Hello readers!
Today joining us for an interview is Dr. Suravi Sharma Kumar!
I hope you will extend her a warm welcome.
She is here to answer a few questions and also talk to us about her book, Voices in the Valley.
So, Dr. Kumar, please tell us about your book...
Voices in the Valley is a
literary fiction set in the troubled state of Assam in the north-east
of India.
It’s a collective
biography of the main character and a few others connected to her
life. Besides the story line of the protagonist Millie - a feminist
trapped in orthodoxy, there are a few themes to the book – the
unexplored beauty of this valley of rain forests and sundry orchids,
myriad ethnic flavors of a land home to hundreds of tribes, people
of various castes and religious beliefs.
Who or what inspires your writing?
I’ve always been
fascinated by the world of literature. I used to read a lot ever
since my high school days and started writing articles, short stories
in school and college magazines and then in newspapers. I wrote
health related articles in The Hindu and wrote a regular light read
column for the New Indian Express.
And, it just happened that
one fine day I started scribbling the story that had been brewing in
my mind for years.
When did you know you would be a writer?
I and my parents always
believed that I have acumen for literature. After the completion of
my years in medical school, I found some time and mental energy to
write what I wanted to.
How long did it take you to write your first novel?
As a doctor turned author,
it took me more than three whole years to complete the manuscript.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Hardest part was keeping
focused on my writing in spite of family responsibilities and my
job.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I’ve none. When I write
I do it all day and do the rest of the work snatching some time out
of writing.
Have you written anything else?
Yes, articles and columns
for newspapers and magazines. This is my first full length writing.
Any advice to aspiring writers?
Write your stories if it
is your passion. Otherwise, you will only isolate yourself from your
near and dear ones. I also believe that besides being an entertaining
read, a work of fiction should carry an inherent message to the
society.
Who are your favorite authors?
Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa
Lahiri, Arvind Adiga and Dorris Lessing.
What are your favorite books or which book has impacted you the most?
My favorite books are –
Mid Night Children, The Grass is Singing, The White Tiger. The Mid Night Children has
impacted me the most.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading
Fifty Shades of Grey and also doing some writing.
How can readers find out more about you?
Freda, thanks for posting about Dr. Suravi. If any of your readers would like to review her book or be a part of her blog tour please email me at stormi@lightningbookpromotions.com.
ReplyDeleteStormi
Lightning Book Promotions
Thanks Freda for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteHope the book finds some western readers.