Annu Subramanian is the director of the Writing Center at Brown School, Schenectady, New York. She co-founded Albany Women Connection, a
support group in Albany, New York. She was chosen as one of four national
finalists by the Norman
Mailer Center and National Council of Teachers of English
(NCTE) in 2011 for her short story, SO FAIR AND VERY LOVELY. She was
chosen as Educator of Excellence in 2011 by the New York State English Council.
Her latest book is the factu-fiction, Another
Heaven.
Visit her website at www.annusubramanian.com.
About the Book:
Annu Subramanian's new novel, ANOTHER HEAVEN, exposes with
unflinching honesty and deep psychological insight the twisted relationship
between terrorism and human trafficking. ANOTHER HEAVEN may be difficult
to digest in part, but its frankness and refusal to turn away from the
unsparing horror of its terrible premise make the book an essential addition to
the literature of terrorism and its links to international human trafficking.
Subramanian, a
self-described “writer of conscience,” employs her considerable literary skills
in the service of shining a bright light on human rights abuses and terrorism.
In her previous novel, WAITING FOR THE PERFECT DAWN, Subramanian focused
on bringing awareness about the suppression of women and domestic violence.
Purchase your copy:
AMAZON
Thank you for this interview! I’d like to know more about you as a person
first. What do you do when you’re not
writing?
Reading,
teaching, volunteering.
When did you start writing?
I started to write when I was in high school. I experimented
with poetry and some short stories, but I did not think about getting my work
published until a few years ago.
As a published author, what would you say was the most
pivotal point of your writing life?
The most pivotal point of my writing life is realizing why I
felt compelled to share my stories. As a writer of conscience, I believe in
writing for social causes. Writing allows me to share my thoughts and goals
with like-minded individuals.
If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your
next book, where would that be and why?
Kanyakumari, India (Cape Comorin).
Kanyakumari is a small town in the
southern most tip of India where three seas converge (Bay of Bengal,
Indian Ocean, and Arabian
Sea). From the shores one can see
a dazzling sunrise and a breathtakingly beautiful sunset. I would like to write
watching a few sunrises and sunsets, drawing inspiration from nature and the
serenity surrounding the waters. It is one of the most peaceful places on earth.
If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?
Read.
Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done
yet?
New York
Back to your present book, ANOTHER HEAVEN, how did you
publish it?
Apprentice House (Loyola
University) is my publisher. As an
educator, I was drawn to this publishing house as it is the only publishing
facility that is primarily run by students, with guidance from professors and
mentors. Publishing is a powerful media, and I am glad these students have an
opportunity to learn it first-hand while they are in an environment that
fosters writing and reading.
In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?
No.
Why was writing ANOTHER HEAVEN so important
to you?
Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that
is?
I get my ideas from my observations of individuals who make
real-life characters on a day-to-day basis and from my conversations with them.
These people and the incidents revolving around them offer many insights about
life, its ups and downs, and various shades of social issues.
Any final words?
My greatest challenge while working on ANOTHER HEAVEN was
moving forward with the topic of terrorism. It is a sensitive subject and
difficult to address. However, as a writer of conscience, I decided to accept
the challenges and write about it. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn has been a great
influence in my writing. I believe in his definition of the role of a writer
(which he has presented in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech). According to his
definition, a writer is a critic of society and government, he is a
spokesperson for his country, he seeks the truth and shares them with the
world. In addition, he says that world literature is a common body and spirit,
a living, heartfelt unity reflecting the growing spiritual unity of mankind. My
goal is to be such a writer and to present the kind of literature that would
make a lasting impact in my readers’ minds.
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