interview with Sujatha Rao
Author’s Background: Sujatha Rao is an author and a retired banker. She retired from an active corporate work life in 2016, after building up her career over three decades. Post her retirement, she has been spending her time freelancing as a corporate trainer, contributing articles to various periodicals, travelling, reading, doing online courses of her interest, practising yoga and meditation, etc.
Questionnaire:
Neel Preet: Firstly, Congratulations on your book, “I Wish & I Will!”What responses are you getting from this book of yours? Please share your experience about this book.
Sujatha Rao:
I am happy to have been able to publish my second book in 2024 after my debut book got published during the latter half of 2022.
Though it is still very early, I am enthused to say that I have been receiving some encouraging responses about the book.
Neel Preet: What inspired you to write this book? What was the impetus behind this work of yours?
Sujatha Rao:
Since my first book was a collection of 52 short stories, I wished to write a longer format book this time. While I was toying with this line of wishful thinking, it suddenly struck me that I could make this very idea about ‘making wishes come true’ the central idea of my book, and direct my energies into making it happen.
Thus, it organically developed into a sort of a bridge between a single narrative and multiple ones, as the central story in the book navigates through twelve stories woven around the spine of ardent wishes of people in those stories. I would also say that this book is inspired by the power of stories in transforming the lives of human beings, as this philosophy has been so forcefully highlighted by the ‘Arabian Nights,’ the stories I had read as a child.
Neel Preet: You’ve given a very interesting title to your book, which is very thought provoking too. So, what made you go for this title for your book?
Sujatha Rao:
Thanks. I wanted the title to convey what the book was all about. I settled upon this title, as it is not only alliterative, but also evocative and meaningful, with a strong connotation for what the book stands for. You just can’t miss the positivity they convey, as you utter them out loud, or at least that is what I think.
Neel Preet: What was your mind-set, while working on this book? What do you expect the readers to extract from this book?
Sujatha Rao:
As a person, I enjoy the company of words, and am a strong believer in the power of stories. Stories are what shaped me into what I am today and they continue to shape me.
I would want the readers to reflect upon their own wishes and contemplate how they can nudge themselves towards converting their wishes into realities through determined action. I would also want the book to leave them with the realisation that the passionate pursuit of excellence is more important than the end results of such a pursuit.
Neel Preet: How is this book of yours different from the other titles of the same genre?
Sujatha Rao:
I would take this question as an opportunity to highlight what the USPs of the book are:
- This book has a layered approach with an overarching story connecting the others with a thread woven out of a single theme, while simultaneously being influenced by the twelve diverse, genre bending stories being narrated therein. This, I believe, is a unique and difficult concept to implement successfully.
- Secondly, I have tried to end each afterstory in the book with the words of the title of the next story, which took some creative effort from my side. It adds a refreshing and pleasant surprise element to the reader.
- The book also highlights the fact that fulfillment of wishes may not always be good, and non-fulfillment of wishes may not always be bad with life often offering alternate paths to pursue.
- Finally, the book highlights the fact that family is stronger than the sum of its parts, showcasing how the bonds between the family members can be strengthened through shared narratives.
Neel Preet:Next, I would want you to tell us about some of those writers, who had inspired you and whom you follow!
Sujatha Rao:
RK Narayan, Khushwant Singh, Anita Nair and Sudha Murty are some of the Indian writers, whose works I like.
Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Ayn Rand and Jane Austen are some of the international writers whose writings I think highly of and follow.
Neel Preet: Which segment of readers is your primary target through this book of yours?
Sujatha Rao:
While all kinds of readers are expected to connect with the book, to my mind, families, teachers, counsellors and young adults may derive greater benefit by reading the book.
Neel Preet: Is there any message that you would like to convey to your readers? Or any piece of advice, which you would like to give to the readers out there!
Sujatha Rao:
I would want people to cultivate the habit of reading and read as much as they can. Stories have a way of nudging us towards where we really want to be in life, and enable us to live multiple lives within the span of one single life. Powerful and motivational biographical stories direct us towards becoming better human beings.
Neel Preet: Are there any other books being worked by you? Please let us know about your future projects.
Sujatha Rao:
Having written two books under the category of fiction, I would like my next work to be in the area of non-fiction. Being passionate about fitness both of the body and mind and believing in the transcendental power of yoga, I would like to come up with something in that space.
Neel Preet: Thank you so much for answering all my questions. All the very best to you for future and your book too!
Sujatha Rao:
Thank you so much for your best wishes Neel. Thanks also for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me. Sincerely appreciate that.
Title : I Wish & I Will
Publisher : Evincepub Publishing
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Also read Book Review: I Wish & I Will
