A story born in her heart

Creating characters and making them do her bidding is all part of the thrill of writing for Sonika. The wife of Cyberabad Commissioner Sandeep Shandilya, Sonika is working on her debut novel Tinkling of the Bell Before it Rings.

“Beauty and the force of nature propel my writings, giving my characters the passion to carry the story forward,” she says.

Sonika, who holds a Masters in Business Administration from Punjab University, started this novel on 11/11/11. She says, “I read in the newspapers that it’s a lucky date. I decided to start that day with no story in my mind. I happened to go to a mall and saw a line for a movie ticket. That’s where I met my protagonists Kai and Sakshi.” 

Does she have a particular approach to writing? “I will write about anything that comes from the heart,” says Sonika, whose next is about a boy and his childhood, set in the 1950s. 

Published by Srishti Publication, her debut novel is based on a mall in Hyderabad. “It's a romantic love story that will bring a smile to faces. While reading the story, one will travel with Jai and Sakshi to Europe,” says Sonika, adding, “The success of this book isn’t just about getting it published, but finally getting to tell the story.”