Smita Kaushik is back with her second novel ‘Let’s Get Committed‘which is scheduled to be released later this month. Her first novel ‘Let’s Get Committed’ was bestselling with leading bookstores across the country. Smita, an author by chance, is one of the noted romantic comedy writer in India at the moment. KIIT University graduate Smita has keen interest in contemporary arts and has won many national level art competitions. Currently she is living in Hyderabad.
In a candid interview with Susmita Bose, this promising author has talk freely on various aspects of her writing.
Congratulations on the release of your second book “The Girl I Last Loved“. Tell us briefly about the book…
Guess we are starting with the tough one.
This story has so many dimensions that it becomes difficult to define it in few words. It deals with one sided love, accepting oneself, growing up, family bonding, glimpses into the lives of diverse side characters, futile attempts at relationships….It’s an assimilation of various feelings. I hope every reader can find something they can relate to. To sum up, I would like to quote few lines from the back read.
‘Two people.
Single love story revisited three times.
Four proposals.
A ten year journey of finding and losing love.
Countless moments of serendipity.
Yet not a single moment of confession.’
Now that the expectation is high from you, are you tensed before releasing of the book in the market?
Common perception is that being a debutant is the most difficult step. But I will also like to quote ‘the fear of falling increases when you reach a certain height’. I have taken few U-Turns as compared to my previous novel. For the first time I have written from a first-person perspective and that too from a male point of view. Alternating chapters are set in different time zones. Plus the background is completely different as compared to Let’s Get Committed.
Yeah, so I was little anxious whether my readers can connect to the change. Yet, the response to my posts and initial chapters has been quite affirming. I guess, one can’t do off with pre-release jitters.
Are you expecting the book will do as good as your first novel ‘Let’s Get Committed‘?
Both are completely different novels and both hold a special place in my heart. Till now I haven’t compared them. Frankly, I have no expectations, as it all depends on readers. Waiting for the day when I receive the first few reviews, and probably then, will start building expectations from that day onwards.
What inspired you to write this particular story?
I personally believe that most exciting and beautiful part of any relationship is when ‘Two people know they are in love and are not ready to say yet. Instead they try expressing through silent heart-warming gestures.’
How about a book which celebrates this era of a relationship with characters who don’t rush to make it happen, that’s where it all began.
Are the central characters based on real persons known to you?
Akash and Kasam are two characters I created and then let them free to decide their own journey. It was a work with open ending. I will say rather the characters wrote the novel. Or at least decided the course of it.
What kind of support you are getting?
Terrific is the word. So, many people have joined hands to spread the word. Although, I am not much of an emotional person but lately I have been overwhelmed. Even if I had forecasted, I wouldn’t have estimated such an outrageous support. Truly obliged and highly elated.
How did your life changed after the success of your first novel?
For some parts it’s pretty much the same.. For some parts exciting.. For some parts scary..
It’s been a long time and I can’t relate to the initial excitement now, but there are few memories I would like to share. It was quite overwhelming to learn few people read LGC more than once. Some people gifted it to their partners. Some asked for relationship advice. Being an author gradually became a bigger part of me. Above all I learned to appreciate others for what they have done and not bicker about what they missed out on as now I know how much courage it takes to actually develop something from scratch. Downside being I am no longer on the audience side and probably never will be.
Smita Kaushik
You often said that you are ‘author by chance’, so have you ever consider taking the writing as full-time profession.
I am still pretty young to decide on that. As of now I like working along with writing (over the weekends). I go out, meet diverse people and hear their stories that somehow shape my thoughts and thus my writing. I would like to experiment with my career & hobbies for few years, but writing is for sure a part of my future.
How do you describe friendship and love?
They are the two vitalities for life.
Love is the most divine feeling. It something which makes you feels warm and protected. It comforts you when you’re lonely and bring smile to your face in solitude.Yet it’s a complex feeling.
Friendship is much simpler. What lacks friendship compensates for that and vice-versa. Friendship comes without conditions.
But love is exclusive ….and there are some luxuries which come only with exclusivity.
How do you rate your publisher?
Both my publishers have been pretty great. They are efficient, cooperative and understanding.
What interests you other than writing?
I have been creatively inclined. So anything that’s creative catches my heart. I have taught myself to draw; tribal arts fascinate me the most. Before I started writing that was my only and intense passion. That’s something I do only for myself. It cheers me up, calms me, and helps me when I feel lonely.
Beside that I enjoy music, movies, reading, long chats with my friends, social networking and making new friends. Recently I have developed a new ‘weird’ hobby of researching about long lost celebrities and finding what they are doing now.
How easy or difficult is writing according to you?
If you are not solely dependent on writing for your livelihood then it’s a tricky business, there is no deadline or a team leader to push you. Thus it becomes quite difficult to get started.
You need to stay pretty motivated & disciplined to chart out a story and fill it with 60000 words of your own. My demon will be the fear of not being able to depict my thoughts, particularly when it’s a defining scene. It takes me time and lot of self compelling to give words to my imagination. Moreover I need someone to give their feedbacks on significant chapters otherwise I will spend more of my time wondering abbot the previous chapters instead of moving forward.
Besides, it’s a pleasant experience. I love writing and that’s the only reason I am following it. Playing with words gives meaning to my life.
What kind of books do you like to read?
Ah! I am a bookworm. I like reading almost everything. I even liked reading my textbooks. As of now I have gone through seasons of thriller, mythology, motivation, philosophy and comedies. But romance is evergreen for me. No matter what I am reading by the day I always prefer embracing slumber while hugging a comforting romantic comedy.
If you have given chance to re-write any literature work especially any love story, what that would be? Why?
That will be Oliver’s Story by Eric Segal. It’s the perfect sequel to Love Story. Loved the characters, loved the one lines and loved the situations. It deals with such intense subject of falling in love again yet the author never missed his wit and humour. Even the way in which Oliver’s character has outgrown his previous self from the prequel is a splendid wok. Such mature ending which leaves you both convinced and intrigued is still rare to find. His writing style inspires me. I would love to lay my hands upon something that fulfilling.
And finally, tell us something about your future plans? Have you already started planning for your next book?
I am a writer and I am here to stay. I will continue forever if and only if I keep on encountering beautiful stories that need to be told. And that’s been working pretty well for me. Before I place the final full stop on one, my mind has already worked out the next. Have finished my first short story compilation ‘The First Date Stories’ with the help of few fellow authors and bloggers friends of mine. Those 21 stories are based on real life experiences of people spanning across the country and I was really fortunate to be a part of them. Moreover I am currently working on LGC’s sequel titled ‘Let’s Love..From a distance’ with theme of long distance relationship.
Do you have any message for your readers?
Million thanks for the support and love you all have extended. I always say and I always stay and I forever will be overwhelmed. If you read ‘The Gil I Last loved’. Enjoy the situations. Smile for the romance. Cry your eyes out for the misery of it. Sway with the love. Let the words linger in your thoughts. Yet it’s more than a love story. I won’t reveal much but I dearly hope you will be able to appreciate the diverse subplots when you get to it. If you can take away something from it and that succeeds in making you see the world little differently I will consider myself blessed.
Thank you Smita for your time. Wishing you good luck for all your future endeavours.
Tags: author interview interview with Smita Kaushik Let’s Get Committed Smita Kaushik The Girl I Last Loved
