Tell us a bit about yourself.
I enjoy travelling, stargazing and spending time with owls... I’ve lived, worked and studied in Singapore, Australia, Israel, Japan and China. My background’s in business and education. I have extensive experience in the public-school system as well as in the private, government and corporate sectors.
Describe the plot of your new book, "The Little Light: A Story of Reincarnation and the Crazy Cosmic Family," in a few sentences.
The Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu - Celestial Beings from world mythology - bicker and squabble, just like any family. But they’re going to have to put their differences aside to help the Little Light - a wise soul, imbued with insight and curiosity - prepare for its birth on Planet Earth, where it has a great and far-reaching destiny...
Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Readers with an interest in spirituality, mythology, and fairy tales will enjoy The Little Light’s adventures in the Cosmic Womb.
Tell us about the story’s protagonist, the Little Light.
The Little Light is a wise and curious soul that’s destined for greatness.
In your story, you have Celestial Beings from world mythology bicker and squabble like a normal family. Was it difficult capturing this family dynamic in mythical characters?
Not at all… In Vedic Mythology, the Celestial Beings are personified as a family that have a relationship with each other - some complementary, others highly dysfunctional. What I’ve done with The Little Light is reinterpreted and reimagined those myths for the modern era.
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| Author Dipa Sanatani. |
Is there an author that had a major influence on you while you were growing up?
Of course! I’m from that generation of readers that went through the Harry Potter craze. JK Rowling’s been a tremendous influence… especially during my early to late teens.
As a kid, I was a big Roald Dahl fan. I can still remember an indescribable sense of wonderment whenever I immersed myself in the pages of one of his books. His words fired my imagination and perfumed my world.
Your book contains influences from Spirituality, Young Adult, and Fantasy. Did you always know you wanted to blend elements from different genres or is it something that evolved as you wrote?
I never thought that I would write in the Young Adult genre, but I wound up working in the education sector for over 4 years… Those experiences groomed me to communicate with a younger demographic.
In my late teens and 20s, I saw books as a creative endeavour. But these days, I see books as an educational and commercial venture. This shift in thinking has influenced my current writing style more than any literary genre or school of thought.
How long have you been writing?
Do my ‘Dear Diary’ days count? If so, the answer is for as long as I can remember…
Who was your favorite character to write?
The Little Light, of course. The incessant questions. The curiosity. The innocence. The wisdom. The fear. The apprehension. The courage. The Little Light is every one of us in our most primal form.
What genre do you read most frequently?
I mostly read non-fiction these days. Currently, my favourite topics are: mythology, world religions and ancient civilisations. In terms of fiction, I’ve been relishing Haruki Murakami’s work for years. I recently read ‘Men Without Women’ and it blew my mind.
How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
I no longer begin with ‘Dear Diary’.
Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
My career as a novelist was 12 years in the making. And I’m still growing. I’m still learning. I don’t believe I’ll ever stop.
What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I’ve started my own publishing business, Mith Books. In the short-term I’m focused on establishing myself as a novelist. For the long run… let’s just say that I have other plans.
How have your readers responded to the book so far?
Many of my readers have said that The Little Light is a unique book in the spirituality genre. My novel handles themes like reincarnation, mythology, cosmology and folklore. There’s nothing else like it available in the market. Titles in the spirituality genre are typically non-fiction and intended for an adult audiences. I’ve written The Little Light with younger readers in mind. My goal is to inspire their curiosity in these topics in a fun and accessible way.
Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
What kind of crazy person would spend 12 years of their life working away at something they don’t like? Not me, I can tell you that much.
Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
I’ve never had writer's block. I write because I want to… and because I have to. Not everything I write needs to be coherent or even legible. I’ve written lots of stuff that I would never let anyone read. Heck, sometimes even I don’t even want to read it.
But writing for the purpose of publication is a whole different ballgame.
What do you have in mind for your next project?
The Little Light is the first book in The Guardians of the Lore series. I’m currently working on the sequel. If you’d like to know what happens to The Little Light once it’s born on planet earth… stay tuned.
Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Read it.
An excerpt from “The Little Light: A Story of Reincarnation and the Crazy Cosmic Family”:
“Stop calling me, ‘my son’,” Mercury says haughtily. “I have a name, you know.”
“Must you always talk back?” the Sun says in anger.
“Must you always treat me like an extension of you?”
“I am your father…”
Oh no, the F word again. Like clockwork, Mercury immediately stops listening. He mischievously puts on a smile and nods, politely saying 'umm hmm' now and then…
“Is he always this way?” the Little Light whispers in Mercury’s ear.
“Believe it or not, he’s mellowed,” Mercury whispers back. “He used to be even worse. Thankfully, the humans stopped building temples for him. His ego was even bigger back then."
“What are you two talking about?” the Sun barks.
“Nothing important,” Mercury says, quickly changing the topic. “Enough with our father-son squabbles. We must begin manifestation.”
“Ah, of course,” the Sun says. “My apologies, Little Light. Please give me your hand.”
The Little Light stretches its silhouette-like hand towards the Sun. The Sun tenderly takes the Little Light’s hand in his. The Sun is so large that the Little Light's adult astral body looks like a three-year old child next to his.
"Ah...," the Sun says, sensing the Little Light's soul mission. "Your light is far warmer and brighter than what I've seen in generations... In fact, since…."More Information
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