Fiction Scribe

Hello everyone. I’ve been looking forward to this interview since I first read the author’s note for The Dowry Bride. It’s my pleasure to bring you an interview with the author of the book, Shobahn Bantwal. I hope you will all join me in welcoming her to Fiction Scribe. And remember, by commenting, you get the chance to win a copy of the book!

Hello and thank you for stopping at Fiction Scribe, Mrs. Bantwal. Tell the readers a bit about yourself.

Hello, Jaime. Thanks for inviting me to your popular blog. About myself: I was a young bride in an arranged marriage when I came to live in the United States. Between being a working wife and mother, and juggling a busy social schedule, my life has been more than full for over three decades. My husband and I have one married daughter.

What brought you into the world of writing? When did you start?

When my husband and I became empty nesters a few years ago and later when he took up a consulting job that took him out of town on weekdays, I decided to take up creative writing to occupy my lonely evenings. It was a “Menopausal Epiphany,� that started at the age of 50 and it’s gradually turned into a second career (besides my full-time occupation as a public service employee).

You’re currently on virtual tour for your women’s fiction book The Dowry Bride. Could you tell us a bit about the book?

THE DOWRY BRIDE is set in contemporary India and it tells the story of one young woman trapped in India’s arranged marriage and dowry system and her escape and extraordinary journey to freedom and hope.

What inspired you to write The Dowry Bride? Where did the idea begin?

When I was growing up in India, I read about dowry-related bride abuse in the news and it was bothersome. Also, as a sociology major in college, it was a social issue that I saw discussed in articles and books. Nearly three and half decades later, I’m shocked that the custom still continues, so when I took up creative writing, I thought an extreme case of dowry death would make a good theme to tell the world about the issue while telling an interesting story.

You went to the United States as a bride in an arranged marriage; how much of your own experiences have been worked in to the book?

There are no autobiographical elements at all in this particular book. There are cultural descriptions and details that come from my own Indian-Hindu background, but that’s where it ends. None of the characters reflect my own life, and thank goodness for that.

Megha, the main character, discovers her mother in law wants to kill her because (in part) her parents can’t pay Megha’s dowry. Can you tell us about bride killings over dowries and about the lives of young brides in India?

Most Indian marriages take place with no hint of dowry, but in some communities and geographical areas of India, dowry is still the norm. Dowry is the custom of giving cash, jewels, household items and sometimes real estate, etc. to the groom by the bride’s family as a gift during marriage. Unfortunately the gift in some instances has turned into an entitlement and when the bride’s family fails to produce a dowry or the amount isn’t enough, the bride can be harassed and so can her entire family. Cases of killing the bride are rare, but I have taken one extreme case to build my story.

How do you relate to Megha? Did you have a hard/emotional time writing some of the bad experiences she goes through?

Megha was a wonderful character to write and emote with. I totally put myself in a character’s mind when I write my stories, so I cried, laughed, feared and obsessed when she experienced all those things. Writing the more emotional scenes was not all that hard. In fact, it was very cathartic and at times an opportunity for self-examination.

Do you have plans for more novels about life in India?

I have a two book contract with my publisher, so my second book will also be based in India. At the moment, I’m rolling around some ideas with my editor about story lines, characters and such.

The book starts with a mention of the meaning of Megha’s name; are name meanings an important part of Indian culture? What does your name mean?

Most Indian names have meanings. Sometimes they have mythological and/or religious significance. Just like John or Mary or Matthew, et al, in the Christian culture, some Hindu names are purely from the holy texts, while others have meanings. My own name Shobhan means beauty. But believe me, I can lay no claim to beauty whatsoever, LOL.

Are there any authors who have inspired you in your writing?

Yes, there are several. Dorothy Garlock, who writes wonderful women’s fiction (and who gave me a fantastic cover blurb) is one of them. Jane Austen and Harper Lee are some old favourites. Then there is Judith McNaught, Jayne Ann Krentz, Karen Robards and Tess Gerritsen.

What are your dreams for your writing?

To be able to write the kinds of books that portray my Indian-American culture and entertain at the same time. I think it’s great when a novel can tell an interesting story and cover some intriguing and educational facets of other cultures in the world.

When you’re not writing novels, what do you do?

I have a full-time career as a government employee and my husband and I lead a very busy social life, with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Do you have any advice for writers?

I’d tell every aspiring writer to keep trying to get published. Not all of us can hit the NYT bestseller list, but we can still realize the dream of becoming published authors. Often it is not fame and fortune that brings the most satisfaction; it is the opportunity to express oneself creatively and touch many lives with our words.

Thank you very much for your time.

I should be the one to thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk to you and to your readers. I hope I can do this once again with my next book. I appreciate your insightful questions and letting me tell about THE DOWRY BRIDE and my book. There is a lot more information about both on my website: www.shobhanbantwal.com

If you liked this interview, you might like to check out my interview with Sandi Kahn Shelton.