Dear Readers,
Today I have the privilege of interviewing one of the beautiful Administrators of the popular Literary Forum How to Write for Success.
She possesses a doctorate in American Literature and is a prolific writer in Motivational Strips Global forum, the most active writers' forum.
She has provided very impressive answers to all of my Interview Questions.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I belong to a family of educationists, As a child, I was a voracious reader.
I was inspired by my mother who always motivated me to be a compassionate person with clearly defined goals.
Having topped the University of Allahabad at the postgraduate level in English, I earned a Ph.D. degree from the same University in American Literature.
How many books did you write?
I have written three books of poetry namely:
Quintessential Outpourings,
The Oyster of Love and
Rippling Overtures.
How did you get started on your writing journey?
During my formative years, I had a close association with nature.
I have travelled extensively to beautiful locations in India and abroad.
From the Titlis mountains and the Alps in Switzerland to the majestic Himalayas, each one rendered a charm of their own, drawing me closer to nature.
This ignited the literary spark and created an aura for the surreal beauty that nature has to offer.
I have always tapped into a lot of these personal experiences which do enhance the subjectivity and emotive appeal of my poetry.
Are there any poets or writers who influenced you?
I have always been a firm advocate of nature so all the poets of the Romantic and Victorian age were my strongest influences.
I grew up reading Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson, Coleridge, and Arnold.
Besides them, I also feel a strong connection with the Confessional poets.
Are you a member of any Literature Forums and how have they influenced you?
I have been associated with two literary forums - Motivational Strips and How To Write For Success.
The Founders of these two forums Shiju Palthishazeth and Brenda Mohammed have steered me on to achieve many accolades through their dynamic leadership.
Besides these, I have also been an admin in other literary forums too.
Do you have plans to write a novel or a new book?
Currently, I am working on two projects simultaneously.
They are a book of poems as well as a book of ten short stories.
What are they about?
My book of poems is based on social issues that plague our times while my book of short stories revolves around the mystery genre.
Where did inspiration for this come from?
Travelling extensively made me connect with nature and the world at large, so it helped me to perceive things and people from wider lens.
I let these experiences grow on my imagination and when it was ready to emerge from its cocoon, it took flight.
Who do you think would like your story and what kind of readership are you aiming for?
I cater to an age group of twenty to sixty years.
Anyone could pick up my books and read them.
I certainly cater to a wide audience as my books have a universal appeal and are not constrained to limited domains.
What is the message you will be trying to get across in your book?
My message for the world is always to develop a more humane attitude whether it is for mankind or nature.
We must infuse love and compassion in the hearts of our readers for the underprivileged, tormented and victimized, and raise our voice and help them in every way possible.
What is your writing process like?
Writing comes spontaneously to me.
I write when I feel a strong conviction about something.
I tend to revisit my work often so that I can polish it with each read until I feel it is ready for publication.
How do you go about editing your work?
My work goes through a process of several self-edits first.
Sometimes I ask my publisher to help me if I feel the need.
I often take the opinion of several author friends too before I finally send it for publishing.
Is there something about the writing process you wish someone had told you before? Good or bad?
I haven’t really come across such an instance.
My publishers too have always cooperated with me so far.
It’s been a wonderful journey of writing.
Do you have any advice for writers?
I personally feel that one should write what one feels and be as original as possible and develop a unique style that makes one stand apart from the rest.
What are your social accounts if people want to connect with you?
My personal blog is www.poeticoutpourings.wordpress.com
I have a Facebook and an Instagram account.
My books can be found on Amazon.com.
BIOGRAPHY OF VANDITA DHARNI
Vandita Dharni hails from an eminent family of educationalists.
She has earned many a distinction in the literary field.
In the early stages of her academic pursuits, she raised the bar by topping the University of Allahabad at the postgraduate level in English. Thereafter, she earned an honorary Ph.D. degree from the University in American Literature.
Her articles, poems, and short stories have been published in journals like Criterion, Ruminations, GNOSIS, HellBound Publishing House and International magazines like Immagine and Poessia, Synchronised Chaos, Guido Gozzano. and Primer Antologia De Poetas Del Proyecto De Unamos Al Mundo Con La Poesia- Mexico.
Her poem, The Endangered Tiger was given an honourable mention in the Guido Gozzano. Her first anthology, Quintessential Outpourings was published in 2016.
Her next two books, The Oyster of Love and Rippling Overtures have been published recently.
Her poems were read on the John Kavanagh show.
She has edited anthologies for Poetry World and an anthology entitled Petals of Peace.
She has also reviewed several poems on poetry sites like Poetry Review on Facebook.
Vandita also co-authored two bestselling Anthologies published by the Literature Forum How to Write for Success, of which she is an Administrator, and Motivational Strips Global Literature Forum and affiliates.
Both Anthologies topped the ranks of Amazon and became Amazon bestsellers in the space of a few days.
They are A Spark of Hope: A Treasury of Poems for saving Lives, an Anthology by 64 international poets for prevention of Suicide, and Break the Silence: An Anthology against Domestic Violence, by 87 international Authors.
She has been honoured with the Poetic Galaxy Award 2018 by the Literati Cosmos Society for her notable contribution to Poetry and the Double Cross Award for her outstanding contributions in the book on Complexion Based Discriminations.
They were conferred upon her by the Literati Cosmos Society of India.
World Nations Writers’ Union honoured her with the World Poetic Star award in 2019.
She received the Star Ambassador of World literature by Phiosophique Poetica, Canada in 2019, and the Rabindranath Tagore Award for Poetry in 2020 by the Arpita Foundation at Brindavan, Mathura.
Apart from her literary achievements, Vandita is the Ambassador of the World Institute for Peace for Chandigarh, India.
