AUTHOR'S BIO:
Seema Punwani is a marketing professional who learns negotiation skills from her teenage son. She juggles life as a single mum, working adult and now a student of creative writing as she pursues her Masters at LASALLE College of the Arts. She was born in Spain, grew up in Mumbai and now lives in Singapore. When not providing strategic counsel to marketers, writing grade-worthy essays or grappling with issues of raising a teenager, she can be found on the beach in Bali re-reading a Jane Austen classic. Cross Connection is her debut novel.
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
Cross Connection is a story that was originally inspired from my life but then took a life of its own. Some of the crazy dates mentioned in the book have actually happened to me, some are an exaggerated version of the truth and many are completely a figment of my vivid imagination. I wanted to probe on the real-life issues about finding love. Not the Mills and Boon and fairy tale kind, but within the parameters of real life. Not everyone gets it right the first time. And people still find their soulmate after divorce or through dark phases of their lives, like depression. The book aims to explore love in these territories.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
Most writers face similar challenges, and writing while maintaining a full time job is a key one. And getting published means getting used to facing rejections and being patient and resilient.
For Cross Connection, I had an additional specific challenge. The book is written from the female and male protagonists point of views. First you hear the story from Sama, the female protagonist. And then you read the 2nd half of the book- The other side of the story- from Zehn, i.e. the male perspective. This part aims to fill the gaps and resolve the issues raised in the first half of the book. It was tough to write the same story from two unique voices and also keep the freshness of the story and avoid redundancies.
For Cross Connection, I had an additional specific challenge. The book is written from the female and male protagonists point of views. First you hear the story from Sama, the female protagonist. And then you read the 2nd half of the book- The other side of the story- from Zehn, i.e. the male perspective. This part aims to fill the gaps and resolve the issues raised in the first half of the book. It was tough to write the same story from two unique voices and also keep the freshness of the story and avoid redundancies.
I truly believe that the urban life is not as easy for men as we make it out to be. Expectations are high on all fronts. He needs to be the main breadwinner, but also be the perfect husband who plans date nights and must be a hands-on parent who picks up his daughter from ballet after playing cricket with his son. I wanted to give a voice to the insecurities that men face today.
The book is about real people finding love while facing real life issues. The characters are flawed and not picture perfect. The story also talks about still taboo topics like divorce and depression. Sama and Zehn are both looking for that second chance to make things right. Like many of us. Some of you may relate to that eternal search of a soul mate. And I can promise that one or more of these crazy dates would’ve have happened to each one of you. Some of you may have found the love of your life in them. Many of you may be slightly dejected but still looking. Whatever your experience has been, it’s always heartening to know that in this vast universe you are not alone.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?
Through friends in the literary scene.
4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?
Suhail Mathur at The Book Bakers was extremely sincere. And he was relentless in his pursuit to find me a publisher. The process took long, but ultimately, The Book Bakers got me what I needed.
5. How do you see literary success for yourself?
To be widely READ not just bought. And also to find appeal with the male target audience. As I have tried to represent their point of view in the book.
6. When can we expect your next book?
I live in Singapore and my next book is based in an International School in Singapore and follows life of seven friends from puberty to parenthood.
7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
Never stop reading. Especially when you are writing. Read genres different from what you are writing about. And one tip that works for me- 500 words before 8 am. Sounds daunting, but it will bring the discipline to your writing. Wish you all the very best! Keep at it!
BOOK NAME: CROSS CONNECTION
PUBLISHER: VISHWAKARMA PUBLICATIONS
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:
A woman’s version is seldom the same as a man’s. She looks for the subtexts of emotions (while decoding emoticons) and he is interested in the facts as they stand. Love may exist, but it sometimes cannot bridge these gaps. Written from the point of view of the two protagonists, Sama and Zehn, Cross Connection is a tale about the eternal quest for true love...second time over.
Once married, twice shy, Sama is trying her hand, and her heart, at love and relationships. In her mid-30s, she re-enters the dating world, to find that all the rules have changed. A romantic old soul, she believes that her soul mate Zehn, will find his way back to her. Her pragmatic side makes her try all options- from matrimonial websites to blind dates and online chatting to dating agencies.
Zehn met Sama in college and has never been able to get her off his mind. However, every time their paths cross, the timing is always wrong. Stuck in a loveless marriage, he keeps drawing back to Sama, but fate has other plans for him.
Neither can ignore the chemistry and connection that is so overpowering. But in today's world where even hope has a shelf life, how long can Sama and Zehn wait for that opportune time?
Neither can ignore the chemistry and connection that is so overpowering. But in today's world where even hope has a shelf life, how long can Sama and Zehn wait for that opportune time?
