CHAT WITH AUTHOR: NEELAM SAXENA CHANDRA

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I loved writing ever since childhood and even was ecstatic when my first poem was published in one of the leading newspapers in Central India. However, I also realised that getting published and establishing yourself as an author was not easy and you couldn’t really be a full-time writer as per conditions prevailing at that time.

The field of Engineering attracted me a lot and when I secured admissions in one of the best colleges of the country, I was ecstatic. I got quite lost in the world of circuits and programming, and poems remained in my diary.

It was later, after I had settled in my job and my daughter was also slightly on her own that I decided to devote some time to my hobby. I started with leading print magazines of the country and after quite a lot of published articles/stories/poems and winning some awards, I decided to have my own book.

2. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I, naturally, have to be original, if I wish to have good fan following and readership. Why will someone read that’s stale?

I feel that I have so much to give the readers that I needn’t follow any trends and I have always been sure that though the growth may be slow, but it would be steady and that has exactly been the case. I am writing neither for money, nor for fame – I am writing because I enjoy it. So, I don’t compromise on what I feel like writing.

3. What inspired you to write 'The Red Diary’?

Social issues and relationships – these are the two themes that have always fascinated me and I have written several books on it. I also feel that the stories should leave a subtle message that happen what may, there’s a way out.

I have tried to bring out these three aspects with the help of my characters in “The Red Diary” too.

4. Which genre do you like the most to write on? Do you sometimes read your own books?

I love to experiment in different genre. I have no favourites. It all depends upon my mood at that particular time. However, my books have done well in almost all genre. Last year, one of my poetry books was covered by IANS in their news and I was names as one of the four women poets one should read. Similarly, my short story collection “Lines of Fate” was again announced by them as one of the five “year-end” reads. This shows that my books do well in the genre I choose.

5. After writing more than 60 books what similarities and dissimilarities do you find in your writing?

I think that this can be best judged by the reviewers, critics and readers. The similarity that I can think of is that most of my stories end on a positive note. Dissimilarity that I could think of is no two stories are similar 😉.

6. Are you planning to be a full-time author or enjoy writing this way only?

I don’t plan to be a full-time author as of now. I enjoy my job and I feel that I am doing pretty well as an administrator. And then, no one can predict future.