Interview with Sarmila Sinha
Published 2015-09-03.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I like travelling, watching children's movies and spending time with my family.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
I ask my elder daughter about the recent good children's books. She is a big fan of Jacqueline Wilson, J.K Rowling and Enid Blyton.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Actually this is my first story book. I used to write poetry when I was much younger.
What is your writing process?
I think of the plot first, build characters and then expand on the chapters.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
My earlier memories were of reading adventure and detective stories such as Famous Five, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. I also loved reading Fairy stories. I also liked reading books by Pearl S Buck and most recently I read Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.
How do you approach cover design?
I hired an Illustrator for this.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
I don't read as much as I would like to,
but I do have some favourites:
1. The Good Earth by Pearl S Buck
2. To kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
3. Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee,
4. Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
5. The Bhagawat Gita As It Is
What do you read for pleasure?
Adventure story books,
What is your e-reading device of choice?
My kindle app and iBook app on my ipad or iphone- its easy to carry
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Google Communities,
Describe your desk
Its a small desk, but I write mostly in cafes when I am out and about.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in the beautiful state of Assam, not far from Shillong, Meghalaya. I spent time between Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura in India: All of these states are rich in natural beauty- lots of greenery, national parks and many waterfalls too. So I was drawn to nature from a very young age.
When did you first start writing?
At the age of 9 or 10 I started composing poems, I used to write mostly poems. Later I started writing short fictional stories but never published them. But I did publish few of my poems.
What's the story behind your latest book?
Its an adventure story of a young girl who goes to live in India. She struggles to settle in and has no friends initially, however she finds a friend in unusual circumstances who is a captive of a witch in another world. This story is about Maya and how she rescues her friend.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Self motivated and also got inspiration from my daughters.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Smashwords has been very helpful with its honest and great tutorials and has given me much needed hope and support.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
To see a smile in my young reader's faces.
What do your fans mean to you?
They mean the world to me, I am nobody without their support. I also learn a lot from their feedback and reviews.
What are you working on next?
A sequel to the current story.
Who are your favorite authors?
J.K Rowling and Harper Lee
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My children, my job and my passion for writing.
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