Criticspace Journals: Welcome to Criticspace Journals, author. Congratulations on the release of your book. What responses are you getting from your readers? Please share your experience with this book.
Lavanya: Thank you, that means a lot. The support has been great and it’s only the starting. The book is filled with basic raw emotions and I think that’s what the readers are loving the most because it’s a poetry book which isn’t common to be published in India.
Criticspace Journals: What encourages you to become an Author?
Lavanya: Writing always came naturally to me, I never sat on a desk and told myself I will start writing. There was always something going on in my head even as a kid and I guess they just pouring out itself on a paper. It always comes naturally
Criticspace Journals: What are your favorite topics of writing? Please tell us something about your interest areas in literature.
Lavanya: I like writing about murder, rom coms and thrillers. I also really like dark academia and poetry. Oh and fan fiction too that’s fun
Criticspace Journals: We were hoping you could tell us about some of those writers who had inspired you and whom you follow!
Lavanya: I loveee RM Drake, Rumi, Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gilbert, Helen fielding, Caroline Kepnes. there isn’t a particular writer who inspired me to write, but I guess I was sitting one night and asked myself what I was waiting for? And then came hiraeth
Criticspace Journals: The title seems different and catchy; how did you decide it? Please let us know the story behind it.
Lavanya: It’s actually a funny story I wrote the entire book but even when it was about to get released within a week I still hadn’t decided a name but Hiraeth is a word which actually fits the theme of the book and analyze in the end. that’s why Hiraeth homean illusion
Criticspace Journals: What are your achievements so far? Tell us something about your writing career.
Lavanya: This is my first book and I am also getting published in an anthology called ember of dreams which would probably get released in May. Also I am compiling another anthology
Criticspace Journals: What is your current goal in your writing career? How do you see your future in writing?
Lavanya: it’s just been a month since Hiraeth came out and it’s been overwhelming due to the recent conditions around us but definitely I will write and publish more
Criticspace Journals: Are there any other books being worked by you? Please let us know about your future projects.
Lavanya: Yes, I am thinking of writing a novel soon
Criticspace Journals: How you see Indian writing in the 21st century? What changes do you see in the modern way of writing? Do you feel it has been changed by the time?
Lavanya: I think Indian writing has progressed a lot from the past few years, it has become more open, dealing with all kinds of issues, breaking stigmas and boundaries attached to it. It’s becoming more freestyle and deals with emotions and things regarding this generation
Criticspace Journals: How easy/ difficult it was for you to publish your book? What message would you like to give to budding authors?
Lavanya: I am not gonna lie you really have to work hard and give your everything to it, but the one thing I would want to say is there will be times when things will get to hard but at that time remember that you wrote a book and that’s a pretty big deal. Be proud of yourself.