Hello API Romance Authors!

This week, we are featuring "Askew" by Queen_of_life_Heba, one of our Favorites from the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Contest in May 2024! If you'd like to read this story, we encourage you to check it out in our Behind the Smile, Beneath the Regret reading list.

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About the Author:

An Indian by birth, Ruhika is a horror, dark fantasy, and mystery writer whose Wattpad journey began in 2020. She lives in Kolkata, and in the four years of her Wattpad experience she has once shortlisted for ONC (2023), got longlisted thrice for the same contest (2021, 2022 and 2024), twice won the Ambys (2021 and 2023), and has been featured countless times. When not writing, she is studying, or is immersed in the pages of a book. And yes, she lives and breathes horror.

Interview:

1. What influenced your poem Askew? What inspired you to write it?

'Askew' is a highly personal poem. When I mentioned it is based on a true story, something that has happened. Let's say that I once had a friend whom I loved. On the 18th February 2024, they ended our relationship based on a misunderstanding that could have been easily solved. The heartbreak, the ensuing grief, and denial that I felt are the main inspiration behind the poem.

2. What is your writing process? How do you pick which words to include in your poem?

'Askew' is a highly personal poem. When I mentioned it is based on a true story, something that has happened. Let's say that I once had a friend whom I loved. On the 18th February 2024, they ended our relationship based on a misunderstanding that could have been easily solved. The heartbreak, the ensuing grief, and denial that I felt are the main inspiration behind the poem.

3. How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and how has your heritage shaped the person you are today?

I am a proud South Asian (Indian). every day, I am proud to be born in this beautiful land with such vibrant culture, heritage and history. It has made me immensely accepting and respectful towards cultures other than my own and is behind everything I do in my daily, some of which are ingrained in my unconscious.

4. Does your family have any traditions that are important to you? Feel free to share at least one experience here!

It's not specific to my family, but in India we have a tradition of hosting a 'rice ceremony' once a baby becomes old enough to take solids. We would serve several dishes to the baby (though of course they do not really eat all that) and the maternal uncle feeds the child its first morsel of solid food. Basically, it's a celebration of weaning an infant!

5. If you could introduce something from your culture to someone else, what would it be and why? It can be a tradition/custom, food, music, or anything else that comes to mind!

Ah, there are several things I want to share. But if I could, I would love to introduce 'bhetki paturi'. It's a traditional dish where you steam a fish fillet smeared with mustard paste and covered by a banana leaf. It's just delicious!

6. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

AAPI Heritage Month to me means a chance to reconnect and firmly embrace the culture to which I belong. It is like reaffirming the beauty of my existence.

7. How do your experiences as an AAPI author shape your stories? Do you take inspiration from your culture to tell your story? You may talk about 1-2 stories here.

As a primarily horror writer, the superstitions and folklore of my country have served as a wonderful inspiration for my stories. For example, my WIP, The Zamindarni, is heavily inspired by tantric practices and certain creatures from folklore. Even my poetry collections, like The Dead Un-dead, have several poems inspired not only by folklore but also famous hauntings from my hometown. 

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Thank you Queen_of_life_Heba for giving us the opportunity to interview you and chat more about your book!

We'll see you all in the next Book of the Month.