While dealing with homesickness after moving to the US alone from Singapore, Zhao rekindled her love for writing as a source of comfort and is now a two‐time published author
It was in the troughs of the Covid‐19 pandemic that Singaporean author Kyla Zhao rediscovered her love of storytelling. In 2021, dealing with loneliness and imposter syndrome as she transitioned from a career in fashion to technology, she channelled her vulnerabilities into writing, using it as an outlet to grapple with negative emotions.
The Fraud Squad, Zhao’s debut novel was published in 2023 by Penguin Random House, and Valley Verified, launched earlier this year by the same publisher, were the unexpected results of this judgement‐free penning of thoughts.
Her latest book, which Zhao calls “a book of her heart”, tells the tale of Zoe Zeng, who leaves her dead‐end job as a fashion writer to discover the cut‐throat world of tech. Sounds familiar? Zhao crafted the fish‐out‐of‐water narrative from her personal experiences.
Through the book, the author also hopes to remind readers that feeling insecure or feeling like a fraud are valid emotions and thoughts that are more common than we think. The novel, she says, is her invitation to readers to have open discussions about these challenging emotions, as well as her way of building a sense of solidarity.
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Another theme Zhao highlights in Valley Verified is the microaggressions that women often face in life and the scarcity of women leaders across industries, which contributes to the perpetuation of a false narrative that there is limited female success. In the novel, Zhao’s female characters lead diverse and dynamic lifestyles, and they learn to support one another while navigating personality differences and initial misunderstandings.
While she may have two books under her belt, Zhao says she has no plans to make writing a full-time endeavour for now. She currently works as a data analyst at a tech company in Silicon Valley.
In her own words, she shares insights about her writing career, which started with stints at Singapore’s fashion and lifestyle magazines, including Tatler, and her best writing tips.
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