Guess the writer we are interviewing today.

Clue 1: She is a die hard fan of Ranbir Kapoor and totally ships Ran-Deep.

Clue 2: Her stories are a breath of fresh air and if you want something new that stirs your heart, you should totally go for her.

Clue 3: She is the one who made the new cover for this book.

Yes, you guessed that right.... It's the very beautiful and very amiable _itz_shifana

Let's enjoy the interview!

Me: Hey Shifana! Excited?

Shifana: Hi Amisha! Nervous...!

Me: Don't worry and chal stage par aag lagate hain...!

Tell us something about yourself.

Shifana:
➳ I'm just a simple eighteen years old, Mumbaikar. I live in India, obviously. Lol.

I've been writing since fifth standard. I had a small book in which I used to pen down short stories and give it to my English teacher to read.

I'm a bollywood freak and love listening songs, I also love drinking coffee and I've lately started loving red wine. I have a weird love for ocean and night sky and I love talking, I can make a long conversation even with a stranger seated beside me in the local train and I love traveling in trains.

Me: You won me when you said that you love ocean and night sky. ❣️

How did you get to know about Wattpad?

Shifana:
➳ One of the writers on Episode decided to publish their self published book on here and because I was too broke at that time to buy the paperback version, I moved to Wattpad.

Me: And this is how we got a new writer... Ladies and Gentlemen!

What gives you the motivation to write?

Shifana:
➳ My readers. Honestly this might be weird but, comments from my readers motivate me the most. I won't be feeling like writing and one lovely comment from any of my readers will boost my motivation to level to thousand. I honestly love them to the milky way and back.

Me: To the Milky Way... Good one 😄

How do you manage your busy schedule along with writing?

Shifana:
➳ When I started writing I never knew that people will actually read my books but, slowly they did and that's when I made a schedule. Usually it depends on my mood but, I've promised myself to update atleast one chapter of any two books in a week.

Me: Alright. You are doing a great job at keeping your promise.

Who is your favorite author on or off Wattpad?

Shifana:
➳ Off Wattpad, Roald Dahl and Ruskin Bond and On Wattpad, I love VeraHollins honestly speaking, you should check out her books. "Bullied Series" is one of the best series I've ever read, they're happy, sad, motivating, encouraging and whatnot. I can go on and on and never get tired while  talking about her books.

Me: I am going to tag Vera here and let her know how much we love her book. VeraHollins This is for you!!! And I really wish I can interview you sometime. 😊

What are your hobbies other than writing?

Shifana:
➳ I love dancing, singing and watching movies. I kinda draw when I'm bored.

Me: Ohk. Remind me to ask you about your movie recommendations.

Tell us something fun and something distinctive about you.

Shifana:
➳ As I've said before, I can easily make conversation with a stranger. I love going on outings, alone. Which people say is very stupid of me but, I love enjoying my own company.

Me: I think solitude is the best company...!

One of your readers has asked this. How are your stories so inspiring?

Shifana:
➳ OMG! I'd like to thank them first for being such a sweetheart, but, to be honest I never knew they were inspiring so I'm speechless to this.

Me: I hope you got your answer -CAUSEOFEUPHORIA

From where do you get inspiration for your novels? Especially being an Indian girl and his desire?

Shifana:

➳ Daily life and my dream land. I live at two different places at the same time, to put it nicely. I can be in this world physically and my mind would be wandering in my dreamland so I've this thing where I mix reality with fiction.

His Desire was inspired by a discussion, a discussion which me and my friends were having during lunch. Lol. Weird, I know. I was explaining my friends how bad impact mental illness can leave on us so that's when I got this idea.

Being An Indian Girl is the story which I had started writing in 2017 but, being a hopelessly romantic person, I got carried away and ended up putting loads of romance in it and destroyed the storyline. But, now that I'm back to my senses - I started writing it again. Hope this time I don't get carried away. *fingers crossed*

Me: Right now, I can't get enough of Ayesha, Ishaan and Niharika.

What is the worst writer's block you have had?

Shifana: I never had any.

Me: Man, you are one hell of a gifted writer.

How do you create the characters of your novels? Like how did you create Ishaan? He is intense... He is soft. How did you switch between the emotions?

Shifana:
➳ Ishaan is the type of guy I want, the one who can show the love he has for someone, can be possessive, can sing and can easily show his emotions. Who does not hides his emotions in front of anyone.

Talking about the intensity, that came naturally. I don't know how? but it came.

Me: I wish you get an Ishaan... But one who is bit more observing of little details.

Between Blossom, Summer, Niharika, Kritika and Aisha

A.  who is your favorite?

B. who would you like to befriend?

C. who is the ideal one?

D. whose quality are you not fond of?

Shifana:

A. ➳ Summer, I love the sweet bitch in her. She's just like me - loves children and is sassy 24×7.

B. ➳ Aisha, I so badly want to change the good girl in her and want to make her a bitch, a good one.

C. ➳ Kritika, even though Ishaan is her ex boyfriend, she's ready to do anything for him.

D. ➳ Aisha, of course. She's too sweet and introvert for my liking.

Me: Well, if you see in a very stereotypical Indian way... Aisha is the best girl. 😅😂

If you had to choose between

A. Fawad and Ishaan who would it be and why?

B. Alisteir and Joseph?

Shifana:
➳ Ishaan, I can be funny but, I need a super intense guy for myself.

➳ Alisteir, always read to f--- LOL. Because, I have a thing for guys who can sing.

Me: Ishaan 😍😍... Uh sorry you were saying something!! 😬

Abhinav of BAIG is a bad boy persona... Can there be a spin off on him where he is the good boy inside a bad one?

Shifana:
➳ I don't think so, I'll try to cover every characters story in one book but, by the end of "Being An Indian Girl" who knows? I might change my mind (;

Me: cross fingers.🤞

All your stories are not cliché and are quite refreshing... How do you manage to get new ideas every time?

Shifana:
➳ Thank you for the compliment, I'll again give the credit to my dream land. There's where I spin my ideas.

Me: His desire is an intense love story as it seems... Will it go on with flashbacks or the intensity will be having a level up with the new chapters?

Shifana:

➳ Flashbacks is said by Ishaan in his current state so, I'm planning on sticking to it until the 13th chapter. After that, we'll see how Niharika's condition evolves.

Me: I like the way you write.

How do you handle criticism?

Shifana:

➳ Do not ignore and do not take it to your heart as well. I follow this line, even if someone hates my book and criticizes it. I take the constructive thing in mind, make a note of it and work on it.

After that whatever they say, goes to my ignore can.

Me: Ignorance is a bliss is what they said and what I believe!

What is the best and the worst comment on any of your books?

Shifana:
➳ I cannot list the good ones, there are many but, whenever people say that they loved my book and liked it, it makes me very happy. I consider all of them as the best comments.

Worst - For worst I do not think that bad is when someone commented that my grammar is bad. Worst for me was, when someone said that I should not write about Hindu characters when I'm a Muslim myself. It made me realise how orthodox mentality many people have.

Me: Why? Why do people insert religion in everything?

You are the biggest fan of Ranbir Kapoor... And I guess you ship Ranbir and Deepika too... What was your reaction when you heard that they broke up?

Shifana:
➳ I love Ranbir Kapoor a lot and by a lot I do mean a lot. I cannot stand people who do not like him and yes, deepika - for me, suits best with Ranbir.

I legit cried when she married Ranveer and I was not an adult when they broke up so I didn't reacted much to it xD.

Me: Ran-Deep did look great together.

And sadly, the last question...
Any tip for the new writers?

Shifana:
➳ I'm not a good writer myself for giving tips but, if I had to say something I'd say - just write what you want to read. Just write and write and write.

Me: Thanks for your time. Loved the session.

Shifana: Thank you so much for having me, it was fun talking to you. ❤

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                   AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey guys,
I am sorry for not being able to update. Was very busy.

This is the interview for this week.

Hopefully, I put up new interview the next Saturday.

Next: It will be fun talking to Mari. the writer of Twitter, Complicated, Behind Closed Doors and Remember among many others.

Until then,
Love Love ♥️
A.S.