How did the journey of being an author start for you?
I started out by writing articles for magazines and realized that the number of readers were great when it came to travelogues or articles on spirituality, but they’d drop as soon as a topic on environmental awareness was touched. I then decided to focus on children who were more open and amenable. That’s how my first book came about.
What was your first written piece?
My first written piece (non-medical) was a travelogue inspired by a visit to the Kargil War Memorial.
What is your current work about?
My last book, “Anna a special child”, is about the issues faced by a physically handicapped child and aims at increasing sensitivity amongst adolescents. I am currently working on a biography which is a completely different piece of work.
In what genre does it fall in?
My latest book is for children and young adults and is a work of fiction.
Do you have a personal favourite character?
It’s hard to single out any one character. I think I would go with two of the children- Anna and David.
What is that one element in your book that can keep the readers hooked to it?
It is realistic and written straight from the heart.
Did you ever go through writer’s block? How did you overcome it?
Oh yes! That happens often enough. I spend the time between my creative spells by putting my work away and spending time in reading and pursuing other hobbies so that when I get back to the said piece, I can have a completely fresh perspective.
How many hours in a day do you usually write?
I set myself a goal of atleast 500 words but don’t always manage to get there. The day I feel stimulated, I can put out more than double quite easily.
Plot, character, settings, what comes first to you? How do you decide which one to give priority to?
The character and the plot come almost together. Both of these come out tops in priority at different stages of the story as we tread along.
If you could meet any one character from all the books you have read, who would it be and why?
That would have to be Josephine ( better known as “Jo”) from Little Women by Louisa M Alcott. She has been an all time favorite.