AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Interview with Manya Upadhyay, the author of "Every Part of Me"

Greetings Mam..

Hope you are doing good. Let me begin the interview.

Can you tell us about yourself?

I am just a 20 year old girl trying to find a place in this world. I always had this zest for life and everything that comes with it. I explored different fields like modeling, dancing, acting, sports and academia while growing up but writing was the thing that stuck. Ever since I started writing at 13 I've never had even a shadow of doubt if it's for me. I just know I'm a writer. I wish to build a life and a career that can keep me this fascinated and optimistic towards life.

When did you first start writing?

I first started writing when I was 12 I guess. I loved reading the old classics like The Little Women, The Great Expectations and all of Jane Austen's work. It was very fascinating for a 10 year old. Reading those books made me wish to have a book on my shelf some day with my name on it.

Do you remember what you wrote first?

I started writing a love story in my little blue diary. It had a very basic storyline of the guy and girl hating each other, eventually falling in love. I read a lot and realized what I was writing was not good enough. I started working on my first manuscript that went on to get published as my first English novel 'Where our destiny meets' in 2015.

How did you get interested in writing?

I have been a voracious reader ever since I picked up my first book 'Airy fairy'. Eventually I started reading Jane Austen and Emily Bronte. I completely fell in love with literature. One day I just started writing and that's it... Also, my grandfather and father both are amazing Hindi writers so this has to do something with my genes as well.

Who are your favourite authors? Why?

I like reading different writers but Jane Austen and Fitzgerald are my favorite authors. Jane Austen was an incredible writer and her novels are immensely popular. She wrote something long back and it is still relevant and greatly praised. Her protagonists are strong women who leave an impact on the readers. I wish to write like her someday. Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece. 'This side of paradise' is another one of his well written novel.

Tell us about your book, mam.

My book 'Every Part of Me' is a fictional book for the young generation, for the millennial. It has everything that comes under 'growing up'. The gap between teenage years and adulthood is like a dark hole. The naïve teens go through so much and sometimes they don't have a strong support system. My book is like an extended hand of support to those who're going through this process of 'adulting' and are miserably happy in their own ways. This book is a shout out to people that they're not alone, everybody goes through the same stuff... it's just no one talks about it.

What is the purpose of writing this book?

I want to be a serious writer. I want to inspire people with my words, with my stories. Every part of me' is my way of talking about the double life that the youth lives which the society has no idea about because there are still things that no one likes to talk about out loud like mental illness, loneliness, Karma, heartbreaks, changes and the right scenario of today's world.

Is this your debut book?

This is my second book

If no, can you tell us about your previous works?

Where our destiny meets that got published in 2015.

Is this a fiction or inspired from real life?

A writer is inspired by her surroundings. This is fiction with a tinge of realism.

Did you go through any such phase like the protagonist in your life?

The phases that the protagonist went through are common instances faced by our youth today. The story is based on my experiences, my friend's experiences, the stories of the strangers I met. It is an amalgamation of experiences shared by most of the people out there.

Your views on friendship and love?

I grew up worshiping the show 'FRIENDS'. It made me believe deeply in the bonds of friendship. When you're growing up, you realize friends are important. See, this life is hard but good company makes it a little bearable. About love? I know about the love I share with my family, my friends and most importantly myself. The purpose of my book is self love.

Who has been your inspiration?

My mom has been my constant inspiration. She's an incredibly strong woman and she gives me strength every day

What is your passion mam?

I'm passionate about life, music, literature

How do you feel when you write?

I can do a lot of things for others but I feel I can only write for myself. I only write when I feel I have something to say, to the world, to myself. It is therapeutic for me

What are your other hobbies?

I'm constantly in search for a new hobby

How was your publishing journey with blue rose publishers?

The process has been excruciatingly long but I'm glad it reached its point. I'm thankful to my publishers for being patient with me

When can we expect your next book?

Probably when I'm done with it

Where can readers find your other writings?

I had a blog but I want people to read my serious work. I'll come up with a blog and share it with everybody soon.

Where can readers connect to you?

The readers can connect with me on my mail, facebook, Instagram or snapchat. I try staying active on them

Few words you would like to say to your readers.

I'd like to say that I hope you get my book and then read it. I want more and more of this young generation to read this so that they can realize they're not alone. If this book inspires even a single person out there, I'd feel like my work is done

Finally, few words of advice for the budding writers?

I'd say to the budding writers that writing is something that should be left to fate. But, that doesn't mean you wait around patiently waiting for fate to throw some signs at you. I read this somewhere: If you want to get struck by the lighting then you need to run in the storm first. You start writing whatever you want to, don't judge your work. You'll eventually get better.

Thank you for your time mam... All the best for your future endeavors..