Creme Magazine, March 2017.

ART & CULTURE
For Scharada Dubey, writing is an expression of herself
and her overall serious, quirky and humourous take on life.
Author of sixteen published books, including Footloose
on the West Coast, Malwa on My Mind and A Necessary
Journey for which she has won several accolades, recognition
and awards including the National Competition for Writers
of Children’s Books. Her books are a true reflection of herself
and her personality and like any creative writer; Scharada
takes time to let a story to ripen in her mind and heart before
she pens it. “For me, this process is more important than the
actual writing. Most of my work has involved a lot of travel
and observing people and situations is essential to my work.
When I finally sit down to write, I take breaks to sleep and
get over any blocks that may develop, or do the things I love
to do, being with pets or friends, music or movies, till I can
get back to work.”
Being a prominent figure in the literary world, she
credits her mother and her children to be her key influences
and get inspired by the time she spends with them. She is a
propeller of self love and loves spending time with herself.
Two of her very important books were written in the throes
of her relocation to different cities. Ask her about the pros
and cons of writing and she is quick to add, “I feel really
happy and uplifted when I am writing, when the flow of
thoughts and words has finally been unlocked and is making
something significant happen on paper. The challenge I face
is dealing with all the daily responsibilities – I have no one to
cushion me from a hundred chores, and every time I begin
a book, these seem to multiply and turn into full-blown
domestic crises! “
Scharada adores Anne Tyler and her novels about
families and relationships and is also fascinated by the
works of Kiran Desai and Rohinton Mistry, GEral Durrell
and Richmal Crompton. As a writer, she has carefully
stayed away from writing about the visceral topics that have
become visible in recent times like the the extreme reality
of hate, criminally murderous intent, rape and incest. “The
reason I have stayed away from these topics are because it
would mean that I first engage very closely with people who
have gone through this, and I haven’t done that. Maybe my
next book will have some of these elements.” Even then,
she lives her life without regret or wasted yearning and
advices budding authors to truly relish the moments in life
by taking time to observe and enjoy the little things which
will aid them in finding a way to be expressive, “Writers are
too much in a hurry these days to express fleeting opinions –
making their writing shallow and unlikely to last.”
58 MARCH 2017 www.crememagazine.in