Tanaya Lahiri, pen named Ayatan Tsubaki was born on 09.02.2007 in a family with rich cultural heritage. The teenager is a high school student currently enrolled in ‘Our Lady Queen Of The Missions School’. Basically an introvert, her thought process is perennial. She has the unique habit of jotting down her creative thoughts on paper. The assimilation of these stray thoughts, properly garlanded, has culminated in her poetic stature.
The Literature Times: Author, welcome to The Literature Times. Congratulations on the publication of your book! What feedback do you get from your readers? Please share your thoughts on this book.
Ayatan Tsubaki: Thank you ‘The Literature Times’ for giving me this opportunity to share my opinion. The book has been recently published. Publicity has so far been restricted within my friends and extended family members and other known circles. The feedback is quite encouraging from its content point of view. Let’s hope for the best.
This book is intended for the magnification of the human soul and human mind.
The Literature Times: What motivates you to become a writer?
Ayatan Tsubaki: I have developed a passion for the English Language. When alone, a lot many thoughts crop into mind. When I sit down to compose these thoughts, just holding the pen is enough for the lines to flood in.
The Literature Times: What are your favorite writing topics? Please tell us a little bit about your literary interests.
Ayatan Tsubaki: Human relations and ambient nature are my subjects of interest, both of which are diverse in nature. I have in mind to subsequently divert to fantasies.
I’m an avid reader of fantasy novels. I read poetry sometimes and other horror and mystery books as well but I prefer short stories to long mystery books. Frankly speaking, I’d read anything that’ll suit my taste.
The Literature Times: We were hoping you might tell us about some of the authors who have influenced you and whom you read!
Ayatan Tsubaki: I admire Chetan Bhagat’s and John Green’s free-flow, lucid style of writing and content. I like Rick Riordan as well. Since I’m still a student, for vocabulary I’d recommend classics like Virginia Woolf and Jane Austen.
The Literature Times: The title is unique and appealing; how did you come up with it? Please tell us the story behind it.
Ayatan Tsubaki: The selection of the title is purely accidental. I was about to write a poem titled ‘Mind And Its Thoughts’. Suddenly, it occured to me that the content of the book is all about the mind and its thoughts and the title ‘Mind And Its Thoughts’ would be apt. Therefore, the switchover.
The Literature Times: What are your achievements so far? Tell us something about your writing career.
Ayatan Tsubaki: It’s my first published book. Being a first time author, I still have a very very long way to go. It all depends on the interests my first work evokes and the responses thereof. Let’s wait and see what the future holds for me.
The Literature Times: What is your current goal in writing a career? How do you see your future in writing?
Ayatan Tsubaki: I’m still a student, a science one at that. I hope to do something in the medical line but my passion for writing is strong enough and I’ll continue to go on writing, publishing more works and being recognised. There are many instances where medical practitioners have been recognised as great authors; I hope to be one of them.
The Literature Times: Do you have any other novels in the works? Please keep us updated on your future endeavors.
Ayatan Tsubaki: Maybe. Publications won’t be right now but yes I’ll keep us updated when the occasion arises.
The Literature Times: How do you view Indian writing in the twenty-first century? What changes do you see in today’s writing style? Do you feel it has changed over time?
Ayatan Tsubaki: Nowadays, the content is mostly based on current topics. The language is simplified, lucid and easy to read. There’s a free flow.
The style has definitely changed over time. It’s less intricate than before. More straightforward and uncomplicated with easy vocabulary.
The Literature Times: How simple/difficult was it for you to publish your book? What message do you want to send to aspiring authors?
Ayatan Tsubaki: It’s highly difficult. My experience with publishers is not very satisfactory. I had approached numerous publishers for the publication of this book but could come to terms with Astitva Prakashan hence the book saw the light of the day.
From my little experience, I’d recommend aspiring authors to only continue the habit of writing on topics that matter most, whether published or not and not to be disheartened.