How and when did you first realize your calling for writing books? Please tell us a bit about your book titled “The Angels of Kailash”.

The calling was always there. I just realized it a bit late, being caught up in the vagaries of life. I have been writing for a long time, though I had not attempted writing a novel. When I resolved to write a book, I decided that I will write on topics that fascinate me. I used to wonder what happened to the rest of the rakshasas of Lanka. I searched for my answers but did not get a satisfactory answer. That is when the idea struck me that why not write about it myself. I began tentatively and began writing. The result is this trilogy of the war between demons and humans.

Every chapter of the book “The Angels of Kailash” are pretty much stand-alone stories, though the main characters are the same and the story is a continuation of their deeds and actions. It is the demons who keep on changing. The warriors kill one demon, then a different one, yet again a different one. Each chapter is about a different demon, his or her traits and how he or she is annihilated. After their Gurukul was destroyed, Adheesh and Aishani took refuge at the lower base of Mount Kailash. This is a story about how Adheesh and Aishani, the protagonists of the story saved the rest of the warriors and continue to fulfill their destinies that is destroying all the demons of the Earth. 

How did you come up with the idea of the “trilogy” on the battle between humans and demons? Who is your favourite character from your books and why? When can readers expect the third part to be out?

I was always curious to know what happened to Ravan’s army and the people of Lanka after the great war of Ramayan. Initially, when I started writing my book, it was just the annihilation of a few demons. As and when I continued with my research, I realized I had encountered a hornet’s nest. The demons just would not fade. They were so many. That was when I decided to write a trilogy. For that matter, even a trilogy is not enough. 

My favorite character in the books has to be Aishani, the leader of the group of warriors. She is innocent, seemingly unaware of her status and powers, is surrounded by warriors whose sole aim is to protect their leader while she is annihilating the demons. Her personality is finely nuanced. She leads by example, she is the perfect student, the perfect daughter, a committed lover and has a burning desire to destroy all the demons of the world.

“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’.

We take too many things and people for granted. In fact, we take life for granted too. Everyone around us has helped us and shaped our destiny one way or the other. For me, the obvious ones are the ones nearest to me that is my immediate family, my extended family, my school and college friends, my friends, my colleagues, my seniors, and my dear students, many of whom have become my friends now. When I sit and think about it almost everyone has played such an important role. My husband, my children, my servant, who is more like a family member, who doesn’t let me get up for even the smallest thing when I am writing. My publisher, my editors, PR media and so many others associated with the book. The editors of newspapers and magazines. My books and magazines on mythology and astrology. The list is endless. Where do I end…… 

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?

As a voracious reader and now a writer, there cannot be just five books and three authors who have contributed to my thought process as a writer. Given a choice, there will be many many more, with whom I am totally impressed and who have greatly helped in shaping my journey as a writer. 

Books-

1. Geeta

2. Ramayan

3. The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck

4. Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

5. Mahasamar by Narendra Kohli

6. Chandrakanta Santati by Devki Nandan Khatri

Authors-

1. Ayan Rand for her theory of objectivity

2. Shivani for her beautiful descriptions and amazing stories

3. Premchand for his totally apt criticisms and sufferings of the society

4. Paulo Coelho for his motivational symbolisms

What inspires you to write? Where do you get the information or ideas for your books?

Writing itself inspires me to write. The very fact that I can explain my point of view in an easy and lucid manner gives me enough impetus to write more. One can write on a plethora of subjects and then some. I just chose mythology to begin with, as this subject is one of my favourite interests. The basic idea is mine, that of human warriors annihilating demons. I got most of my information from Ramayan and Durga Saptshati, the magazine Kalyan of Geeta Press, Gorakhpur, my astrological books, and magazines. Of course, Google was always there to see if I could glean any extra points from it. 

What ignited your interest in Astrology? How has this evolved you in person? Are any of its observations and learnings visible in your books?

I have always been interested in the human psyche. How is one individual different from the other? Is it only his DNA, his surroundings or is there something else influencing his life? The Sun has given life to this planet. Similarly, the other planets too influence us.  Jupiter influences you in one way, Mars in another other way and so on. It’s just that we do not see their rays like the Sun’s. 

How is one person better than the other? If so, then why and how. I would like to attribute the different qualities and destinies of a person to the effect of the stars on an individual’s life. I have come to realise that not everything is in an individual’s hands. Some other forces like the stars too affect a person and his behaviour. During the course of my practice of astrology, I have come across myriad sets of souls and their problems. Some problems are real, while some are perceived as such. My belief in humanity gets reiterated when I meet people with their issues and dilemmas. Nobody is ‘wicked’ per se. It is their situation and the effect of their stars which make them good or bad.

Astrology has definitely made me more forgiving, more understanding, more neutral and less judgemental. 

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

There is no substitute to hard work. Having declared that, my advice would be to first think of what he or she wants to write about, then do research on the subject. Once you have a rough idea of what you want to write about, jot down points. Begin writing. This is the most important step. Write every day, even if you don’t feel inspired, even if it is only two hundred words. Remember five hundred words a day make 180,000 words in a year, more than enough for a novel.

What has been your most cherished experience as a writer? Which is your best-preferred genre?

Good reviews really make my day. When my colleagues refer my book to others, that’s a big high. My day was made once when a colleague informed me that she had begun reading my book for the second time.

I love mythology for one. I also love to read science fiction and about space travel too, adventures and sometimes romance also.

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

At present, I am working on the third book of the trilogy of the war between humans and demons. Maybe after that, I’ll write a light short story compilation. Some of my readers are asking me to continue with the demon series. The suggestion is quite attractive. I will have to think about that.

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

I really don’t get writer’s block. There are times when because of external factors that I am unable to write, like having guests. There have been times when I am stuck up over a point or an issue in my book. But I don’t leave my writing. Writing is cathartic for me. I simply write something; it could be totally unrelated to the present chapter or book. It doesn’t matter. I write, hence I am.

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.

1. Amar Chitra Katha

2. Sudha Murthy’s books

3. Panchatantra

4. All of Enid Blyton’s books

5. The girl who drank the moon by Kerry Barnhill

6. Keepers of the lost cities series by Shannon Messenger

Rapid Fire Round

1. Favorite Place, Actor & Actress, Person, Food, beverage —

Wellington in Ooty, Mohit Raina, Robert de Niro, Meryl Streep, Nargis

Person– Narendra Modi

Food– Urad ki kachori with Aalu ka jhol

Beverage– Cold coffee with ice cream ….

2. Your other Talents apart from writing

Reading, Gardening, Cooking, Stone painting, Embroidery, Knitting….

3. Your First Love

My dog Jacky

4. Favorite Quote

“Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds and when they grow up, they will change the world,” …. Jack Ma

5. Favourite Character from a book

Rhett Butler from ‘Gone with the wind.’

What if Round 

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

My books, My laptop with its charger and a room with a view

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

Poverty

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

Get rid of poverty and bring education to everybody.

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