Interview with 10 Year Author Hiranya Verma

Tell us something about yourself
I sometimes talk with myself, when I’m angry or sad or something like that. It does sound really weird, but it helps. I don’t know why, but talking to me feels like someone lifting a huge burden of my chest.

Your debut book, “Hats, Hoods and Humiliation”, was published recently. To begin with, could you tell those who don’t know much about the book?
The main topic of my book is what humiliation is and how to overcome it. It includes which people may embarrass you (Accidentally or on purpose) and how to get past them, some pre- and after-emotions of embarrassment and tips on how to overcome it. 

What inspired our debut?
What inspired me to write my book was my own humiliation, in a way. When I looked back on my life, I realized how many times I had been humiliated. I got tired of thinking of only my past humiliation, so I penned it down. The result? Hats, Hood & Humiliation.

What is your process of writing a book?
Usually I get ideas while typing, as my brain works better on-the-spot. I remember writing this book with the mindset to help people, and partially because I was bored and the idea of having one of my books published quite interesting. Many times I didn’t write-usually because of loss of ideas or not enough time-and there were huge gaps of one-two months of no writing.

What book are you planning on writing next?
I’ve been working on my next book, ‘Eccentric Ecstatic Emotion’ (the title is so because, well, three E’s in a row sounds catchy!) and even though I’ve cracked only the first chapter, I’ve been getting a carton load of ideas, and I expect that the next time I open my laptop up to type, I’ll finish a whole lot more than twenty words.

Why have you written this book?
I wrote this book to help people, and also to help me. I was tired of remembering the many times I had been embarrassed, and jotting all of it down really helped. Eventually, I decided to write a book on my thoughts.

What are some of your hobbies?
My hobbies are-
Re-reading Harry Potter
Writing books & articles (though I’ve finished only one book till date)
Scrapbooking
Playing with my abandoned dollhouse
Painting, drawing & comic-making

How did you come up with the idea of publishing a non-fiction book at such a young age?
My mom & dad had a huge part in this. They told me I was good in literature, and that I should start writing stuff. My mom engaged us in writing articles for magazines and kids’ newspapers. I remember my English teacher being proud of my work and she said that she was expecting a book coming from me soon. It was my parents’ and teachers’ support that made me write the book. 

What kind of books do you read?
I enjoy reading sci-fi, fantasy and adventure books. I’m currently re-reading Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (I finished the series last year). My favourite authors are Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, Rick Riordan and J.K. Rowling. I remember when I was younger; I used to be scared of reading thick books, especially Harry Potter. So I watched the movies instead. I didn’t understand the movies, so switched to the books. Turns out, I understand books a whole lot better than movies!  

What is your parents’ role in your reading/writing life?
My parents have always been encouraging and supporting. I remember looking towards my mother for few of the ideas in my book, and the ‘Points to Ponder’ were fully her idea. My father paid a huge role in getting my book published, as he did all the money matters in the whole ordeal, the illustrations and the spelling & grammar checking. I couldn’t have done this without the amount of work they put in for me, their support, or their never-ending encouragement. 

Which is the first book you remember reading by yourself?
I remember reading a collection of stories by Enid Blyton. I remember reading the cover and pronouncing ‘other’ as ‘order’. My mother and brother were a crucial part in helping me learn how to write, as my mother has mentioned in her book. They taught me how to read English at the crisp age of five. By the time I was in 1st grade, my teacher had to tell me not to help other people in their small assessments, because I used to finish mine so early I had nothing else to do.

What do you wish to become when you grow up?
Now, I wish to become a writer for both non-fiction and fiction books, and perhaps even some small little comics along the way. My list of dream jobs had ‘doctor’ at the top because I couldn’t think of anything else, then went to ‘artist’ as I was fairly good in art in my second grade, then I thought of becoming a professor for Literature, because I enjoyed helping people understand any topic, but dropped it because I thought becoming a writer was my true passion. Will my dream job change, or have I sealed my fate as a writer? Who knows? 

How many languages do you know? Do you write in any other language?
I, as of now, know only two languages: Hindi & English. I know a little bit of Spanish, but not enough to write a book. I think I’ll only be writing in English, for now, but if my Hindi improves, I’ll let you know.  

Book Buy Link (for India): https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0881XXJJ2
Book Buy Link (for US): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0881XXJJ2

Information about the Parents
Hiranya’s parents are Dr Rohit Verma and Dr Vidhu Bhatnagar. Dr Verma is Hyperbaric and Diving Physician. His interests are Birding, Photography, Blogging and Water Colours. He also intends to publish a historical fiction novel someday. Dr Vidhu is a Neuroanaesthesinologist. A prolific writer herself, she has authored four books which focus on relationships, self-help for new parents and understanding the field of Anaesthesiology. They are based in Cochin, Kerala, India.