Author interview: Sumeidha Iyer talks about her book 'Before I Met You'

Congratulations on the release of  'Before I Met U'. What is the feedback from your friends and readers who have already read your book.

Thank you. My friends and family loved it. In fact it was they who encouraged and instilled confidence in me to publish my manuscript.

What kind of books inspire you as a writer? Who are your favorite authors and poets?

I have always been an avid reader since my student days. Usually I try to read all kinds of books but I am more interested in books based on history. Romantic fictionons are also my favourite reads.  I am particularly fond of books by William Darlymple, Shashi Tharoor, Nicholas Spark, Orhan Pamuk and Ayn Rand to name a few

Why did you want to become a writer? Who inspired you to become a writer? What triggered you to come into writing?

Ever since my school days, I participated in lots of debates and writing. I also used to assist my mother in her writings for school programmes. I think that was the time I started to think about myself as a writer. Later priorities in life shifted and this was left behind though it was never out of the mind.

Early last year when my mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer, I was quite disturbed and undrr stress. It was during this time that I convinced myself to write something to divert my attention from the ultimate worry that I would lose her forever.

Tell me something about your book. Some highlights.

The protagonist is a girl named Amaya. She is full of life and spreads joy wherever she is but at the same time she is lonely and misses having a family. The story is about how she finds happiness in little things and the dilemmas that come along with it. With nobody to help her in making decisions, she does what she deems fit. Right or wrong, her future depends on it. The story will surely make the reader realize his/her blessings in life.

Tell us something about yourself.

I run a charitable hospital following my passion. My mother was an educationist, my father a banker and my husband is an IRS officer. I have a five year old son who, like me, is an animal lover. I love volunteering at Mother Teresa's ashrams which i highly recommend as a stress buster.

Do you plan to take it up as a full time profession if response is good?

As of now i will not be able to take writing as a full time profession considering the responsibilities that I have.But i wish to continue writing in the future.