About Tanika Kohli
Tanika Kohli, lives in the UK with her family. A keen reader since childhood, she has always enjoyed using her imagination while writing in school. Born and brought up in India, she has lived in Kenya and U.K in the past two decades. An avid traveller,Tanika aspires to weave captivating stories around the people and situations she has observed during her travels.
LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it and its content?
Tanika Kohli: The Full Circle is a contemporary fiction about Amarjit, a soon to retire radio journalist in USA who is looking forward to his retirement when his ten year old grandson Nirvair goes missing. The search to find him, opens a pandora’s box of Amarjit’s past filled with turmoil and regret in India. As the child is found fighting his own traumas, Amarjit breaks a blood oath to help his grandson in the process finding solace to his hidden wounds.
I undertook a writing course and to be able to put my learns in action as I developed each chapter was my biggest accomplishment.
Writing this book, has been an enjoyable experience. I had felt i had found a purpose in my life. Each character, every nuance and situation was created meticulously. Stepping in the character’s shoes, was a challenging yet thrilling experience.
LiFT: Why you chose this title?
Tanika Kohli: The Full Circle, embibes the essence of this book. The protagonist comes back to his motherland, after decades of being away. Rage, trauma and regret turn into solace, composure and freedom within, as life takes him The Full Circle.
LiFT: When did you realize that you want to be a writer and what’s your inspiration behind it?
Tanika Kohli: Being a writer was a childhood dream which somehow was forgotten when life’s roles and responsibilities took over. I was looking for writing courses and came across my mentor. The writing course helped me hone my skills, and indeed life has come a full circle for me, bringing me from the UK to the city where I grew up,Delhi, to launch my debut book.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Tanika Kohli: I see myself writing quality contemporary fiction and being appreciated for it. I also see my books being sold across book shops globally, as well as online marketplaces. I see myself winning awards and accolades.
LiFT: How much do you think marketing or quality of a book is necessary to promote a particular book and increase its readers?
Tanika Kohli: In today’s digital age, marketing of a quality book is important too. With the mix of the right tools, constant engagement and marketing and quality paper and interesting and content that hooks readers, any book is bound to be read and appreaciated by readers.
LiFT: What is the message you want to spread among folks with your writings?
Tanika Kohli: Since my book is a contemporary fiction, that talks about 3-4 subjects prevelant in today’s world I hope the readers enjoy it. The message of the first book is acceptance and humanity.
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Tanika Kohli: A full time mother, I also work as a director in a business I run with my husband in the UK.
LiFT: What are the activities you resort to when you face a writer’s block?
Tanika Kohli: Taking a short break and reading different genres of books,help me to refresh myself and write better.
LiFT: What if your story will be adopted as a movie? Whom would you want to work as a director or actors in it?
Tanika Kohli: If my story is adopted as a movie, I would love for Imtiaz Ali to direct it. The actor who would be able to do justice to the role is Anupam Kher as the protagonist.
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If yes, please tell us something about it.
Tanika Kohli: The next book wilk be based on an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. I am working on the plot and the writing will start in September.
LiFT: What are your suggestions to the budding writers/poets so that they could improve their writing skills?
Tanika Kohli: Read diffent genres, the more you read the more you learn. Also a mentorship programme or a short course can be beneficial.
Click here to order Tanika Kohli’s Book – The Full Circle
