Taher Dweydari, known by most as Tyler, recently authored and published his debut novel, “Somewhere Between You & Me.” Tyler’s journey began in January 2025 with a simple New Year’s resolution – to write a book. The result is a coming-of-age story about what true friendship really is, the walls we build for ourselves and the people in our lives patient enough to climb them.
“After I wrote that resolution, I lay awake at night thinking, ‘What if I did?’ and ‘What would it be about?’” Tyler said. “The thoughts kept rolling in my head for the next week and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I would think about what I want to write about, and then I thought, what if I wrote about me?”
Growing up, Tyler considered himself a creative individual with interests in animation, computer-generated imagery, fine arts and even roller coasters. When it came to storytelling, in particular, Tyler said he always was able to come up with fun stories and create compelling narratives, especially around his family and cousins. So, unbeknownst to his family and friends, he drafted his novel from January to July 2025.
“I kind of got obsessed with writing it, to be honest. I worked on the book every single day, sometimes for just 30 minutes, other times for as long as seven hours,” said Tyler. “For the most part, no one knew I was writing the book until I finished writing it and had a copy in my hand.”
His story follows Hazel Rose, a reserved student who watches the world behind a curtain of silence. While at school, she does not speak in class, conceals herself in her favorite hoodie and observes rather than participates. At home, she becomes the life of the party with her family and cousins. In the book, Hazel experiences true and false friendships, learns how others can promote healing from past trauma and that no matter how long it takes, someone will change her life.
Tyler’s advice to anyone thinking of writing a book or novel is just to start and take it one page at a time. He explained that, even without a fully formed idea, inspiration can come from writing about experiences and thoughts and allowing the mind to wander.