'Being in love without being passionate is like a fish without water'- Author Priyanka Varma

Author Priyanka Varma has launched her second novel 'Girl in the City'. The novel's main character Tanya's life is like a true Cinderella story - lost and found in her 10-year journey. The author has narrated the story of love and inspiration through Tanya’s character. Tanya began her 10-year sojourn as a naive and starry-eyed, Generation X with a dream to weave out her own identity amongst the many social and societal barriers. However, like those very enthusiastic Generation X women, she began to falter and stumble at every step in each of these aspects of her life.

She, for a time period, fell into the spell of endless cycles of repetition and prolix. She was made to realize that in order to actually evolve in a positive and healthy way, she needed to step back, switch gears, revaluate her priorities and max out her abilities, all thanks to a guarded pace. Thanks to a reassuring presence in her life - her affirmer. He was her modern-day Charles Darwin. Despite leading a fast-paced life, he displayed qualities of being tenacious and resilient, preciously what she was lacking in her life.

She was truly happy in his guidance. She wanted more from life, thereafter, she wanted him, so much.

"Change is the only constant in life, it isn't about the impact it has on you but about the way you respond to it. Being inactive towards changes stagnates your growth and perspective on life. Thus, to steer in the direction of inevitable change, you can either be destructive or constructive", says Priyanka Varma.

In an exclusive interview with ReadersLand.com; Priyanka Varma shares more details about the book and her future plans.

Author Priyanka Varma

Excerpts:

RL:  How did the writing bug bite you?  

Priyanka Varma: Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never break me, such is the power, tact and subtlety behind words. Growing up as a millennial, I have seen the world change at a rapid pace, socially and economically. We have become the most diverse, tolerant, connected, practical and idealistic generation because globalization has evened us out in our beliefs. We all grew up on MTV, have all the one-liners from Friends memorized, still think of a pair of Levis and tye-dye shirts as fashionable and will always opt for a coco-cola before water at any eatery. When the entire world is open to you and you have the golden opportunity to experience different cultures, and  you become all the more ambitious, open, accepting and tolerant. Social media has turned us all into avid readers and avid absorbers of change at lightening pace. Thus, being an avid reader, I always thought that my words had to be worth a penny or two, and then be cross-generational so that my kids and grand kids could make book-reports out of them.  I had this urge to abate the commonalities of the world and create a composite set of beliefs that would make sense to a teen in India as well as a teen in Japan or Croatia. Thus, I began to write.

RL: What was the idea behind writing 'Girl in the City'?

Priyanka Varma: Change is the only constant in life, it isn’t about the impact it has on you but about the way you respond to it. Being inactive towards changes stagnates your growth and perspective on life. Thus to steer in the direction of inevitable change, you can either be destructive or constructive.  You only need to keep in mind that conditions needn’t change, but the way you handle yourself needs to change. Circumstances exist for long periods of time, but you won’t thrive if you adapt poorly towards them. Thus, this catharsis, or change only happens successfully if one is inspired.

Tanya, my protagonist, began her 10-year sojourn as a naive and starry-eyed , Generation X with a dream to weave out her own identity amongst the many social and societal barriers.  To create this harmonic and liberating balance between being a wife, a professional, a homemaker and subsequently a mother.  However like those very enthusiastic Generation X women, she began to faulter and stumble at every step in each of these aspects of her life. No matter what your level of planning is, you have to realize that quality is better than quantity. As you affix a new dimension to your life, you must pace yourself because gradual growth always allows you to re-evaluate your priorities and your methods of performing them. No point in burning out and ending up confused and directionless.

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RL:  How closely it shows the relationship of human being with regards to 'True Love'?

Priyanka Varma: As I mentioned in my previous answer, Tanya’s struggles were realistic and relatable, from late-night cleaning of the fridge to feeding her daughter while sleep-deprived from giving birth only a few hours before. Our generation of women were made to believe that we can have it all. Our homes can be as pretty as those in the magazines, our kids can make it to the Dean’s lists, we can break the glass-ceiling and define new rules at workplace and marry the man of our dreams. That we were worthy of it all, if we worked hard for it. Like many, Tanya, for a time period, fell into the spell of endless cycles of repetition and prolix while facing a break-down of her marriage, still considered to be the one defining characteristic in a woman’s identity. Also, as women we are taught to please everyone, but she was made to realize that it was okay to be appreciated and cared for. She was made to realize that in order to actually evolve in a positive and healthy way, she needed to step back, switch gears, revaluate her priorities and max out her abilities, all thanks to a guarded pace. Thanks to a reassuring presence in her life – her affirmer.  His reassurance, strategy and making her health and well-being a priority is what made her fall in love with him. When someone makes the connect between your reality and your fantasy happen, they truly love you.

RL: Please tell us more about your book 'Girl in the City '?

Priyanka Varma: My book also tends to prove the belief that opposites attract. When introducing her affirmer, Neil, in the book, I had to re-instate her reasons for being inspired. He was disciplined, focused, caring and empathetic in all aspects of his life. He has been a working doctor for more than 12 years, thus he has healed the most strong to the most dissipated, so he kind of took on that role in her life. But he was miles away in a different country altogether. Just by watching him, from his pictures on facebook to the tales narrated of his triumphs by his family, she kind of became inspired.

Being with someone your opposite can change you for the better. As you progress in your relationship, you become more open-minded, accepting and confident in your views because love conquers all. The two essentials to have a great relationship with someone opposite you are: great communication skills and respecting each other’s differences.

RL: Do you believe in Love? Given a choice, what would you choose- love or passion?

Priyanka Varma: You have to love him completely when in love, thus you have to be a passionate lover. Being in love without being passionate is like a fish without water. You have to show you care, you have to please all of his or her senses. He has to like what he sees, tastes and smells in his surroundings. Passion creates that sizzle that can make a couple unbreakable and irresistible.

RL: Who is your favourite author and why?

Priyanka Varma: Amy Tan, a Chinese-American author that writes for women. Her characters go through this catharsis from being vulnerable to reinforced. It gives you great strength when you feel like you can’t seem to step into one more day in your life. The struggles are real, the perspectives are well thought-of and the relationships are thought-provoking. Her writing also combines imagery, language and just the right number of inferences to give her readers a free will in deciding whether her opinions are justified. The writing also shows an assured knowledge of the particular universe, which is like the icing on the cake.

RL: Are you working on any other project?

Priyanka Varma: Currently, and infinitely ever, I am relishing in the realm of motherhood. I am a mom to a 7-year-old, "MM" (mini-me) daughter named Aanya. In the future, I would like to publish my third book, consisting of short narratives, for my child. Professionally, I am about to start full-time work in an MNC as I am keen on working in the financial services industry – consisting of a mix of actualizing, analysis and reporting.

Published by Petals Publishers, the price of the book is Rs. 195/- with total 142 pages. The book is available online on Amazon

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