We are thrilled to welcome one of our favorite new authors, Sheena Kamal.
Sheena Kamal has quickly made a name for herself in the crime genre, winning the prestigious Strand Critics Award for her debut novel The Lost Ones which was inspired by her experience working as a researcher on crime and investigative journalism for the film and television industry as well as her activism around the issue of homelessness for which she was awarded a TD Canada Trust scholarship for community leadership.
Kamal’s third novel, NO GOING BACK features the brilliant, fearless, deeply flawed Nora Watts whose head-to-head vendetta against a triad enforcer peaks when he places a target on her daughter’s back. NO GOING BACK is character-driven, culturally rich, emotionally powerful, no holds-barred suspense
at its best.
Roxane Gay said of your protagonist “Nora Watts is a fascinating, complicated woman with a very specific moral code.” Do you think this is an accurate description? If so why?
Yes, I do think that’s accurate. Nora’s moral code is quite rigid and has more to do with her own sense of justice than with what society tells her is correct. She decides that for herself, which makes her an incredibly dynamic character to write.
In NO GOING BACK, Nora becomes more of the chaser then the one being chased. Why has she taken on this more aggressive stance?
In No Going Back, the chaser has endangered her daughter Bonnie’s life and she has to protect Bonnie, at all costs. This goes back to her moral code. She could trust the authorities to help, but that’s absolutely not going to happen when the stakes are this high.
And tell us a little about the relationship between Nora Watts and Brazuca – how has this relationship evolved over the last three books?
It’s a complicated relationship! I would say bordering on toxic. He’s also someone who always has her back, even though he does it in a way that vexes and confuses her. This book, explores a bit more of a tender side between them. In the midst of all this madness Nora is going through, I was interested to see if a love relationship between them could work out.
And what are some of the obstacles Nora must overcome?
Nora’s biggest obstacle is herself, always. But in this book, it’s also the fear of the unknown. Who is this person hunting her and Bonnie? Where does he come from? Why does he hate her so much? How can she stay one step ahead of him? She has to figure it all out before he finds her first.
We also see Nora do a bit more traveling in this book; did you travel to the locations featured in NO GOING BACK?
I did, yes. I’ve been everywhere in this book and many of the settings were inspired by my travels, rather than the other way around. I love to travel. It’s one of my greatest pleasures in life.
What can we expect to see from you next?
In addition to No Going Back, I have a YA novel out this spring (in Canada and the UK) called Fight Like A Girl. I’ve just voiced the audiobook for it, so I’m busy promoting both projects. And I have a novel-in-progress that I’m polishing.
Sheena Kamal holds an HBA in Political Science from the University of Toronto, and was awarded a TD Canada Trust scholarship for community leadership and activism around the issue of homelessness. Her bestselling debut The Lost Ones won her a Kobo Emerging Writer Prize, a Strand Critics Award, and Macavity Award for Best First Novel. The sequel It All Falls Down has been called “a stunning, emotionally resonant thriller” in its Kirkus-starred review. No Going Back and her first YA novel Fight Like A Girl will be released in 2020. Additionally, her writing has been featured in The Guardian (U.K.), Bustle, The Irish Times (Ireland), Writers Digest, and Entertainment Weekly. Visit her at www.sheenakamal.com.
