Hope this finds you in good spirits!
It’s a pleasure to take interview of two lovely ladies today. So let’s start:
Saswati Rath, a strong believer, age 17 years is a native to Odisha, India. She believes in a power not just to dream but to accomplish every dream once dreamed of. She has a power to infuse emotions in words. Apart from writing, this teenager has a great passion for painting, she strives with the ambition of standing among the eminent artists.
Manaswini Dwibedi, a 17-year-old dreamer emanating from Odisha, aspires to be a prolific writer and an educationist. She is keen on studying English literature after her intermediate and claims that the segment of the book that belongs to her is the rawest version of her pen. She is a good learner and along with that, holds a national scholarship in Odissi dance. She loves debates and hosting various programme and along with her passions, she is a fashion freak and loves lip colours.
Here, these teen authors let their readers know a little more about themselves and their journey so far.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring to you Saswati and Manaswini:
1. Tell us something about you that only people close to you know.
Saswati: Am a sort of introvert and love to be alone. Shhh! Doesn't mean like I am a depression patient. It's simply I just love spending time with myself. Maybe that's what kept my knowledge in the field of art concealed or confined to mass. My love for painting and sketches, infusing life to art is the only thing people dear to me knows.
Manaswini: Nothing special but definitely a scar of jaws on my hand. I enjoy fighting with my twin sister Santoshini no matter how much I love her. I think that will surprise because most of the people here do get astonished. (laughs).
2. How does it feel to be a published writer? Has it changed you in anyway? How do you handle fame?
Saswati: To be honest, to be an published writer was a dream which our eyes held since were early teens but we never predicted that this dream gonna be reality this soon. The moment we received the contract we rejoiced. And that's what changed our lives, yes we were avid readers and loved English Literature from the core of our hearts. But in the journey of writing a poetry book that enthusiasm, that avidness and love ameliorated to unknown heights.
Manaswini: Handling fame isn't a matter of concern because we were used to it ever since we started schooling, I was a bold student, being one among the top five toppers of school. Teachers always adored me for my orating skills, my fellowmates juniors and seniors loved me, I being amiable to them. Apart from that being an National Level Scholarship winner in Odissi, I was an all time choreographer of my school, I teach students instead of teacher.
Saswati, she wasn't less either. Being an introvert she shouldn't be concealed from spotlight. Her art was an inspiration to many people. It was a moment of pride when she was honoured with "The Best Artist of the year" award and topping the fine art score list in 10th boards.
3. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Saswati: Well no. Writing wasn't my cup of tea. In early childhood I kept myself busy with my brush but I had an urge to write something beautiful when I read some good lines. It started, when I commenced writing a micro tale as a caption for my paintings. Till I discovered, with brush I have started using my pen.
Manaswini: I never had any notion whether I will be a writer or not. All I had was an unconditional love and soft corner for literature. Soon this love became plausible, an addiction as well when I started polishing my skills to write better.
4. Tell us something about your book, An Ode Of Twin Souls. How did the idea of a historical fiction shaped up in your mind?
Saswati: "An Ode Of Twin Souls", is no a mere book, but is a fragment of love and perception being shared my two souls. It covers various aspects like giving voice to every unspoken words, women empowerment, feeling of being loved and unloved and the beauty of death. Withal of these it gives you the essence of mint of positivity both in your perspective and life along with bit about ourselves, take our journey, for instance.
Manaswini: Honestly, poetry is something we would do all our life. Our teacher told us that poetry is what we govern. This book is what we compiled out of love.
5. How do you envision your book will impact your readers?
Manaswini: I envision my book to touch hearts of people dwelling in the world of poetry and beyond. Let not our tender age befool you for this book isn’t a mere collection of childish poem but is penned with depth through which we have conveyed a simple message. Every extract of the book will broaden the reader’s vision and furnish an ambience to young poets to pen poems crossing their age bars.
6. Briefly tell us about your earlier writings and the subjects that interest you.
Saswati: Being an artist, I love nature. So, I just observe every elements present in and within keenly as the beauty of nature always inspires hence am much down to inspirational poetry. My earlier writings were based on it.
Manaswini: I always wanted to explore “love”. Seeing my friends getting in and out of relationship at this tender age I was kinda shaken. Thus to taste a complete phase of love which winds of body and soul I tried my hand on romantic poems.
7. Share some of your interesting memories you lived while writing An Ode Of Twin Souls.
Saswati: I still remember that eve when Manaswini, I and two of our besties were having coffee together and the mail from Author Paradise popped that our manuscript has been selected and we both jumped like on reading to it. And people around were bursting into laughter on seeing such lunatic demeanour of ours.
Initially, while writing many titles knocked our brain. Manaswini has thought of naming it as “Beautifully Broken” , I suggested “Solace in Ink”. But all names sounded quite clinche hence we dropped them there itself and gave our thought process a new vision which flourished as An Ode Of Twin Souls, today.
8. What or who was your biggest inspiration behind this book?
Saswati: As said earlier writing wasn't my cup of tea and reading great lines I had an urge to write. Ain't I ? In form of blessings in disguise, one fine day while sitting jobless and scrolling down the news feed I came across a write up by Abhishek Rath Sir (author of "Immortal Ink Bleed") and that's when I was literally slayed by his words, his emotions his poems were enticed with, that's how I held my pen. Abhishek Sir, my mentor, has been a brilliant guide thorough out this beautiful journey of writing poems. Gradually I switched to poems of John Donne, Pablo Naruda, John Keats and Wordsworth. The Flea, Death be not proud, Ode to a Nightingale, A thing of beauty and Keeping quiet are my personal favourite.
Manaswini: This book is a dream. A dream that has been dreamt by my father who is a lecturer in English. He is my guide. Someone who fixed my roots to the soil of literature. My dad has been a prolific debater, a writer, a mentor, and everything that I can never accomplish the way he has done. Rupi Kaur ma'am (author of Milk and Honey) even has played the best role as a guide. I was totally awestruck reading her poems for the depth and beauty they are enticed with.
9. How did you make sure the information used in the book is accurate and up-to-date ?
Saswati: Poetry is not just penning one's own bird's eyes view. To pen one, I read hundreds. There were times when I practically isolated myself and made me feel as if I am the protagonist of my poem in order to make a clear vision as poetess to a layman of the society. The journey was so engrossing that we had no focus on anything else but this book.
10. What is the biggest mistake new writers make according to you?
Manaswini: Well, in my opinion the biggest mistake that novice writers make are the are much excited and they rush to get published in order to earn fame due to which they ignore certain strata of English Literature. Yeah, being excited is okay, at the same time flaws are strictly unwelcomed.
11. How do you feel when some one disagrees with something you say or have written?
Saswati: "Perception varies". Yes it does from person to person and there's nothing to feel bad about, when my point of view is denied by any being. I believe acceptance is the key to improvement and to step the first stair of success we should welcome and accept our flaws.
12. What is your least favourite part of the writing process? What is your biggest strength when it comes to writing?
Manaswini: Least favourite part of writing is nothing. Writing is something that is recreational and there can be nothing bad about something that only gives you solace. However, the best part of it is reading. Reading and writing are like ink and pen. There's no individual existence to each one of it.
13. How did you decide the characters and the settings for this book?
Manaswini: We didn't decide anything actually. It came out as a flow. Poetry isn't anything pre-planned. It is right away from heart.
14. What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?
Saswati: Nothing specific. To read novels by Dan Brown, Emily Bronte, Agatha Christie and Novoneel Chakraborty with a mug of coffee, I love to. I even like to wonder around and enjoy the beauty of nature, click them as well or watch a good movie. If none of the above, I simply sketch or paint my imagination.
Manaswini: I am quite occupied with English Literature, debates and speeches. Thus I keep myself busy in refining these skills. I, being a voracious reader, often spend hours in reading. Moreover, dance hypnotises me to explore it’s world more and more, often helps to kill boredom, burn calories as well.
15. Tell us something about your future projects. Are you writing anything at the moment?
Saswati: Well for now, I am taking a break from being published because am coming up with something sumptuous for which I have to refine my narrative skills and many more. I believe, a writer should write with such beauty and depth that the reader would find it tough to leave the book mid way. If you don’t write such you aren’t a writer. Thus I aim to provide the readers with quality reading (not quantity reading) for which I ought to delve the best version of me.
Manaswini: I haven't thought about it yet. As i said writing isn't pre planned. You watch a movie, talk to somebody or listen to a tale and suddenly something is gonna strike you so you knit an art out of it. Its as impulsive as hunger, hunger to fill pages.
16. What do you think about the writing industry these days? Do you think becoming a full-time writer is an advisable option?
Saswati: I think it’s a pretty tough to be one among those authors holding a best-selling rank under top hundred because these days ninety percent of writers are getting published with no proper content, poor narrative skills and hordes of grammatical errs. A full-time writer is an advisable option if only one excels in writing depth and faces no tornadoes while narrating his content with an acute knowledge of grammar.
17. Any tips for budding writers?
Manaswini: Write with depth. Follow the literary devices, metaphors, and iambic form of poetry. It's important. And, of course, reading is must. At last but not the least, do follow the saying, read hundred and then pen one.
18. What are the roles of an editor and a reviewer in the success of book according to you?
Saswati: Definitely, editors and reviewers play a key role in the success of the book. A bad editing can ruin a book whereas a good editing can aid it rising up its standard. I totally agree with keeping a few copies for the purpose of review as the book initially needs introspection. Mostly unbiased reviews being done with professional reviewers is what I prefer in order to account the writer's pros and cons. But if the reviewers are being paid to get a biased review of four to five stars just to raise their best selling ranks then shame on those authors practising such filthy short cuts without proper content.
19. How does it feel to be interviewed by me? *basically the interviewer wishes to hear praises* *laughs*
Saswati & Manaswini: It’s our pleasure to be interviewed by you for we have enjoyed answering each of the queries which you have put forward. Each question shows to have a different perspective. It was really amazing being conversed by you.
20. Anything that you would like to tell us? Your favourite writers? Your hobbies? Or just some sneaky peaky details?
Saswati: Well I think answering to the prior queries I have covered about my favourite writers and my hobbies, of course. I would seem kinda exaggerated if I speak more. But I would definitely speak few words about my book. Manaswini and I have been a keen observer in order to pen this book. We have given more than 100% to bring this book up to the mark and it’s definitely worth a try.
Manaswini: We have enjoyed every tinge of your questions which revolves around every details commencing from our personal life and ending with professional life. My last words to all the budding writers “Do focus on quality writing” and to all my lovely readers “Happy Reading” (smiles).
Wow! So we have come to an end of this awesome session.
Description
This collection of poems is an attempt of two teenagers to bridge the gap between both of the above said lines. It is an ode to the immortality of life which doesn't end at death. So that the deeper you delve, the more you discover.
Buying Link: Amazon
Happy Reading!
Nice post, things explained in details. Thank You.
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