This week, I’m honored to feature, award-winning author, Hiya Sarma!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Writing came to me as a blessing when I was facing my lowest and hardest times back in 2013. I didn’t realize my writing made sense until people started telling me that they connect and I should at least share my writings on social media.

Tell me a little about your writing journey, thus far. 
I write poetry about almost anything and everything that touches my heart.  I had started as a very how do say it below average writer. Who would just pen down her darkest emotions and thoughts.. It all started from there and now I write about me, people around me, nature, and at times poems and quotes that motivate. Not that I’m a very good writer.. but I keep trying.

Do you write under a pseudonym? If so explain why.
My pen name or rather pseudonym is hiyasays.  Not exactly pseudo since my nickname is Hiya..  but also the meaning behind f my Pseudonym is “as the heart says”. And I think it’s apt for how and what I write.

What genre do you write and why?
Is Poetry a genre?? I don’t know.  And in poetry.. I don’t choose a fixed genre.. I write about everything that I can..

What are you currently working on?
I have just published my second book on October 2019. And I’m now trying to compile a third one. A collection of poetry again.

What inspired you to write? 

My own life., and the dark pit hole I was in at that point of time in 2013 made me start writing. I wouldn’t say it was an inspiration. But it came as a rescue to me.

What are your top 5 favorite books?
You Can Win by Shiv Khera, Harry Potter series by JK Rowling (I know! I know it is clichéd), Travels with Tessy Braun (an IG writer), The Alux Chronicles by Aluxard (again an IG writer), Anchoring Me by Nicole Hartley (yet again an IG writer).

What does literary success look like to you?

Literary success to me would be when people would read my work and say.. oh! I connect to that.. and yes I’ve been there.. felt that.

How many hours a day do you write? What is your writing routine?
I do not have a fixed routine or fixed number of writing hours. Since I have a full time job. And I write whenever a thought hits me or an emotion overpowers me.

How do you incorporate feedback into your work?
I take every kind of feedback very positively. Because it is only through feedback ls one can get better at their art. So I try to work on whatever flaws get pointed out. And errors get shown to me by anyone.

What advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?
Never give up. Just keep writing your heart out.

Fact: I do not know if its an interesting fact. But I just won an award for Woman Writer of the year 2020  on the 15th of February  in Chennai, India, organized by Author Pages Magazine ( a branch of Swipe Pages).