It's All in the Planets Paperback – 15 Sep 2016

Q. Your latest novel ‘It's All in the Planets’ explores the theme of destiny and star-crossed lovers. What do you mean by ‘destiny’, what is your idea of it?

A. Preeti Shenoy: I would define destiny as something that will necessarily happen to a particular person, or an event, which will definitely occur, no matter what you do to try and prevent it. It is something beyond your control. I would define it as something that is pre-determined and inevitable.

Q. Do you personally believe in destiny? Can you tell us about an incident from your life that strengthened this belief?

A. Preeti Shenoy: I would say that there are many things beyond our control. There have been so many turning points in my life, which I never even imagined would happen to me. Not even in my wildest imagination. It would take an autobiography to elucidate all of them. However, since this book deals with relationships, let me tell you about my own experience. I met Satish (I was not even supposed to meet him) and fell madly in love and got married to him within 40 days (yes, 40 days and it’s not a typo!) of meeting him! How crazy is that? I wasn’t planning to get married at that time. We are still married 21 years later. I do believe that things like marriage are destined. You end up with someone you are supposed to. And you get married ‘when the time is right’.

Q. In the book you explore the idea of being oneself vs. being the person your partner expects you to be, which according to you is more important?

A. Preeti Shenoy: In a relationship, it is very important to be who you truly are. Most of us wear masks to some degree or the other, and disguise ourselves somewhat. There are many expectations and it is a lifelong process, as our personalities change as the years go by. We are no longer the person we were say 5 years back. So a relationship is always a delicate balance. If you do not remain true to your inner self, and you keep wearing masks, at some point in time, the strain is bound to show. The relationship then becomes a burden, and it breaks up. Your partner should love, respect and cherish you for the person you are. And it should be reciprocal.

Q.Tell us more about your protagonists Aniket and Nidhi, what about them do you think will resonate the most with your readers?

A. Preeti Shenoy: Aniket is 27, a techie and a single, living in Bangalore. He is like most guys you know! As a person, he is polite, kind and lovable. He loves his family and he cannot believe his luck when a hot model like Trish becomes his girlfriend. He is willing to do anything to please her, including losing weight. Nidhi is very sure of what she wants from life, and she has quit her corporate career to pursue pottery, which is her passion. She is engaged to Manoj, but feels something is missing. She struggles with the question of how she can be certain that Manoj is the guy for her, and whether she is really ready for marriage or not, which is a question most single people grapple with.

I am certain that my readers will definitely know an Aniket or a Nidhi! Perhaps they may find themselves in them.

Q. What role do you think friendships play in the evolution of relationships? Does Aniket’s best friend Subbu have any role in determining his choice of partner?

A. Preeti Shenoy: Friendships will not impact a relationship, unless of course you fall in love with your best-friend’s partner! But supportive friends can make a world of a difference, as it is them we turn to, when we have relationship problems. In my book, it is Subbu who orchestrates the first meeting between Aniket and Trish. Subbu is willing to lend a ear to all of Aniket’s Trish-troubles. He plays an important role later on too, but you will have to read the book to find out what!

Q. One of your lead characters is Trish, a stunning model, who begins to date the average Joe Aniket, at first glance it appears that she is quite demanding and unreasonable and does not appreciate him for who he is, do you not think that it is perhaps risqué to project a certain type of women in this manner? Strong, assertive women are often wrongly labeled as demanding, bossy and mean-spirited.

A. Preeti Shenoy: Trish is definitely not bossy, demanding or mean-spirited! She adores animals, stray dogs in particular. As regards Aniket is concerned, she is honest to the point of being abrasive and she doesn’t realize it. She has guys fawning all over her and is quite used to the male attention. She is in a profession which demands extreme fitness, and valuing that as a trait in the opposite sex, cannot be classified as being mean. I would say that Nidhi is more assertive than Trish, as Nidhi pushes Aniket to work hard at his fitness, makes him pursue an interest outside his work, and actually helps him grow. So there is no ‘stereotyping’ done here.

Q. Your books carry a positive message and are life-affirming, what message do you want to relay to the world through this book?

A. Preeti Shenoy: I want to tell the world that sometimes things turn out the way you never even anticipated. Life will give you shocks every now and then. The incidents that happen to you are not in your control. But how you react to them is completely in your control. You can turn adversity into a life lesson, and you can grow from the pain and suffering you go through. And it may not be obvious to you, at the moment but whatever happens does happen for the best.

Q. Who are your literary forbearers, your mentors?

A. Preeti Shenoy: I admire so many writers! If any of them ‘mentor’ me I would be over the moon! I am a huge fan of Audrey Niffeneger, Roald Dahl’s work for adults, Michael Morpurgo, Neil Gaiman, Nick Hornby, David Glattauer, Mary Ann Sheafer, Mitch Albom, Kiran Nagarkar, Manu Joseph, Anita Nair, Shinie Antony to name a few. For me to admire a writer, their writing has to make me feel something inside.

Q. What’s next for you?

A. Preeti Shenoy: I have several projects, including one with the BBC. I am also working on a book. My latest is illustrated journaling, and at some point I want to write a children’s book and illustrate it too. But for now, I am still reveling in the hangover of ‘It’s all in the Planets’. (If you can revel in a hangover, it has to be when you finish writing a novel, your best so far!)