Today I am blog sharing with Malika Gandhi…. you will have to check back to Malika’s blog on another day for mine as she is still reading Destiny of Angels!
Malika lives with her husband and two sons in the East Midlands, UK. She is a homemaker and in between caring for her family, she writes her books and dabbles in a little painting too. She loves to experiment with different mediums, such as oils, acrylic and watercolour.
Malika was born in India but moved to London when she was two, where her father was already settled. She travelled with her mother and brother.
Malika has lived in London, studied in Southampton and moved to Leicester after her marriage, which is where her husband and his family live. A girl moves in with her in-laws after marriage, at least for a short time.
Malika loves to watch movies, visits art and history museums and is curious about the universe.
Malika shares with us her writing rituals and her five favourite desert island books. Enjoy……
1. How do you write? Is everything plotted, planned to perfection? Do you ever change tack as you go along or always stick to a pre-made plan?
I write at night, mostly from 9pm – 11pm or later of I can do it. I begin writing from a plot draft which is always rough, see – it changes as I move along the story and the plot is never what it was!
I believe pre-planning is a step onto the platform of writing. It is a starting point and as we write and re-draft, edit etc the plot is more likely to change. In my case, it always does!
2. Do you have a writing ritual? Meditation, certain cup for your tea, writing trousers?
My writing ritual is, writing in my PJs and under the covers. It is the only place where I can stay away from distractions like the TV, DVD and food. I also put on some music, but that is when I am typing. I write long hand and then type it up. I hate the typing up bit and the music makes me carry on.
3. Aside from writing, what makes you tick?
I love to sketch and paint and when I am not writing, that is what I do. I love the smell of newly sharpened pencils and the drag of the led across a new page, creating a magnificent sketch. When I paint, I work with oil, acrylics and watercolours and enjoy the freedom it gives me to express myself and in a way, it is meditation itself.
4. If you were stranded on a desert island with shelter, food and water, what 5 items would you want with you?
1. A book that I could read over and over
2. A photograph of my family
3. Pencil case items (does that count as one?)
4. A writing pad
5. A sketch pad
5. On said island, what 5 books would you take and why?
1. Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows – it’s always great to read a winning story
2. Twilight – I love the intense love scenes between a vampire and a girl
3. Little Women – for the wonderful story of four sisters
4. Jane Eyre – I love the tale of a simple girl in the 1900s
5. Freedom of the Monsoon – to prove to others stranded, that I did write a book!
6. Off the island now, which famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Jackie Chan – he is so funny!
7 .Your current writing projects?
I am writing a continuation of Freedom of the Monsoon, with the working title of Petal. It begins with the after affects of the Quit India Movement – the Partition of India and the formation of Pakistan.
There are two main characters. Anjali is from 1947 and is running from murderers. She is rescued by a man, whom she falls in love with. Then, there is Arianna and she is from 2012. She lives in London and her best friend loves her. She goes to India for a cousin’s wedding, to find another man who falls for her but also to discover a hidden secret. These two characters are linked.
This book is historical, yet contemporary with a paranormal twist.
Thank you for sharing on my blog Malika. You can find Freedom of the Monsoon here…
http://www.feedaread.com/books/Freedom-of-the-Monsoon-9781908895660.aspx – Malika’s publisher
Catch up with her at one of her websites….
http://malikagandhi.wordpress.com/ – About Me, My book and Everything else
http://unicornsreviews.wordpress.com/ – The Unicorns’s Book Reviews
Or on facebook or twitter….
http://www.facebook.com/unicorn1976?ref=hl
http://www.facebook.com/malika.gandhi
Wendy Steele 
I like Malika’s writing ritual … and yes I listen to music as well when writing, something to motivate the imagination. Nice introdcution to Malika Gandhi – thank you for sharing N x
She’s a ‘new girl’ like us Ngaire so hope this gives her a boost:-)
Always a pleasure to meet a writer who likes the longhand. My mind flows like an endless pit of ideas doing it. Jackie Chan would keep things lively 🙂 Like your novel premise and of course, the historical genre. Best of luck to you,Malika and great interview!
yep, I too am a longhander!…love my fountain pen:-)