“Sometimes, we do not get a chance to thank each one who has helped us in our journey.” Let the readers get a chance to know about all the important people who have played a part in this ‘Author Journey of Yours’.

I am blessed to have had several people whose influence turned me into a writer. My grandfathers, both erudite gentlemen who nurtured my love for literature, my father who wrote the most beautiful letters filled with wisdom and humour, my mother who has been one of the most incorrigible influences in my life due to her love for life, literature, the arts, dramatics and her inimitable sense of humour, my husband, the wind beneath my wings who holds my hand and encourages me to soar, my sisters and brothers who pull my leg and yet, root for me all the time and my daughter for making me feel that I am special, whatever I do when she is actually the special one. 

I must also thank all my author and reader friends who have played a significant part in my journey as an author. I have not met most of them, but their online presence and their support have helped me immensely. 

Can you tell us a bit about your books and share a few lines from any of them? Who is your favourite character from the book and why?

 ‘Arms and the Woman’ was my first book in 2002 which looked at my life as an Army wife in a light-hearted manner. I am so passionate about the Indian Army that I wanted to share my enthusiasm and love for it with my readers. 

After writing my first poem at the age of ten, I was so fired up that I would scribble stories and poems on every sheet of paper I could find, and not allow anyone to touch them, or even sweep the place. Often, my room looked as though a snowstorm had hit it. 

Once I had hit a century (a hundred poems), my mother, a talented writer and educationist, collected many of these little scraps and published them as a book titled ‘Deeparadhana of Poems’ for one of my birthdays much later in life. 

More than a decade later came ‘Shadow in the Mirror’, a psychological thriller which was a fictional story with autobiographical elements. This was followed by two anthologies of thriller short stories titled ‘Where ‘Shadows Follow’ and ‘Shadows Never Lie’. 

I also brought out four short volumes of the Panchatantra, which were later compiled into a single volume of twenty stories titled ‘Classic Tales from the Panchatantra’ and what was absolutely fascinating was that my publisher, Dipankar Mukherjee (Readomania), trusted me to do the illustrations along with my daughter, an experience that we both found enriching.

I have always found it a good idea to hook the readers with a twist at the very beginning. My ‘Shadow in the Mirror’ begins with the death of Nita, a beautiful girl. Here are a few lines from Chapter 1.

 “The descent seemed unending and with a sinking feeling, she sensed the ground speeding up to receive her. Soon it would all be over, her life and that of the tiny one she carried within her. Her last, surprisingly calm thought was that of the man she loved, her husband who worshipped her. “I wish things could have been different, Krish!” A grotesque face arose in her mind and she wondered if it was death, beckoning to her, grinning, waiting to grab her very soul. Or was it the face of one who still lived out a hate-filled existence, a cruel parody that had blighted all that it had breathed on? Her thoughts flickered like a candle flame, as she struggled to get away from the phantoms whirling about her like dervishes. And then the velvety darkness overtook her, numbing her senses as it slid gently over her and she knew no more.”

My favourite character from the book is Vinny, a forthright young journalist who helps to solve the mystery surrounding the death of Nita in her own inimitable way. The reason may be that I imbued her with qualities that I deeply admire – dedication, humaneness, curiosity and uprightness, combined with a healthy sense of humour.

According to you which are the 5 books that everyone should read and who are your top 3 Authors and what impact did they have in your journey as a writer?

My top five books would be The Count of Monte Cristo, To Kill a Mockingbird, the short stories of Guy de Maupassant and O Henry, Rebecca, and anything by Oscar Wilde. My top four authors are Agatha Christie, P G Wodehouse, RK Narayan and Charles Dickens. One writer I do admire immensely in Chitra Divakaruni Banerjee for her elegant style of writing and the way she makes her stories come alive through her picturesque writing.

My love for thrills and twists definitely came from the Queen of Suspense, Dame Agatha Christie, and my love for the humorous from the rib-ticklers of Wodehouse. The simplicity of Narayan has had a huge impact on me, and as a result, my own writing tends to veer towards it. Charles Dickens was a huge influence when I was growing up with his sagas that took slices out of human life and affected his readers with their intellectual and emotional content. What I did learn from all these magical writers was the need to make a story readable and intriguing.

What is the story/inspiration behind the Thriller series – “Shadows”?

‘Shadow in the Mirror’ from the Readomania stable was the first book in the Shadows series, and it grew out of a tiny kernel of an idea. Since the book did well, it was my publisher’s idea to carry on with the Shadow series, and my next two anthologies of thriller stories – ‘Where Shadows Follow’ and ‘Shadows Never Lie’ – were born. Since the stories themselves verge on the dark side of life, with an interplay of light and shadow, it seemed only apt to call them the Shadow series.

What has been your most cherished experience as an author?

When I was little, my ambition was to become an author. My most cherished memory as an author was when I first saw my name in print. That thrill has never abated even after seeing my name countless times over, be it in magazines, books, anthologies or in online publications. 

I had two book launches for my ‘Shadow in the Mirror’ and both occasions were momentous. Seeing my book in the hands of numerous readers warmed the cockles of my heart.

Could you share a few tips for budding Authors and aspiring writers?

Make your writing sparkle! This is one tip I have taught myself after years of writing. If you do not enjoy your own writing, no one else will. So, the yardstick remains good writing that brings a smile or a tear to the readers’ eyes. I am my own biggest critic and I need to be happy with what I write before I allow others to read it. 

Another tip that I would offer is to take part in as many contests and challenges as you can. Challenges come with their own rules and word limits. Every contest one participates in is a step up the literary ladder and it is always fascinating to compete against other creative minds. In fact, some of my best writing has been done in tandem with some wonderful writer friends, after discussions and conversations, sometimes after burning the midnight oil to catch elusive deadlines. As Douglas Adams put it so aptly, “I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”

The final tip revolves around editing. Even the best writers need to edit what they have written, and it is unprofessional to send out an unedited piece of writing. So, write well, edit better. 

How can a writer keep the mental block or writer’s block away from his/her creativity?

I have found that listening to music, going for a stroll, or watching my favourite series on television are ways in which I can lure the temperamental Muse back! There have been times when I have come back with renewed vigour after having enjoyed a wonderful evening with close friends. Keeping a diary to jot down ideas which suddenly flash across the inward eye is another great way to keep the mind and pen ticking. Eavesdropping on conversations is another great way to get ideas. (Just joking!)

Are you working on anything at present that you would like to share with your readers? What are your future plans?

I have been working on some Shakespearean stories for children. I also have three manuscripts that I hope will see the light of day soon. Since I pride myself on having an imagination that often runs riot, I intend to work on a few more ideas as well. One advantage of having a vibrant writers’ group on social media ensures that one is always busy participating in writing contests and challenges that tickle the brain.

What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you? How can a budding author reach out to more readers using marketing strategies?

I think I have been lucky so far because I had most of my books published by Readomania, and the team made the publishing process a cakewalk. Of course, it is up to an author to help with marketing strategies through interviews, videos, and social media interactions. It is also a good idea to stay in the public eye through various fun initiatives like book giveaways and contests revolving around one’s book.  

At Sharing Stories, we have an ongoing campaign ‘Let’s Empower Our Kids’. Please suggest some books here that you would want your child to read before the age of 15 which could help him in understanding certain dimensions of human life like empathy, sympathy, relationships, etc.

I grew up with books around me. I recall my mother reading out abridged versions of the classics to me – The Hunchback of Notre Dame was one of them. Enid Blyton would transport me to England where children had the most amazing adventures and enjoyed midnight picnics at boarding school.

I would recommend the books of Enid Blyton to young children from the age of six to around fifteen. Noddy and Mr Big Ears, as also the tales of fairies, elves and pixies can transport young minds to wondrous worlds, as also the adventure series for the slightly older ones.

Classic Tales from the Panchatantra, the Jataka Tales, the books of Ruskin Bond and Rudyard Kipling and short stories from Greece, Egypt and other lands tether the imagination of little ones by teaching them the values of life. Amar Chitra Katha has come out with a wonderful series that encompass mythology, history and folk tales.

The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are both epics that have endured changes and been written by various writers. Rajagopalachari’s versions are ideal to start with. 

Harry Potter books have taken over the entire world, as have the Lord of the Rings series with their blend of magic and fantasy. The Percy Jackson series have inculcated an interest in Greek literature, albeit in a modern way.

Some of my personal favourites for children?

Little Women by Louisa M Alcott, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, The Happy Prince and other Stories by Oscar Wilde, Swami and Friends by RK Narayan, Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling, Matilda by Roald Dahl, The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett, Peter Pan by James Barrie, The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond, The Diary of Anne Frank… these are just a few. There are so many more wonderful books out there waiting to be discovered by curious minds.

Rapid Fire Round

1. Favourite Place: London abroad and Tenga Valley, Arunachal Pradesh in India

Actor & Actress: Vicky Kaushal/ Rajkumar Rao and Radhika Apte 

Person: My family (too tough to choose!)

Food: Cutlets in any form

Beverage: Green Tea Mint

2. Your other Talents apart from writing… Bathroom singing, travelling, and living life to the hilt.

3. Your First Love… Reading

4. Favourite Quote…. “Lives of great men all remind us/ We can make our lives sublime/ And departing, leave behind us/ Footprints on the sands of time.” A Psalm of Life by HW Longfellow

5. Favourite Character from a book… Edmond Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo)

What if Round 

1. What if you had to live with only three things all your life, what would the three things be?

My family, my books and Gummy Bears

2. What if you were given the power to change one thing from this world, what would you change?

I would convert violent minds into peaceful ones.

3. What if you had all the money in this world, what would you do first?

I would buy all the books in the world and create a giant library for those who love reading and have a fool-proof method to ensure the books are returned as well.