Her Name Is Knight is a propulsive character story and action thriller driven by retribution, passion, strength — and coming to terms with your own true self, regardless of what anyone calls you.
We chat with debut author Yasmin Angoe about her novel Her Name Is Knight, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
When did you first discover your love for writing?
My love for writing came in middle school, I think. That’s when I wrote my first book about a group of woodland creatures who had to save their forest from humans wanting to cut the trees down. I still have it though the pages are very faded. And it was written with a blue Bic pen. I still love writing with blue Bics even now.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Whew! To be honest…the first books that hit me hard were Spellbound by Christopher Pike and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I don’t know exactly when I read them, but I just remember the feeling I got (different feelings) when I read both. Spellbound scared the hell out of me and I was so obsessed with figuring out how to elicit that kind of emotion from a reader with just words. And then TKAB hit me in a whole other way with all its layers that I wanted to be able to write like that, in a way that hits at the humanity of people while talking about the not so nice things.
Other books that got me through my youth were Nancy Drew mysteries, Sweet Valley (can you believe it? I read them all), and just about anything I could get my hands on.
Describe your novel in five words.
I have no idea! I’m the worst at these. I’m a writer I can’t give only five words. I can give you a hundred thousand ones, though. Smh.
What can readers expect when they read HER NAME IS KNIGHT?
Readers can expect to be introduced to a new kind of heroine, one they don’t normally see in this genre who’s from a place they definitely don’t see on the regular. It’s a story that speaks to the heart of humanity, of love, and being a survivor…rebuilding one’s self. Her Name is Knight is a full course meal that will definitely entertain and make you think.
Where did the inspiration for HER NAME IS KNIGHT come from?
The inspiration was not an aha moment so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. I was inspired from an amalgamation of things. Two in particular were that I am an avid reader and viewer of the thriller/horror/action genres and never really saw a Black woman, let alone an immigrant woman, in the same kind of roles that we always see men in. And also I wanted to highlight my culture while discussing some topics that were important to me. But I wanted to have all of this in the format in which I most enjoy–spyish action thrillers that are cinematic and are take your breath away entertaining. I hope I achieved that.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
The book was very emotional for me overall because I was using it to deal with feelings about my dad’s passing that I hadn’t work through. It wasn’t just that, there were a lot of things going on at the time and it was time for me to deal with them. Several scenes were super challenging to write. They were as emotional for me as they may be for the reader. But knowing I was also going to write about rebuilding, family, and forgiving one’s self…writing those sweet moments that the main character has with others helped me overcome the hard parts of the story, and the deep emotions that she went through.
What was your writing and process like? What about the research of the book?
My process varies and I really need to nail something down and have more structure for myself, but I write when the moment takes me. This could be at any time. I have literally been awakened by my mind churning out words. And those words won’t stop until I pull myself out of bed and grab the phone to write myself an email of whatever scene or line emerged. But I’ll draft my story and then try to let it sit for a while so that I can come back and see what I’m working with.
As far as research, it is an on-going process for me. I research online, watch YouTube, ask people I know who have some insight on what I’m writing about. I take a bunch of random notes that may or may not be needed and as I’m writing, if I come across something I need more information about (like how to properly kick or whatever), I’ll use one of those resources I mentioned and figure it out. I’m an English teacher so what I don’t know, I look up and ask the experts.
Were there any favorite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Keigle and Elin. Honestly, I loved writing about the different relationships that Aninyeh/Nena had because they were such a part of her rebuilding herself. They were there right when she needed them and without any judgement. They became a tribe of her own making–her parents, her sister Elin, her Guy Friday Keigle. Her relationship with Georgia which was very special because in Georgia, Nena sees herself as she was at that age before her village was destroyed. Her relationship with Cort is so sweet and pure, as is her relationship with Georgia. What Nena has with them is stark contrast to what she does for her job and I think that’s what I love…that she’s this about the business killer, but that she is totally undone by this single dad and his wonderful daughter.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
I don’t have any worst writing advice because I think all advice is good to someone. Maybe not me, but someone out there. The best advice for me was to not feel pigeon-holed into writing a certain way, to give myself grace, and to write when the mood hits me. That is when my writing is the best. So I don’t write linearly.
