Book: Alchemy of Lyrics, Lyrical Waves, Voice of Tranquility
Biographical Info: Sonali is born and brought up at Rourkela (Birmitrapur) and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from IIIT Bhubaneswar. Besides academics and research, she loves to respond to her emotions and give them a proper structure. She is the author of ‘Does Life Really Moves On,’ which is featured among the top 100 debut novels of India in 2020. She has also authored a collection of poems and a collection of short stories titled ‘Droplets of Thought’ and ‘The Scream of Silence,’ respectively. Recently she published a book of quotes titles ‘Lyrical Waves.’ She had compiled three anthologies titled ‘Alchemy of Lyrics,’ ‘Fragments of Thoughts’ and ‘Autumn Diary’ that offered an opportunity to more than forty budding poets to probe deeper into their phychic and give words to their thoughts and perception. She also co-authored more than thirty-five anthologies and consistently wrote for blogs and many websites. Besides academics, writing has given meaning to her life and she honors her recognition as an author.
Interviewer: Congratulations for the release of your poetry book – ‘Voice of Tranquility’! What is the book all about and who would you recommend it to?
Sonali Ganguly: Thank you so much. ‘Voice of Tranquility’ is a poetic manifestation of realistic imagery. In fact, the title speaks about the content of the book. It is collection of some scattered thoughts, silent realizations and response to the urge of giving words to my emotions. I will recommend this book to all book lovers, especially poetry enthusiasts. The poems will relate to each of us in the crowd.
Interviewer: Please tell me about poetry? What is your perception about poetry?
Sonali Ganguly: Poetry is the inner voice of an introspecting mind, expressing medium for an acute observer and silent adorer. Poetry for me is a way to pour out my deeper sentiments and emotions in rhythmic form. A beautiful literary genre that befriends a lonely personality, soothes a broken heart, heals a grief-stricken mind and touches every soul on earth.
Interviewer: How did you go about the writing process? Are you a spontaneous writer or a disciplined one?
Sonali Ganguly: Process is needed for a planned formatted writing. But poetry is beyond any specified format or principles. Even though meter and rhyme scheme attempt to formulate a pattern but poetry is the reflection of spontaneous flow of emotion. I follow a simple process- responding to the trigger. Poetry is that form of writing where pre-planned, structured ideas hardly work but spontaneous feeling or realization do.
Interviewer: Writing sometimes can be exhausting.What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
Sonali Ganguly: Writing is exhausting if it becomes a mandatory action otherwise, writing is fun and exciting if your pen keeps scribbling your mind exactly as you wish, tying knot after knot in a poetic rhythm. I need two things in my writing space:
One, a cup of motivation
And a plate full of inspiration
Interviewer: Voice of Tranquility is a collection of both English and Hindi poems. Was it difficult to compile? What inspired the idea for this book?
Sonali Ganguly: Transcriptions into Hindi script is a bit time consuming task but the urge to see the final product kept me at pace. I believe that a open theme bilingual poetry book is like offering different flavours to the readers which would touch every heart. I wish the book to reach both English –speaking and non-English speaking readers who love poetry.
Interviewer: What book is currently on your bedside table?
Sonali Ganguly: Scion of Ikshvaku, Amish Tripathi’s first book of Ram Chandra series
Interviewer: What are some of your other interests apart from writing?
Sonali Ganguly: Being jack of all trades and master of none, my interests are scattered in various fields: Recording Songs, crafts, reading novels, embroidery works are some of the worth sharing interests of mine.
Interviewer: Are you on social media? How can our readers reach you?
Sonali Ganguly: I can be reached at- sona.ganguly88@gmail.com. Readers can also find me on Facebook and Instagram –sona.ganguly88
Interviewer: Please let the readers know about your projects for the future? Are you working on any book?
Sonali Ganguly: Yes, currently I am working on a story book, which will project different shades of the most confusing emotion, i.e. love. The book will not confine to the romantic love of couples but will demonstrate love as a strongest feeling and blessing of almighty to the humankind.
Interviewer: Any message for readers regarding the book?
Sonali Ganguly: These set of poems contain my words but definitely express the realistic perception of life, which will resemble to all your emotions and sentiments.
Interviewer: Thanks for your time! It was a pleasuretalking to you about your book. I wish you best of luck for the future!
Sonali Ganguly: Thank you
Favorite poem from the book
अगर ऐसा हो जाए
अगर ऐसा हो जाए
वक़्त की रफ़्तार एक पल को थम जाए
फिर से चले हम उन बीते लम्हों में
और वापस अपना बचपन मिल जाए
ख़ुशी से कुछ पल फिर से जी लूँ में
वक़्त का पैया मुझे वहीँ छोड़ आए
हो जाऊँ कैद में उन गुजरे लम्हों में
काश फिरसे मुझे वहां माँ मिल जाए
Order on Amazon: “Voice of Tranquility”
