Writing is second nature to Preeti Shenoy. The author has enthralled readers across the country for over a decade, writing 15 books in 14 years while raising her two children. Several of her novels, including Life Is What You Make It, The Secret Wish List, A Hundred Little Flames and The One You Cannot Have, are bestsellers. At a recent session of An Author’s Afternoon organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation, while in conversation with Swati Gautam, the Founder and CEO of Necessity, Shenoy spoke of her journey as a writer, the themes of her books, the trend of self-publishing and more. Arnab Chatterjee, the Regional Manager of Taj Bengal, Kolkata, delivered the welcome note.
Strangely enough, Shenoy had never envisioned writing as a profession. It was more of a comfort and refuge, a way to record her joys and pains. From crafting short stories in childhood to chronicling the intricacies of motherhood, writing became more than just a pastime; it became a haven. But few passions turn into professions without a push, and for Shenoy, the death of her father provided that push. The profound loss of a parent led Shenoy to use blogging as a cathartic outlet. This marked the start of her writing journey professionally.
However, the foray into books did not happen right away. As she gained prominence as a blogger, Shenoy’s knack for storytelling opened doors to collaborations with various publications. Almost two years after her initial steps into the world of writing, she took a leap in 2008 by publishing her debut book, 34 Bubblegums and Candies, a non-fictional compilation of daily happenings and some of her blog posts. Shenoy’s journey was fuelled by the sheer joy that writing brought her and the realisation of its transformative power. “Writing is powerful because it can change people’s lives for the better. When I get messages from readers that my writing has given them hope or saved their lives, it means the world to me,” said Shenoy.
Although romance is one of the predominant themes in her books, she does not see herself as a romance writer. “My books are not just romance. There’s so much more to them. They represent a slice of life and, in each of my books, I tackle a different theme. I like writing about things that I feel strongly about but can do nothing about at the moment,” noted the author. As a case in point, her latest book, All The Love You Deserve, delves into the intricate nuances of navigating life in a post-pandemic world.
While exploring the theme of contemporary love, Shenoy underscored how relationships have evolved. Acknowledging the newfound freedom and choices available to today’s youth, she emphasised the crucial role of values in guiding relationships. Shenoy suggested that making the right choices in love and life is pivotal for finding stability amidst the chaos. At the same time, she agreed that love is subjective, stating, “What I consider as love, you may not, and that’s fine. However, you need to give love a chance.” In Shenoy’s view, understanding love calls for deciphering someone else’s love language—a process that demands time and often becomes the ultimate litmus test for lasting relationships.
Shenoy is also a talented illustrator. When asked if she envisioned a book of her illustrations being published anytime soon, Shenoy said she would discuss the possibility and feasibility with her publisher first. “I am very practical that way. A book of illustrations might not do as well as my other books and it might not make enough money. Why should I waste my time on it? If I love illustrations, I can paint something and put it on my Instagram page for people to see,” she said.
Towards the close of the conversation, Shenoy shifted her focus to the growing trend of self-publishing. While recognising everyone’s right to write, Shenoy emphasised that reading is a valuable use of time as well. She encouraged readers to pick up books that genuinely resonate with them, rather than read just for the sake of it. “I believe that the quality of an author’s work is more important than the title of being an author. One should not believe that they can become an author overnight,” she added.
The event concluded with a lively Q&A session with the audience. Esha Dutta, Eshaas Woman of Kolkata, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the Foundation while Jeetu Rampuria felicitated Gautam and Shenoy.