Author Interview / Aarohi Brar

Imagine a stifling hot day, where the sun doesn't just beat down on your body, but also on your enthusiasm, your spirit. Now, imagine the relief that is brought down by a refreshing shower of cool rain.

All your agitation and distress get washed down the drain in this shower, the same time that your lowered spirits and suppressed laughter come barreling to the surface. That relief, that comfort, that joy, is what Juliet has always felt since she found Max.

Life has dealt her a good card. Max is all she has ever wanted, all she could have ever wanted.

What she has failed to realize is that no rain lasts forever, no matter how refreshing. And when it does, out comes the sun. With a vengeance. Although feeble after the brief period for which it lay low, it immediately resumes it's journey where it ultimately gets to shine hotter than ever.

If there is no rain, there is no relief.
If there is no joy, there is no laughter.

And if there is no Max, there is no Juliet.

So, how is she to go on now that he is not there? Now that the eternity that he promised to love her for has been mercilessly reduced to a bare minimum?

She has lost him. Him, as well her love for the rain.

Now all alone, with just her memories of him, she trudges by, without really being involved in what they call, life.

That is until someone comes knocking on her door. Someone she has never met, but has a history with.

Starting over is never easy, but it is at least a little less difficult than being alone.

Should she act on her impulse and let this stranger in? Or should she close the door in his face, considering the role he has already played in her once bright and thriving life?

1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why? 

Ans. If I could, then I would love to work with Sylvain Reynard. Because

a) He's awesome

b) He's awesome

and 

c) He's super freaking awesome

I thought I had found the best story ever written when I read the Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy. But The Florentine series had my heart in my throat the entire time that I was reading The Prince and later, The Raven. If truth be told, I have no idea how many times I re-read The Raven before I had to pry it off my own fingers. It is THAT good. 

I would love to get a chance to work with such a talented writer. I want to see the art, beauty, scriptures and history the way he does.

And now that the cover of The Shadow has been revealed, I can barely stop myself from crossing off the days on my calendar before I'll be able to get my hands on it.

2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write? 

Ans I usually wake up to the sound of my mother reciting a religious prayer. After a big ass cup of coffee, I get my laptop to the living room to write. I prefer the living room because it has an unobstructed view of the street outside. I can see people walking by, drivers zooming to and fro and the trees standing tall and proud against the harsh sun. I love it!

3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you? 

Ans Has to be the accents. I want to write in a manner where the readers are able to decipher the nationality of a character even without me having to specify that. Perhaps, not having traveled a lot, it is something that doesn't come naturally to me. I need to work on it. The same thing was suggested to me by Susan Wuthrich, an extremely well gifted writer. She read my book and gave a few pointers for improvement. One of them was refining the accents of my characters. 

4. When and why did you first start writing? 

I started writing during December last year. Writing is something I have wanted to do ever since I discovered the joy a book can give. I wanted to write my own stories and have people love them. 

My life wasn't going anywhere close to where I wanted it to go. Nothing offered me solace or comfort or joy. Except books. Except writing. I started by writing small articles and poems. And later went on to write my debut novel.

5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book? 

Ans.  I was actually in the process of writing a poem when I realized that it could be changed into a short 5000 word story. I was almost finished with it when I decided to let my friends read it before I wrapped it up. They were of the opinion that it had the potential to be a full fledged novel. I took their advice and worked on my characters, their backgrounds, histories etc and turned it into my first self-published book, Pluviophile.

6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now? 

I am a voracious reader through and through. Even my blog is called Lector Vorax, which is the Latin translation for Voracious Reader.

At the moment, I am reading the first book in the trilogy, 'The Annals of Lusiartha' by R. Ann Humpries. It's called Sedich.

7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?

Ans. Just believe in yourself. Remember that it is your dream. And you can achieve it. Never stop believing that.