawed, female leads!