Who Is Shobhan
By LMReviews on Mar 2, 2009 in Multicultural Contributors, Multicultural Writing
Sable Lit Reviews welcomes Shobhan Bantwal!
First I must say, how I came across your work. I often write on the blog that I get my ideas for posts and other writings from magazine and other media outlets to which I have access.
Well, I came across your name in an article about how ChickLit was storming among young women in the Middle East. You were listed as one of the few writers whose multicultural work from that region was easily available in the U.S. I checked out your website and saw those gorgeous covers and I saw those blurbs about The Dowry Bride and I knew I had to put you on my “To Read” list.
Now that I have read Forbidden Daughter, I know your name being mentioned in that article had more to do with your focus on women of Indian culture and less to do with the ChickLit genre.
Let us tarry no longer…On with the interview:
Sable Lit Reviews(SLR): For those who may not be acquainted with you and your writing, tell us how about your background and how long you’ve been writing? (background= prev career before writing full-time, where you grew up, what part of the country you live now, siblings, kids etc whatever you feel comfortable sharing in this area)
Shobhan Bantwal (SB): I was born and raised in a small town in India, one of five sisters. I came to the United States 35 years ago as a young bride in an arranged marriage. I had never dreamt of being a fiction writer until I turned 50. With a demanding full-time day job and an active family and social life, writing was never on my list of to-do items. But after our only child left home to follow her own career and married life, writing started as a hobby for me. I call it my “menopausal epiphany.” After a few of my short stories won honors and awards, gradually my ambitions expanded, and I became a published author of full-length fiction. However, writing still remains a hobby because I continue to work full-time at my regular job. In fact, now I juggle two full-time careers after becoming published.
SLR: I love how you say, “two full-time careers” in that it speaks of your complexity. Sometimes as writers, others only view that aspect of our lives. Often there are other careers and interests that are just as important and fuel our writing. Tell us what about your other career?
SB: I supervise a statewide employer services program for the New Jersey Dept of Labor.
SLR: Two careers indeed!
Readers and lurkers alike, please feel free to post any questions you may have so far about Shobhan, her life and work, then hurry back tomorrow for part two where we get into trenches with her works, The Dowry Bride and Forbidden Daughter.
In the meantime check out Shobhan’s world at her website:
