Rubina Ramesh, author and marketeer, speaks to Sanchita Sen

Author Rubina Ramesh

Watch out, for you might be in her story! Read on to know more about how Rubina Ramesh spins her stories.

Observing people is a passion for me. I am not at all embarrassed when strangers glare at me and walk away. I like to see the twinkle in an eye which belies that grim line around the corner of the mouth. So you can say, anything that touches my heart triggers a story in me. It can be a child’s prattle to a housewife’s grumble.

Sanchita: You are definitely very observant because that gets reflected in each of the stories of ‘Knitted Tales’. The way you have captured human emotions in those stories is priceless. Tell us what kicks the idea of a story in you?

Rubina: First of all, Sanchita, Thank you so much for interviewing me. I am a very emotional person. But that does not mean I can show my emotions easily. In fact, many would call me placid and ignorant to things around me. I have been accused of not caring enough. And something in me makes me tune off to any emotional drama around me and hone in those emotions into my stories. I like emotions. I understand emotions and I hate any well-constructed, well planned out stories. Call it my personal quirk. But when we are creating characters, we are also growing with our characters. We tend to see those characters and see the world that they show us. Believe it or not, in some of my stories in 'Knitted Tales', even I was surprised with the few of the endings.

Observing people is a passion for me. I am not at all embarrassed when strangers glare at me and walk away. I like to see the twinkle in an eye which belies that grim line around the corner of the mouth. So you can say, anything that touches my heart triggers a story in me. It can be a child’s prattle to a housewife’s grumble.

Sanchita: An anthology or a full-fledged novel? Since now you have authored both formats, which would you like writing or reading more?

Rubina: Anthologies are the moments in my life. While novels are my dreams. Reading wise I like a full- fledged novel. For the simple reason, I have to tune off every time a new story starts in an anthology and that is sometimes very stressing to a reader like me. I like walking with my characters as they introduce me to their world. I sound weird even as I write it. But don’t you feel an anthology zaps your energy by pulling you in different directions. While a novel is like a soothsayer, caressing one’ soul.

Sanchita: Your personal favorite in 'Knitted Tales'?

Rubina: Lolita. Her desperation at her height of glory is something one day I want to explore.

Sanchita: Writing a good story or marketing a story better? Which of these is more important than the other? I’m asking this to not just an author, but a marketer as well.

Rubina: Both. Till my novel is on my laptop, it’s my child. I love it, nurture it and make it grow. As soon as it reaches the eye of my reader, it’s open to criticism, praise or in the worst scenario –ignored. That moment, the marketer in every author should kick in. Like a mother cannot tolerate her child being criticized, even I don’t like it. But that does not mean I am only looking for positivity. I would rather gather up every emotion the reviewers are sending towards me and put it in my next book. With every book I need to grow, for being an indie author – I cannot 'not' be a marketeer. That would be a professional hara-kiri for me.

Sanchita: Sneak Peek into your next project

Rubina: It’s tentatively titled 'Maya', though I might change it. It’s a topic which is very close to my heart for I had witnessed a friend of mine going through it. I cannot give out more than that now, but I can promise you that you will like it. 

Rapid Fire Round (first thought that comes to your mind on hearing these words)

a. Bouquet – Red Roses

b. Personify -- Stream

c. Surreal -- Dreams

d. Imagine – characters

e. Patched- relationships

About the Author

Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger ,book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her current published works include  ​Knitted Tales| Finding The Angel. She can be reached @  Facebook | Twitter | Website | Pinterest | LinkedIn