Farah Naz Rishi – Character Interview for THE FLIGHTLESS BIRDS OF NEW HOPE

THE FLIGHTLESS BIRDS OF NEW HOPE

Three estranged siblings―and a high-maintenance cockatoo―reunite in a luminous novel about forgiveness, connection, and the complexities of family by the author of Sorry for the Inconvenience. 

Upon the sudden deaths of their bird-obsessed parents, the three Shah siblings reunite. 

Aliza has spent years holding their crumbling family together, caring for their younger brother, Sammy. And Aden, named executor of the estate, finds himself resentfully facing the one member of the family who always got their parents’ undivided love: their famous Bollywood-bopping cockatoo, Coco. 

One reckless night, Aden opens Coco’s cage, letting her do what he did a decade ago―fly away from home. 

In a panic, the siblings set off to recover her, armed with only Coco’s tracking chip and the fragile hope they might set things right. What they think will be a quick search and rescue becomes a two-week cross-country road trip, where old grudges resurface, relationships are tested, and long-buried dreams stir awake. 

As Coco, meanwhile, forges her own path to the past, Aden, Aliza, and Sammy follow―not just the bird, but the possibility of something more: a way back to each other. 

After their road trip concluded, I sat down with them in their family home.

Farah: Aden, for the audience—especially since many don’t know you—how would you describe yourself?

Aden: Well, I’m a lawyer. Hard-working, obviously. Great hair. I’d say I’m the kind of guy who keeps it real. Low-key but also passionate deep-down, you know? 

Aliza: Wow. 

Aden: What’s your problem?

Aliza: Nothing, just…that’s a really vain, surface-level description. Though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. 

Aden: Uh-huh. And what would you say? 

Aliza: About you? Rude, for one thing. Cowardly.. Emotionally constipated—

Sammy: I think he’s a good big brother. I mean, he tries. 

Aden: Thank you, Sammy. 

Aliza: Ugh. Yeah. Sure. Better late than never, I suppose. 

Aden: Can we describe Aliza now? I think we should describe Aliza now. 

Farah: Let’s pivot. Aliza, how would you describe those days on the road with your siblings?

Aden: Oh yes, I’m dying to hear this. 

Aliza: Chaotic. 

Farah: …Anything else?

Aliza: I mean, what would you expect? We hadn’t seen Aden in years, then suddenly he decides to show up at our parents’ funeral? Then we have to go on a cross-country road trip with him in a beat-down RV, all because he thought it’d be a good idea to let the family bird go? All because he had a grudge he couldn’t let go. Against our bird. Our family pet who literally watched us grow up! 

Sammy: Poor Coco. 

Aliza: Poor Coco.

Aden: Hey! It all worked out in the end, right? 

Aliza: Anyway. Chaotic. 

Farah: Sammy, between the three Shah siblings, you’re clearly the perfect, sweet, thoughtful angel. Is it hard being the glue of the family?

Aden: HEY, why does Sammy get a softball question? 

Farah: Sammy, your response?

Sammy: I don’t think I’m the glue. I think every day the three of us choose to show up for each other—consciously and subconsciously—we are all agreeing to be glue, in different ways. 

Aliza. Aw. Sammy. 

Farah: When you say “choosing to show up,” what does that actually look like, to each of you? And what’s the hardest part?

[silence]

Farah: Anybody?

Aden: I…I don’t know. I guess, for me, it means doing the thing even when it’s uncomfortable. Maybe especially when it’s uncomfortable. Making the call, getting on the plane. Not disappearing just because it’s easier. (beat) The hard part is, sometimes, that’s still not enough. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to make up for years of neglect. 

[more silence]

Aden: What?

Aliza: Therapy’s really helping you, huh?

Aden: Shutting up is always an option, you know. 

Aliza: (sighs) I would say showing up means not keeping score, especially between siblings. I’m the kind of person that tends to keep a running tally of grievances. But it only weighs me down. It’s probably not healthy. 

Aden: Probably.

Aliza: The hardest part is trusting that it won’t be used against you later. 

Farah: The cool thing about siblings, especially when they’re close, is that they know each other very well. The worst part about siblings, especially when they’re close, is that they know each other very well.

Aliza: Exactly. 

Sammy: I think showing up is about staying curious. Seeing each other without judgment. The hard part is keeping that in mind when it’s a topic you’re sensitive about. 

Aden: Where the hell does he get this emotional maturity from? 

Aliza: Hell if I know. 

Farah: Last question before I let you go. Do you miss Coco?

Sammy: Yes!

Aliza: Ugh, always. 

Aden: No.

[everyone stares at him]

Aden: Fine. Yes. A little. 

Farah: Perfect. Thanks, you three. And good luck. 

Aden: What do you mean, ‘good luck’?

Farah: [smiles]

Aden: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘GOOD LUCK’? 

BUY HERE

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Farah Naz Rishi (she/they) is the author of I Hope You Get This Message and Sorry for the Inconvenience. A Pakistani American writer and voice actor, she received her BA in English from Bryn Mawr College, her JD from Lewis & Clark Law School, and her love of weaving stories from the Odyssey Writing Workshop. When Farah is not writing, she’s probably hanging out with video game characters. Rishi lives in Philadelphia.

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Category: Interviews, On Writing