In every interview, I like to ask writers, “Is there a question you’d like me to ask?” I’m always surprised by the types of questions they’d want to ask themselves, so I decided to take the idea of the self-interview and give writers some restraints.
One. Use Who/What/When/Where/Why-ish questions.
Two. Have fun.
Today, we have Aisha Muharrar, an Emmy-award-winning writer and producer whose debut novel, Loved One, is out now. Before writing her debut book, she has worked on shows like Hacks, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place. In her debut novel, Muharrar follows a woman who travels from Los Angeles to London to recover her late best friend’s belongings and clashes with the guarded woman who refuses to give up his beloved guitar. It’s hilarious and heartwarming, and truly a delight to read.
Let’s turn it over to Aisha Muhrarrar.
What’s your deal? Like, professionally.
I wrote my first book in high school: a non-fiction book about high school cliques and labels published by Free Spirit Publishing. In college, I was an English major and I wrote a lot of short stories and assumed I would eventually write a novel. Senior year I ended up taking a screenwriting class, which led to moving to LA, working as an assistant, then getting my first TV writing job on Sit Down, Shut Up. After that show was canceled, I worked on Parks and Recreation for six seasons. After Parks ended, I returned to writing prose fiction. My first novel Loved One is out now!
Who cares?
I’m not sure if you will! There’s a lot going on in the world and it can feel hard enough getting out of bed every morning without adding “read a novel” to your to-do list. But I do think there’s value to reading my book right now. LOVED ONE is about a long journey to feel a feeling. And as difficult as it may be, we need to feel our feelings. We often think a feeling, but actually feeling is a lot harder. LOVED ONE is a specific story about a strange love triangle, but it’s also about an emotional journey. Julia is grieving but it’s not a flat line of sadness. It’s, as John O’Donohue says, “the drama of the heart’s voyage.”
How is that funny? I thought you were funny.
Oh what I just said above? That’s not funny. But the book is funny. You could take my word for it because I’m a comedy writer, but really you should take my word for it because I’m a comedy fan. Funny books I like are: Him Her Him Again The End of Him, Sorrow and Bliss, and High Fidelity. The funniest movie is Clueless. Funniest food? Pineapple. Funniest cat? Scar from The Lion King. Yes, he’s a lion, but sometimes people call lions “big cats,” and that’s funny because what an understatement.
Where is the book on the vibes scale?
Summer evening hang with a chilled red but then everyone gets a little too drunk and sad, but overall it’s still a good night.
The Liz Phair song where she says, “It’s harder to be friends than lovers and you shouldn’t try to mix the two.”
Is the dress blue and black or white and gold but for a person.
Why are there so many novels about grief right now?
I don’t know! When I started writing my book, there weren’t as many. But like I said, this one is funny. I wanted to write a book about loss that wouldn’t further depress the reader. And it’s a bit escapist with a travel narrative as Julia journeys from Barcelona to LA to London. Also aside from the romantic entanglements, the book is about friendship. It’s about friendship, grief, longing, envy… really, it’s about love.
When can I buy your book?