Expect a spy thriller soon: Omar Shahid Hamid on his new novel

Omar Shahid Hamid’s writings have captivated readers across the country dealing with underground terror networks, corrupt politicians and militants.

He is a serving officer of the police force for the past 17 years, working in Counter-Terrorism Department before taking a leave of absence in 2011. He wrote his first novel ‘The Prisoner’ in 2013 inspired by his experiences in the police which became an instant bestseller.

MM News speaks to Omar Shahid Hamid on his inspirations and how his books are an allusion to actual events and real people, and what readers can expect from him in the future.

MM News: What or who inspired you to become a novelist?

Omar Shahid Hamid: I was always an avid reader. My novels grew from my experience as a police officer. Creating fiction became cathartic. Today, I have been writing for more than 13 years.

MM News: What was the best writing advice given to you and by whom?

Omar Shahid Hamid: Just do it. This advice was given to me by my wife. It pushed me to go ahead and just write, instead of wondering if it was good, or bad. Too many writers can never get past their own insecurity about whether their work is good enough or not.

MM News: Three of your favorite must-read novels are?

Hamid: The Godfather, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and Silence of the Lambs.

MM News: You have often said a lot of your work is based on your real-life experiences, has anyone ever recognized themselves in a character?

Hamid: I don’t think anyone would recognise themselves as such in my novels because all of my characters are usually amalgams of people. I take character traits from multiple people and mould them together.

MM News: Are there specific issues you seek to address in your novels?

Hamid: I always have a number of story ideas. Last three of my novels were crime thrillers so I would like to something different in the future. But my novels don’t have an end goal or a specific purpose by design. I simply tell stories. It depends on people, on what they take away from it. 

MM News: Do you think putting pen to paper changed you or your perspective on the issues you had to face in reality?

Hamid: Yes. Writing naturally makes you more introspective.

MM News: A favorite quotation from one of your own novels is?

Hamid: ‘In a poor area, 100 people can die and no one will give a shit. In a rich neighbourhood, somebody loses their cat and they’ll string you up by your balls’ – The Prisoner

MM News: Many of your novels speak especially to Karachiites many of whom cannot read English. Have you ever considered having your work translated?

Hamid: If anyone wants to translate them they are very welcome to take up that project with me.

MM News: Can we expect a new publication soon?

Hamid: Yes, I have just finished a new book. 

MM News: Your last novel focused on cricket. What can we expect from the new novel?

Hamid: You can expect a spy thriller. That’s all I can say for now.

MM News: Can we hope to see any of your novels being turned into films?

Hamid: I think you will see something very soon. Two of my novels ‘The Prisoner’ and ‘The Party Worker’ have been selected by producers. So you can expect something big soon.