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Devika Fernando Interview – Saved in Sri Lanka Book

Devika Fernando has imagined stories and poems from the time could write. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka has made her collect fascinating experiences that influence her writing. She writes sweet but deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust.

Being an author gives her the much-appreciated chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. She gets inspired to write by everyone and everything in life.

Besides being a romance novelist, Fernando works as a self-employed German web content writer and occasionally also as a translator. She loves reading, her husband, her many pets, and chocolate. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing. Several of her romance novels have hit the Amazon bestseller list, and one of her short stories was selected for the multi-author and multi-genre anthology “LOVE: Lots Of Volatile Emotions” by Faraaz Kazi.

Devika Fernando Interview

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve always loved reading. I had my nose stuck in books from the age of five onwards and was just so fascinated that I wrote my first (really) short story at the age of seven.

What did you like to read when you were a girl?

I grew up in Germany, so some were German books. International ones captivated me too, though. Among them The Famous Five, The Neverending Story and the Narnia Chronicles. Later I fell in love with Anne Rice’s vampire books and with the Harry Potter series.

What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?

I think there are many challenges involved, among them choosing when to show and when to tell, and keeping the reader hooked even through the middle part of the book.

How much research do you do before writing the book?

That depends. For “Saved in Sri Lanka“, the setting was familiar but I had to research the hard facts and history thoroughly. For some of my other books like “Kaleidoscope of Hopes“, I hardly did any research at all.

Devika Fernando Interview

What motivated you to write the book “Saved in Sri Lanka: Interracial Island Romance”?

I am half Sri Lankan, and I have always wanted to convey the beauty of this Asian island. I’ve also been feeling the urge to write an interracial romance novel to show how many boundaries true love can overcome. So the book came naturally.

Can you tell us more about your latest book “Saved in Sri Lanka: Interracial Island Romance”?

Basically, I wanted to show how a different cultural background can shape our way of thinking and our behaviour, but also how love can help bridge all those distances and differences. I also wanted to shine a light on arranged marriages.

How did you come up with the idea of writing a multicultural romantic genre book?

I am half German, half Sri Lankan and spent the first 19 years of my life in Europe whereas I now reside in Asia. The many challenges but also advantages of this really wanted to flow into a story. You will find a bit of myself in the book, though I won’t reveal what. I also firmly believe the romance genre needs more diversity.

Who are your favourite authors?

I admire so many, among them Anne Rice, Arundhati Roy, Terry Pratchett, Michael Ondaatje, Jane Austen, Nora Roberts and Margaret Atwood. The list is endless, to be honest…

How much time do you dedicate to writing on a daily basis?

I write from morning until evening because I see writing not just as my hobby but as my profession too.

What words of wisdom would you like to give to aspiring writers?

I’d tell them to read as much as possible to hone their language skills and learn what readers want. I’d also advise them to write, write, write because practice makes perfect.

You can buy her book now:

  

About Nikhil Narkhede

He likes to read inspirational books. He is a Professional Blogger, Entrepreneur and a power networker. By education he is a Computer Engineer and by profession he is an Online Marketer.

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3 comments

  1. Thanks for this opportunity, I appreciate it.

  2. Love the interview.

  3. You are welcome! 🙂

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