Indian authors are often underestimated, especially the debutants, but there are authors who are striving to break the myth. In this week’s Author Showcase, we introduce you to one such author, Sindhura Chamala from Telangana, Hyderabad, India.
We had a great discussion with Sindhura Chamala, the author of The Devil and The Deadly Peace. She took this opportunity to reveal a lot about her as an author, as a reader and most importantly as a person. Read on to find out everything about the brilliant author who is going make her mark among the Young Adult fantasy readers.
About Sindhura Chamala
Born in 1991 in a small town of Nalgonda near Hyderabad city in India, Sindhura Chamala studies Information Systems at BITS Pilani (Goa Campus). She currently works as a Data Storage engineer in Bangalore. Sindhura’s writing journey started with some random thoughts during an evening walking. And, she turned them into a gripping fantasy novel. She is also an avid reader in herself and always manages to take out time to read.
Here’s the complete conversation we had with Sindhura Chamala.
1. Tell us about your parents and family.
Both my parents are government school teachers. Dad used to teach Biology, but he’s retired now. Mom teaches History. I have an elder brother who’s married, and he lives in the US with my lovely sister-in-law.
2. What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share.
I was jovial and proactive. I was a straight A student and always ready for anything extracurricular. I have many good memories of me narrating a book or a movie to my friends. It became a ritual so much so that we wouldn’t go a day without my friends gathering around me to listen to the story. Not every gambler is ready to spend a fortune at a virtual casino and there is nothing to be ashamed of. For those of you who wish to play casino games with a small deposit experts from Fancasinos.in have produced a rating of the minimum deposit casinos in India. People can play at those casinos for $10 and receive a bonus.
3. What is the biggest achievement till today?
I consider publishing my first book while still continuing as a Data Storage Engineer as the biggest achievement so far.
4. Which writers inspire you?
All the writers whose work I’ve read so far have inspired me one way or another.
5. Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
I would read a book to escape into another story or go for a walk.
6. What is your favourite motivational phrase?
“There’s a light somewhere.
It may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.”— Charles Bukowski
7. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stay fearless.
8. What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
I read a lot of fantasy. I also like philosophy, humor, and romance. Lately, I’ve been making an effort to read books from different genres. I am currently reading the second book in the series “Dublin Murder Squad” by Tana French.
9. If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
I would love to have been the author of Harry Potter, just so I could live in that world longer, if only in my head.
10. What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
As soon as I had a hint of the story in my head, I became restless to sit down and finish it. I did not let anything else distract me from it.
11. Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I usually write for a couple of hours in the morning and keep making notes the entire day. I collate them all and sit down to write again in the evenings and also before going to bed.
Now let us know about Sindhura Chamala’s debut novel The Devil and the Deadly Peace.
The Devil and the Deadly Peace by Sindhura Chamala
1. What genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
It’s a small fantasy fiction story. I’ve always been a big fan of fantasy and love to escape into those worlds. I did the same with my book.
2. What is the hardest & the easiest thing about writing?
Writing is fun and so doesn’t feel like hard work. The hardest part is after you complete the first draft. You never are completely satisfied with the work, and in the end, it may turn out to be completely different from what you originally had in your head.
3. What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or your own self or some else?
I write because it’s my passion and I thoroughly enjoy doing it. And along the way, if someone somewhere can escape into the world that I built and connect with the characters that I created, just like I did with all the books I read, then I would be one happy writer.
4. What makes ‘The Devil and the Deadly Peace’ to stand out? What should a reader expect from it?
It’s simple and short. For someone looking to start reading fantasy genre, or never read one before, my book is a good start. For avid readers, it provides a fast-paced entertainment. It has a bit of a world building, not too many characters, and good mystery.
5. Any special experience about this book that you would like to share.
When I was looking for an image for the cover page, I came across this work of a Polish artist, who readily agreed to let me use his work. The whole interaction with him had been beautiful and always left me with a smile.
Future Plans
1. What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I want to continue to take the story from my first book forward and also want to give other genres a try.
2. Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
I am currently working on a fiction story and also planning for a sequel to my first book.
3. What does success mean to you as a Writer?
I write because it’s my passion and I thoroughly enjoy doing it. And along the way, if someone somewhere can escape into the world that I built and connect with the characters that I created, just like I did with all the books I read, then I would be one happy writer.
4. Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I see myself as an author of at least three more books and a reader of much more, sitting in my small personal library with a cup of tea nearby.
5. Your opinion about Vowelor.
It’s a great site for readers and it is wonderful what you guys are doing to encourage new authors like me. I highly appreciate your efforts, and I am very thankful for giving me this opportunity.