“Injustice, inequality, false accusations, false imprisonment, if I go on any longer, I may not be able to withhold the anger within me.” I am what people would call a nerd who shuts herself away from the world and pretends she’s a ghost amidst the crowd of people walking around her. I have never had what people called best friends or even the feeling of having a close relationship with anyone except my mum. I mean, why wouldn’t I be close to my mum? She was literally the only person that I had left after the incident that tore me apart. My name is Gabriella Myam. My mum named me that because when all was lost for her, she had me as a result of the strength she possessed from God. This is the meaning of my name, ‘God is my strength’. Honestly, I never really had dreams or aspirations that I wanted to achieve in life. Due to the financial situation my family was in, it really didn’t seem like I was going to be able to be something in life, so why worry about future aspirations? Why worry about friends? Why worry about being marriage material? Why worry about building an empire from scratch? Believe me when I say I had lost all hope, totally. “Gabby, Gabby, are you listening to me?” my mother asked me as she tried to grab my attention by snapping her fingers in front of me. “I’m so sorry, mum, I completely tuned you out while I was thinking about some stuff,” I said to her. I was not ready to disclose my negative thoughts because it always led to uncontrollable tears from her, filled with guilt. “Umm, Gabriella, I hope those thoughts are positive as I have told you several times to think of life as an opportunity to make good out of it, anyway… I know you are so excited about your dad’s arrival, it has been eleven years since he has been based in China doing trade, and finally, our wait is over and just in time for you to check if you got the scholarship to that university you applied for.”
Today we talk about The Hall of Frame, a book by Asha Kulthum published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books interviewed the author Asha Kulthum to get to know her better, beyond what is narrated in her book The Hall of Frame. It is of interest for us and for the readers, in fact, to find out more about the inspiration that led her to the writing of this story as well as if she sees some similarities between herself and the protagonist of this novel.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- How did you find the inspiration to write this story?
My inspiration is from watching and reading other novels, films and plays and thinking of how to incorporate their story technique into something that will be unique only to me. I also get inspired by my continent and their cultures. I try to blend the world of my imagination and my real culture together.
- How much of you is there in the protagonist of the novel?
I guess in the romance aspect, I’m equally shy in expressing my feelings just like the protagonist. I am not as confident as her but in certain aspects of the novel, I thought ‘What would I have done’ then I used that to make a decision for my protagonist.
- What message did you want to send out with your book?
I want readers of my book to be inspired to fight for justice and for the law. I want readers to also learn that first loves might just be the entrance to meeting your true love.
- How was your first publishing experience?
It was hectic and troubling. There was a lot of back and forth especially with distance barrier but we pulled through.
- Are you planning to write your second novel?
Yes I am, I have already started the process.
Europe Books thanks the author Asha Kulthum once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We really wish her the best of luck with her book The Hall of Frame and for her future as a writer.
To you, my dear reader, I sincerely hope that reading the protagonist’s engaging life experiences, concerning love and the pursuit of justice, will allow you to live some healthy adrenaline! So let yourself be guided by a thrilling journey and enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!