In Conversation with Author Lamiya Siraj

Lamiya Siraj is a beautiful author, blogger, award-winning writer, motivational speaker and certified life coach. She has a passion for capturing the beauty of the world through her writing. She draws inspiration from different experiences and thoughts. She has been published in several books and magazines. In addition, she has received multiple awards in the literature field. Let us know more about her in this interview.

 

1. Hello, Lamiya. How do you define yourself to o 

ur readers? Which profession are you working in?

Ans: I am a simple person who believes in “Simple living and high thinking.” But at the same time, I have a child in me who is very notorious and wants to do pranks all the time in life with my loved one. I, at times, surprise myself when I become a kid younger than my daughter and leave her to her amusement of who is the daughter and who is the mother in the house - types. I am a big movie fan of thrillers and murder mysteries. I am an understanding person but, at the same time, highly emotional and a bit reserved for my loved ones. I cannot tolerate sorrow and see anyone in pain. I look strong but am too sensitive to see someone in pain around me. Lastly, I easily get ignited when someone disrespects or insults me. I cannot tolerate lies or wrong deeds.

I am an author, blogger, award-winning writer, motivational speaker and certified life coach.

 

2. Please share your journey of being a writer. When did you start and choose writing? What’s your inspiration behind it?

Ans: I am an avid reader. And all my life, I have seen my mother and my aunt reading books, novels and newspapers. I witnessed them utilising their afternoon nap time, reading themselves to sleep.

My little mind wondered what pleasure they get from reading, so inquisitively, I started reading, later dreaming of writing someday, wanting them to read! I started dreaming of my book in their hand, hoping they enjoyed reading and appreciated it.

Books are all my all-time inspiration. Reading the work of good writers left me daydreaming about ‘My fiction novel.’ And then, as mentioned in the book ‘Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne, ‘Once you are determined that you want something, the universe will ensure you get it.’ So here is my inspiration, along with my motivation. ‘Be a reader to be a writer one day.’

 3. How it feels being a writer? What are things which have changed after being a writer? What is your strength?

Ans: It feels great and responsible to be a writer. However, writing can bring changes in one’s life, such as creative satisfaction, recognition and personal growth. It can also allow one to connect with readers and fellow writers and expand one’s knowledge on various topics.

As the author of four books, I have gained much experience and knowledge in writing. My strength lies in storytelling, creating relatable characters, or vividly portraying emotions. I work on enhancing them further for better writing outcomes.

 

4. What is the best part about being a writer? What was the most difficult task in your writing career? How do you bring new ideas to your work?

Ans: As an author, one of the best parts about being a writer is the ability to create entire worlds and characters that come to life in the reader’s mind. It’s an incredibly fulfilling experience that allows me to share my own unique perspective and creativity with others.

However, writing is not always an easy task. One of the most challenging parts of my writing career has been finding the time and discipline to write on a schedule consistently. Writing requires a lot of time and effort, and finding the energy and motivation to write can be difficult when I’m feeling uninspired or blocked.

To bring new ideas to my work, I often draw inspiration from everyday life, such as conversations with friends and family, new stories or current events, or even random thoughts that pop into my head. To help me develop fresh and innovative ideas for my writing, I also enjoy different genres and media, such as reading, watching, or listening to music.

 

 

5. What do you do apart from writing? How do you manage time for writing, and are you writing something as of now?

Ans: I am a keen reader. So I love reading and prefer reading over watching a movie anytime. My second passion is travelling. I want to travel the world and capture the moments, places, food, nature and everything in photographs. So, apart from reading and travelling, I love photography. Being a fitness freak, I love outdoor sports, and I am ever ready for a game in the field.

If one has a supportive family, things automatically fall into place. I am blessed to have such a supportive family, especially my husband. I won’t mind giving my entire credit to my husband and the love and life my daughter puts into me. Converting my passion for writing into reality and making me a full-time writer wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my loved ones. So, I want to say I don’t balance my writing and family. Instead, my family balances me with my writing.

I have just completed my third novel and am working on the pre-publication work, finalising the book formatting and cover design beautification.

I would definitely like to recommend my noves “Destined to Heal Within” and “Desire or Guilt”.

 

6. Kindly attach the link to your book so readers can grasp these beautiful reads.

 

All my books are on Amazon:

1.   ONE STEP AHEAD https://amzn.eu/d/eBtBgKb

2.   Destined to Heal Within https://amzn.eu/d/4R7Vn9p

3.   Desire or Guilt

https://amzn.eu/d/7UTvfL7

 

7. Is there any message you want to share with our readers?

Ans: 1. Thank you for taking the time to read my books. As an author, it means a lot to me that you invested your time and attention in my stories.

 

2. Writing is a journey, and each book I’ve written has taught me something new about the craft and myself. I hope my writing growth is reflected in my stories, and I strive to continue improving with each new book.

 

3. I believe that stories have the power to connect us and help us understand each other better. I hope that my stories have resonated with you in some way and have made you think, feel, and perhaps even see the world a little differently.

 

4. Finally, I would say that if you’re passionate about writing or any creative pursuit, don’t give up!

 

Talking with Sheo Nath about Rising Competition and Low Confidence in the Authors

 There is a rat race in almost every career opportunity in a Developing Country like India. Let us know more about the Rising Competition and decreasing confidence in Authors from our very special guest Author, Sheo Nath. He is a bilingual author, having two books each in Hindi and English to his credit. He is not restricted to any fixed genre. His first book 'Tukdon me prem kahani' was a collection of 14 stories that got published in 2008 and was widely appreciated. His next was 'Disclosure- A Rape Victim's Resolute Revelation' about a rape victim and her struggle to change societal mindset towards victims. This has been most exhaustive novel on this sensitive topic. The next book 'Minimising Unhappiness' is a self-hep book giving practical solutions to life's most difficult problems. His latest 'Aasman ka guroor' is a collection of 90 poems in Hindi highlighting varied facets of life. 

Q1 You have written four solo books. Tell us what is your take on increasing market competition of Authors ?

Ans : Off late, the number of writers is increasing and number of readers is decreasing. The increasing content avaiable online has certainly affected the book market. The publishers have made no efforts to increasre readership. The books are being published seeing the brand value of the author rather than content of the book and writing style. Except by few like Prabhat Prakashan, authors are rarely paid royalty. The market has certainly been tough and competitive for authors. But, few new publishers are encoraging new authors, though they have not been able to develop a market for books published by them. Self-publishing has become the norm of the day where the author has to shell out money for publication of his and more money for its marketing. 

Q2) Do you feel the story or the plot of the book has a major role to play in the success of a book ?Which genre do you feel is the most sold genre ?

Ans : The novel needs to have a very interesting story, crisp narration and intensive PR campaign for a normal author to become success. For a celebrity author who is an actor or sportsperson, even sub-standard stuff sells. Some controversial staff also sell well. There is scope for romantic novels too. 

Of all the formats, self-help books  sell most followed by novels. 

Q3) Do you feel educators and parents have a major role to play in building up the confidence of a person ?

Ans : No doubt, educators and parents can only shape up any individual's thinking in initial years and boost his confidence in years to come. A support system gives an individual honest feedback and much needed courage to be successful in his endeavours. 

Q4)What is that one advice that you want to give to the youngsters to boost their confidence?

Ans : Youngsters should follow their passion and never be bogged down by some initial hurdles coming up their way. Patience is required in every field and persistence only helps to tide over any hiccups. In may case, I had asked few of my friends to give a feedback on the manuscript of 'Disclosure' after 5-6 years of research based writing, but got it from none. Though non-supportive initially, they are now appreciative of me now. With my experience, I can say that if you do not stop, success can not be stopped.

Q5) Do you feel paid publishing is leaving a bad effect on middle class people ?

Ans : Every middle class people has a story to tell or a story to read. Paid publishing has resulted in non-resourceful authors to part with their hard-earned money  apart from writing which itself is demanding and intellectual work. This results in publisher not to focus on readers and encourage reading habits in the society. The less the number of readers, the less is profit. To compensate, prices of books have increased again hitting the common man. 

Q6) What are your forthcoming projects and how you are planning to boost its sales?

Ans: I am writing a novel in English, 'Love across iigration counters' on love story during covid and a collection of humanitarian covid stories in Hindi. Others ones are novels based on Andaman, a cancer patient, legal stuggle of a common man. They all are research based and will take time to be completed. 

Marketing is a persistent effort. I have got a readership base now. Also, I keep on promoting my earlier works even now on social media. Though I am not aggressive, I am continuously working towards promotion of my books. I am sure that in years to come, I will leave a legacy for the world to ponder over and get benefitted. 

In Conversation with R S Chaithanya

 

 

R S Chaithanya,is a brilliant author,translator,Youtuber,blogger,song writer,online tutor,language trainer.She has passion for capturing beauty of world through her writing.She draws inspiration from different experiences and thoughts.She has received multiple awards in literature field.Let us know more about her in this interview.

 

1.Hello R S Chaithanya,how you define yourself to our readers?

So , I define myself to readers - Well , Am kind of person who likes to explore. My reading habits are out-of-this world! I like books that are far from my own reality. I read voraciously, especially novels that are exciting, immersive, and imaginative, and once i find an author whom i love, I can’t wait to read more of their works. My creativity has made me an effective writer because , I can anticipate problems and innovate spot ideas , and achieve the task on time. So "Every book reader needs a person to listen to their stories in depth."

 

2.When Did You Start Writing & How You Choose?What inspired you to become a writer?

I have started my career at the age of 12 , by Penning down the words which flows like river from my mind into the notepads. It made a living from "My Nib" for the better part of 15 years. I am , thin and thick , a silent fellow , averse to rowdy people and noisy places , buoyant when I'm on my own in my small room , with a books or a writing pad & E - Tools - in front of me , and the window opening to the skies and the rising sun along with smell of flowers.  Instead of Calling me 'Chaithanya' , Some years ago an elderly friend , an academic , called me a "The Silentist". I liked the sound of the word and presumed it meant "someone who likes to pursue his/her human knowledge in a quiet way". I choosed to be in this field and Now that certainly isn't me!’Extinction of will?’. The very opposite. My entire life has been an epic of survival, in which the will to live life to the full has seen me through periods of failure , pains , loneliness , even despair. I have often willed myself into doing things that otherwise may not have been done. But I have done things silently and in my own way. And as for withdrawal from worldly interest and divine things - no , never! Rather , have been drawn to all things of the senses love , beauty ; sights , sounds , smells ; the bouquet opening , pulpy lips , tender kisses , passion of nature , gentle breezes , the scent of jasmine , falcons in bloom , raindrops on a muddy road..Everything , oh everything sensual! If I were not completely hedonistic , I would not be a budding writer , for there would be little to write about.So am I am ' The Silentist '? Let's just say, I am a silent person! What inspired me to become as a writer was the 2 rules of life Words & Emotions - which deals with heart & mind. So , I gave respect in the way of characterizing them in my works. Most favorite writer Mr.Ruskin Bond , Who inspired with his usage of vocabularies in his works.

3.What do you think most defines your writing?How do you manage to bring out new ideas for your work?

I think ,Writing Finding my way through the'seas of storytellers' sometimes feel like an insurmountable undertaking, especially in the early stages of my writing journey.I came upon 'Tides & Creative Identity'.  So my writing defines with it's 'Style & Voice' , I used in my works. Especially it dealt with 'Sprinkles of alphabets & uniquely communicating the points to the readers'. So far I have used so many literary terms & figures of speech to define my writing skills , those are Doggerel , Confessional , Epigram , Carpe Diem , Ecricture , Pormanteau , Epizeaxis , Puns , Alliteration , Hendiadys , Polysyndeton , etc…,.Then ,"The world around me - be it the mountains or the busy street below my window - is teeming with objects, sights, thoughts, that I wish to put into words in order to catch the fleeting moment, the passiñg image, the laughter, the joy, and sometimes the sorrow." This helped me to manage the ideas in writing.

4.What is the best part about being a writer?What was the most difficult task in your writing career?

My best part of being a writer is that I live in this world, but play in hundreds of others that spin through my head. And I get to share those worlds with others in my stories. Writing forces me to see this world, really see it. After that I twist reality or faithfully record the story. Either way I am usually surprised by the results. I’d say my hands down favorite part of being a writer is reading my book to the kids. I think sharing stories (especially out loud) really brings them to life! By engaging with the kids, I’m getting to tell my story, and I’m also getting to share in their reaction. That brings everything to a whole new level because its merging my experience with theirs. "Pure magic!” And the most difficult task in my writing career is  fear of criticism or rejection & attention from the audience. I agree with F. Scott Fitzgerald: “All good writing is swimming under water and holding your breath.”  As a result it's worst thing for survival for being a writer.

 

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5.Writing takes lot of dedication and effort.How has writing shaped you and how has life changed after being a writer?

"Writing has basically changed the way I do everything". From when I wake up in the morning to when I lay my head on the pillow, most things have to do with writing. It's changed the way I read -- I look at things with more of a critical eye. I analyze the writing and flail over a beautiful sentence or character development. "Writing has changed the way I look at things for inspiration". That old house isn't just an old house -- it has a story. That song--.The forest of birch trees -- just another story in this giant and magical world. Everything has a story behind it. I don't look at people the same as I used to. I'm trying to say this in a non-creepy and stalkerish way as possible, but I study people. How they interact. How their eyes thin into a happy scrunch when they laugh and how they might play with their hair when they're nervous. Often when I'm in a crowd of people, I'm just amazed. Because every one of those people has a story. A dream , fears , hard moments and good ones. And as a writer, I get to write about these people. For these people. It's a terrifying and marvelous thing.

6.How do you see yourself shaping up for the future?How do you take out time for your work?

I see myself shaping in future as writing has given me a dream. It's given me motivation and determination to get published and making my dream of becoming an author a reality. It's given me a passion to work as hard as I can ,  it's crazy , Sometimes, more often than not, it's a scary journey with doubts and stress and so much mental energy... BUT it's also the best thing in the world, and it's so thrilling to be able to call myself a writer.

I take time to work with my experiences before and after being a writer as Being an impractical person, I am not a good traveller. I m quite happy sitting here at my desk, or standing at the window, contemplating the world as it stretches across the deep valley, away over the plains and sparkling rivers. I have been down the east coast, and it is beautiful in many places, but it's hard to return to this perch in the mountains with its bird's-eye view of limitless horizons. There was a fire place near a cooling area which warms with me with good food and book readings. “More than this what could i ask for?”...Hope that was the amazing feel ever.

Even Some Rhymes related my life , the childhood days in Hyderabad was quite funny , but tells some hidden meanings of life ,

‘Hark , Hark , the dogs bark,

The beggars are coming to town,

Some in rags and some in bags,

And some in velvet gowns’.

This was actually a 16th century England rhyme of literatures , were in Fridays the lepers used to beg in the towns , though i didn’t see velvet gowns , street dogs always bark for new things , and charitable people often snaps in rags or bags for money.

"Now I'm quite content to sit here writing these lines and occasionally looking up to watch the westering sun bathing upper! – ‘The Ever Awakened City’ – Showers of Goddess Meenakshi Sundareshwar. And As it is the end of May , the nights fall so chilly , you can hear the dripping sound of water droplets in the rooftops , slides in the leaves of hydrangea and patters away. Which means – A reminder to repaint it. 

The lines from Shakespeare that my father copied into my school notebook are still with me:

“This above all , to thine own self be true ,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou can't not then be false to any man.”

To write with sincerity , simplicity , grace and clarity. To be true to myself. If I am writing in much the same vein today , it is because I have always written straight from my heart. “But my heart is the mind , and the mind is unseen”.

7.Is there any message you want to share with our readers?

"Readers are the writer's mirror" : we see our words and thoughts reflected in you. You assist us in shaping them, converting thoughts into language, and communicating with you. "A book is only the beginning for a writer. A reader completes it, and you are an example of this". Thank you for taking the time to appreciate my works and giving me honest feedback.