If your book makes a Buzzfeed or a Snapchat addict read, then you have won a huge battle: Preeti Shenoy

BENGALURU: One of India's bestselling authors, Preeti Shenoy, speaks to ET about her latest book 'It's All In The Planets', writing prose that resonates with people, interacting with her readers and interacting with the millenials.

Edited excerpts:
Q. The new book deals with being torn between 'if you want it, get it', and 'if it has to be, it will be'. Why this subject?

‘Will versus Destiny’ is something, which is fascinating for most people. I am no different. Are some things fated? Is there free will? Do we ‘make excuses’ for things that happen to us saying ‘It was destined.’ Are we fatalistic in our approach to life? And how much control do we really have over things that happen to us? These are thoughts that would have occurred to every thinking individual, at some point in their lives. It is a very interesting topic, and I have explored that through a tightly woven story, which is based on some true incidents.

Q. Considering that is a confusion most millennials are faced with, how have you blended this into a narrative that appeals to all? What solutions have you provided?

As a writer, what I aim to do, is to get people thinking. The things I say in my book resonate with thousands. I do not provide ‘solutions’ as I think every person is smart enough to come up with solutions to the problems that they face. The answers are within you. At most, I provide a mirror, or give you a gentle nudge in the right direction. So when people tell me that they were going through a terrible phase, they find hope to hold on. Sometimes, it is just that---holding on, when things seems terrible.

Q. You blog regularly and interact with most readers who write to you. Have any of your books been based out of interactions you have had with people there?

No, not really. I get mails from many people who want me to write their stories. Or I get mails from people saying what I have written is exactly like their lives. But the thing is, at any given point of time I have at least 50 of my own ideas running through my head. I reply to most readers who write to me. Plus, I live in Bengaluru, where the traffic ensures that you have a lot of time in your hands, So I reply when I am commuting.


Shenoy's book explores the matter of ‘will versus destiny’. (Image: www.preetishenoy.com)

Q. Is demand for contemporary romance novels going down in the light of more accessible content on this subject, say, social media poets, quotes and writers?

I think the best people to answer that question would be publishing houses. As a writer, I always feel that you compete not with genres or other writers, but you compete with interesting content online. If your book is able to make a Buzzfeed or a Snapchat addict read, then you have won a huge battle.

Q. Have you seen a change in the reading preferences of youngsters these days?

I always get asked this. But for an accurate answer, someone will have to analyse the data of how much the youngsters read earlier, versus how much they read now. We would need to define what ‘youngsters’ are. Are they 14-18, 18-24, 24-35—what would make you a youngster? Also, what is ‘these days’ versus ‘those days’? Is it pre-internet era? Or Pre-television era? If so, definitely. We only had good old books those
days. These days, we have smart phones. Now what content people are consuming on smart phones—that is something that needs to be
analysed.

Most of the people, who read my books, prefer paperbacks. For the pre-orders of ‘Its All In the Planets’ I signed more than 4000 copies. So I would say I haven’t seen a change in reading preference, when it comes to my books.

Q. What next?

Another book which I have started the preliminary work and one more big project, which I am working on, which I cannot disclose just yet. I am also into illustrated journals. We gave away a hand-illustrated journal online recently. It was widely appreciated.