Author Spotlight
Community interviews with leading lights from the Indian literary community. Use the prompts to submit your questions for featured authors. Visit https://swellcast.com/AuthorSpotlight to add your episodes to this community podcast, or to start your own podcast.
Episodes
September 10, 2025 • 39 secs
Click here to reply to @SohilBatada
"Hello Pragya. First of all, I truly want to appreciate your wonderful work and dedication in the field of children's literature. The way you are enriching and nurturing Hindi children's story is truly inspiring. My question to you is, was there a childhood book or author that shaped your love for storytelling and inspired you to walk on this creative journey? I'm eager to know about this...
"Hello Pragya. First of all, I truly want to appreciate your wonderful work and dedication in the field of children's literature. The way you are enriching and nurturing Hindi children's story is truly inspiring. My question to you is, was there a childhood book or author that shaped your love for storytelling and inspired you to walk on this creative journey? I'm eager to know about this...
Mark as Played
Click here to reply to @RohanSinha123
"Hey Mansi, just read your book and it's a great book. It's a great read. With great awareness of women laws in our nation. Just one question. Often even after knowing the laws, people can't decide the right litigation help because of the minute details of the laws and the nature of the cases. What, according to you is the right process to find good help in such cases?"
"Hey Mansi, just read your book and it's a great book. It's a great read. With great awareness of women laws in our nation. Just one question. Often even after knowing the laws, people can't decide the right litigation help because of the minute details of the laws and the nature of the cases. What, according to you is the right process to find good help in such cases?"
Mark as Played
September 10, 2025 • 5 mins
Click here to reply to @Ramya
"Hi Aditya, welcome to Swell. Thank you for taking the time out and doing this Q and A around your book. Vixit Bharat India at 2047. I think I'll start off with this question. What inspired you to write this book? And how did you structure the book to make it both encyclopedic with a lot of facts and insights at and at the same time, you know, keeping it accessible? Because balancing rigorous d...
"Hi Aditya, welcome to Swell. Thank you for taking the time out and doing this Q and A around your book. Vixit Bharat India at 2047. I think I'll start off with this question. What inspired you to write this book? And how did you structure the book to make it both encyclopedic with a lot of facts and insights at and at the same time, you know, keeping it accessible? Because balancing rigorous d...
Mark as Played
September 10, 2025 • 4 mins
Click here to reply to @Ramya
"Also Aditya, what are the five or six critical pillars like infrastructure or digital innovation or any other, you know, sectors that you believe define India's path to becoming a developed nation? Could you highlight one or two where immediate focus could deliver the highest momentum?"
"Also Aditya, what are the five or six critical pillars like infrastructure or digital innovation or any other, you know, sectors that you believe define India's path to becoming a developed nation? Could you highlight one or two where immediate focus could deliver the highest momentum?"
Mark as Played
September 10, 2025 • 4 mins
Click here to reply to @Ramya
"Balancing rapid economic growth with social justice is a core challenge for any country, not just India. So what do you think are India's biggest challenges in this journey? The skill gaps, the inequality or the regulatory bottlenecks or sustainability or any other factor. And in your opinion, how should India be tackling this?"
"Balancing rapid economic growth with social justice is a core challenge for any country, not just India. So what do you think are India's biggest challenges in this journey? The skill gaps, the inequality or the regulatory bottlenecks or sustainability or any other factor. And in your opinion, how should India be tackling this?"
Mark as Played
September 10, 2025 • 4 mins
Click here to reply to @Ramya
"Thank you, Aditya. I think I'll leave you with one last question. What role can citizens beyond policymakers and leaders play in accelerating this journey towards a Vixit Bharat? And how can, you know, people contribute in their daily lives to this idea of a national blueprint? And if you could implement just one recommendation from your book within, say, the next five years, what would it be?...
"Thank you, Aditya. I think I'll leave you with one last question. What role can citizens beyond policymakers and leaders play in accelerating this journey towards a Vixit Bharat? And how can, you know, people contribute in their daily lives to this idea of a national blueprint? And if you could implement just one recommendation from your book within, say, the next five years, what would it be?...
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Click here to reply to @Munira
"Like, it feels like there is a personal connection, maybe an experience or a feeling that gave birth to this thought. So I really want to ask you the question that what does Jab Shabdarai mean to you personally? Like, is it something that came from your own journey, or was it more of a universal message that you wanted to share through your writing? Please answer this thank you."
"Like, it feels like there is a personal connection, maybe an experience or a feeling that gave birth to this thought. So I really want to ask you the question that what does Jab Shabdarai mean to you personally? Like, is it something that came from your own journey, or was it more of a universal message that you wanted to share through your writing? Please answer this thank you."
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Click here to reply to @Airene
"So I would really like to know your thoughts on including that aspect of women's rights in either our next sequel to Legally Yours, which we would be more than happy to have, or maybe hear itself on swear."
"So I would really like to know your thoughts on including that aspect of women's rights in either our next sequel to Legally Yours, which we would be more than happy to have, or maybe hear itself on swear."
Mark as Played
Click here to reply to @hemal_j11
"Hello, ma'. Am. Pride and Prejudice in an Indian setting is very hard to think about because of, like, the cultural gap and the characters and how they play. And I was very shocked. And I was also very surprised and excited to know that you got Pride and Prejudice for the Indian readers. So when you got it and when you were writing it, I just wanted to ask you a question."
"Hello, ma'. Am. Pride and Prejudice in an Indian setting is very hard to think about because of, like, the cultural gap and the characters and how they play. And I was very shocked. And I was also very surprised and excited to know that you got Pride and Prejudice for the Indian readers. So when you got it and when you were writing it, I just wanted to ask you a question."
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Click here to reply to @winter_daisy
"Hello maam. Congratulations on the success of Girls who Stray. I'd love to know what inspired you to write this story and how much of it came from personal experiences. Also, as a debut author, what advice would you give aspiring authors, especially women who want to tell raw and honest stories?"
"Hello maam. Congratulations on the success of Girls who Stray. I'd love to know what inspired you to write this story and how much of it came from personal experiences. Also, as a debut author, what advice would you give aspiring authors, especially women who want to tell raw and honest stories?"
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Click here to reply to @chirag_sadesh
"My last question to you, Professor Manju Agarwal would be that in what ways does self talk change when moving from childhood to adulthood? Also, can students reframe their self talk during failures to build resilience instead of regret? Thank you so much."
"My last question to you, Professor Manju Agarwal would be that in what ways does self talk change when moving from childhood to adulthood? Also, can students reframe their self talk during failures to build resilience instead of regret? Thank you so much."
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Click here to reply to @chirag_sadesh
"My second question would be is what are some quick techniques to interrupt negative self talk in the middle of a busy day? And also if self talk can act as a substitute for external validation, or do we still need both."
"My second question would be is what are some quick techniques to interrupt negative self talk in the middle of a busy day? And also if self talk can act as a substitute for external validation, or do we still need both."
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Click here to reply to @chirag_sadesh
"Hello, Professor Manju Agarwal. My first question to you would be how do you know if self talk is truly motivating you or, you know, secretly adding pressure?"
"Hello, Professor Manju Agarwal. My first question to you would be how do you know if self talk is truly motivating you or, you know, secretly adding pressure?"
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September 7, 2025 • 22 secs
Click here to reply to @Vivekn976
"Hello, Pragya. Ma'. Am. As a children's author, my question to you would be, when did you realize that you wanted to be an author and you wanted to write stories specifically meant for children? So that. And what made you take up this decision of writing books for children? Thank you."
"Hello, Pragya. Ma'. Am. As a children's author, my question to you would be, when did you realize that you wanted to be an author and you wanted to write stories specifically meant for children? So that. And what made you take up this decision of writing books for children? Thank you."
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Click here to reply to @sector4gp
"What was the most personal moment that inspired you to write? Not All Angels Fly."
"What was the most personal moment that inspired you to write? Not All Angels Fly."
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Click here to reply to @soumyaaa0608
"Hello, ma'. Am. Many congratulations on the wonderful milestone of your book Jab Shab Darai. It's truly heartwarming and inspiring to see how you've carved a beautiful identity for yourself as a writer by passion and a homemaker by choice. That balance itself speaks volumes about your strength, creativity, and the determination to live authentically. Jab Shabdarai is not just a book. It...
"Hello, ma'. Am. Many congratulations on the wonderful milestone of your book Jab Shab Darai. It's truly heartwarming and inspiring to see how you've carved a beautiful identity for yourself as a writer by passion and a homemaker by choice. That balance itself speaks volumes about your strength, creativity, and the determination to live authentically. Jab Shabdarai is not just a book. It...
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Click here to reply to @soumyaaa0608
"But what makes your work truly remarkable is the way you've transported these universal themes into an Indian context, making them feel not only familiar, but also deeply personal for readers here. Your adaptation carries with it a unique sensitivity. Preserve the spirit of Austen's world while weaving in the flavors, textures, and cultural layers of India, from the subtle family dynami...
"But what makes your work truly remarkable is the way you've transported these universal themes into an Indian context, making them feel not only familiar, but also deeply personal for readers here. Your adaptation carries with it a unique sensitivity. Preserve the spirit of Austen's world while weaving in the flavors, textures, and cultural layers of India, from the subtle family dynami...
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Click here to reply to @bhagath
"Why did you choose to translate this particular book into English? And why did you choose the title? Not all angels Fly. Can you brief the story behind it?"
"Why did you choose to translate this particular book into English? And why did you choose the title? Not all angels Fly. Can you brief the story behind it?"
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Click here to reply to @ayushlokhande29
"Also, what is your personal take in the scene where Shakila ma' am beats Asghar, her own son, in front of his family? What was the plan on writing such a heartbreaking scene and like, was it necessary for his comeback?"
"Also, what is your personal take in the scene where Shakila ma' am beats Asghar, her own son, in front of his family? What was the plan on writing such a heartbreaking scene and like, was it necessary for his comeback?"
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Click here to reply to @ayushlokhande29
"As we have seen in the story, most of the readers would have been amazed by the Asghar's comeback. According to you, what would be the consequences if Asgard could have forgiven him earlier and included him in his theatre company? Would his comeback still stand strong?"
"As we have seen in the story, most of the readers would have been amazed by the Asghar's comeback. According to you, what would be the consequences if Asgard could have forgiven him earlier and included him in his theatre company? Would his comeback still stand strong?"
Mark as Played
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