Nerissa Hosein has always loved writing, ever since she was in secondary school school, and finally she has been able to put out her first eBook. It’s been a long and grueling journey but one filled with laughter and learning.

Her debut novel, Sometime Again, is a romantic tribute to first loves and second chances, inspired by her own tale of reuniting with her husband after years apart. Through Nicholas and Kate, she explores the power of true love, the allure of returning to one's roots, and the bravery required to rebuild and rekindle. With every page, she aims to offer readers a love that feels both familiar and extraordinary, urging them to believe, if only for a moment, that true love always finds a way.

Paradise Pulse sat down with Nerissa and had the pleasure of getting to know more about her journey and her first novel.

Where did you grow up and how did you first start writing?

I started writing at a young age, while I was in secondary school. I would mostly write poems, always inspired by love and teen angst. My friends would come to me when they had requests, and I would pen things for them. I loved literature but as my English teacher once told me, “I loved the tabanca story.” He would joke that if CXC did not have one of those, I would not pass. Thankfully for me, it did, and I was able to acquire the highest marks in Literature at the school.

Was there any one turning point in your life that inspired you to get into writing?

Actually it was watching a television show called Beauty and the Beast back when I was a little girl. The show starred Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton. There was a lot of poetry featured on the show and I just fell in love with it. There was no internet back then so I would go to old bookstores to try to find books to find specific poems, like ‘And Death shall have no dominion’ by Dylan Thomas. I had to search several places to find that one!

Why didn’t you pursue journalism as a profession?

I actually tried to at COSTATT when I was in my twenties, but due to some family circumstances, I ended up leaving and I just never went back. I started working at a young age and I just never followed the dream to further my education. It is probably one of my only regrets. I did however get the chance to write for some local magazines and that allowed me to keep the flame alive in my heart.

How did the book come about?

I actually started this story a few years ago but never got further than the first chapter. I was always too busy, and I just honestly did not think I had to talent to finish it. It wasn’t until last year when I was thrown into a deep grief with the loss of my grandmother that I decided to try again. It was more of a place I wanted to hide, so I would not be so hurt for at least a period of time. And little by little, I started to get thoroughly emersed in it. Then, one day I finished. But still I never really thought it could be good. So I shared it a couple of coworkers and they loved it. It was these two women that helped me do all the work to edit and format and design. They worked tirelessly to help me see my dream come alive. I would not have been able to do it without them. 

Tell us a bit about the book: Who are the main characters and what motivates them?

The book is a thriller love story. Its main characters are Nicholas and Kate, high school sweethearts that haven’t seen each other in years. Currently, Kate is in danger and Nicholas might be the only one to help. But of course there is the issue of trust and past pain, so it’s a mix of emotions and danger. It’s just a story that keeps you guessing and has your heart in a clench from the get-go. 

So what’s your next steps?

Right now, I am just enjoying creating the social media blitz for the book and getting the honest feedback. It’s just a huge accomplishment and something I never thought I’d be able to do, so I’m extremely proud and grateful. I would like to get the book into a printed version and actually do some location promotion for it. But it’s a slow climb so I am working on promoting it and getting sales for the eBook version. If that goes well, then I will work on the print version.

Are there any plans for another book?

Yes, actually I am working on something, but it will be a while. Right now I would like to focus on making Sometime Again a success.

What’s the best thing about being a published author?

The pride I feel of being able to accomplish something and just the fact that my husband and kids are proud of me. It’s the best feeling. I would just like to enjoy this moment for a bit and then see how the rest of this journey unravels.

Sometime Again is available on most major eBook platforms like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Find out more about Nerissa on her website at www.nerissahosein.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nerissa.hosein.author/ as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573101642857