NITN | @notintownlive | 19 Feb 2020, 12:04 am

Media panelist, enterpreneur and social activist Sumeidha Iyer talks about her book 'Before I Met You' and what compelled her to write it.
Congratulations on the release of 'Before I Met U'. What is the feedback from your friends and readers who have already read your book.
Thank you. My friends and family loved it. In fact it was they who encouraged and instilled confidence in me to publish my manuscript.
What kind of books inspire you as a writer? Who are your favorite authors and poets?
I have always been an avid reader since my student days. Usually I try to read all kinds of books but I am more interested in books based on history. Romantic fictionons are also my favourite reads. I am particularly fond of books by William Darlymple, Shashi Tharoor, Nicholas Spark, Orhan Pamuk and Ayn Rand to name a few
Why did you want to become a writer? Who inspired you to become a writer? What triggered you to come into writing?
Ever since my school days, I participated in lots of debates and writing. I also used to assist my mother in her writings for school programmes. I think that was the time I started to think about myself as a writer. Later priorities in life shifted and this was left behind though it was never out of the mind.
Early last year when my mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer, I was quite disturbed and undrr stress. It was during this time that I convinced myself to write something to divert my attention from the ultimate worry that I would lose her forever.
Tell me something about your book. Some highlights.
The protagonist is a girl named Amaya. She is full of life and spreads joy wherever she is but at the same time she is lonely and misses having a family. The story is about how she finds happiness in little things and the dilemmas that come along with it. With nobody to help her in making decisions, she does what she deems fit. Right or wrong, her future depends on it. The story will surely make the reader realize his/her blessings in life.
Tell us something about yourself.
I run a charitable hospital following my passion. My mother was an educationist, my father a banker and my husband is an IRS officer. I have a five year old son who, like me, is an animal lover. I love volunteering at Mother Teresa's ashrams which i highly recommend as a stress buster.
Do you plan to take it up as a full time profession if response is good?
As of now i will not be able to take writing as a full time profession considering the responsibilities that I have.But i wish to continue writing in the future.
- USA: Santoor Ashram Kolkata mesmerises Los Angeles with a celebration of Indian classical music
- India Setu curtain raiser showcases AI, healthcare, and conservation as drivers of global collaboration
- Feminist pioneer Abala Bose was both a subscriber and critique of colonial ideas: Author Saptarshi Mallick
- Rotary Club of Belur strengthens Kolkata healthcare with donation to Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan
- India Humanity Foundation launches “Padho Bharat 2025” literacy campaign
- Kolkata: Mega health camp transforms lives in Ultadanga slum with free multi-specialty services
- 'Music Meets Bells' returns: New York to witness divine confluence of sound and movement
- SonaSPEED motors power NASA–ISRO synthetic aperture radar mission
- London to host maiden thought leadership summit IndiSetu to boost India-UK innovation and cultural ties
- From Loom to Label: Sona College of Tech’s Fashion Tech department powering innovation and careers
Air New Zealand has announced plans to host a live inflight concert, ‘SYNTHONY in the Sky’, on Dec 4 aboard Flight NZ1331 from Auckland to Sydney.
Qatar Airways will move its New York operations to The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2026. As part of the relocation, the airline plans to open a 15,000-square-foot lounge, its first dedicated facility in both New York City and the United States.
All Air Canada planes remained grounded late Saturday despite the Canadian government intervening to end a strike called by cabin crew members that resulted in hundreds of flights being cancelled and triggered chaos, media reports said.