She is a multifaceted personality, a Banker by profession, an Engineer by qualification, and a Writer by passion. She is a Best-Selling Author and has both fiction and non-fiction books to her credit. Her goal is to create a positive impact in the lives of her readers through her writing. She is also a doting mother and an enthusiastic runner.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many people know?
A. I sometimes take leave from the office just to sleep.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. After writing two back-to-back women-oriented books, I am planning my next book as witty fiction from a men’s perspective.
Q.3 Where’d you get the idea to do a collection of short stories instead of a full-length novel?
A. The declining attention span of the readers made me go for the short stories. We live in an ultra-fast lifestyle where we want reels and don’t have time even for full videos. So, it’s hard to expect the commitment to a full novel from the readers.
Q.4 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. My book is about strength and courage. When talking about these traits, I could think of none else than Devi Sita. So all my character names, Vaidehi, Bhaumi, Ramaa, Bhavya, and Tarini, are other names of Sita.
Q.5 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I wrote two books. As all kids are equal for the parents, the same is the case with the books to the writer.
Q.6 What do you want readers to take away from your book?
A. It's motivation to move one with character and poise.
Q.7 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. Character portrayal. I have five protagonists in my book apart from the key protagonist in the backdrop with the narrator. So I had to give a different feel to the readers with each character and her story, and I literally lived as each one of them in order to portray it right.
Q.8 What was the hardest part of writing this book?
A. Again character layout was both the most difficult and the most enjoyable part of this book writing.
Q.9 Do you feel that there are specific challenges in marketing and promoting short fiction compared to novels? How do you promote your short stories?
A. Well, book marketing itself is a challenge. With so many books being published daily and a reduction in the number of readers, it's really hard to stay on top of the charts. And when you are an Indie author, the struggle gets manifold.
Q.10 What’s your advice to short story writers who may not be published yet? What are the keys to success, in your opinion?
A. The key to any format of book writing is to retain the attention and interest of the readers. The story, short or full length, has to have the hook to keep the reader engaged and wanting to reach the end of the book.
There are many books (including on my bookshelf) written by celebrity authors with a superb plot, but the story lost its pace after few pages and failed to take the reader up to the end. The readers must enjoy your work and that’s possible only when you enjoy it doing first.
Q.11 Who would you most like to thank for their involvement in your writing career?
A. My family. It could not have been possible without the support of my family, especially my husband.
Q.12 What impact, if any, do you feel the advent of e-readers has had on increased interest in short stories?
A. Of course, e-reading and audiobooks have changed the game to a large extent. We need to align the length of the book according to the filler-times, the reader has when he picks up to read/ listen, during lunch breaks, or during his/her daily commute.
Q.13 Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?
A. Indie authors do not enjoy a lot of options. It's a self-published, self-edited, self-marketed Bestseller.
Q.14 Can you work anywhere or is there a certain space, and quietude required to write?
A. Space is not an issue for me but I am a morning person. The creative fluids flow the most out of me in the early morning hours.
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. I keep surprising them with my ventures. They are now a bit used to it.
Q.16 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good and bad ones?
A. Yes, I do. A bad review is a nice review to have (of course when good reviews outnumber the bad ones). It shows the expectation of the readers from you and it's critical for a writer’s growth. Moreover, none is perfect. Even names like Robin Sharma, Preeti Shenoy, Chetan Bhagat get 1-star reviews. It's part of the game.
Q.17 Have any of your characters been chalked out on the basis of someone you know?
A. My first book is more or less a compilation of my personal experiences and the second one, as the subtitle says, is inspired by true events.
Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
A. My grandparents and my father-in-law. I have never met anyone of them. I wish I could meet them to have a heart-to-heart talk.
Q.19 What books have most influenced your life?
A. Srimad Bhagwad Gita. And when I write this name, no other book qualifies to be stated in the same sentence.
Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?
A. My journey of writing started and is still moving in an unplanned way. It started from writing blogs, utilizing my travel time to the office, then the first book in 2018, and now the second this year, which turned out to be a bestseller within a week of its release.
I am simply enjoying the bliss and would like to follow my passion with each opportunity as and when it comes. My motto is to become a better version of myself with each passing day.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many people know?
A. I sometimes take leave from the office just to sleep.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. After writing two back-to-back women-oriented books, I am planning my next book as witty fiction from a men’s perspective.
Q.3 Where’d you get the idea to do a collection of short stories instead of a full-length novel?
A. The declining attention span of the readers made me go for the short stories. We live in an ultra-fast lifestyle where we want reels and don’t have time even for full videos. So, it’s hard to expect the commitment to a full novel from the readers.
Q.4 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. My book is about strength and courage. When talking about these traits, I could think of none else than Devi Sita. So all my character names, Vaidehi, Bhaumi, Ramaa, Bhavya, and Tarini, are other names of Sita.
Q.5 How many books have you written? Which one is your favorite?
A. I wrote two books. As all kids are equal for the parents, the same is the case with the books to the writer.
Q.6 What do you want readers to take away from your book?
A. It's motivation to move one with character and poise.
Q.7 What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?
A. Character portrayal. I have five protagonists in my book apart from the key protagonist in the backdrop with the narrator. So I had to give a different feel to the readers with each character and her story, and I literally lived as each one of them in order to portray it right.
Q.8 What was the hardest part of writing this book?
A. Again character layout was both the most difficult and the most enjoyable part of this book writing.
Q.9 Do you feel that there are specific challenges in marketing and promoting short fiction compared to novels? How do you promote your short stories?
A. Well, book marketing itself is a challenge. With so many books being published daily and a reduction in the number of readers, it's really hard to stay on top of the charts. And when you are an Indie author, the struggle gets manifold.
Q.10 What’s your advice to short story writers who may not be published yet? What are the keys to success, in your opinion?
A. The key to any format of book writing is to retain the attention and interest of the readers. The story, short or full length, has to have the hook to keep the reader engaged and wanting to reach the end of the book.
There are many books (including on my bookshelf) written by celebrity authors with a superb plot, but the story lost its pace after few pages and failed to take the reader up to the end. The readers must enjoy your work and that’s possible only when you enjoy it doing first.
Q.11 Who would you most like to thank for their involvement in your writing career?
A. My family. It could not have been possible without the support of my family, especially my husband.
Q.12 What impact, if any, do you feel the advent of e-readers has had on increased interest in short stories?
A. Of course, e-reading and audiobooks have changed the game to a large extent. We need to align the length of the book according to the filler-times, the reader has when he picks up to read/ listen, during lunch breaks, or during his/her daily commute.
Q.13 Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?
A. Indie authors do not enjoy a lot of options. It's a self-published, self-edited, self-marketed Bestseller.
Q.14 Can you work anywhere or is there a certain space, and quietude required to write?
A. Space is not an issue for me but I am a morning person. The creative fluids flow the most out of me in the early morning hours.
Q.15 How do your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. I keep surprising them with my ventures. They are now a bit used to it.
Q.16 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good and bad ones?
A. Yes, I do. A bad review is a nice review to have (of course when good reviews outnumber the bad ones). It shows the expectation of the readers from you and it's critical for a writer’s growth. Moreover, none is perfect. Even names like Robin Sharma, Preeti Shenoy, Chetan Bhagat get 1-star reviews. It's part of the game.
Q.17 Have any of your characters been chalked out on the basis of someone you know?
A. My first book is more or less a compilation of my personal experiences and the second one, as the subtitle says, is inspired by true events.
Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
A. My grandparents and my father-in-law. I have never met anyone of them. I wish I could meet them to have a heart-to-heart talk.
Q.19 What books have most influenced your life?
A. Srimad Bhagwad Gita. And when I write this name, no other book qualifies to be stated in the same sentence.
Q.20 Share the experience of your journey so far?
A. My journey of writing started and is still moving in an unplanned way. It started from writing blogs, utilizing my travel time to the office, then the first book in 2018, and now the second this year, which turned out to be a bestseller within a week of its release.
I am simply enjoying the bliss and would like to follow my passion with each opportunity as and when it comes. My motto is to become a better version of myself with each passing day.
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Such straight forward and honest interview. Keep surprising us . Thumbs up
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