We chat with author Hanna Alkaf about The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s, which is sees an all-girls school struck with mysterious cases of screaming hysteria in this chilling dark academia thriller haunted by a deeply buried history clawing to the light.
Hi, Hanna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! My name is Hanna Alkaf, and when I’m not taking care of my two kids, I write middle grade and young adult books that draw from my experiences, culture, and the tales I grew up with as a Malaysian.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I grew up surrounded by books – my parents raised my three older siblings and I with a love for the written word. I was read to every night before I went to bed, and in fact my sister says I would often refuse to go to bed if they didn’t do the voices when they read to me, because that meant the story didn’t count. And as I got older, when I got tired of my own books, I’d go raid their shelves. I sampled my brother’s fantasy collection (it’s where I first read Dragonlance, Narnia and Lord of the Rings), my sisters’ Nancy Drews and the entire Anne of Green Gables series; my dad’s Jeffrey Archers and my mom’s romance novels; everything I could get my hands on.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: An abridged version of The Merchant of Venice
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Discworld books by Terry Pratchett (I can’t choose just one, you can’t make me)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Not a book, but I’ve been working my way through a reread of Agatha Christie’s novels – Poirot is my favourite – this time really analyzing the way she structures her mysteries, in preparation for my next (as yet still in the planning stages) project.
Your latest novel, The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s, is out September 24th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Just listen to the girls.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect the complicated friendship and sisterhood that comes from living through an all-girls school and the roiling frustration and anger of trying to find your voice in a world that penalizes you for being too loud, too soft, too hard or too gentle, all wrapped up in the creeping, oppressive dread of the people around you screaming for seemingly no reason, and a school that seems intent on bringing up old ghosts.
Where did the inspiration for The Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s come from?
I’ve always been fascinated by the phenomenon of mass hysteria – did you know that Malaysia was once dubbed the “mass hysteria capital of the world”? And as a former convent schoolgirl myself (shoutout Convent Bukit Nanas!), I’ve always wanted to write a story that draws on those experiences. But the real catalyst was that at the time I was formulating the idea for this book, there were – and still are – so many stories and articles coming out about the truly horrific crimes being perpetrated against women and especially against young girls: cases of grooming, of manipulation, of sexual assault. And in almost every instance, belief – and by extension, support – was conditional. It depended on how the victim acted, how they voiced their concerns, what they wore and how they presented themselves; it depended on how well they performed victimhood. And it made me angry, and that anger wove itself into every strand of this book.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I put both main POV characters through so much, but I have to say that I loved writing the haunting of Rachel, and all the ways she slowly begins to break apart under the weight of expectation and secrets, and how it allows darkness to seep in through the cracks.
This is your sixth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as a writer and about the publishing world since your debut?
As a writer, the main thing I’ve learned is that it’s okay to prioritise yourself over the work. It’s okay to say no sometimes, it’s okay to slow down, it’s okay to not be moving at the same pace as your peers, even though it feels like you’re getting left behind sometimes. The work is important, but you’re also more than your ability to produce.
As for the publishing world: I’ve learned to let go of things that aren’t within my locus of control. So many people would have you believe that if you made the right TikTok, if you distilled your book into the absolute best selection of tropes or wrote the pithiest Instagram captions, you’ll be able to make your book a success. But so much of this is beyond your control! You don’t control marketing budgets, market trends, audience response, award nominations, social media algorithms. The only thing you can control is you, and your work. So focus on those things. Let the rest go.
What’s next for you?
I’m editing a middle grade anthology called THE BEASTS BENEATH THE WINDS that will be out next year! It’s an illustrated collection of stories featuring cryptids from all over Southeast Asia, by Southeast Asian and diaspora authors! I’ve been dreaming about a project like this for so long, and I’m so excited about the way it’s all shaping up. I’ve also got another middle grade novel coming up, but I’m not really allowed to say much about that yet.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I’ve been very much on a horror/thriller kick lately, and sped through Lucy Foley’s THE MIDNIGHT FEAST and Gwendolyn Kiste’s THE HAUNTING OF VELKWOOD post-deadline. I also re-read Jesse Q Sutanto’s VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS because I’m dying – no pun intended – for the sequel. And Wen-yi Lee’s debut THE DARK WE KNOW is a dark delight. As for what I’d like to read next, I’m excited to pick up Amy Leow’s debut THE SCARLET THRONE.
