Smita Das Jain, an eminent Indian writer, writing in English, has once again captivated the hearts of readers with her latest book “ Twisted Tales and Turns”. She is a writer by passion and writes something every day. Besides her three outstanding books, Smita has contributed more than 200 short stories and articles with her writings featured prominently in anthologies, literary ezines and magazines across the globe. She was also a finalist for the Women’s Web Orange Flower Awards 2022 and 2023 and the Inspire Beyond Motherhood Awards 2023 for her creative writing escapades. Basking in the success of her latest book, “Twisted Tales and Turns,” she attempts to engage with The Daily Guardian about her writing journey.
Excerpts
1. When did you decide to be an author, and how did your writing journey start?
I was eight when I wrote my first story. It was published in my school magazine, and I became an overnight sensation for three days. I followed it up with more writing. After college, my long stint in the corporate world made me forget my passion.
Then, in 2018, pursuing my desire to learn something new, I enrolled in Stanford Continuing Studies for their Creative Writing and Novel Writing courses. Subsequently, I started to draft fictional pieces regularly and circulate these writeups among my close friends to get their views. Somewhere, I got acquainted with the world of KDP and self-published my debut short fiction- ‘The Lost Identity,’ in early 2021 as an E-book.
The feedback I received for ‘The Lost Identity’ made me go for full-fledged publication, and later, in September 2021, ‘A Slice of Life: Every Person Has A Story’ was published.
2. Tell us more about the books you have written.
I have written 3 books so far, with the fourth very close to completion. Each of my three books is different from the other.
A Slice of Life: Every Person Has a Story is a set of 18 contemporary stories touching human hearts.
A Price to Love is a women-centric contemporary novel set against the backdrop of the corporate world, showcasing the struggles of balancing professional ambitions with personal life.
My latest book, Twisted Tales and Turns: A Journey Through the Unexpected, is a multi-genre short story collection of 20 short stories with a twist as a plot device in every tale.
3. Sounds interesting. Share something about your latest book- Twisted Tales and Turns.
Twisted Tales and Turns is a captivating collection of 20 short stories where endings defy predictions. The book is divided into four distinct sections of five stories each.
Readers will encounter extraordinary paranormal phenomena that push the boundaries of possibility in the “Out of this World” section.
The “Not Too Far into the Future” section intersects science, speculative fiction, and fantasy. The harsh realities of life and the transient nature of happiness are laid bare in the “All Doesn’t End Well” section. Finally, the complexities of human relationships beyond traditional notions of romance are unravelled in the “Love Comes in All Hues” section.
The book stands out with a unique blend of suspense, emotional depth, and thought-provoking themes.
4. That’s an eclectic mix of genres. As a writer, do you have a preference for a particular genre?
I love writing in all forms and formats to restrict myself to a particular genre. Even though I have written in multiple genres, reflection on contemporary issues is a common thread running through all my books and short stories. In non-fiction, I have written numerous articles in the Personal Development and Women Empowerment space.
Telling good stories and conveying my point of view is my priority; the genre is a by-product. You can call me a genre-agnostic person who loves writing.
5. What does your writing routine look like on a regular day?
A regular day is full of client meetings and sessions, so I get up at 5 am daily to write. The writing time block from 5- 7 am is sacrosanct for me, and nothing or no one can stop me from writing at that time. The daily habit has helped me cope with writer’s block and evolve as a writer.
6. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Making a difference in people’s lives. I am a Personal Empowerment Life Coach and Executive Coach, enabling people to create a career they love and get better at what they do.