Today we talk about Captive, a book by Anmay/Yamnah published with our Publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Anmay/Yamnah, to get to know her better, where and when she found the inspiration to write her debut book Captive, as well as what brought her to use “vignettes” to convey her message
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Where and when did you find the inspiration to write your debut book?
I recall being moved by fictional characters from poignant texts that are classified either as feminist or postcolonial texts while being in the literature classes back in 2009. Their stories were all familiar enough for me to be inspired to write. Witnessing and also having people confide in me further inspired me to write. Even with years of progress, there are still people shunning their true selves in fear of rejection preferring to silence their agony, tolerate injustices and please others only to fit in the ‘’norms.’’ As years went by, the level of hypocrisy deepened the inspiration to voice out. While noticing that identity is confined to name only, I felt inspired to bring to light the complexity in the identity of a being that usually opts to suppress itself to avoid conflicts. After years in choosing the right form and structure, it was in 2025 that Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes came into existence.
- What is the message you want to convey to your readers?
The message from Captive is loud and clear. Womanhood deserves to be celebrated instead of posing as a category known for self-erasure. Captive speaks volume on identity which should not be confined to name only. The complexity that lies in a woman’s identity deserves to be known. Constant shifts in roles endlessly denounces negotiations in their daily struggles in order to conform to societal expectations. The struggles, mostly silent ones, subtly allow women to navigate different personalities while suffocating their authentic selves. Though patriarchy perceived through cultural and social conditioning limits women to appear in specific ways, their depth remains a subject of great interest. At first, held captive by social conditioning, sooner or later, women internalise those common patterns to persistently hold themselves captive by a conscience preventing them from daring to exist. Captive-A Chapbook of Vignettes rises above mundane roles, silent desires, unhealed scars to shout out loud behind genders exist souls that equally deserve to be.
- What brought you to use “vignettes” to convey your message?
Vignettes have purposely been used as the form of writing. The narrative deliberately avoids traditional structure as the writing echoes the voice of subalterns. Those who have been silenced, preferring to live in shadows to prevent confrontations communicate differently. The subaltern deviates from the masculine writing style as a result of constant hesitation and words not being true enough to speak out their emotions. Free style form of expression or Elene Cixous’s term écriture feminine reflects through the vignettes to disrupt from limitations. Also, the vignettes are used as they do not necessitate clear plots with beginning, middle and end. Vignette as a literary device better brings to light women’s struggles which linger throughout their journey – each episode consciously or unconsciously impacts on one another. Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes uses more than mere words for expression. Blank spaces, switch from English, French and Mauritian Creole as well as illustrations add meaning to the text. The purpose of vignettes to convey the message is for readers to freely use their experiences or even imaginations to add their meaning to what is told in the text.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
My feelings- a mix of gratitude, thrill of excitement and curiosity. A surge of excitement comes up once I start counting days to see Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes finally published. It gives me immense pleasure and honour to have contributed to the existence of Captive. I can’t wait for Captive to serve its key purpose which is not merely to be considered as book for entertainment but as a text to be read, understood, analysed, interpreted to better situate recurring ill-treatment done to the subordinates especially women and also to encourage the readers who may identify themselves to the characters to denounce injustices. Publication of Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes also gives me hope- an undauntable hope that the level of hypocrisy-double standards lived by many only to conform can be challenged by the desire for justice. Though I am the author of this piece of writing, I do not want to limit its existence by stating ‘my book.’ Actually, I want Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes to stand on its own. I believe that considering Captive- A chapbook of Vignettes as an individual achievement does not do enough justice to neither the text nor to the poignant themes treated.
- Are you working on a new writing project, you can tell us about?
I am working on the novella version of Captive. The short novel explores the themes known in the vignette in more depth, with more nuances. While Captive- A Chapbook of Vignettes disposes of fragments, the novella brings forward a structured narrative. Compared to the form of the Vignettes reflecting fragments that portray the main character in either fight or flight mode, the novella moves us beyond the survival mode. The traumas are detected through history and continuous patterns. The character is left to either replicate or break the pattern. The long toxic traits are questioned to then assess habits that are meant to be broken. Will she elevate from the comfort -long sought in survival mode? Will she be able to unburden herself through forgiveness? Is real progress possible?? Is there a safe space where one can unlearn harmful patterns to learn how to breathe, think, feel and live at a pace that restores inner peace and a true sense of belonging.
Europe Books thanks the author, Anmay/Yamnah, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book Captive. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, may this book make you reflect in a different and original way on gender diversity and how both exist equally without any inequality.
So, my dear readers, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!