Every writer carries a story behind their stories ,a journey filled with uncertainty, passion, setbacks, growth, and moments of quiet resilience. In this candid and deeply emotional conversation, the author of Cursed by the Moon, Chasing Ghosts, and Heroes Without Superpowers opens up about the beginnings of their writing journey, the struggles of balancing dreams with reality, the emotional weight behind their stories, and the experiences that shaped them as an author.
1. What inspired you to start writing, and when did you realize it was something you wanted to pursue seriously. Also, which authors or books have influenced your writing style the most?
I don’t actually remember what first inspired me to write. I was around eleven when I started writing in a diary, and slowly those journal entries began turning into short stories and poems. My memories of that time are a little vague, but I think my parents influenced me a lot. They both used to write diaries themselves. We all knew where each other’s diaries were kept, yet no one ever opened them. That quiet sense of trust and privacy gave me the freedom to write honestly, knowing my thoughts were safe. I think that feeling encouraged me to express myself without fear.
I wasn’t always a big reader. As a child, I loved fairy tales, but as I grew up and began facing adult responsibilities, a little bit of reading that I used to do took a back seat. Until I completed my first work, Confession of Silent Love, and later books like Chasing Ghosts, Cursed by the Moon, and Heroes Without Superpowers, I hadn’t explored literature deeply beyond academics. Thankfully, I studied English Literature in high school and during my bachelor’s degree, which kept me connected to storytelling in some way, otherwise I probably would have read only textbooks.
In fact, my reading habit was so inconsistent that I bought The Diary of a Young Girl and even after eleven years, I still haven’t finished it. But one thing I have always loved is cinema. I’ve watched countless movies and dramas, and I think visual storytelling has influenced my writing style more than books initially did. Many reviewers have told me that my stories feel cinematic, almost like watching a movie unfold.
Now that I’ve seriously begun my reading journey, I understand more deeply what writing truly means. The more I read and learn, the more I realize how much there is still to explore and improve as a writer.
“The idea that writing began not from ambition but from quiet personal expression gives your journey a very human and relatable foundation.”
2. How did the idea for this book first come to you, and at what point did you realize it had the potential to become a full-fledged novel?
During graduation, I didn’t write much. I became more involved in sports and other extracurricular activities, and writing slowly became secondary. But even back then, somewhere in my diary, I had written, “I can never be anything except an author.” Looking back now, it feels funny because I spent almost a decade preparing for different competitive exams while quietly neglecting the dream I cared about.
Everything changed during COVID when I discovered Wattpad. I decided to give writing another chance. Even while writing and publishing my first few stories on Wattpad, I didn’t think they had the potential for traditional publication because multiple publishing houses had already rejected my earlier four manuscripts.
That feeling changed when I started writing my fifth work, Ijya. Something about that story felt different. For the first time, I genuinely believed I wanted to see my work published traditionally. I worked incredibly hard on it. At that time, I knew almost nothing about the professional side of publishing, like proofreading, concept notes, synopses, and literary agents. I was simply emailing chapters with short summaries and hoping for the best.
While Ijya remained in the backlog of my literary agent, Cursed by the Moon unexpectedly became a turning point for me. It made me realize how much proper editing and proofreading can transform a story and bring out its true potential. I realized those stories too deserved a paperback edition, no matter how many times they had been rejected before.
“The persistence behind continuing despite repeated rejection is genuinely admirable.”
3. What does the release of Cursed by the Moon mean to you at this stage of your writing journey, especially considering how each book marks a different phase of growth for an author?
Words are not enough to describe what the release of Cursed by the Moon means to me. And if a writer says that, it truly is overwhelming.
My path as an author has genuinely been a roller coaster ride, sometimes it feels more like a rom-com with constant push-and-pull moments. Writing always felt like a forbidden love to me. Everyone around me, whether it was my parents or even my close friends, always said the same thing: “Write as much as you want, but only after securing a stable future.” I can’t blame them. They had seen how difficult life can be for writers, the uncertainty, the low royalties, the years it takes to build a career and the challenges of building a life around it.
My journey as a published author officially began with Chasing Ghosts. At one point, it was almost going to be traditionally published, and I was on cloud nine when its release was announced for December 2025. But somewhere in late November, the publishing house suddenly terminated the contract, saying they did not work with debut authors without literary agents. That moment was heartbreaking, but somehow, through Instagram, I discovered Paper towns.
If it weren’t for Vanshika, I probably would never have gathered the courage to choose self-publishing. They published Chasing Ghosts within 15 days, and that experience completely changed my perspective. It made me realize that instead of waiting endlessly for validation, I could take control of my own journey and publish the stories I believed in.
But the challenges didn’t end there; bigger realizations were waiting for me through the books I had already written.
Each book has taught me something different.
Chasing Ghosts taught me patience.
Cursed by the Moon and Heroes Without Superpowers gave me an amazing team and confidence in my stories.
Ijya taught me sacrifice.
And the MLA’s daughter-in-law... Well, I’ll just say one thing: It’s fictional, but I think readers will definitely have a lot to discuss once they read it.
“This answer beautifully captures how every book becomes a milestone in a writer’s emotional and professional growth.”
4. Without giving away spoilers, how would you describe Cursed by the Moon to a new reader, and what kind of experience can they expect from it?
Cursed by the Moon is, at its heart, an emotional coming-of-age story about love, trust, ambition, trauma, and healing. Without giving away spoilers, it follows a young girl whose ordinary college life slowly transforms into something far more complicated as she navigates relationships, friendship, art, self-discovery, and the darker realities hidden beneath human emotions.
What begins as a soft romance filled with awkward confessions, late-night calls, first love, and youthful innocence gradually evolves into a much deeper and intense journey. The story explores not only the beauty of love and companionship, but also insecurity, betrayal, manipulation, mental trauma, and the courage it takes to stand up for yourself when the world tries to silence you.
Readers can expect a very layered experience. There are warm and comforting moments filled with humor, friendship, and romance, but there are also moments that feel unsettling, heartbreaking, and psychologically heavy. The book especially focuses on how trauma affects a person mentally, and how healing is never linear.
It’s about finding people who stand beside you during your darkest moments and learning that survival itself can become a form of strength.
I think readers who enjoy psychologically intense stories, slow-burn romance, layered characters, and realistic conflicts will connect deeply with it. More than anything, I want readers to feel every emotion alongside the characters, love, fear, comfort, anger, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope.
“The way you describe Cursed by the Moon- it sounds like a story that slowly evolves from comfort into emotional complexity, which is often the most memorable kind of storytelling.”
5. How did you approach balancing emotional depth and storytelling in Cursed by the Moon, and were there any scenes that were particularly difficult for you to write emotionally?
Yes, there were definitely scenes in Cursed by the Moon that were emotionally very difficult for me to write. The story revolves around a teenager, and I think many young people silently struggle with overthinking, confusion, and self-doubt, especially when trying to understand whether certain behavior is harmless or something deeply uncomfortable.
Sometimes people keep questioning themselves: “What if I’m wrong? What if the other person didn’t mean it that way? What if I’m overreacting?” Because of these doubts, many choose to stay silent instead of speaking to parents, friends, or anyone they trust. There’s always that fear of not being believed or being blamed instead.
One thing I personally feel very strongly about is that people should not ignore their gut feeling just because society may judge them. If something feels wrong, it’s important to think rationally and protect your peace instead of constantly worrying about “what if.” Unfortunately, society often questions the victim more than the person actually responsible, especially when the wrongdoer is powerful or influential. That reality is painful, but it’s something I wanted to portray honestly through my writing.
Writing the tragic portions of both Heroes Without Superpowers and Cursed by the Moon was personally exhausting for me. I cried while writing some scenes because the emotions felt very real and personal in that moment.
Another challenge I constantly face as a writer is maintaining continuity between my books because all of them are interconnected and part of a larger series. Keeping emotional consistency, character depth, references, and the overall connection between different stories becomes challenging at times. I want readers to feel that all these books exist within the same universe, even when the themes and genres differ. Balancing that connection while still making each book stand strongly on its own is one of the toughest but most rewarding parts of my writing journey.
“The themes you discuss – silence, self-doubt, trauma, and societal judgment they are deeply relevant and painfully real for many people.”
6. What kind of research or preparation went into writing this story? Did the story or characters evolve differently than you initially planned?
It might sound a little unconventional, but I rarely plan my stories in detail. Most of the time, I simply begin writing and let the story flow naturally in the direction it wants to go. The same happened with Cursed by the Moon. I initially had a certain plot in mind, but once I actually started writing, the entire direction of the story changed on its own. Somehow, the characters began making their own choices, and the story became very different from what I had originally imagined. But honestly, I ended up loving the final result even more.
I believe that’s one of the most beautiful and unpredictable parts of writing, sometimes the story knows itself better than the writer does.
Research, however, is an inevitable part of storytelling. It can involve something as small as finding the right synonym for an emotion or as detailed as researching historical references, IPC provisions, psychological behavior, or the atmosphere of a particular place. The kind of research always depends on the story and the world the writer is trying to create.
As I’ve grown as an author, I’ve realized that research adds depth and authenticity to writing. The more you understand emotions, environments, people, and situations, the more layered and believable your story becomes. Even when readers don’t consciously notice the research, they can feel the realism and honesty behind the words.
“That balance between spontaneity and realism gives your stories a very natural emotional depth.”
7. Looking back at your journey from manuscript to publication for Cursed by the Moon, what aspects of the publishing process stood out to you the most, and were there any moments of support or collaboration that particularly shaped your overall experience?
Looking back, the publishing journey of Cursed by the Moon felt completely different from Chasing Ghosts. This time, there was no panic, pressure, or constant rushing. Since I had already announced the release date for Chasing Ghosts, that entire process happened very quickly and under a lot of stress. But with Cursed by the Moon, I finally had the space to breathe, focus on details, and actually enjoy the experience of bringing a story to life.
One of the biggest highlights of the process was the people I worked with. My project manager, Priyanshu, and my cover designer, Vidhisha, handled everything with incredible professionalism and patience. I’ll admit that I can be very particular about my books because I’m attached to every detail, so I know I’m not always the easiest author to work with. That’s why when I say they did an amazing job, I mean it. Their dedication and understanding made the entire experience smoother and far more memorable for me. In fact, after working with them, I became certain that I would want both of them on my team for future projects as well.
I had heard so many things about publishing being complicated or overly formal, where every small thing required appointments and long waiting periods. But my experience with Papertowns was the complete opposite. Everything felt organized, supportive, and human. There were no unnecessary formalities or communication barriers. Sometimes I would end up calling Priyanshu or Vanshika three or four times a day, and the patience they showed throughout the process was unbelievable.
This support meant even more to me because I had come out of a very disappointing experience with a literary agent before this. I had invested my hard-earned money and almost twenty months of hope into that process, only for it not to work out. So when I finally found a team that supported my vision and respected my work, it felt like I had landed somewhere completely different.
At this stage of my journey, my experience has been so positive that if I choose self-publishing again in the future, I don’t see myself looking beyond Paper towns.
“This part of your journey says a lot about the importance of collaboration and trust in publishing. The appreciation you have for the people behind the process comes through very strongly.”
8. Having recently published multiple works like Chasing Ghosts and Heroes Without Superpowers, how has your journey as an author evolved, and how has that growth influenced Cursed by the Moon?
For my debut book, everything felt uncertain. Since nobody really knew me as an author at that time, I had to step out of my comfort zone and work in ways I never imagined. What touched me the most was the support I received from people who helped me without expecting anything in return. Many influencers and readers promoted my work purely out of kindness, despite already having strong follower bases of their own.
I may not be able to mention everyone and I’m sorry for that, but there are some people who became such an important part of my journey that I genuinely cannot imagine my debut experience without them. I’m grateful to Ananya, Shonali, Ishanika, Tanvi, Parul, Sakshi, Manya, Bhavna, Mansvi, Poonam, and Shivaani. They went out of their way to support me, encourage me, and help my book reach readers. Their support made my promotional journey memorable.
There wasn’t a huge gap between the release of Chasing Ghosts and Cursed by the Moon. Three months isn’t enough time to completely transform as a writer, but it was enough for me to grow professionally through the publishing process.
The biggest difference was confidence and understanding. With Chasing Ghosts, everything felt new, stressful, and unpredictable because I was learning everything for the first time. But by the time Cursed by the Moon was being published, I had a clearer understanding of the process, stronger communication with my team, and more faith in my own voice as an author. The second release felt calmer and more organized compared to the chaos of my debut.
I think every book changes an author in some way. Chasing Ghosts taught me resilience and patience, while Cursed by the Moon helped me understand the emotional connection readers can build with stories and characters.
“It’s wonderful to see how much gratitude you carry for the people who supported your debut journey.”
9. In what ways does this book differ from your previous works, both in terms of writing style and the themes you’ve explored?
In many ways, Cursed by the Moon is completely different from my previous works whether it’s the genre, pacing, tone, or even the writing style itself.
Chasing Ghosts was a psychological thriller, driven by suspense, tension, and darker psychological elements, whereas Cursed by the Moon is a contemporary romance that focuses much more on emotions, relationships, vulnerability, and human connection. The energy of both books is entirely different, and I think readers can feel that shift immediately.
Even the writing process was very different for me. I completed the first draft of Chasing Ghosts within just fifteen to twenty days because the story flowed intensely and quickly. But Cursed by the Moon took me more than three months to complete because it required a slower emotional build-up and deeper character exploration.
Many readers have pointed out how different my writing approaches feel from one book to another. I see that as a good thing. I love experimenting as a writer. I don’t think I can stay confined to one writing style or one particular genre for my entire life. For me, writing is deeply connected to personal peace and creative satisfaction. If I stop feeling excited, challenged, or connected to what I’m creating, then writing would start feeling like a burden rather than something I love.
I never want storytelling to become repetitive for me. Every story deserves its own voice, atmosphere, and identity, and I think exploring different genres helps me grow not only as a writer but also as a person.
“That desire to keep storytelling emotionally and creatively fulfilling will likely make your future work even more unpredictable and exciting for readers.”
10. What can readers look forward to next from you, and are there any upcoming projects, themes, or genres you’re excited to explore in the future?
This year, readers can expect three very different projects from me.
The first is Confession of Silent Love, a story about unspoken love, friendship, grief, and sacrifice. It explores how some feelings remain hidden forever, yet still become the purest proof of love. The story carries a soft, nostalgic, and deeply emotional tone.
The second project, Ijya, is a dark and intense thriller that revolves around espionage, human trafficking, terrorism, trauma, and survival. It’s emotionally heavy, action-driven, and focuses on the psychological battles people fight within themselves while trying to survive a cruel world.
Then comes MLA’s Daughter-in-Law, a political family drama filled with secrets, silence, manipulation, and power struggles. Through a deeply personal narrative, the story explores what happens when someone gets trapped inside a world where trust becomes dangerous and every truth carries a price.
“From emotional romance to psychological thrillers and political family drama, each story sounds entirely distinct while still carrying your signature emotional intensity.”
Some conversations stay with you long after they end, and this was undoubtedly one of them. What makes this author’s journey so compelling is not just the books themselves, but the honesty behind the process ,the uncertainty, the rejection, the emotional vulnerability, and the determination to keep writing despite everything.
Through stories like Chasing Ghosts, Cursed by the Moon, Heroes Without Superpowers, and the upcoming projects on the horizon, it’s clear that this is an author deeply committed to exploring human emotions in all their complexity. Whether through romance, psychological tension, trauma, healing, or political drama, their stories aim not only to entertain but also to make readers feel seen and understood.
As readers, we often only see the finished book in our hands. Conversations like this remind us of everything that exists behind those pages – the persistence, the sacrifices, the emotional exhaustion, and above all, the love for storytelling that keeps an author going.
And if this conversation is any indication, this journey is only getting started.
Step into the magical worlds woven by Vaishali’s imagination- where every story sparks wonder, adventure, and emotion. Discover your next favorite read below!
