Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them? 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. And also I wanted to highlight my culture while discussing some topics that were important to me. 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. I was inspired from an amalgamation of things. The inspiration was not an aha moment so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly. Where did the inspiration for HER NAME IS KNIGHT come from? Her Name is Knight is a full course meal that will definitely entertain and make you think. It’s a story that speaks to the heart of humanity, of love, and being a survivor…rebuilding one’s self. 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. What can readers expect when they read HER NAME IS KNIGHT? I can give you a hundred thousand ones, though. I’m a writer I can’t give only five words. 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. 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.

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. I don’t know exactly when I read them, but I just remember the feeling I got (different feelings) when I read both. Whew! To be honest…the first books that hit me hard were Spellbound by Christopher Pike and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. 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! I still love writing with blue Bics even now. I still have it though the pages are very faded. 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. My love for writing came in middle school, I think. 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? 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.

Yasmin angoe her name is knight