Sarah recently won Sri Aurobindo Indian Literary Award, 2022 for her excellent contribution to Literature. Cherry book awards believes she is a star of Indian Literature. We caught up with her for an exclusive interview. Here it is:
1. What inspires you to keep inspiring people through your literary creations?
Ans. I write because I feel the written word has the power to reach a greater audience and also for myself.
2. Share about your published books.
Ans. I’ve contributed as a Co-author in more than 15 anthologies so far.
My debut novel It Is I, a psychological thriller will be available in the last week of October this year.
3. What are the qualities of a good author?
Ans. A good author is someone who writes from the heart and can connect with the readers through the written word.
4. Share some of your major literary achievements.
Ans. -Awarded ‘Promising Author’ by Ms. Tisca Chopra at Super Diva Awards 2022, organized by Social Bytes Events and PR Pvt. Ltd.
-Selected by the Jury Team of Woman Leaders Forum 2022 for ‘Award for Contribution at International Level’.
-‘National Inspiration Award 2022: National Star Achiever in Social Activist of the Year 2022’ by @wcaremedia.
-Featured under the category ‘India 50 Under 50 Inspiring Women 2022’ by Fox Story India.
-Featured under ‘Women On Spotlight’ in the Aspiring Achievers Magazine (May-Aug) edition by @priyaswisdompublication.
-‘Best Communication Specialist 2022’: Powerful Women Awards 2022 – by The Crazy Tales.
-‘Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Excellence Award – Category: Literature’ by @priyaswisdompublication.
-‘She Inspires: Wonder Women Award’ by @theinspiringwomencommunity.
5. What is your advice to young and budding writers who want to publish their debut books?
Ans. Don’t let other people dictate what you write and how you write it. It’s your story and only you have the right to shape it the way you want. Believe in yourself!!
6. What kind of books do you love to read? Name any three books apart from your books that you would recommend to all.
Ans. I like murder mysteries, psychological thrillers and medical mysteries.
Three books that I would like to recommend are
a. Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
b. Tell Me Your Dreams by Sidney Sheldon
c. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
7. As an author, is it important to write in simple or high end language, and why?
Ans. As an author we have to be extremely careful about the language we use specially when we want our words to resonate with a larger audience. A mix of simple and high end would work, but then it also depends upon what one is trying to convey and the targeted audience.
8. In your opinion, how can the decreasing readership trend, especially in India can be stopped from further decline?
Ans. Reading as a habit needs to be developed at a young age. I miss the time when parents used to read story books rather than handing their children toys or video games.
We need to make an effort to spread awareness about how books can help our imagination, improve our creativity and also give us the chance to express ourselves more articulately.
