AN AUTHOR WRITING COMPELLING STORIES FOR FICTION AFICIONADOS

Chirdeep Malhotra . Updated: 1/10/2019 1:25:34 PM Books and Authors

Author Interview: Anupriya

Anupriya has done engineering and then completed her MBA in Human Resources. She has worked in the corporate world for 8 years, before taking a professional break. A mom by day and a reader/writer by night, she is a die-hard romantic. She has a blog www.mommytincture.com, where she talks about her experiences in her various roles as a mother, daughter, wife, and foremost a human being. Her debut paperback novel “Because I Promised... to lock my heart away” released recently. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, she talks about her latest book, her writing journey, her favourite books and authors, and much more.


Please tell us more about Anupriya as a person.
A mom of two boys by day and a reader/writer by night. I am a very unrealistic person who wants to do many things in life. In my past life, I have been a designate tom-boy, IT professional, and a Human Resources Manager. Three years ago, I took a professional break to be with my two kids. As I nurture them, I pick on thoughts that help me become better at my job as a mother and jot them down on my blog. My written works (books and blog) is a legacy I wish to leave for my sons.

Can you tell us more about your writing journey?
For long I pondered on the idea of writing a romance story. I started out by writing some fan fictions on a public platform. Later, when I decided to start my own blog, I was writing more about parenting and lifestyle issues that affect mothers and kids. A couple of months later, I came to know about a global challenge NaNoWriMo that urged writers to write throughout the month of November. It was then, that I decided that I had to cater to my 7 year itch of writing a novel.

Can you tell us more about your book “Because I Promised… to lock my heart away”?
‘Because I Promised’ is a romance saga at its core, it is more like a journey of a young girl from the time she is a teenager to her becoming a young adult who has set out to achieve something professionally too. There are contrasting shades to her personality that make her intriguing yet realistic. Another unique aspect of the story is that a significant plot point includes and throws light on the life of transgender community in our country. I hope the readers find it interesting and appreciate it.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
It’s like asking a mother, who is your favorite child. It would be very unfair of me, if I were to name one character. Instead I would talk about the equations between various characters. There are some very strong connections of friendship, sibling love, parent conflict among the characters. The one I would like to mention here is the relationship between Varnika (my female protagonist) and her transgender friend Ulfat Bi. From the time they meet, they share warmth between them and as the story progresses; Ulfat Bi turns out to be Varnika’s friend, philosopher and guide. It’s a very feel good equation.

How has the response of the readers been to your book?
Everyone who has read the book so far has had good things to say about it. Of course there’s constructive feedback too, but the verdict has been very encouraging. I am hoping for the book to gain more popularity among the young adult readers in the coming weeks.

What type of research went into writing this book?
A couple of things actually, I was trying to revisit the early twenty’s generation who are just out of college. So I talked to a couple of people in that age-group to understand their perspective about education, career and relationships. Some research also went into understanding the eunuch community for which I read a lot of material and observed them around in real life. I would have loved to shadow someone, but there were several limitations to it so restricted myself to secondary research.

What do you think is the literary scenario in contemporary Indian English fiction? On what themes and topics should authors write more about?
I feel that the time has never been better for Contemporary Indian Fiction authors. The market may seem flooded with books from this genre, but the reader base is also huge and yet to be tapped to its full potential. Historical Romance, Fantasy and Mature women oriented issues are some topics that have emerged as very promising in the last year.

You also have a blog www.mommytincture.com. Can you tell us more about it?
For the last 2 years or so, I have published over 200 posts relating to a gamut of issues that encompass child care, kids learning, parenting and wellness. And then there are days, when I write anything and everything that comes to my mind which is mostly about books. But in the coming year, I am going to focus on Parenting experiences, wellness, and book reviews by Indian Authors.

What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
My favourite book of all times is “We The Living” by Ayn Rand. From amongst Indian authors, I love commercial fiction by Anuja Chauhan and Ashwin Sanghi. During the last one year, I have remained focused on Indian Indie authors especially in the romance /Drama genre. I love some of their works, especially by MV KASI, PG Van, Preethi Venugopal, and Ruchi Singh.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
As a work from home mother, I juggle between work (read reading and writing) and home chores throughout the day. This leaves very little space for anything else. Yet, I like to do a lot of DIY arts and Crafts with my kids. And whatever time I can extract I like to catch up with friends.

Are there any other literary projects in the pipeline?
Yes, in fact a couple of them. But my instant focus is this current book and my blog. One thing that I am sure of is that I want to try writing in different genres and find my niche only then. My love is for writing, anything and everything.

There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?
For all those feeling antsy about waiting to get their work published, please know that in this world of technology and free marketing, there are many avenues beyond the traditional publishing path. Explore them, and see if any of those modes suits you to reach out to your readers.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?
“Desire. Deserve. Derive.” These three words surmise my life’s philosophy.
Updated On 1/10/2019 1:27:07 PM


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