The Literature Times: An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, yet Waiting in the Dark is an emotionally intense debut novel. What inspired you to write this story, and how much of it comes from personal experiences?
Liya May: An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, Yet Waiting in the Dark was born from a desire to give a voice to emotions that many people experience but often struggle to express. I’ve always been fascinated by the complexities of love, loss, healing, and the silent battles people fight behind closed doors. I wanted to create a story that reminds readers they are not alone in those feelings.
While the novel is a work of fiction, it is influenced by emotions and observations drawn from real life. Like many writers, I have experienced moments of heartbreak, uncertainty, hope, and personal growth, and those emotions naturally found their way into the characters and their journeys. However, the events themselves are not a retelling of my life. Instead, they are a blend of imagination, life experiences, and the stories I’ve witnessed around me.
For me, writing this book was more than telling a story,it was about exploring what it means to be beautifully broken, to carry invisible scars, and to continue searching for light even in the darkest moments. If readers see parts of themselves in the characters and feel understood or comforted after turning the last page, then I’ve achieved exactly what I hoped this novel would do.
The Literature Times: Maya’s journey through heartbreak feels incredibly authentic. How did you approach creating such a relatable and emotionally layered protagonist?
Liya May: When I began creating Maya, I didn’t want her to be a perfect heroine. I wanted her to feel real, someone who makes mistakes, carries emotional scars, questions her worth, and struggles to move forward after heartbreak. I believe that is what makes a character relatable. Most people don’t experience life in clear shades of black and white. They live through confusion, grief, hope, and resilience all at the same time.
To build Maya’s emotional depth, I focused on her inner world just as much as her external experiences. Rather than portraying heartbreak as a single event, I explored how it affects a person’s thoughts, self-esteem, relationships, and outlook on life. I wanted readers to witness not only her pain but also her strength, vulnerability, and gradual journey toward healing.
Many of Maya’s emotions were inspired by feelings that are universally human, such as the fear of losing someone, the difficulty of letting go, the longing to be understood, and the courage it takes to start over. By grounding her experiences in emotions that readers may have felt themselves, I hoped to create a protagonist who feels less like a fictional character and more like someone they know, or perhaps even a reflection of themselves.
At her core, Maya represents the idea that being broken does not mean being defeated. Her journey is about learning to embrace her imperfections, finding strength in vulnerability, and discovering that healing is rarely a straight path. I hope readers connect with her story not just because of what she goes through, but because of the strength she finds within herself to keep moving forward.
The Literature Times: Your writing is often described as lyrical and atmospheric. How would you define your writing style, and what influences have shaped your voice as an author?
Liya May: I would describe my writing style as emotional, immersive, and character driven. I enjoy creating stories that allow readers to feel every emotion alongside the characters, whether it is love, heartbreak, hope, or healing. I pay close attention to the emotional atmosphere of each scene because I believe the most memorable stories are the ones that make readers feel deeply rather than simply follow a plot.
My writing is influenced by my love for emotionally rich storytelling, meaningful character development, and the beauty found in ordinary moments. I am inspired by real human emotions, personal observations, conversations, and the resilience people show even during their most difficult times. I also enjoy stories that explore vulnerability, relationships, and the complexities of the human heart, and those themes naturally find their way into my work.
As an author, my goal is to write stories that stay with readers long after they finish the last page. If someone closes one of my books feeling understood, comforted, or inspired to see hope in their own journey, then I know I have achieved what I set out to do.
The Literature Times: The novel explores love, loss, healing, friendship, and family. Which of these themes was the most important for you to convey to your readers?
Liya May: Every theme in the novel is important because they all shape Maya’s journey. Love, loss, healing, family, and friendship are deeply interconnected, and I wanted readers to experience how each of them influences the way we grow as people.
If I had to choose one theme that is closest to my heart, it would be friendship. I think we often celebrate romantic love, but we don’t talk enough about the friendships that quietly carry us through our darkest moments. In Maya’s life, it isn’t a grand romantic gesture that begins her healing. It is a night spent with friends who make her laugh until she forgets her pain, challenge her perspectives, listen without judgment, and remind her that life can still be joyful.
One of my favorite chapters reflects exactly that. It isn’t filled with dramatic confessions or life changing events. Instead, it is a simple night of coffee, long drives, music, endless conversations, debates, laughter, and a sunrise shared with people who genuinely care about her. Those moments help Maya rediscover a version of herself that heartbreak had buried. They don’t erase her pain, but they remind her that she is still capable of smiling, dreaming, and feeling alive again.
I wanted readers to see that healing rarely happens in isolation. Sometimes it begins because someone shows up, sits beside you, makes you laugh, listens to your story, or simply reminds you that you don’t have to carry everything alone. To me, that is the quiet power of friendship, and it is one of the most meaningful messages I hoped readers would take away from the novel.
The Literature Times: Many readers who have experienced heartbreak may see themselves in Maya. What message do you hope they take away after finishing the book?
Liya May: More than anything, I hope readers walk away with hope. Heartbreak has a way of convincing us that the pain will last forever and that we will never be the same again. Maya’s journey doesn’t promise that healing is quick or easy. Instead, it shows that healing is possible, even if it happens slowly and in unexpected ways.
I also want readers to understand that it is okay to grieve, to feel lost, and to not have everything figured out. There is no perfect timeline for moving on. Every person heals differently, and every step forward, no matter how small, is still progress.
One of the most important messages in the book is that life does not end with heartbreak. There is still laughter waiting to be rediscovered, friendships waiting to lift us up, family that stands beside us, new memories to create, and a future that can be just as beautiful as the past we are struggling to let go of.
If someone who is going through heartbreak finishes this book feeling a little less alone, a little more understood, and a little more hopeful about what lies ahead, then I will feel that the story has fulfilled its purpose.
The Literature Times: The title An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, yet Waiting in the Dark is both poetic and intriguing. What does the title symbolize for you?
Liya May: The title An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, Yet Waiting in the Dark captures the emotional essence of the novel and Maya’s journey.
To me, “An Unfinished Story” represents the idea that life doesn’t end with heartbreak. Even when we believe we’ve reached the end of our story, there are still chapters left to write. Our greatest losses, mistakes, and disappointments are not the final page. They are simply part of a much larger journey.
“Beautifully Broken” reflects the reality that our scars, flaws, and painful experiences do not diminish our worth. They shape us, strengthen us, and become part of who we are. There is beauty in surviving, in growing, and in choosing to keep moving forward despite everything life throws at us.
“Yet Waiting in the Dark” symbolizes those moments when hope feels distant. It represents the loneliness, uncertainty, and emotional darkness that often follow loss or heartbreak. But even in that darkness, there is the quiet possibility of light. Sometimes we cannot see the next chapter while we are living through it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t waiting for us.
Ultimately, the title is a reminder that being broken does not mean being finished. No matter how dark life may feel, our stories are still unfolding, and there is always hope for healing, new beginnings, and a future we cannot yet imagine.
The Literature Times: As a debut author, what was the biggest challenge you faced while writing and publishing your first novel?
Liya May: The biggest challenge wasn’t writing the story itself. It was believing in it enough to keep going, even on the days when I questioned whether it was good enough. Like many debut authors, I experienced moments of self doubt, creative blocks, and the fear of putting something so personal out into the world.
Writing an emotionally driven novel also meant revisiting difficult emotions. I wanted every scene to feel genuine, so I spent a lot of time refining the characters and their emotional journeys until they felt authentic. Finding the right balance between portraying heartbreak realistically and leaving readers with hope was one of the most challenging parts of the writing process.
Publishing brought a different set of challenges. Learning about editing, formatting, cover design, marketing, and the publishing process was a completely new experience. I quickly realized that being an author isn’t just about writing a book. It’s also about understanding how to bring that book to readers.
Looking back, every challenge taught me something valuable. They made me more patient, more resilient, and more confident in my voice as a writer. Holding my debut novel in my hands made every moment of uncertainty worthwhile, and it reminded me that every author starts with a first story.
The Literature Times: Music, city skylines, and emotional memories seem to influence your storytelling. How do these elements inspire your creative process?
Liya May: Music, city skylines, and memories have always been more than just background elements to me. They carry emotions, preserve moments, and have a unique way of transporting us back to a specific place or time. I wanted those elements to become part of the emotional language of the novel.
Music, in particular, has a way of expressing feelings that words sometimes cannot. A single song can bring back an entire chapter of our lives, and I wanted readers to experience that same connection through Maya’s journey. Many of the scenes in the book were written while imagining the emotions that certain songs evoke.
City skylines represent something different. They remind me that every city holds countless untold stories. Even in the middle of a crowded street, people are carrying invisible battles, dreams, and memories. That contrast between the chaos of a city and the quiet emotions of an individual fascinated me, and it naturally found its way into my storytelling.
Emotional memories are the heart of my creative process. I often draw inspiration from moments that stay with us long after they have passed. Sometimes it is a late night conversation, a long drive, a sunrise after a sleepless night, or a place that suddenly reminds us of someone we once loved. Those ordinary moments often carry extraordinary emotions, and I believe they are what make stories feel authentic and deeply personal.
At the end of the day, I want readers to feel like they are living the story rather than simply reading it. If a song, a skyline, or a simple memory reminds them of Maya long after they finish the book, then I know those elements have done exactly what they were meant to do.
The Literature Times: Readers often connect deeply with stories that linger long after the final page. What emotions did you hope your readers would carry with them once they completed your novel?
Liya May: When readers finish An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, Yet Waiting in the Dark, I hope they close the book with a sense of hope above all else. The novel takes readers through heartbreak, grief, self doubt, and healing, but I never wanted it to leave them feeling emotionally exhausted. I wanted it to remind them that even after life’s darkest chapters, there is still light waiting ahead.
I also hope readers carry a feeling of comfort and understanding. Many of us have experienced losing someone, making difficult choices, questioning our worth, or feeling like we are alone in our struggles. If readers see parts of themselves in Maya and realize that their emotions are valid, then the story has served its purpose.
Another emotion I hope stays with them is gratitude. Gratitude for the friends who stand by us, the family that supports us, the memories that shape us, and even the difficult experiences that help us grow. Sometimes the people who heal us are not the ones we fall in love with, but the ones who quietly remind us how to smile again.
Above all, I want readers to believe that no matter how broken they may feel today, their story is not over. Just like Maya, they have the strength to heal, to rediscover themselves, and to embrace the chapters that are still waiting to be written.
The Literature Times: Looking ahead, can readers expect more emotionally driven contemporary romances from you? Are you currently working on your next book?
Liya May: Absolutely. Emotionally driven stories are where my heart truly lies, so readers can definitely expect more contemporary romances from me. I enjoy exploring characters who feel real, relationships that are imperfect, and journeys that reflect the complexities of love, loss, friendship, healing, and self discovery. My goal is always to write stories that leave readers feeling something long after they have turned the final page.
Yes, I am currently working on my next book, and I am incredibly excited about it. While I can’t reveal too much just yet, I can say that it will continue to explore deep emotions, meaningful relationships, and the kind of character driven storytelling that readers connected with in An Unfinished Story: Beautifully Broken, Yet Waiting in the Dark.
Every story I write will have its own identity, but I hope they will all share one thing in common: the ability to make readers feel seen, understood, and hopeful.
This debut novel is just the beginning of my journey as an author, and I look forward to sharing many more stories with my readers in the years to come.
