WriterStory Interviews of Writers
We interviewed Andaleeb Wajid a consistent Author. She is Head of Marketing at Quadwave, a Bangalore based software company. She has done MA in English Literature which we hope nurtures her writing a lot.
What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always loved telling stories. Writing seemed like the most natural progression for me. Also, I’d been feeling tied down by the dearth of career choices for a girl with an orthodox background like mine. It seemed like the best thing to do.
What did you like to read when you were a girl?
Mystery novels mostly and some romance too. Agatha Christie was my favourite at the time.
What is the greatest challenge in writing a book?
Getting the voice of the protagonist right. I find that is the most difficult thing because if the voice is wrong, then everything falls flat.
How much research do you do before writing the book?
Depends on the book. There are some books for which I just start writing without research. For others, I talk to people, make notes and read before I get down to writing.
What motivated you to write the book “Time Will Tell” book?
Time Will Tell is part 3 of a trilogy called The Tamanna Trilogy. It is the story of a girl, Tamanna who goes back in time to 1982 and falls in love with a boy there. She is torn between going back to her own time and staying with him in the past. They both decide to go to Tamanna’s time however and Time Will Tell is the last book, where they do get their happy ending.
Can you tell us more about your latest book?
My next book is called When She Went Away. It is a Young Adult novel, and is being published by Duckbill Publishers. When She Went Away is the story of a young girl Maria, trying to come to terms with her mother’s abandonment and dealing with life without her mother.
How did you came up with the idea of writing Time travel genre book?
I’m a huge fan of nostalgia but I wanted to write something where my character could actually feel the nostalgia, be a part of the past that we miss so much. That’s my primary reason for writing this book.
Who are your favourite authors?
To name just a few – Marianne Keyes, Agatha Christie, Martha Grimes, P.D James and Anuja Chauhan.
How much time do you dedicate for writing on a daily basis?
At least two to three hours if I can manage. More if I’m in the thick of a book and can’t think of anything else.
What words of wisdom would you like to give to aspiring writers?
For a writer, only two things need to matter. Reading and writing. Read as much as you can in a variety of genres and never stop writing. Write every day. Keep at it religiously.
You can buy her book:
