Prafulla
asked
Alka Joshi:
Hi Alka I just read your novel The Henna Artist. It was so interesting and captivating that I couldn’t put it down until the very end. I am also learning to write fiction and have taken various courses. My question to you is that- did you have the plot in mind and the characters before you started writing or did they evolve as you wrote? I believe your inspiration was your mother and her lifestyle. Congratulations.
Alka Joshi
Thanks so much for your kind message! I never have the plot in mind when I start. The story starts with characters who are talking or doing something in a scene. I let the story evolve as I move from scene and scene that comes up. I know I've come to the end when my main characters have undergone some sort of transformation and learned how to grow in their lives.
You're right--my mother was my inspiration in that I wanted to imagine a more independent life for her than the one she got to live. In a wonderful twist, I was also able to express my love of India during the 10 years it took to bring THE HENNA ARTIST to publication. Thanks so much for your question. I hope you'll also enjoy the first of 2 sequels, THE SECRET KEEPER OF JAIPUR!
Hugs,
Alka
You're right--my mother was my inspiration in that I wanted to imagine a more independent life for her than the one she got to live. In a wonderful twist, I was also able to express my love of India during the 10 years it took to bring THE HENNA ARTIST to publication. Thanks so much for your question. I hope you'll also enjoy the first of 2 sequels, THE SECRET KEEPER OF JAIPUR!
Hugs,
Alka
More Answered Questions
Cathryn Wellner
asked
Alka Joshi:
I just reviewed your debut novel and want to thank you. I devour books like popcorn. Many of them are excellent. Others are just OK. Rarely do I come to the end of the book and sigh with regret that I must leave the characters I have come to love. Thank you for an extraordinary book that left me wanting more. What is your next book?
Lyrical
asked
Alka Joshi:
Your writing is so immersive Alka. Such a treasure to read. This senior woman in a small town in Ontario Canada has never travelled to exotic places like India but with your narrative I feel the warmth, smell the scents as you describe them, see the beautiful saris and wish to experience them one day. My only question is what books have inspired you to become the kind of author you are?
Sarah Willmann
asked
Alka Joshi:
Hi alka How are you doing? Hope all is well with you. You might have had many questions about this already but do you have a fave character whether you've written Or someone else's character in a book? And is there anything you can tell us fans about your new book six days in Bombay? From Sarah 😀
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