Author’s Bio: Puja
Guha began writing in 2010 by participating in the National Novel Writing Month
(Nanowrimo). She lives in the Washington DC area where she divides her time
between writing, travel, and consulting work on international development
programs. Her experiences around the world are a key component of her
inspiration and weave their way into each of her stories.
What inspired you to write your book?
The
idea for The Confluence came to me
during a business trip with the World Bank in Sudan. The setting there is what
inspired me. I had many expectations of Khartoum, the capital, all of which
were completely contradicted by the city itself, and I found myself imagining a
story set there. After that, the pieces fell into place.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any
way either growing up or as an adult?
Growing
up I read all the books off of my dad’s bookshelf. In particular I loved all of
the thrillers, especially Frederick Forsyth’s book Icon. Instead of studying for my finals in high school, I hid out
in my room to finish reading it. Since then I’ve reread it every few years and
I still love it. Reading those books was definitely a part of why I started
writing.
Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and finish
your book?
This
is my second book. I finished the first draft in about two months of
concentrated writing, but the editing timeline afterward took about a year.
Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
During
my first draft of a story, I just let things flow. During the editing process
though I do some story mapping and outlining to make sure everything fits
together the way I want.
Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a theme
song for this book?
Sometimes,
I do, but it’s usually to Pandora or another streaming service. Once in a
while, I put the song "How Far We’ve Come"
by Matchbox 20 on repeat. The song’s a little bit dark but the beat gets me
going.
What are the keys to success in getting your book out to the
public?
The best tool that I’ve found is promoting 99 cents
sales through targeted mailing lists such as Kindle Nation Daily, BookBub, and
Ereader News. The recipients of these newsletters are actively looking for new
deals on books, which helps to make putting the book on sale a really effective
marketing tactic.
What advice would you give to new authors?
Remember
that the most important thing you can do with your time is to write. Don’t give
into writer’s block. Set realistic goals for yourself and stick to them. Don’t
waste time being hard on yourself, just focus on attending to your goals.
Remember
that writer’s block is a construct. Everyone procrastinates. It’s part of human
nature. I believe that writer’s block is a form of procrastination. What’s much
worse about it is that we as authors have empowered it by calling it writer’s
block. We’ve made it excusable. I believe the only way to get past it is to sit
down at your computer (or other writing vehicle) and put in the time.
How about sharing an excerpt from The Confluence?
Memories. Some of them are as distant as
the day they occurred, while others reside at the forefront of our minds. I’m
not sure why this occurs. I spent three years studying biology in college when
I was supposed to be premed, and I never found anyone able to successfully
explain the operations of the human mind. My grandfather once told me that
being able to forget was humanity’s most important blessing. How else would we
be able to forgive? How else could we move forward after experiencing egregious
loss? Perhaps being able to forget enriches our existence. Some memories will
always evoke certain emotions from our minds, hearts, and souls, but the bite
that resonates can lessen over time. While I agree that being able to forget is
important, every time I look at you, I have to disagree with him. There can be
no disputing it—memory is humanity’s most important blessing.
No matter how many years have passed,
the first time I saw you still feels like yesterday. Nikhil, you were only
three at the time, sitting on your haunches stacking Lego blocks onto the back
of a large green toy truck. You were so meticulous and attentive to the last
detail, even then. I should have known you would go on to become a civil
engineer. Nothing else would have made sense.
We never told you about the
circumstances that led to that meeting, or to your adoption. I can give you all
kinds of excuses. Your father and I were worried about how much pain it might
cause. We didn’t want to confuse your ideas about your heritage. Mostly, we
were just afraid. Afraid that you would think that we loved you less than your
sister. Afraid that you might believe that you were not really our son. Afraid
that you wouldn’t know how to relate to your sister knowing that you are not
blood siblings. Afraid that you would want to seek out your biological parents
rather than continue to live in the home that we had built as a family.
When we finally told you that you were
adopted, you didn’t seem to be too surprised. Perhaps you saw the signs. They
are everywhere if you know what to look for. We never did tell you about how
your adoption came to be, though. We never told you that you and I do indeed
share blood, just not as your parent. We never told you who your biological
father was and how much he meant to me. Nikhil, we were always family, even
before your adoption.
Last week I watched you march across
that stage in a cap and gown to receive your PhD. When Kanika told us that you
two were expecting, we could not have been more excited. But it made me realize
that you are a grown man, and you deserve the truth, especially now. As you
bring your own child into the world, you should know every detail I can tell
you about your entire past. So here it is, in all of its pain and glory.
What’s next for you?
I’m
working on the sequel to my first book, Ahriman:
The Spirit of Destruction. It’s a spy thriller. The description is below.
After
the events of Ahriman: The Spirit of
Destruction, Petra Shirazi settles into a life in Paris under the alias of
Ana Zagini. Her new world comes crashing down after a visit from a former
Agency colleague forces her back into fieldwork. As they race to stop a mole
that has infiltrated the Agency, they uncover an insidious plot to destroy the
leadership of the International Monetary Fund and place it in the control of a
corrupt nuclear power. The investigation spirals downward and she is forced to
enlist the help of the Ahriman, now in hiding and presumed dead by most
intelligence sources. Together they must face their demons to stop a conspiracy
that threatens to bring the world’s financial infrastructure to its knees.
Where can readers find out more about you and your book(s)?
·
Twitter: @GuhaPuja
·
Book buy Links:
It’s been a pleasure
having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you
and your work.
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