Fiction is an escape to a magical world: Captain Priyanka Luthra
Priyanka brings together her passion for flying and writing
Update: 2015-06-17 01:44 GMT
Captain Priyanka Luthra is a trained commercial pilot. In her debut novel titled Simple Plane Love, she brings together her passion for flying and writing. We recently caught up with the author for a quick Q & A:
When did the idea for the book germinate?
The story of Simple Plane Love had been lurking in my head for a while. One day I just decided to write it down. And it turned out to be good.
Which genre draws you the most as a reader and a writer?
I am a fiction girl! I have been reading it since I was about 10, I’ve always been a slave to my imagination. Fiction has a way of keeping things interesting at boring times and places. It is an escape to a magical world.
One fictional character close to your heart and why?
Howard Roark from The Fountainhead. The range of emotions he generates is amazing. You can love him or hate him but you can’t ignore him. He is black and he is white and he is as grey as they were made!
Who among the pantheon of writers (past/present) would you like to have coffee with?
Richard Bach! Definitely.
Which book do you keep revisiting?
This depends on how I am feeling at that time. I go back to anything written by Bach, Or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, that always works.
What is your antidote for writer’s block?
Reading! Going back to your favourite book always helps. Nothing is more inspiring to write more than a well-written book.
How can budding writers prevent rejection from turning into dejection?
None of us like every story we have read, but that doesn’t mean the story was bad. Rejection means you need to re-write it.
Ending of one popular book that you would have changed?
I am daring to say, The Fountainhead. Even if I love every word there, Dominique and Howard should have had a better ending and that would have made for a thrilling story.
One tip for aspiring writers?
Answering this with one of my favourite quotes — “Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”