Reviewstation Loved to take an Interview of Author Rosheena for her Debut book Dreamcatcher
Q1. Tell us something about yourself?
I am from Lucknow and have been living in Delhi since 2010 when I moved here for education. I studied English Literature for five years, at Miranda House, University of Delhi, and Jamia Millia Islamia.
I have a borderline disturbing obsession with cats and the night-sky.
Q2. When did you start writing?
I have been writing since I was 11 years old when I wrote a collection of 4 short horror stories. The first tryst with published writing came at the age of 17 when I published a short story as a novella. This was followed by a prize-winning short-story which was published by Vigilante Publications in 2014.
Q3. “Dreamcatcher” A very Interesting Title with an Interesting theme. Tell us something about your Novel?
Dreamcatcher is the story of Zoya, who comes to Delhi to pursue her education. Her repression and the consequent madness in the form of schizophrenia is the theme of the book. The idea is when reality becomes a nightmare; Zoya chooses madness as her Dreamcatcher -a totem to keep bad dreams away.
Q4. How was your experience working with Story Mirror?
The experience was incredible! I couldn’t have asked for a better publisher. Story Mirror is the perfect platform for writers and artists, whether established or making their debut in the field. The entire team was extremely helpful, supportive and co-operative at every step.
Q5. How do you feel when you hold your dream book in your hand? Tell your experience when your book was released?
It is quite something, I could put it in words, but they would do the feeling no justice. The book was released by Tom Alter, who was also kind enough to review it. The book-launch was a brilliant event organized by Story Mirror at Oxford Bookstore, New Delhi. It was frenzied, mad and exciting beyond any description –exactly how an event of this kind should be.
Q6. The main Protagonist fighting with depression and problems in Life. Tell is your views on it. How to fight for it?
People, especially in India, shy away from talking about mental disorders. Unless the disease has an overt, physical symptom, it’s often not considered a condition requiring medical treatment. These are the concerns I am trying to draw attention to in Dreamcatcher. I am not an authority on depression; I don’t have a degree in Psychology which allows me to talk about the topic. But using whatever little understanding I have of the disorder, I have tried to familiarize my readers with it. The first step to fighting it is to start a dialogue on the topic. I hope Dreamcatcher manages to achieve that.
Q7. Tell us some interesting facts associated with your book?
I wrote the book five years ago, during the second year of my undergraduate studies. I started work on it in September 2011 and by February, the book had been completed. After that, I decided to never get it published. I just sat on it until 2015 when I realized I cannot move on to other projects unless Dreamcatcher is out of the way. This led to a series of meetings with publishers until finally Story Mirror happened. There has been no looking back since.
Q8. Apart from writing what are your hobbies and how do you spare time for it?
I am a nerd inside out. My existence is constituted by moving from a book to a movie to a TV show. I am also very close to my family and friends and try to spend as much time with them as possible. Sparing time is a little tricky. You eventually end up giving up on activities like sleeping and eating, but that’s alright, I guess. It’s all about prioritizing.
Q9 How important is the characterization of the book. Who is your favorite character?
It’s very important. A story gets nowhere without the characters; they are the shoulders that carry the plot forward. I do not have a favorite character in Dreamcatcher. Since it was written 5 years ago, maybe the 5-year-ago-me would have a favorite, but the present me surely doesn’t. However, I have always been very clear about my least favorite character in the story, and that is the protagonist, Zoya. Why you may ask? Read the book for that.
Q10. How are you conducting marketing strategy for your book?
Digital media has become a deeply embedded part of our lives now, and there is no denying that. So most of my publicity is through virtual portals. I have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rosheenazehra), a Twitter account, a WordPress blog and a YouTube channel (you may want to take a look at the Dreamcatcher video teaser). Anybody who wishes to know more about Dreamcatcher can take a look at any of these. Readers are also more than welcomed to write to me on any of these platforms. I am also conducting talks and workshops to interact with readers on a one-on-one basis.
Q11. Do you have a strange writing habit? Tell our readers about it?
Well, I am an obsessive person. So if there is a story, an idea or a character in my head, it has to be put down on paper. Sometimes these spells of frenzy get so intense that all other things are ignored. In the past, I have written (not typed) without stopping for hours on end, ignoring hunger and sleep. Also, I have written in some very random situations –while standing in a crowded metro, in a moving car on my way to a party, on a restaurant tissue –this could just go on.
Q12. Tell us something about the cover. How did it come as people appreciate the cover of the book?
Story Mirror has to be credited entirely for the cover. Like I said, I am obsessive. So I kept on pointing out something or the other when the initial cover designs were showed to me. And Pallav sir, the main person behind the cover, was kind enough to actually entertain all my queries and doubts and suggestions. He did not stop until he had given me the perfect cover for Dreamcatcher.
Q13. If you have to choose a writer who will you chose as your mentor?
There is no end to the list of names I could put here. But many of them are dead and long gone now. Instead, I’d stick to two of my favorite writers from this century – JK Rowling and Neil Gaiman. (Sorry, couldn’t stick with one.)
Q14… Rosheena, at some point in time we lose hope and are disheartened. What according to you one should do at this point of time?
Yes, those moments happen to all of us. We just need to remember that if the happiness that preceded the suffering did not last forever, why would the pain? The best way I can put it is by borrowing words from CS Lewis when he says, “There are far better things ahead than those we leave behind.” We just need to remember this at all times. It’s always about moving forward, one foot in front of the other. There will always be love, hope, and magic to be found in this world.
Q15. Have you faced any sort of similar situation which your Protagonist had faced?
Dreamcatcher is a lot about repression. And I believe we all repress. Our level of repression may not be of the same intensity as Zoya’s, but we are all shoving aside our desires every single day without realizing it. So yes, following this proposition, I have repressed too. I have also had a brief spell of clinical depression in my life.
Q16. It is a very dark and heavy concept. What research have you conducted while writing the book?
It is indeed, incredibly complex too. I drew from personal experience regarding what goes on in the mind of a depressed person. I read whatever came my way on the topic. And yes, I did speak to doctors in the family about specific medical conditions which were beyond my comprehension.
Q17. What do you like to tell to our fellow Readers and writers?
Keep reading that is one sure-shot way to improve your writing, and don’t let anything daunt you once you sit down to write your story. And as for readers –I know we are looking for a story, the perfect story which strikes just the right chord with us. I hope one day you stumble across a book, pick it up and that right there is the story you’ve been looking for all along.
Thank you Rosheena. All the best for the book.
Book Link:
Soul Cosmic by Himani 
Leave a comment