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!)