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Interview with Akanksha Agarwal


Akanksha Agarwal 

The Secret in My Blood


She is a multifaceted artist - a poet, dancer, singer, painter, musician, and a homemaker par excellence. She gleefully embraces the diverse experiences and perspectives of life and pours it out in her creative pursuits. They spread an aura of happiness and love.

 

The Secret in My Blood, her first book of poems, is a beautiful work focusing on love and romance. Her deep and untainted feelings, come through in each rendition with her inimitable play of words.

 

Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many people know?

A. I am a poet, dancer, singer, artist, musician, and a proud homemaker. I love cooking, I like inventing new dishes, I have been singing since I was 5 years of age. Ghazals are my favorite.

 

Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?

A. Getting so much love from the readers of my debut book, I would definitely love to write more about love! I have decided on the next title of my poetry book which is The Burning Syndrome. It will be out by next year hopefully.

 

Q.3 When did you decide to write The Secret in My Blood? What sparked your initial love of poetry?

A. I kept on writing what my heart bleeds. And with time when I saw, I have written many of them. I decided to publish my poetry book.

 

Q.4 How do your poems develop? Please guide us through the stages of a poem.

A. Every man or women on this earth loves being with someone for their life. So my poetry conquers a stage where love mushrooms, May it be, Happily in love, Lost love, Missing love, or Dreaming love. Everyone in their journey desires love.


I hope while reading you can feel the pinch of love in every word. Book is a complete poetry package, full of love, romance, lost love, compiling all the emotions in love.

 

Q.5 What is the state of contemporary poetry in India?

A. Poetry is the new trend and the lifestyle of today’s world...
People enjoy rhyming words that grab their emotions. Their scattered emotions and frenzied life get a balm.

 

Q.6 What do you see as the role of poet in modern-day society?

A. Poet plays an important role, it is the art of letting people know what you feel and it’s an art of describing the emotions through the beauty of words.

 

Q.7 How does one even begin to judge poetry? Are there some yardsticks that help you define a “good” poem from a not so great one?

A. It’s really a tough one. If the poem connects with your lifestyle or your imagination and emotions it’s a good one for you. And when it bounces or you don’t agree to it, so it's “not so great one”.

 

Q.8 Do you have any particular audience in mind when you write, an ideal reader?

A. An ideal reader to me is all the people been in love, lost in love, are in love.

 

Q.9 What is your stand on translating poetry? Can a translated work truly do justice to the original poem?

A. Translating poetry can never do justice to the original poems in some way or the other it loses the emotions; it changes the feeling though. Every word used in the original poem are used with full emotions, there is always a reason and a lot of research done before writing any word to the poem so translated work can never do justice to the originality.


Q.10 In what important ways does poetry differs from fiction?

A. Poetry is way different from fiction. It has ideas, feelings, gestures, emotions, rhythm, visuals, and colors of life. Poetry is lyrical. Whereas, fiction is the made-up stories. Fiction is based on characters, actions. It seems to be structured.

 

Q.11 What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

A. Let your work be sensitive and powerful. Don’t follow the league.

 

Q.12 What role should a title play for a poem? For beginning writers, what’s important to consider when titling a poem?

A. Title for me doesn’t make much the difference, in my book The Secret in My Blood I have not given any individual title to any poem. Although the book is divided into three parts - Ovulating in emotions, Bleeding in love, and Fertile to fly.


Q.13 Has your idea of what poetry been changed since you began writing poems?

A. I don’t think so! Rather I feel every poem teaches me to improve my style of writing and my imagination widens.

 

Q.14 Can you work anywhere or is there a certain space and quietude required to write?

A. Just observing things, having soothing weather around, a peaceful mind, thoughts overflowing is all that I need to write. No fixed space is required.

 

Q.15 How does your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

A. Family has been very supportive, I am not a professional writer, they have been my shadow and I am very thankful to them for making this never-ending journey possible. Friends have been the guiding light I look upon, all are my strength pillars. Their love for my poems has made this book full of poetry possible.

 

Q.16 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good and bad ones?

A. Yes, book reviews to me mean a lot, and I think for every writer it is very important. You get to know how each poem, each line, each page is making its presence. Good reviews brighten my day, I feel happy, and It really energizes me I feel blessed and motivated. 


Bad reviews are long-lasting to me, I give me vibes to do more hard work and where I can improve, but yes, each meal has a different taste and you cannot satisfy all. But I make sure I do better and I reply to all the reviews either good or bad ones.

 

Q.17 Can you give any advice to someone wanting to write and publish poetry?

A. Advice for someone wanting to write and publish poetry would be to keep on writing and not have long breaks in between. Because once you start taking breaks or keep yourself away from writing, you end up missing out on the thoughts and emotions. Which is the essence of poetry.

 

Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

A. Frida Kahlo the Mexican painter (1907- 1954).
I’m awestruck by her life, she suffered from polio as a child, struggle, fame, pain, passion, self-portraits.

 

Q.19 What books/poets have most influenced your life?

A. I lookup to poets like Rupi Kaur, Courtney Peppernell. They have influenced me to look forward as to how much love from the readers can poetry books have. Both of them have inspired me to look ahead and poetry books can connect with the sentiments of the readers. I love the way they write.

 

Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?

A. My writing journey was super exciting, it was a roller coaster. Each day I am discovering myself more. It’s just a beginning, I am looking forward to winning the hearts of my readers and connect with the authors. And yes, when I Google myself now and I end up watching my book, my website name is attached to it. I feel blessed, so yes journey has been so far so good!


Share your social account links -

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesecretinmyblood/

Instagram - @akan_kshaagarwal

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