Spotlight.
Zebib K Abraham
INTRODUCTION
Zebib K Abraham (who publishes as ZK Abraham) is a writer of speculative and literary fiction, and occasional non-fiction, as well as a psychiatrist. Her short work has appeared in Clarkesworld, Fantasy Magazine, Fractured Lit, The Rumpus and others. She has been a Royal Literary Fund fellow for the Reading Round programme, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and a Best of the Net award. Her debut novel, My Darling Clementine, is forthcoming from Amistad (Harper Collins) in 2027.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into your creative practice? What initially inspired you?
I have been writing since childhood, inspired by the many fantasy books I loved at the time. My first stories were derivative of everything from Matilda to the work of Tamora Pierce. I was an imaginative kid. The ability to create an alternate world, to animate characters with life, seemed like a superpower. I can't say I was a disciplined writer as a child and adolescent, however.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?
I am a psychiatrist and an interior sort of person, so I naturally enjoy reading and writing characters' inner thoughts, exploring their memories, longings, and traumas. I like to explore anxiety and obsession. My stories and my upcoming novel have speculative or uncanny elements. Sometimes, the speculative element can be a great representation of a psychological dilemma, an unfulfilled desire, or a long-held fear. The weird or unreal element defamiliarizes things, heightens emotions and stakes.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
I am very excited about my upcoming novel, My Darling Clementine, to be released in 2027. It was the fifth book I wrote; at that point, I decided to embrace a more interior, literary approach, without as much stress about an exciting, plot-driven structure. I was reading many weird, depraved books at the time, so I was inspired to explore body horror, desire, and an obsessive, selfish, self-destructive character.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?
I would get involved with groups or organizations that support creatives of colour, like I did when I moved to Scotland during my Masters degree. It was wonderful to connect with other creatives of colour, sharing our ideas and backgrounds with each other in safe spaces. I would also explore opportunities for financial and mentoring support, like I did. There are awards, mentoring schemes, grants, workshops, and more out there to support creatives and some dedicated to creatives of colour. I applied to many such schemes, with many rejections, but eventually some acceptances! The opportunities I was lucky to be afforded were affirming, inspiring, financially beneficial, and educational. Also, joining a group who meets and does the creative work together. I enjoy silent writing time with other writers; it is so helpful to have that support.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently struggling through a new novel, in a similar speculative-literary space as my debut novel. It will explore existential anxiety in the age of fascism. This is after I spent a year working on a literary sci-fi book I couldn't get to work. This last year has taught me how to let go, and how to accept difficult or fallow periods. I pivoted away from a novel that wasn't gelling, and refocused on a new idea. Even though focus has been really hard, I am leaning into my initial draft being messy, and just trying my best.