Candid Interview With Arpita Ghosh Sarkar, Author Of ‘A walk down the Lane’

Ex-banker Arpita Ghosh Sarkar is an aspiring author from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.  She had previously worked with Citigroup and HSBC Bank. She had subsequently lived in Bhilai, Indore, Nagpur and Raipur. Currently she is enjoying her motherhood to a toddler and homemaking. A voracious reader Arpita likes to pen down from her school days. ‘A walk down the Lane’ is her debut novel.

We at Spectralhues got in touch with the author Arpita Ghosh Sarkar. In a candid interview with Susmita Bose, she talks about her journey, her book and her future plans.

Congratulations on the release of your first book “A Walk Down The Lane”. What kind of response you are receiving from the readers?

Thanks Susmita and Spectralhues. The response by far has been encouraging, my friends have read the book and have liked it, receiving responses from the strangers in my mailbox is the real achievement for me, its wonderful when you get appreciation for your debut.

What makes you to write this particular story?

Well, there was not anything specific relating to this story, but a little bit of scribbling habit and a sudden idea of compiling the things from surroundings made it happen, I have been into reading since childhood, and still love doing so, so just tried to pen down an incident that I witnessed in form of a book.

It is a matured love story where protagonists are much older than the typical love story characters –what was the motivation?

I personally believe in Love, and love just happens, it is not age bound. A love story is not only the one that is narrated by the teen ager, or an early twenty fellow, it can be well narrated by a young adult who has experienced it as well. So I experimented with the storyline.

Did you have a target readership in mind?

Yes. My target readers are the young adults, anyone who has an interest in reading. I think the readers between the age-group of 16- 40 years would be able to relate themselves with the story when they read it.

Is this book a pure fiction or a shadow of real life incidents?

This is a work of Fiction, though it is based on an incident as I told you,  the characters are all fictitious. the real life incident that forms the base is, there is a living couple in my circles who fell in love after facing a lot of turmoils in their love life, and they met at an event that changed their life for good.

What is your idea of perfect love?

A lot of Understanding, trust and respect. You understand that only when you experience it…

How much ‘Shuvika’ resembles you?

Quite a lot, while writing this story her character made me think a lot, then finally I decided to put myself in her shoes, and think how would have I been, had I been Shuvika. the things that we share in common are, love for nature, friendly behaviour and most importantly we love our families. But ultimately the truth is that Shuvika is an imaginary character, a fictitious being.

You have been to lot of places. How much travelling has inspired your writings?

I always loved being close to nature, so the story has covered a lot of the parts of the jungles of central India, though a few things are nowhere near to the reality like the audi, the resort, but there are such events carried out on much smaller scales, and  if they actually happen, there’ll be lots of Neel and Shuvika attending the same.

What kind of support you are getting?

Its too early to comment, but my friends and family have been encouraging for sure, Srishti took up my debut work that has been really great on their part, I have been hearing from a lot of people that I have not done much about the promotions, well much till lately I have not been active on social networking sites. But I respect the feedbacks that i have received and surely would take a note on it.

Career, Homemaking, Writing, Motherhood – what else do you want to explore in your life journey?

All of these are part and parcel, I have taken life as it came to me and have enjoyed every bit of it, writing for sure was not at all planned, but it happened, and I hope life will keep fetching a lot of new things for me, and I will definitely keep on accepting everything. I just wish to be a good human being.

How do you manage to find time for writing when you have a toddler around?

It is a little difficult, but my son is a darling, I utilize the time when he is busy playing or sleeping, moreover I strongly feel that one should take out time for doing what they like.

Which are the books that close to your heart?

Well, almost all by Nicholas Sparks, and in Hindi my favourite author is Shivaniji( Gaura Pant).

Tell us something about your future plans?

Future is never planned. My friends have been my greatest assets, and I will love to see them growing manifold.

Any message to the readers who would buy your book…

First of all thanks for picking it up… and yes please do share your comments about the same, I would certainly like to learn what I need to improve at. I can be reached on facebook, twitter and gmail.

That was Arpita Ghosh Sarkar!  In a candid chat the talented author tells us her story. She is happy over the response her debut novel “A walk down the Lane” is receiving from the book readers across India. Spectralhues is wishing her all the very best for her future endeavors.

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!