I am from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Born and brought up in hills, I have always been the person who was more interested in nature and its creatures rather than all the materialistic things. Books and hills had a great impact on me as I proceeded to the stage of adulthood and they are the reasons for getting out the writer in me.

I wrote a story named "Gift Of Life" when I was in standard 4. I was not so much confident about it being getting noticed. So, it came as a surprise for me when the headmistress of the school called and praised me for my creativity. Thereafter, shamefully, I wrote a sequel to Harry Potter series,i.e the eighth book to it. (I had the guts) But because it was so pale in comparison to the Goddess Rowling, I stopped it and hid the manuscript somewhere. I kept on writing and writing many others ( some of them are online, some still on my laptop's disk and some in my head!). Finally, when "Love Through..." was finished I knew I had written something worthy.

"The Sheikh's Sham Engagement" is the latest book which I have published. This is the first time when I published a book after the huge gap of 10 months! I think, after "The Sheikh's Secret Princess", Shabnam kept disturbing me a lot. It took a long time for me to develop her character. A lot has happened in recent years. All the changes happening around me influenced me deeply. She's been appearing in my dreams, persisting me to tell her side of the story too.

It's the same old story. I wrote a manuscript, worked on it for four terrible years, send it to editors, traditional publishers, literary agents...blah, blah, blah...waited for their reply (which was the rejection letters, by the way) I sent the manuscript to an editor on the demand of the publishing houses and ultimately ended up getting duped by one of them, who took a lot of money but gave me back nothing. Finally, on the eve of 31 Dec 2012, my late Christmas present was given to me in the form of Smashwords! Kindle was the next step. Now, it's totally different.

The greatest joy of writing for me is....imagining and talking to my characters! I actually do that because they are so real to me. It happens when I am listening to music. It's one heavenly experience when there is no one to stop you from doing whatever you want to. Your cocoon of mind frees you from any sort of inhibitions. All the hesitation and tiredness of the day is swept away from your mind leaving you re-fresh and relaxed. These wild monkeys' inside me don't leave me any time of the day. They nag me a lot. I need a medium where I can pour my frustration, feelings and just be myself. Thankfully, I'm not judged here.

The world. All the reviewers on youwriteon.com. smashwords, kindle, Goodreads and others...Even if I am getting negatively marked for my work somewhere, the idea surfaces in my mind that I am making them hear my stories that is why they are telling me to improve. Negative reviews are the greatest strength for any author. Positivity is also important but negative are the ones who are actually reading your stories and taking out the faults in it. They are your biggest fans because, according to me, they are telling you how to turn your weakness in your strength.

Umm....It's just an idea for now. Let some months pass me by. I shall answer then.

There are so many things which push me out. The primary one is going to the bathroom and Job (Teaching is sucky sometimes). Sadly, PhD is not a child-play.

I read, read and read. Presumably, that's what really makes you a great and awesome writer. (Then I start jotting down the outline of my novel which is on the frontier of my mind these days. - the old days of glory answer). These days, I'm busy mostly in school, writing and preparing for my thesis and then, at last, there is reading and writing. I really want to give my writing my hundred percent once again like I used to do in M.A. but sadly, it's not possible. I'm stuffing it somehow so that I don't lose my touch with it.

New York Times Bestseller List and Goodreads.

"Gift of life"

Write..then loads of re-writes. Presumably, when the load is too much, I quit writing and come back to it in some other time, when I am more at peace with myself. I don't have a definite process. I don't think anyone can answer that question in a specific manner. I'm cramming my writing between my job, degree and day to day chores.

Unfortunately, every book and story has an impact on me. Cannot put a finger on one or the other. The first story that I read, I think was 'St Clare' series of Enid Blyton or maybe it was "The Room on the Roof" by Ruskin Bond. But I remember I felt ecstatic after finishing the read. I felt transported to another world and I felt sad when the book ended. I didn't want that feeling to go away. That floating on a cloud feeling, where only characters and bizarre settings are engulfing you from all the sides.

Pixlr.com and Google.

Don't ask me why...
Harry Potter Series (J.K.Rowling) - Do I even need to say why I like this epic? It goes without saying. From Book 1 to 7, there was magic flowing in the pages. This book is more like my friend.

Twilight Saga (Stephenie Meyer) - Oh, the sinful magic of teenage romance. What's not to like? Mostly, I feel most of the times, this is where the major inspiration for me arrived. The magical forks, the carnal Cullens' and the raw Jacob tribe. I could relate to Bellas' character because I'm very much like her. My city is very similar to the Forks.

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series (J.R.Ward) - Something unsaid, sensuous and almost 'bonding'...those are the words I would apply for this series. I literally read it during my difficult days. I'm so much connected to the brotherhood since the days MA started sucking my dry. For freshening up, I would read it and soon, I became the first person to purchase the first one from India's Amazon store.

Club Shadowlands Series (Cherise Sinclair) - A true chocolate truffle! BDSM is not new to me. I read Fifty Shades of Grey too and it was just an average read. But I know I fan myself a lot when I read this one.

The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S.Lewis) - I'm still that child inside who wishes Aslan to be there on her houses' balcony whenever she's in any trouble.

Millennium Trilogy - (Steige Larsson) - Salander, the name is, Lisbeth Salander. The female power in all its glory. Nothing more.
Desert Rogue Series (Susan Mallery)

Whatever catches my eye.

Kindle

Putting books for free...thank you Smashwords and Amazon.

Two laptops, lots of papers and books.

Do you even need to ask this one? My thriving success is all because of Mark's awesome site.... Fan mails, never-ending love and devotion of this sites' team....it's all because of Smashwords that I am an international name now....No words for this site which has somehow become an integral part of my life.

J.K Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, J.R.Ward, Cherise Sinclair, Sierra Simone, Dan Brown, Danielle Steele, Nicky Charles, Sandra Marton and many more!!!

I have none....let readers ask some....