About The Author Mishita Raj
Mishita Raj is a seasoned content writer with a deep passion for storytelling. As a millennial, she has witnessed the evolution from landlines to smartphones and from traditional photo albums to Instagram. Although she earned an MBA in Human Resources, her love for stories led her to transition from HR to content writing, where she now combines her skills and creativity to craft engaging content.
Beyond her corporate work, Mishita is also a certified Yoga instructor. For her, yoga is more than just a physical practice; it’s a way to promote peace and mindfulness, reflecting her own journey toward personal growth. This holistic perspective enhances her approach to both life and writing.
Mishita’s love for storytelling extends to poetry and short stories, and she spent five years working on her first thriller novel, a project that showcases her dedication and ability to weave life’s complexities into a gripping narrative. In her free time, she enjoys exploring DIY projects and painting, allowing her creativity to shine in different forms. Her diverse experiences enrich her writing, making her stories vivid and relatable.
Let’s Start Interview
The Literature Times: What inspired you to write Chasing the Shadows of Memory? Was there a particular event or personal experience that sparked the idea for this psychological thriller?
Mishita Raj: I believe stories are hidden all around us, just waiting to be uncovered. All you need is a curious eye to find them and a heartfelt way to bring them to life so they resonate with others. This story, too, has roots in personal experiences that nudged me to put pen to paper and share it with the world.
The Literature Times: Memory plays a central role in the story. Why did you choose memory loss as the key theme, and how does it impact the development of Sanjh’s character throughout the novel?
Mishita Raj: This story began five years ago as a short tale about a woman who kept waking up with no memory, her mind lost in the aftermath of a traumatic event. At the same time, I was working on another story about a single mother desperately trying to find a donor for her sick daughter. I initially tried to separate these two plots, but eventually realized they could weave together into one compelling narrative. And so, I decided to merge them into a psychological thriller—my favorite genre.
The Literature Times: The characters in the book, especially Sanjh, Kshitij, and Avinash, are quite complex. How did you go about developing their personalities and relationships? Was it challenging to write these emotionally charged dynamics?
Mishita Raj: In real life, people have different layers to their personality. What we see of them — as family, friends, or colleagues — is just one side. We often mistake this part as their true nature. But the way others see us can be completely different, depending on their perspective. Whether it’s Sanjh, Avinash, or Kshitij, each of them hides something behind what is visible. In my narrative, I’ve tried to capture both the hidden and the apparent sides of these characters. You may find them complex, but in reality, everyone has that complexity within them.
The Literature Times: Kshitij’s unrequited love for Sanjh adds an intriguing layer of tension to the plot. Can you share more about how you approached writing his character, and what you wanted to convey through his internal conflict?
Mishita Raj: He may appear to be just an onlooker, but beneath that surface lays a complex, grey character that holds the key to the story’s true depth. He desires Sanjh for himself, yet at the same time, he deeply cares about her well-being and happiness. His internal struggle is a crucial element of the narrative. Had he been able to gain clarity, the story would never have spiralled as it did. Above all, his sole focus is to protect his family—including his sister-in-law’s only sister, and the woman he loves, Sanjh.
The Literature Times: The novel explores deep emotional themes like loss, sacrifice, and the lengths a mother will go to for her child. How did you balance the psychological thriller elements with these emotional undertones?
Mishita Raj: Sanjh experienced a traumatic event that left her with memory loss. The human body, designed by nature, has an incredible ability to heal itself. Often, the brain shuts down painful memories or events that cause mental distress. But something deeper must have been at play to push Sanjh to confront her trauma. For a woman, there is no greater treasure than her husband or her children. In Sanjh’s case, she had to search for one in order to save the other. Driven by love and desperation, she would go to any lengths. This quest, however, must have layers that balance the complexity and depth of her emotions and struggles.
The Literature Times: The setting in the prologue, with its eerie valley and sense of foreboding, adds a unique atmosphere to the story. How important is setting in Chasing the Shadows of Memory, and how did you choose locations to enhance the mystery and suspense?
Mishita Raj: I envisioned a place brimming with secrets waiting to be uncovered—a city where mysteries could seamlessly intertwine with everyday life. And so, the valley city of Rishivalya was born. As you dive into the story, you’ll uncover why this enigmatic valley is shrouded in such intrigue and what lies hidden within its shadows, casting an eerie spell over Sanjh’s journey.
The Literature Times: Sanjh’s search for her missing husband and the life-saving transplant for her daughter create an intense sense of urgency in the plot. Was it difficult to maintain this level of suspense throughout the book? How did you keep the pace consistent?
Mishita Raj: Honestly, it wasn’t easy. Crafting a thriller that keeps readers hooked till the very end took a lot of back-and-forth effort. I rewrote the initial sections four or five times—not just editing, but refining the storyline to close any possible loopholes. Some characters didn’t even exist in the beginning; I created them much later to add extra twists and keep the suspense alive.
To maintain the right pace, I had to read my work over and over again. At times, it was exhausting, and the constant reworking made it easy to miss things. But that’s just the nature of writing a thriller—it demands dedication, patience, and the willingness to dive deep into the process.
The Literature Times: You’ve mentioned that this book took five years to write. Could you share what the writing process was like? Did any parts of the story or characters evolve in ways you hadn’t anticipated?
Mishita Raj: It took me nearly five years to complete this novel, and the journey was anything but smooth. As someone who was always more comfortable with writing short stories, transitioning to a full-length novel felt like climbing a mountain. I often found myself struggling with how to expand the story or even decide what direction to take next.
Initially, I was juggling two or three story ideas at the same time, unsure which one to focus on. After nearly three years of back-and-forth, I finally decided to merge them all into a single narrative rather than creating an anthology. That decision marked a turning point, but it also meant starting from scratch to weave those separate threads into a cohesive base plot.
It took another two years of hard work—adding, changing, and reimagining events and characters—to bring everything together. Interestingly, many aspects of the story turned out completely different from what I first envisioned. Yet, when I look at the final result, it’s far more amazing than I ever imagined at the beginning of this journey.
The Literature Times: As an author who transitioned from content writing to thriller fiction, what challenges did you face when writing this novel? Were there any specific skills or experiences from your content writing career that helped you craft the book?
Mishita Raj: I’ve always been an over-thinker and a natural storyteller, so spinning tales from even a single line was second nature to me. Imagination was never my hurdle; my real challenge lay in evolving from crafting short stories to weaving a full-length novel. To tackle this, I broke my novel into chapters, each built around smaller stories. This approach turned a daunting task into an exciting journey, allowing me to move forward with ease.
As for my professional path, it feels like the storyteller within me guided my steps, eventually leading me to embrace the world of content writing.
The Literature Times: Yoga plays an important role in your life, and you’ve mentioned that it influences your writing. Can you elaborate on how your practice of yoga has shaped your approach to storytelling or helped you in the writing process?
Mishita Raj: As I’ve shared, my story draws from many personal experiences, including overcoming some tough, traumatic events. Yoga played a huge role in helping me heal both mentally and physically. Regular meditation has become a key part of my daily routine, shaping my spiritual journey and helping me clear my mind. It’s also my secret weapon for breaking through writer’s block and staying creatively inspired.
The Literature Times: In Chasing the Shadows of Memory, there are multiple twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. How did you plan out the structure of the plot? Did you know all the twists in advance, or did they emerge naturally as you wrote?
Mishita Raj: The core plot was something I laid out right from the start. To make the narrative more engaging, I divided the story into smaller sections or chapters. Some twists were carefully planned in advance, while others unfolded organically as the writing progressed. Crafting a thriller is a process that demands time and flexibility—you can’t afford to be rigid. It’s crucial to close any loopholes, which means some ideas strike like lightning in the moment, while the foundational elements need to be carefully constructed ahead of time to keep the story flowing. Otherwise, you risk hitting writer’s block more often than you’d like.
The Literature Times: What do you hope readers take away from Chasing the Shadows of Memory? Are there any particular emotions or thoughts you want the book to evoke?
Mishita Raj: Whenever you finish a truly captivating book, there’s a feeling of emptiness that lingers, like you’ve lost a part of yourself. That sense of being a little lost, yet deeply reflective, is what I hope my readers experience when they close the final page of my book. If I can evoke that kind of quiet contemplation, it will be the ultimate fulfilment for me.
The Literature Times: Can we expect more psychological thrillers from you in the future, or do you plan to explore other genres? What’s next for Mishita Raj as a writer?
Mishita Raj: Yes, I’ve already started working on my second story, and once again, it’s a psychological thriller. This time, there will be added layers like love, betrayal, and conspiracy, but the core theme will remain the same. I’m hoping to wrap it up by the end of the year and deliver a gripping new thriller to my readers, centred on a double murder.
The Literature Times: Finally, for aspiring authors who are looking to write their first thriller novel, what advice would you give them based on your experience with Chasing the Shadows of Memory?
Mishita Raj: Writing a thriller is like making a slow-cooked biryani—patience is key; and the right mix of spices makes all the difference. It took countless hours of writing, reading, re-reading, and rewriting—each step a part of a long, evolving journey. Start by asking yourself the essential questions: Why? When? Where? How? The more questions you ask, the clearer your plot and characters will become. And don’t forget to find a few honest reader friends who aren’t afraid to give you tough, constructive feedback—it’s the key to turning your work into something truly special.
