An interview with Arefa Tehsin
by Brigitte Whiting
Brief Bio:
Arefa Tehsin was shortlisted for the prestigious The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Best Author Award 2017 in India for her book Wild in the Backyard (Publisher: Penguin Random House). Her picture book The Elephant Bird was read at 3200+ locations in India from the slums to the Presidential library on the International Literacy Day, 2016 and translated into 25 languages by communities. She is the author of
WVU username: Nightjar
Please tell us about your most recently published book.
The Globetrotters (publisher Puffin – Penguin Random House) is about this boy Hudhud, who is a serial prankster and a bully and gets cursed by his history teacher to travel the globe, as and with some of the greatest migratory animals of the world, till he finds the answer to all wrongs. And so begins Hudhud's journey: as a blue whale calf separated from his mother; as a trusting caterpillar who befriends a hunting spider; as a competitive caribou on a perilous trek; as an Arctic tern too scared to fly . . . but fly across the world he must, if he hopes to ever return home.
The idea took root in a discussion of the greatest migratory animals
What was the time frame for writing this book?
It took me around two and a half months to write the book.
What/who inspired you to begin your writing journey?
It was my dad who encouraged me to write features for national dailies like The Times of India when I was in school. It was especially rewarding for me when my exam essay, ‘The Autobiography of a Dustbin,’ was read and applauded in my 10th grade parents-teacher meeting. I wrote on and off after that until Aditya pestered me to take my writing more seriously. Iora and the Quest of Five was my first novel. I handwrote a rough draft of it in 2 ½ months at our office. Since then, writing has been an itch that I must scratch.
Where do you find your ideas?
Both in the beguiling reality and the voracious imagination.
How do you write?
On my computer (it's long years since my first book and now I own one!). If an idea seduces me, I flesh it out.
Where do you write, home or elsewhere? Any places that inspire you?
I have no writing tics. I can write anywhere, even in a crowded railway station. When I write, I tend to cut off the world around me.
What is your favorite part of writing? Least favorite?
Creating new worlds, for their psychedelic experience. Research, for its tediousness.
What keeps you writing?
I am dependent on writing for my well-being.
Which do you find the hardest, the first sentence or the last?
The last, for its finality.
What were your first or second biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing journey?
When I started writing, Aditya had advised me that I should write for the sake of writing. Publishing is incidental. This was my biggest learning experience in traditional publishing. As I didn’t stop writing, I was already armed with more writing material by the time I found a publisher for my first book.
What is the best advice you heard on writing?
That it should be drawn from real life, even if it is fantasy. Else, it will never ring true. That was from my uncle Rajnikant Verma, who was a writer himself.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
The same as Aditya gave me when I started - write for the sake of writing, publishing is incidental. Read a lot, as books are the greatest teachers. Learn the rules if you may, and then break them at will. Let writing not be forced
What are you working on now?
The sixth and final book of the Iora YA fantasy series based in a rainforest (once it is done, we will release the series), and Amra and the Living Witch (Publisher: Duckbill) – an illustrated book for children.
How can people connect with you?
Facebook: Arefa Tehsin
Instagram: @tehsinarefa
Twitter: @ATehsin