AUTHOR INTERVIEW - ASTHA SUNEJA

We recently interviewed published author Astha Suneja

She is an Engineer from BIT, Mesra and is presently working as a softskills trainer for TCS, Hyderabad. She loves to travel and is a regular blogger. She has written short stories and poetry too apart from two novels.

Tell us something about your novel – Yes, I flaunt my Diamond. Any specific reason for this title? How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

This is a story very close to my heart. There were several moments when I had to make a choice – luxuries or experiences. I believe that there are many people who feel the same way. When I analyzed several such situations, lots of feelings and thoughts dawned on me. All these feelings poured out as Yes..I flaunt my diamond !

The title justifies the concept..Its a comparison of two lifestyles. On one hand, the rich and luxurious lifestyle tempts all hearts. On the other hand, the other lifestyle is adorned with talents and experiences. Even if the first kind of life revolves around flaunting of the diamonds, the second life sparkles brighter and outshines the first.

When did you take to writing?
 

I never took to writing, writing chose me ! When I say this, I mean that I never wrote with an intention of writing. Writing just happened when the gush of feelings inside me wanted a downpour . Today, if I look back to my initial days, I never feel that it has been a long way ! The only reason is that writing is never a task for me. Its a part of life and an integral part of my happiness :)   

Where do you usually write? What is your favorite setting to write in?

I would love to answer this question. I write in two situations – either when I am overwhelmed or when my heart feels very low. In either of these situations, I want my feelings to flow down. Keeping this in mind, most of the times I remember myself write is on my terrace when the rain water make ripples on the leaves, when the strong winds hit my face just before the onset of winters, when we drive on the curvy roads over the mountains, when the silence of nights is broken down by the river flowing outside, when the sky tempts me with millions of stars, when the dark clouds suddenly conquer the otherwise blue sky !  

Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

The initial phases were easy to write. As I had a clear picture of the two lifestyles to be compared, I could write the initial phases with ease. I could leverage my creativity as well, to give the story in form of autobiography of a pen. However, I did face a clog towards the end.

This novel has a not so happy ending. Although, the story drove itself forward with lots of emotions and feelings, bringing it to a single converging point was a bit difficult.



Does this story have anything to do with your personal life? Or is it a story of someone close to you
 

 The story is a piece of fiction. It is not my story. Its a story that relates to all the lives. All of us can relate to the story. It has experiences that we would love to live. It has talent that would spread optimism in all the hearts. It has love and emotions. It hits the deepest chords of the hearts with the sharpness of feelings that hammer.

 “ When I lived those moments, I did not even realize that I was making memories” - this is my favorite line from the novel and really close to my heart. I can relate it to my ideas and ways of thinking. The meaning of life is different for all of us. We all live our lives, our ways that make us most happy. I have outlined my ways of living an ideal life in the novel.

Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain

I am a regular blogger –  nuggetsofimagination.blogspot.com

My website                 -   asthasuneja.com

Email id                      -  suneja.astha@gmail.com

  
It is good to see how social networking and marketing has changed the industries. When it comes to publishing industry, the impacts are equally strong. As an author, it has helped me a lot ! I would also grab the chance to thanks bookreaderslounge for encouraging debut authors. The novel is available on all the online portals and reputed bookstores.

What are your thoughts on life – The one thing that it takes to live it?
 

As I said earlier, we all have our own definitions about life. We all live our lives as per that. One thing that makes life meaningful are feelings and emotions. These come from experiences. Imagine if you never got failure, would you even feel the extent of immense pleasure that comes after that ? Imagine you never had a fight with a friend, would you then ever feel what it feels to lose a friend !

 I want to live my life with all shades of emotions and experiences. I love to travel, to observe different people, get to know their ideas and perspectives. For each smile that I bring to someone, and someone bring it to me, I feel that I have done justice to life.

Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

As mentioned before, I am presently working as a softskills trainer with Tata Consultancy Services. I feel that any kind of work that makes you feel happy at the end of the day, should be given highest preference in life. My professional life has always revolved around communication(oral & written). Talking to new people, getting to know their dreams and talents, getting to analyse more of life is what makes things interesting !

I love to travel. At times, I read novels. I like writing poetry. I spend most of my time looking at the photographs of most beautiful places of the world.



So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?
 

Its a feeling not less than an accomplishment. When you write the first letter of the novel, you have no idea how well the journey of your thoughts will drive you into imagination ! Time passes on as each chapter reveals the dreams and desires that were dormant within your heart. When it reached the end, the entire picture of your imagination glimmers brilliantly. That is a feeling of immense satisfaction, extreme happiness !


Top 3 All-time favorite books

·        Kite Runner

·        The Undomestic goddess

·        The Secret