About Shreea Amar Banerjee
Shreea Amar Banerjee is based in Pune, Maharashtra. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and has pursued Human Resource Analytics program from IIM Rohtak. She has published quite a few Research papers upon different avenues of Management Studies. She even engages from time to time in delivering lectures for students across Schools, Colleges and Institutes on different topics from Soft Skills and Life Skills acumens.
Even though Shreea has been working in the IT industry for more than 9 years now, her artistic soul has never taken a back foot. She has been trained in Hindustani Classical Singing since a very young age and has completed Visharad from Gandharv Vishwavidyalaya, Mumbai. She is a mental health enthusiast and loves to talk about this elephant in the room.
LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it and its content?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: This book was incepted when out of nowhere my father said to me one day – YOU SHOULD WRITE! Now, my father has a side to his personality which is extremely spiritual. At that time, when he uttered those words to me, I was completely clueless as to what should I write on. I have had that flare of writing since a very young age but his words sort of pushed me to take the art of writing seriously. I considered it as a divine intervention. So I thought through for a while and then started crafting my first story. It had to be something I was brought up with, so many elements I put in the first story as well as the stories that followed – are kind of resultants and expansions of my own values and characteristics. Now once the first story was done and I was satisfied with it’s stature – I got the validation from within that I can pursue this further. And that’s how the entire book came into being!
LiFT: Why you chose this title?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: I wanted the title itself to tease the process of unveiling of secrets. Therefore, “Why So Mystic” is phrased as a question, reflecting the inquisitiveness that permeates each story. The characters themselves are compelled time and again to ask questions as they encounter the extraordinary in the stories like — why are they chosen, why are their lives intertwined with unfinished business, and why must they confront the mystical? So, right from the title itself, the readers too are invited to question and explore the ordinary world around these characters. invoking curiosity as to why do these everyday scenarios hold such mystic undercurrents.
LiFT: When did you realize that you want to be a writer and what’s your inspiration behind it?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: The realization that I wanted to be a writer was not a sudden epiphany but rather a gradual journey of self-discovery. The complexities of human emotions and relationships that I witnessed and experienced, kept serving as an endless source of inspiration.
Though the path was gradual, the moment I truly embraced writing as my calling was when I completed my first story. It felt complete and authentic—a piece that encapsulated my thoughts and emotions in a way I had never achieved before. The sense of fulfillment and purpose I felt at that time, kind of further solidified my desire to keep writing because I felt like I was chosen to do that – to tell those stories to the world.
And from there, every new story I spun, got to become a step further towards understanding myself and the world around me better—and to invite others as well to do the same.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: My ultimate aspiration is to leave behind a body of work that stands the test of time—stories that continue to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought. Additionally, I also aspire to connect with readers across the globe, with my books translated into multiple languages, resonating with people from different cultures. My works should be such that they have the capacity to inspire conversations about life’s mysteries, the human experience, and the interconnectedness of all things.
LiFT: How much do you think marketing or quality of a book is necessary to promote a particular book and increase its readers?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: While quality is the heart of the book – ensuring it leaves a lasting footprint, marketing is the voice that ensures it is heard by the right audience. Both are equally essential. No matter how great a book is, if no one knows about it, it won’t gain readers. Therefore one needs to have an honest conversation with the publisher beforehand regarding the marketing segment so as to understand how exactly the publisher is going to contribute, in what capacity, to what extent, following what timelines etc. If all that is known to you, then definitely it gets easier to plan your strategies as an author, to expand your book’s reach amongst the audience.
LiFT: What is the message you want to spread among folks with your writings?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: That one never knows EVERYTHING! So we should always be open to appreciate the connections that bind us to one another as well as to the world around us so that we can understand the beauty and significance of our roles in the grander scheme.
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: I perform in open mics – storytelling is my thing! I sing – I have learnt Hindustani Classical Music so I love to pursue that journey from time to time. I meditate! I love to spend time with my friends and family – so hanging out with them is another thing I keep indulging in! I am also fond of visiting places which are bit away from hustle bustle of cities. Although lately it hasn’t happened much – but yes given a freewill, I love to be in quiet serene spots.
LiFT: What are the activities you resort to when you face a writer’s block?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: I indulge in other art forms like singing, drawing, even cooking some new food item that I have never cooked before – following every little detail of the said recipe meticulously. Also at those times I completely stop thinking about the section I was working on and got stuck at! But what I have seen is that, after a gap, when I resume – things seem to come seamlessly flowing towards me!
LiFT: What if your story will be adopted as a movie? Whom would you want to work as a director or actors in it?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: Well, this book is an amalgamation of 5 short stories and if we were to believe the readers’ reviews so far – definitely each of these stories has potential and capacity to be translated into movies or for that matter become part of an anthology film. As far as who I would want to work as a director on them – someone who can understand every detailed nuance that the characters of these stories carry within themselves because that’s where lies the beauty of these stories.
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If yes, please tell us something about it.
Shreea Amar Banerjee: No – nothing worth mentioning is on the cards right now. Still contemplating!
LiFT: What are your suggestions to the budding writers/poets so that they could improve their writing skills?
Shreea Amar Banerjee: Based on my journey so far into this acumen, I would like to share 3 bullet pointers. Firstly, always dwell on an insatiable curiosity about the world, ideas, and experiences as it will fuel your creativity and enrich your writing. Second is don’t compromise your authenticity JUST to cater to trends because it’s your perspective and your experiences that are going to make your work distinct. And lastly, pay attention to your surroundings—people, nature, emotions, and moments. Great writing often stems from keen observation.
Click here to order Shreea Amar Banerjee’s Book – Why So Mystic
