Author Story Article Release
Hello author, on behalf of all the readers, we would like to discuss something about you and of course, your book as well. This conversation will help reader to know more about you and your debut book. Please give answers in brief.
Most welcome toCriticspace Journals, Author. We heartily congratulate you for being a published author. It’s really a great achievement. First thing, we would like to know about your basic info as a person, daily life, career so far and anything you would like to share about you with your readers.
Your Answer: I am Sonia Sahijwani Saini, Author of Yours Legally-a collection of short stories my debut book and Baby on Board-An Ordinary Couple’s extraordinary pregnancy journey my second title. I am a law graduate from Delhi University Faculty of Law currently working in a maharatna PSU in Chandigarh in its legal department. After doing my graduation in B.Com Hons, i pursued PG in Eng Print Journalism and then made the unusual but interesting digression towards the field of law. I currently stay in Chandigarh with my husband and my 1.5 years old son.
That’s really great; please tell us something about your journey of becoming an author. When you actually started writing and how was the circumstance? Did any person or situation influenced you to write your debut book or was it your childhood hobby of writing?
Your Answer: I still sometimes cannot believe I am an author and that Yours Legally has been published and is being read and loved by so many people. When I was writing this book I never imagined it would reach so many readers though ofcourse everyone dreams of it. But in my case writing isn’t something i started later in my life. I have always been writing ever since I was a kid and no matter how many degrees I collected, becoming an author remained etched in my mind and heart always. To see my name on the cover of a book is deeply heartening and satisfying as it was my childhood dream.
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Be descriptive please so that our visitors know about you little more.
Your Answer: No, i don’t think so. I feel the biggest quality one needs to have to be a successful writer is to be able to feel emotions so that the same are depicted and reflected through your writing. I feel a writer’s creation is nothing but an extension of his/her own personality, thoughts and feelings. Hence, if one cannot empathise with or relate to the circumstances, the events happening around you or to the intricacies and complexities of human nature, then one cannot be a good writer.
How do you come up with the titles to your books?
Your Answer: Yours Legally is a collection of 6 short stories which are inspired and based on my experiences in the legal profession. Each story is unique yet held together by common elements of law, humanity and a common protagonist Sia. The stories revolve around 6 elements of law which I feel are critical to this profession being: complainant,, case, judge, counsel, confinement and criminal/accused. Hence I felt that these stories are from me to you , my readers and Yours Legally would be the apt title.
What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Your Answer: The most important elements of good writing are: a strong story, clarity in expression of thought, a simple but appealing writing style with lucid language and an emotional inherent in the book which readers can relate to
What comes first, the plot or characters? How do you develop your plot and characters?
Your Answer: I feel the plot comes first, the characters are then developed as the plot progresses.
Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
Your Answer: Yes I am on Instagram, Facebook and twitter by my name Sonia Sahijwani and definitely readers can interact with me.
Please tell the reader something about your book. What is your message to those readers who have still not read the book. Why they should pick it up for reading?
Your Answer: Well it definitely is appealing to law students and they are relating to the court room dramas, the prison stories, the experiences of working with advocates since all of them undergo this phase as a part of their internships and trainings while pursuing law. However, this book is not solely aimed at them since my main target audience is the readers with a non legal background who are unaware of the legalities but are curious about this profession. With lucid language and without any technical legal jargons, I have tried to keep my book simple and an easy read for all. I feel my book is unique and is a new genre of anthologies/short stories on law as this genre has not been experimented with before by any Indian author as far as I know.
And yes, the most important thing we would like to hear from you is what is your message to those new writers who have not yet started their journey of becoming an author? You have been their source of motivation, please convey your thoughts with them.
Your Answer: My simple piece of advice is : Keep reading as much and keep writing. Let your thoughts flow. Write from the heart without thinking whether it would please the audiences or whether it would sell a million copies. Write what you feel for and believe in and have your own unique style of writing.
THE BELOW SECTIONS CONTAINS SOME IDEAS FOR INJECTING A BIT OF FUN INTO YOUR INTERVIEW
Would you rather
Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?
Your Answer: None! But if i had to choose then spiders
Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter?
Your Answer: Definitelt endless summer
Would you rather have constant nagging pain or a constant itch?
Your Answer: None! But still a nagging pain as I can have a painkiller or something
Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?
Your Answer: I like to be punctual hence I would always be an hour early
Would you rather live in a haunted mansion or live in a un-haunted cottage?
Your Answer: An Un hainted cottage for sure
Either Or
Tea or coffee
Your Answer: Tea always
Hot or cold
Your Answer: Hot
Movie or book
Your Answer: Book
Coke or Pepsi
Your Answer: None
Morning person or Night owl
Your Answer: Morning Person
Social Media or book
Your Answer: Right now social media
Paperback or ebook
Your Answer: Paperback
All the best for your future and this book too! Thanks for answering my questions