Born on the 29th day of November, 1968, I did my Honours in English Literature from Delhi University and then went to complete a Post graduate course in Public Relations and Advertising from YMCA, Delhi which was years later followed by an Online course in Fiction Writing by Jerry Cleaver of USA.
I have been associated with writing for last 20 years now. I started out as a Copywriter and was attached in that capacity with advertising agencies like Mutual, Forefront, Focus , Sistas Saatchi n Saatchi, working for clients like: Kelvinator, Indian Airlines, Osram, Weston, Satnam Overseas, IFCI, Anand Bearings, Music Today, Time Magazine to name a few.
I learned the dynamics of the advertising world and the power of the written word even as my work and experience sharpened my capacity to visualize and taught me to be a good listener alongwith being acutely aware of the environment around. It also encouraged me to be an out-of-the-box thinker and push the limits of my imagination, which is an essential trait for a fiction writer. Over the years, writing has become my passion and my reason to be. Interestingly, I took a break in 2000 to try my hand at being an entrepreneur- read designing exclusive handbags and was totally involved in their manufacturing and marketing. In fact my company supplied to prestigious stores like Lifestyle, Finesse, and TexIndus at Santushti.
My company executed several export orders as well. Handling my own business helped me evolve further. It taught me to be more patient, tolerant, empathetic, to work hard as well as be a hard task master, achieve targets under time constraints, fruitful utilization of money and time and most importantly be a stickler for details. But the love for writing beckoned me with an irresistible force. I undertook an online course in Fiction Writing and dived headlong in the mesmerizing world of books and writing.
I wrote for The Times Of India as a freelance writer and did a lot of web writing too. Many short stories and poems of mine have been posted on the net. I won the 3rd prize in a writing competition, organized by an Australian website:brightlightmultimedia.com. Also won a special mention in the Gentleman Public Service Advertising Award 1993 for my campaign on Aids Awareness. My varied experiences have given me deep insights into human nature as well as the tenacity, courage, fearlessness and restlessness to aim high. It has also imparted me an intimate understanding of the frailty of emotions. But my love for writing propelled me to focus my energies on writing my first book: Lilacs Bloom in my backyard.
I am now awaiting the publication of my second book and working on my third novel.
My second novel- A FISTFUL OF SKY is the story of a feisty woman who finds herself at the crossroads of a failing marriage and searing passion for a man she has always loved. Little does she realise that its the beginning of a chaos that'll either restore her or destroy her forever. Caught in the intricate web of motherhood, marriage, passion and her need to blossom into a writer, she dares to push herself to her limits. Thus begins a crucial journey of realisation, redemption and resurrection that'll lead all of them to come to terms with themselves and each other and to confront the most important truth of their lives.
My husband Vineet is a corporate professional based in Dubai and I am a mother to a son aged 17 and a daughter aged 11.
Lilacs Bloom in my Backyard
Lilacs Bloom in my Backyard is written in simple and touching prose, it is a coming-of-age novel for the urban, professional woman.
It traces the self-discovery of a woman caught in the middle of tradition and modern life. New possibilities, new scents beckon her and she wants to, needs to give them a chance.
" The novel is a bold depiction of a challenging subject- alternate sexuality" - The Sunday Tribune.
" It is indeed a daring step for a first -time author to choose such a complicated topic" - The Hindu.