Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born to Indian parents in June 1999. Introduced to books by my mother as a strategy to reduce my hyper-activeness and to get me to sit still for more than five seconds (I almost fell out of a window once), I fell in love with the fictional worlds conjured up by the imagination. I spent most of her childhood curled in the corner of the local library with a book. Once I picked up a pen, I never put it down, writing from the tender age of 3. “A.U.R.A” is my debut novel, a thrilling young adult science fiction. A current college student, I can be found weaving snatches of poetry into cohesive sentences for my blog in the middle of the night and sleeping in nine A.M lectures.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called A.U.RA. It’s a YA sci-fi novel and it was inspired by a particular image I came across of a purple iris filled with stars. The picture sparked an idea and the idea turned into a plot and finally a book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I only write in the middle of the night because ideas flow easier then. You could say I’m a night owl.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I was influenced a lot by the authors of my childhood like JK Rowling, Roald Dahl, Margaret Peterson Haddix, etc. As I grew older, I started appreciating the beauty and the writing style in books like The God of Small Things and A Thousand Years of Solitude. Arundhati Roy is my writer role model.
What are you working on now?
I started a narrative poetry blog quite recently and I’m experimenting with contemporary styles of writing that don’t necessitate complete sentences.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Everyone loves free things.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You’ll feel like giving up so many times during your journey. Don’t. It’s worth it in the end.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Sleep on it and decide in the morning. Or just sleep in general.
What are you reading now?
The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to work on my poetry for the moment.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The God of Small Things, Sherlock Holmes, the Kite Runner and Harry Potter
Author Websites and Profiles
Aksa Thomas Website
Aksa Thomas Amazon Profile
Aksa Thomas’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account