Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I found my calling in content writing after trying out a myriad of occupations in life. A content writer by the day, I find solace in reading fiction works and comic books. I am a post graduate in Public Relations from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai. I am the caregiver of beautiful Indian mixed breed dogs named Thimpoo Rani and Ole Kumar. They are my world! When I am not working, reading or tending after my canine babies, I am busy collecting action figures and sarees.
I live and work in Navi Mumbai.
Q2. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Odd One & Other Short Stories’?
The book cover is designed by my friend and an awesome designer Mandar Rao; the only input I gave was that the cover should show that one thing is not like the others. My maiden book is a collection of short stories, and one of the stories is named “The Odd One”, that’s how the name of the book came into being; The Odd One & Other Short Stories.
Q3. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I chose to complete my manuscript in Goa, because of tranquillity and a fresh perspective. For me a change of pace, location and a fresh perspective helps.
Q4. What does success mean to you?
I would consider myself successful when I can safely call ‘being an author’ both – my passion and profession.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Not really. The availability of time or the lack of it is the only driving point here. I am a novice when it comes to being an author, I have the beginning of at least 3 to 4 books in my head, I just need the time to start writing them.
Q6. How long did it take you to write this book?
About two years to start 11 short stories.
Q7. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
There are so many places, each with a reason of fondness of its own, however, lately I am drawn towards old Goa, because I completed the manuscript of the first book there, and would like to visit again (maybe book the same Air B&B even) to complete my second manuscript too.
Q8. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Odd One & Other Short Stories’ book?
Time, or the lack of it, being the primary challenge; researching and narrowing down to a publisher was challenging too.
Q9. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I am not sure about the influence part, but I have grown up reading and loving the short stories of O Henry, Bernard Shaw & Jeffrey Archer in English, while Satyajit Ray, Sunil Ganguli, Leela Majumdar, Shirshendu Mukhopahyay and the likes of them in Bengali. So maybe some of them have seeped into my ideas at one point or the other.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Its just a quirk but I have pets in almost of my stories and I am pretty sure, I will continue having them in my future stories too. Life is so much better with pets in them.
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The Odd One & Other Short Stories
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