Soniah Kamal is an exceptional Pakistani-American writer. She is the author of two novels, An Isolated Incident and Unmarriageable.

At what age did you know you wanted to become a writer?

Never wanted to be a writer.

What is your ‘if you don’t like this, you can’t be my friend’ book?

None- variety is the spice of life.

The last book you bought?

Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer.

What did you do with your first advance?

Stared at it in disbelief.

A book you wish you had written?

The next one I write.

Characters or Plot?

Both are the same for me.

Weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?

A cardamom- but it smelled so nice!

Favourite writing snack?

My fingernails.

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native

What is your writing Kryptonite?

A deadline.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

On laptops

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Too many.

Do you ever judge a book by its cover?

No, the inside counts always, but I do pick up based on cover.

If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

Actress.