In a conversation with Mamta Wathare (Turia), author of the book Suhani. The core of the story is the positive aspect towards life and the journey of overcoming the deadlocks in life. To read the complete review of the book, visit Book Review : Suhani - Turia.
Q: “Suhani” made you a published author, how does it feel holding a copy of your book?
A: It feels amazing, like a black and white movie switching to color. It is the beginning of my dream and I am very excited.
Q: Tell us something about the process of writing “Suhani”, how did the idea come to you?
A: I used to write a lot of poetry, prose writing never happened. Then a poem titled “Under the Raatrani” came to me and the narrative of SUHANI followed, I really do not know where it came from but I believe that stories find the storyteller. So we can say that “SUHANI” found me.
Q: How did you work on developing the characters of ‘Suhani”?
A: Whenever I hear someone say “Wait till you hear the other side of the story,” I get awfully curious till I hear the other side. A story always crafts itself in different aspects. If you put two people in a situation, it is unlikely that they will view it in the same way and that is the beauty to it. So when I charted out the characters, I got myself to seeing how they would view themselves and the protagonist. And I have tried capturing that in SUHANI – each character is unique and has a different perspective on life. They are on a journey to find themselves and in finding themselves, they unravel a lot more.
Q: “Suhani” is all about positivity, overcoming of an individual, what kind of reception did you expect from the audience? What have you received?
A: So far the reception has been quite good. I was anxious because it seems like a quick read but it isn’t a racy thriller or a spiritual guide. In fact, no genre can really define the kind of story it is. So I didn’t know how it would be perceived, thankfully everyone who has read it has liked it.
-- Interview with author Mamta Wathare (Turia) --
Q: “Suhani” made you a published author, how does it feel holding a copy of your book?
A: It feels amazing, like a black and white movie switching to color. It is the beginning of my dream and I am very excited.
Q: Tell us something about the process of writing “Suhani”, how did the idea come to you?
A: I used to write a lot of poetry, prose writing never happened. Then a poem titled “Under the Raatrani” came to me and the narrative of SUHANI followed, I really do not know where it came from but I believe that stories find the storyteller. So we can say that “SUHANI” found me.
Q: How did you work on developing the characters of ‘Suhani”?
A: Whenever I hear someone say “Wait till you hear the other side of the story,” I get awfully curious till I hear the other side. A story always crafts itself in different aspects. If you put two people in a situation, it is unlikely that they will view it in the same way and that is the beauty to it. So when I charted out the characters, I got myself to seeing how they would view themselves and the protagonist. And I have tried capturing that in SUHANI – each character is unique and has a different perspective on life. They are on a journey to find themselves and in finding themselves, they unravel a lot more.
Q: “Suhani” is all about positivity, overcoming of an individual, what kind of reception did you expect from the audience? What have you received?
A: So far the reception has been quite good. I was anxious because it seems like a quick read but it isn’t a racy thriller or a spiritual guide. In fact, no genre can really define the kind of story it is. So I didn’t know how it would be perceived, thankfully everyone who has read it has liked it.
Q: Apart from "Suhani” what else have you written? Anything that you want us to know?
A: I write poetry, short-stories that I post on the Facebook Page and on my Blog.
Q: What can we expect from you in the near future? Any other books lined up?
A: Yes, I am working on my second book, the title hasn’t been decided yet but it should be ready soon. This book will be a four-part series and will have three sequels.
A: I write poetry, short-stories that I post on the Facebook Page and on my Blog.
Q: What can we expect from you in the near future? Any other books lined up?
A: Yes, I am working on my second book, the title hasn’t been decided yet but it should be ready soon. This book will be a four-part series and will have three sequels.
Q: How did you start writing? Was it an Intentional move? Something inspired you? Or you think you were destined to?
A: Writing was a creative outlet while growing up, I felt inspired whenever I travelled or was in the midst of nature and it reflects in my writing. I believe in destiny so perhaps it was destiny as well!
Q: Being a published author, is a different feeling altogether. How do you make sure that this feeling stays alive forever?
A: Well, I keep writing when I feel inspired and hope to bring that alive in my readers. My effort to create moments of inspiration for others is what inspires me.
A: Writing was a creative outlet while growing up, I felt inspired whenever I travelled or was in the midst of nature and it reflects in my writing. I believe in destiny so perhaps it was destiny as well!
Q: Being a published author, is a different feeling altogether. How do you make sure that this feeling stays alive forever?
A: Well, I keep writing when I feel inspired and hope to bring that alive in my readers. My effort to create moments of inspiration for others is what inspires me.
Q: What is one thing that you like the most about your writing?
A: It’s poetic; it has a certain rhythm and I have realized that the simplest of moments when penned have the power to bring out the most mysterious of beauties to light.
Q: How much do you believe in the power to oneself, to change their life? How does one did Suhani, as a character, did that?
A: I do believe that we always have a choice to live to the fullest of our potential. Yes, there are hurdles along the path but they are only to make us strong. Our ability to fulfill our dreams or passions has to outlive everything else that stands in the way. Suhani isn’t just a character for me, it is that side in all of us that can choose to give up easily but doesn’t. SUHANI has so much courage that fulfilling her dream is far more important to her than living because she realizes that merely existing and feeling intensely alive are two vastly different realities. And, once she experiences the later then she is ready to risk it all.
A: It’s poetic; it has a certain rhythm and I have realized that the simplest of moments when penned have the power to bring out the most mysterious of beauties to light.
Q: How much do you believe in the power to oneself, to change their life? How does one did Suhani, as a character, did that?
A: I do believe that we always have a choice to live to the fullest of our potential. Yes, there are hurdles along the path but they are only to make us strong. Our ability to fulfill our dreams or passions has to outlive everything else that stands in the way. Suhani isn’t just a character for me, it is that side in all of us that can choose to give up easily but doesn’t. SUHANI has so much courage that fulfilling her dream is far more important to her than living because she realizes that merely existing and feeling intensely alive are two vastly different realities. And, once she experiences the later then she is ready to risk it all.
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| Interview with author Mamta Wathare (Turia) |
Q: If given a chance to make one change in your book, what would that change be? Why?
A: I don’t think I would want to change anything at all. Like I mentioned, Stories find the teller and once a story is told, it cannot be changed unless one has a time turning machine. It’s like a painting, once you paint on a canvas, you can make different versions of it but it cannot be changed again on the same canvas.
Q: Any particular review that you received for “Suhani” made you go wow? Can you share with us?
A: Yes, the review that you had written, I felt very good after I read it. (Book Review : Suhani - Turia)
Q: Any particular review that you received for “Suhani” made you go wow? Can you share with us?
A: Yes, the review that you had written, I felt very good after I read it. (Book Review : Suhani - Turia)
Q: If “Suhani” is made into a short movie, who do you think should the lead characters be?
A: If the cast is Bollywood then, Kabir would be Kunal Kapoor, he fits the description really well (deep dimpled man, tall and handsome). Suhani would be Aditi Rao Hydari (beautiful, earthy and very poised). Mira would be Anushka Sharma (lively, bubbly and very smart). I am a Bollywood buff so I can imagine a Bollywood cast, although I didn’t think about it till I read this question.
Q: Other than being a published author, what else do you do professionally?
A: I am a publicist, I work for Ogilvy Public Relations. I manage my job and writing, thankfully my organization, my bosses and colleagues have been extremely supportive throughout, so it has been very smooth for me on that front.
A: If the cast is Bollywood then, Kabir would be Kunal Kapoor, he fits the description really well (deep dimpled man, tall and handsome). Suhani would be Aditi Rao Hydari (beautiful, earthy and very poised). Mira would be Anushka Sharma (lively, bubbly and very smart). I am a Bollywood buff so I can imagine a Bollywood cast, although I didn’t think about it till I read this question.
Q: Other than being a published author, what else do you do professionally?
A: I am a publicist, I work for Ogilvy Public Relations. I manage my job and writing, thankfully my organization, my bosses and colleagues have been extremely supportive throughout, so it has been very smooth for me on that front.
Q: Tell us something about the support that you received from your family, friends, colleagues, while you were writing the book?
A: Everyone around me has been very supportive from the start. My brother (Aniruddha) is my biggest critic, but his insights always help me. Both my parents (Anil Wathare, Kavita Wathare), my friends and all of my colleagues have given me immense support and motivation. I am very grateful to everyone.
Q: How long did it take for you to complete “Suhani”?
A: It took me a year to complete it, mostly because of a hectic schedule or time that was spent in proofing the text.
A: Everyone around me has been very supportive from the start. My brother (Aniruddha) is my biggest critic, but his insights always help me. Both my parents (Anil Wathare, Kavita Wathare), my friends and all of my colleagues have given me immense support and motivation. I am very grateful to everyone.
Q: How long did it take for you to complete “Suhani”?
A: It took me a year to complete it, mostly because of a hectic schedule or time that was spent in proofing the text.
Q: What made you finalize the book cover? Did you have more options?
A: I had options but I wanted the cover in a certain way and I am glad it turned out to be exactly how I had imagined it to be. I am fascinated with Benares and I really wanted the city to be captured on the cover. But then, the story moves from Benares to China in the second half so I didn’t want it to be just the city. I wanted the image of a girl (SUHANI) to be overlooking the city (also known as the “city of light”). It was to depict that she is back and sees things in a different “light”. Hence the choice of colors was restricted to yellow and orange.
Q: Tell us something about your experience of getting “Suhani” published?
A: It was quite tedious, there were times when I felt lost but I am very passionate about story-telling, therefore I always got on track with a new zeal. Attention to detail is very important while getting a book published especially for a first time author as it is really tough. There are things I had to get acquainted with and others that I had to be hands-on about; it was immense learning for me.
A: I had options but I wanted the cover in a certain way and I am glad it turned out to be exactly how I had imagined it to be. I am fascinated with Benares and I really wanted the city to be captured on the cover. But then, the story moves from Benares to China in the second half so I didn’t want it to be just the city. I wanted the image of a girl (SUHANI) to be overlooking the city (also known as the “city of light”). It was to depict that she is back and sees things in a different “light”. Hence the choice of colors was restricted to yellow and orange.
Q: Tell us something about your experience of getting “Suhani” published?
A: It was quite tedious, there were times when I felt lost but I am very passionate about story-telling, therefore I always got on track with a new zeal. Attention to detail is very important while getting a book published especially for a first time author as it is really tough. There are things I had to get acquainted with and others that I had to be hands-on about; it was immense learning for me.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books and authors?
A: I read a lot more than I write. My favorite books are many; to name a few: The Alchemist, God of Small things, Shalimar – The Clown, The Last Don, The Kite Runner, Not Without My daughter, Forty Rules of Love, The Search, The Namesake and the Harry Potter series. Favorite Authors: Paulo Coelho, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, JK Rowling.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or the traditional paper/hard back book?
A: I am old school when it comes to reading; I prefer paper and if it is hard back, even better. I love exchanging old books for older ones. The turning of pages and the fragrance of an old novel cannot be replaced by technology.
A: I read a lot more than I write. My favorite books are many; to name a few: The Alchemist, God of Small things, Shalimar – The Clown, The Last Don, The Kite Runner, Not Without My daughter, Forty Rules of Love, The Search, The Namesake and the Harry Potter series. Favorite Authors: Paulo Coelho, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, JK Rowling.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or the traditional paper/hard back book?
A: I am old school when it comes to reading; I prefer paper and if it is hard back, even better. I love exchanging old books for older ones. The turning of pages and the fragrance of an old novel cannot be replaced by technology.
Q: What’s with your pen name, Turia?
A: The name that one takes brings out a certain character or flavor in his/her personality. Turia means the highest degree of consciousness and when I write/narrate I would want that consciousness to reflect in my work. I love my name(Mamta) as well but there was something about adopting a pen-name that intrigued me and so I did it. It was purely instinctive.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike about “Life”?
A: What I like about life is how it surprises us at all times and that’s what I dislike about it as well. It is the surprise element that catches me off-guard with all its mysteries sometimes when I am not ready for the fall.
A: The name that one takes brings out a certain character or flavor in his/her personality. Turia means the highest degree of consciousness and when I write/narrate I would want that consciousness to reflect in my work. I love my name(Mamta) as well but there was something about adopting a pen-name that intrigued me and so I did it. It was purely instinctive.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike about “Life”?
A: What I like about life is how it surprises us at all times and that’s what I dislike about it as well. It is the surprise element that catches me off-guard with all its mysteries sometimes when I am not ready for the fall.
Q: If you have to give one reason to our readers to get hold of your book, “Suhani”, what would the reason be?
A: It’s unlike anything they have ever read or will read. Most importantly, one often forgets to value the simple things in life that bring us immense joy and happiness. One should read it to feel inspired and to see things differently from the view of SUHANI.
Q: Any message you would want to share with our readers?
A: Do not give up when the going gets tough, do not be afraid to take a risk so that you can do what you were born to do. Feel inspired and know that sometimes the simplest of stories can take us on the greatest of journeys. Please read “SUHANI”.
A: It’s unlike anything they have ever read or will read. Most importantly, one often forgets to value the simple things in life that bring us immense joy and happiness. One should read it to feel inspired and to see things differently from the view of SUHANI.
Q: Any message you would want to share with our readers?
A: Do not give up when the going gets tough, do not be afraid to take a risk so that you can do what you were born to do. Feel inspired and know that sometimes the simplest of stories can take us on the greatest of journeys. Please read “SUHANI”.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: They can get in touch with me via email on mamta.wth10@gmail.com, Facebook Page, Twitter and Website.
A: They can get in touch with me via email on mamta.wth10@gmail.com, Facebook Page, Twitter and Website.
-- End of Interview with author Mamta Wathare (Turia) --
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