Q&A: Isha Raya, Author of ‘You’ll Never Forget Me’

We chat with author Isha Raya about You’ll Never Forget Me, which is a captivating cat-and-mouse thriller that follows a struggling actress who is only just beginning to enjoy the life sheʼs always wanted after inadvertently killing her rival—but now she must contend with the woman who threatens to take it all away.

Hi, Isha! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hello! Like many authors, I like to write what I like to read, which is: endearing, strong women with questionable moral compasses. Villains are almost always my favorite characters across all media, so I guess it’s only natural that I tend to center them in my writing. I also have a background in biology which can definitely come in handy when writing thrillers!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

It’s really sweet, actually: my dad used to tell us bedtime stories when I was younger. He was constantly coming up with over-the-top tales to entertain us, and that was when I first learned that words can come to life. Maybe it runs in my blood. As for writing, I’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember whether it was journaling or storytelling. There were so many stories that I wanted to read, so I had no choice but to write them myself!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Your debut novel, You’ll Never Forget Me, is out January 13^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Delicious, glam, toxic, all-consuming, and unforgettable (had to!).

What can readers expect?

You’ll Never Forget Me is a sapphic thriller following a struggling actress who accidentally murders her rival and lands her dream starring role. But as she cleans up her mess she also has to contend with the private investigator on her trail and the growing fascination they have for one another. Expect to root for characters that you probably shouldn’t. Expect to question your own moral compass, along with your definition of ‘justice.’ And definitely expect to be entertained!

Where did the inspiration for You’ll Never Forget Me come from?

I knew right away that I wanted to write about a villain. There’s something alluring about how unhinged they get to be in the narrative, and I was keen to dive deeper into the themes of fairness, greed, and ambition. I took inspiration from some of my favorite shows: Killing Eve and Death Note, both of which center villain characters. The concept truly gained its own legs, though, when I introduced the Hollywood setting. Believe it or not, but acting and serial killing have a surprising number of transferrable skills! From charm to charisma to improvisation, I knew my main character, Dimple Kapoor, simply had to be an actress. Especially when the setting lends itself to so much festering resentment and backstabbing.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Would it be cheating if I said the two point of view characters: Dimple Kapoor and Saffi Mirai Iyer? They’re foils with opposing moral compasses, but they’re also, against all odds, very similar. Both women are heavily affected by how they are perceived. Dimple has the misfortune of having to compete with another Indian woman, Irene, for acting roles. She is told they look too similar and that they cannot both succeed—not unless one of them wants to be a stunt double for the other. And Saffi is the daughter of Arizona’s only Indian senator. There is a lot of pressure for her to be polished and perfect, to uphold certain values. They both have a lot of judgemental eyes on them. It’s this idea that to be a woman is to perform. So they are both actors in a way. They both have to put on a facade because they have this ambition to deliver despite the unfair expectations that are set on them. And it’s this push and pull, these similarities amongst the glaring differences that has them so drawn to each other. It was an extremely fun dynamic to write, especially when it came to their banter.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I have only been to Los Angeles a couple times and I have never been a part of the acting or film industry. Still, I wanted to make the Hollywood setting and characters feel real. The only option was to do as much research as humanly possible. A few of my friends who are in the film industry were kind enough to answer my questions and give me pointers whenever I asked. To really get a feel for my characters, though, I read The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide by Jenna Fischer. And let me tell you: it definitely worked. I found myself making mental notes as though I was planning on going into acting—which I can promise you will not be happening anytime soon. But it helped me get into the mindset of these characters and visualize a world that I have never been a part of.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

It was an absolute whirlwind, and it still feels so surreal! I met my lovely agent, Amy Bishop-Wycisk, through a query critique giveaway run by the amazing people at DVPit. I still find it hilarious that she helped me get my query into shape only for me to sign with her. We went out on sub to editors after a couple rounds of revisions, and I had my first editor call five days later. I was absolutely over the moon to sign with that very editor, Jenny Chen at Bantam, about a week later. I am so fortunate to have such a dream team behind me and my debut novel!

What’s next for you?

I’ve got a very fun sapphic heist novel in the works that readers will hopefully be just as excited for. It’s still in the early stages so more information is to come soon!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?

There are so many incredible books that I am so excited to read, but just to name a few: How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley, Love, Gods, and Sinners By Camille Chong, and They Want Us Dead by CL Montblanc.

Will you be picking up You’ll Never Forget Me? Tell us in the comments below!