An Interview With Anamika Mishra7 min read

Anamika Mishra, author of three Best Selling Novels, ‘Too Hard To Handle‘, “For The Sake Of Love‘ and ‘Voice Mates‘ is a motivational speaker, a travel enthusiast, and an avid blogger. In her honest way, she believes she is a proud shopaholic, a history lover, a flower lover, and a nerd too being an engineer by qualification. Thousand Miles team in an exclusive interview with Author Anamika Mishra in the quest of knowing about her life, hobbies, passions, and her principles. Read Below:

Thousand Miles: What is the inspiration behind becoming an author? Was it a childhood dream?

Author Anamika Mishra: It wasn’t actually a childhood dream, though after reading my first novel when I was in 5^th standard in school, I felt like writing a book. I was a confused soul, I did computer engineering then pursed journalism and mass communication but never thought of becoming an author until I started working on my first book. Before I started by first book, I used to write poems and blogs.

Thousand Miles: Do you think ‘The Inner Call’ of a person is the real call that one should follow and chase his/her dream?

Author Anamika Mishra: Yes! I do believe in The Inner Call. Though it is really hard to realize what your true calling is. I have experienced the same. I was clueless about what I wanted to do in life. Hard to believe, but I tried everything, from dance to music to sports (I was a basketball and table tennis player) to engineering to journalism to photography to corporate communication to radio and what not! Although I was into writing all this while but never realized this WRITING is my true calling until one day when picked my diary and started weaving a story. I was like, this is it! Now, everything may it be speaking or blogging or business, everything is secondary, writing books is my priority because that’s not just my work or passion but also my escape to a world that I create.

Thousand Miles: Being beautiful and pretty is almost every girl’s dream. Are both of these adjectives similar in nature? Your opinion on this. Kindly talk us through.

Author Anamika Mishra: I would say it’s similar but not the same. People have different perspectives of beauty, some think fair skin is beautiful, some feel dark skin is beautiful, some find big eyes beautiful and some find small eyes beautiful. I believe beauty lies in the eyes of a beholder. What is beautiful for me might not be beautiful for you.

With being pretty, I think it more has to do with looks which is fine. Every girl wants to look pretty but yes, I don’t think it’s a ‘dream’. At least not for me!

Thousand Miles: If you have not been an author, what would you have been? Any dream world fascination?

Author Anamika Mishra: Well, that’s really a tough question because I almost tried every field and ended up being an author. Is there anything left that I should try? A NASA scientist maybe?

Thousand Miles: Apart from being an author, a blogger and a motivational speaker, what other interests and quality do you possess?

Author Anamika Mishra: I am also an entrepreneur but I usually don’t talk about my business publically because I prefer to maintain by identity as an author, a blogger and a motivational speaker.

Apart from work, I am huge movie buff and love music. I am addicted to travelling, so if it’s been 2 weeks straight and you haven’t seen me travelling, there should be something seriously wrong in my life!

Thousand Miles: ‘Winter is not season, it’s a celebration’. This quote became viral all over the internet. Your emotions behind writing this line?

Author Anamika Mishra: Well, I love winters. The vibes of this season are magical, especially during December as it’s Christmas, new year and of course my birthday! So, when I wrote this phrase, I was in really a happy mood, it was December, I was writing a romantic story and this just came out!

Thousand Miles: Are you in support of the statement, ‘Success makes a man looks good’? Kindly explain your perspective into this.

Author Anamika Mishra: Yes I agree! The more successful you become, the more confidence you gain. And a confident person always looks good. It’s not just about the attire, makeup or footwear, but it’s about the personality that shines and makes you look good when you are successful.

Thousand Miles: How was the experience when you received the prestigious ‘Literary Excellence Award 2019 at the 11th Asiad Literature Festival in New Delhi’?

Author Anamika Mishra: It was amazing! I feel grateful that my work is getting me awards.

Thousand Miles: The protagonists of your novel ‘For The Sake of Love’, Twisha is an energetic and independent girl. Her story takes a U-turn as she finds the stack of letters. The unrequited romance mentioned in those letters gave her a mission. Is this story inspired by real-life people? Kindly talk us through.

Author Anamika Mishra: Well, not exactly but yes. I met an old man in an old book café in Shimla where he said ‘aj kal k baccho ka pyaar ka matlab nahi pata. Ishq to humare zamane me hua karta tha, jab hum mahino saalon intzar karte hai ek javab ka. Mein to aj bhi meri pehli girlfriend se ek bar milne ki dua karta hoon!’

When I heard these lines, I was sure that I had found my next story, hence For the sake of love happened!

Thousand Miles: Which famous person living or dead you like to meet and why?

Author Anamika Mishra: I want to meet Charles dickens because his book was the first book I EVER read i.e. David copperfield and that book seeded the thought in me that I too want to write books. I would also want to meet Kishore Kumar sir as I am huge fan of him. Sadly, this is impossible I know.

Living person, I wish to meet Paulo Coelho once and accompany him is his daily walk.

Thousand Miles: Any cherished moment from your work or family you want to share with us for your fans to know.

Author Anamika Mishra: There are many, so picking one will be unfair. And also, the best is yet to come! I am still waiting for that ‘one moment’ which will make me take this unfair step of picking that ‘one moment’ over every other that I’ve experienced so far! 

Thousand Miles: Would you like to advice to our novice writers who are writing their first novel/book of their lives? As a new writer/author, what are the things one should be careful about?

Author Anamika Mishra: I believe consistency is key. So, I would suggest all aspiring and new writers to be consistent and committed in their writing. Also, don’t try to copy anyone else’s style. It’s good to take ideas or get inspired but don’t try to imitate.

Thousand Miles: Do you think Indian parents should encourage their kids to pursue their passion?

Author Anamika Mishra: Not just Indian parents, but every parent in this world should encourage their kids to pursue their passion. I believe parents stop kids to pursue their passion because they are scared of the future and they don’t want their kids to suffer. The solution to this is, talk! In my book VoiceMates I’ve tried to explain the same thing. Sit and talk to your parents, explain what you really want to do and create a plan for it. Discuss risks and solutions. Have a plan B. I’m sure with all these discussions, parents will surely support kids to pursue their passion. I feel there is no point being a rebel, instead communicate and convince. Baat karne se baat banti hai, you see!

Thousand Miles: Your thoughts on being featured in the ‘Anniversary Issue’ of our Magazine.

Author Anamika Mishra: I am so grateful to you and team for featuring me in this Anniversary Issue. Thank you so much! I wish the team, a very good luck. May you get to celebrate more and more anniversaries and may you cross the milestones that make the team of Thousand Miles proud of their work. Good Luck!