Q.1 What inspires you to write? Is writing every day a ritual?
I find inspiration in the myriad emotions and experiences that shape our lives. Human emotions can be very intense and it is this characteristic that I love to explore with words. Whether it’s the beauty of love or the complexities of relationships, I am driven to explore the human connection through my writing.
Writing every day is a ritual and I indulge in it on a corporate level, writing biographies, content for websites, marketing, and much more. I do believe in the importance of consistency and thus it keeps me ready to pen down anything that I wish to with ease. There’s a certain discipline in putting thoughts to paper regularly, and it helps maintain the creative flow.
Q .2 Tell us more about the book.
In a world where love stories often unfold in predictable ways, “Then Love Happened” seeks to redefine the genre by delving into the intricacies of two individuals who have found themselves grappling with their own scars and insecurities.
It takes the readers into the immersive and intertwining lives of Samar, Naisha, and Suhana. Raising a question about marriage being a bond or bondage, makes a shift into what is considered as a compromise and what is a necessity for a relationship to thrive.
The story highlights forced promises and hopeful hearts from the perspective of a man who is wronged in a marriage and not the other way around. The story challenges not only love’s capacity to heal but also its potential to redefine our very understanding of relationships as we know so far.
Read it to find out how love can come in multiple facets, and sometimes, even be personified in a way to identify your own desires.
Q .3 Any advice for our aspiring writers?
My advice to aspiring writers is to embrace authenticity. Don’t be afraid to infuse your unique voice into your work. Write about what moves you, and let your passion shine through. Be persistent. The journey of a writer is filled with highs and lows, but it’s the perseverance that ultimately leads to success. I also believe that reading helps a lot! It unveils new horizons of thoughts that can come in handy when penning down something new.
Q 4 Do you believe that a writer needs to have strong emotions?
I believe a writer should have a deep understanding of emotions, whether they are personally experienced or empathetically understood. It’s this emotional intelligence that allows writers to create characters and stories that resonate with readers on a profound level.
Q 5 Tell us about the first book you read that made you cry.
The first book that moved me to tears was I Let You Go by Clair Mackintosh. It was a powerful exploration of love between a mother and a child that left a lasting impact on my perspective. That moment, the words and the imaginative prowess of the author made me realize the transformative power of storytelling.
Q 6 Tell us about the most challenging part of writing the story.
It is not easy to waver from the pre-set norm where women hold the gambit of being victims of false promises and scathing marriages. While writing “Then Love Happened”, is a story that revolves around Samar, who although a self-made businessman, a man of virtue, holds on to the shambles of his marriage that is based on the foundation of lies. It also speaks on the other hand about Suhana, a girl who holds depleted faith in love.
The most challenging part of writing “Then Love Happened” was navigating the intricate dynamics of the characters’ relationships. I had to ensure that the emotions that I wish to draw within my readers are real and pure and take them on a journey where they can introspect. Even if one life is changed, this book is a success.
Q 7 Describe a lesser-known aspect of Namita for us
I am an open book, but I do harbor my own secrets. These are voiced out in the form of Shayari, poetry, and anecdotes. I have a compilation of these that I have never shared with anyone… not yet.
Q 8 Describe your writing process.
My writing process is simple. I deep dive into my story and as I write, I explore each emotion and pen them down as I experience them. I do get insights from lives that I have touched or vice-versa. This book is an inspiration from a life but then, human life can be as mundane as it can be exciting. Thus, to inflict readers’ aesthetics, fiction is the only door I knock. I do follow an outline or a structure but most of the time, I wander away because I choose the emotions that appear in the process of writing over a planned structure.
Q 9 Memorable incident while writing the book.
This book has been under process since 2021. It took two long years to bring it to its fruition. The most striking part was when I was 80% through the writing process, my entire book had gotten deleted from my computer. With no way to resurrect it, I had to rewrite the entire book once again. It was almost as if the characters chose to redirect the book in a direction I hadn’t initially planned. It was a delightful and unexpected twist that added a layer of authenticity to the narrative.
This caused the delay but turned into a boon, because this version of the book is something that I have already read a hundred times, and not bored yet.
Q 10 Given the complex publishing process in India, how was your experience?
I have had an exciting journey with my first book taken over by a reputed publishing house. However, in order to retain my voice, I chose to go with an upcoming banner. We faced hurdles but we came through them. The Pandemic was something that hit the world and hit the book too. But then, a story worth telling is a story that will be heard. CUPID IS COMPLICATED was rated amongst the top 5 MUST READS by the Deccan Herald, cherished by readers, and loved by my reviewers. Therefore, I believe in doing what my heart says. It talks, I listen.
