The Storyteller: Prerna Pickett

Hi and welcome to Issue #16 of The Storyteller! (There was an error in last week's newsletter which was #15 and not #16--my bad.)

If you aren't yet subscribed to the newsletter, you can change that here.

Today's guest is Prerna Pickett, an Indian-born, American-bred author of swoony but heartfelt romance novels and she talks about her writing journey, why she enjoys writing about love, writer challenges, and more.

Anu: Talk us through your writing journey to the present moment. How did you become a writer? What drew you to telling stories? What drew you, later, to the romance genre?

Prerna: I’ve always had stories running in my head, sort of like a movie reel. Creating new worlds, alternating endings to books, shows, movies. However, it wasn’t until college that I attempted to write my first novel. Maybe fear was what stopped me from attempting to do so beforehand. All that matters is I finally took that first step. And it was awful. My writing was disappointing. So, I stopped.

Then I read Twilight. Yes, I know, I know! But that was the book that made me try writing again. I love writing because it’s tangible. When I make stories up in my head, there’s nothing to show for it, just a sleepless night. When I write? It feels like breathing life into my characters and their world. And as far as romance goes, I am a hopeless romantic, and that is something I can’t shut off in my own writing. So, my books will always have romance in some shape or form.

Anu: What has been one of the most challenging aspects of being a writer that you didn’t expect? 

Prerna: Moving goal posts. I used to think “When I get an agent, then I’ll have made it” or “When I get a book deal, I’ll finally be a real writer”. But goals evolve and ambitions grow. Which isn’t a bad thing, but it does remind me that I need to stop treating external factors as success. True success is doing something you love despite the fear and doubt lurking nearby.

Anu: Equally, what are some of the enjoyable ones? 

Prerna: Getting that email from my editor when she wanted to buy If You Only Knew. I don’t know how to describe the excitement. Signing with my agent. Launching my debut. Seeing If You Only Knew on bookshelves. Those moments are priceless.
 
Anu: What sort of a writer are you? How do you work with an idea from start to finish? (Does the plot come first or the characters, for example; do you plot everything out and so on.) Has this process changed from when you first started?

Prerna: I always thought of myself as a pantser, but as I’ve grown from a baby writer to a somewhat seasoned writer, I now realize that I actually do plot. In my head. Even if I don’t write it down, I’m plotting. I never used to outline, but I have started to write rough outlines before diving into a new story. I say rough because I like to give my characters room to explore and tell their stories. I will say that no matter how much I plot, I cannot for the life of me start writing the story until I hear the main character's voice in my head. If I don’t have the voice, I can’t do anything with the plot.

Anu: What inspired you to write this If Only You Knew?

Prerna: I have very vivid dreams, which inspire a lot of my stories, and that is the case with If You Only Knew. I dreamt of a boy being held in place by an older man while a girl in the background tried to push them apart. I woke up and needed to know who those people were and how they got to where they were. And thus IYOK was born. By the way, that scene is in the book!

Anu: What themes do you like to explore, or would like to explore, in your work?

Prerna: I tend to write main characters who are trying to find their place in the world. Who am I? Who do I want to be? How do I get there? I doubt that will ever change, because even as you get older, you’re still trying to answer those questions.

Anu: Is there anything you wish you’d known about being a writer and plunging into publishing when you first started out?

Prerna: Rejection is normal. Even after you get an agent and sell your book. Don’t let it stop you from pursuing your dreams. And you will be writing synopses and queries for the rest of your career, so might as well learn to like them? Okay, maybe like is a strong word, perhaps tolerate is better.

Anu: What’s your favourite writing advice for aspiring writers? Secondly, what’s a piece of advice you received that really helped you in your work?

Prerna:  Don’t be afraid of exploring writing styles. When I first started writing, I tried to mimic other authors until I figured out the kind of writer I wanted to be. My agent says that having a strong writing voice is what really sets you apart in this industry. Experiment and don’t be afraid to mess up. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten is to read. You can’t become a better writer if you aren’t reading.

Anu: What are some of your favourite diverse reads that you cannot stop recommending to people?

Prerna: Anything by Sandhya Menon, Aiden Thomas, Leah Johnson, Yamile Saied Mendez, Chloe Gong, Nisha Sharma (I can go on and on and on because there are so many!). In adult, I recently read The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and it was absolutely incredible.

Anu: What next?

Prerna: I have so many projects in the pipeline! Both in the YA and adult. I’m excited to share them all with you in the near future! One thing you can count on? There will be kissing!

---
1. What's the last book that you read that you'd recommend and why?

I just finished These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong and it was spectacular. The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson was so creepy and well written. I also loved You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle.
 
2. What's the last TV show or movie you watched that you'd recommend and why?

The last movie I watched in theatre was Birds of Prey and I definitely recommend it. My husband and I recently discovered Barry on HBO and it’s perfect for anyone into dark comedy.

3. What's the last song you listened to that you'd recommend and why?

I am currently obsessed with "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd. It has such a big 80s vibe and makes me want to get up and dance!

---

Thanks for making time for this chat, Prerna!

As always, I've included both mine and Prerna's social media links below. There are buying links as well, which include links through my own online affiliate shop for Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores. I have a separate section on there titled "The Storyteller newsletter" so you can access the relevant buying links for all the authors I've had on here so far.

In Issue #17 heading your way on February 15, you'll be meeting Janet Skeslian Charles (website) whose sophomore novel, The Paris Library, out on February 9, 2021 (Atria Books), is a historical fiction narrative based on the true WWII story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris.

If you enjoyed this and know someone who would, as well, please forward this to them! I'm also always up for a book (or general) chat so feel free to turn this into a conversation at any time by replying to the email, even if just to let me know your thoughts on an issue or if you have any feedback, but also if you must share with someone how awesome something is that you've recently read, watched, or listened to.

Thank you and until next time!

Anu

Currently reading: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Currently watching: This is Us (season 5), Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (season 2), One Tree Hill (season 2 rewatch)
Latest writing: My first publication of 2021 is this most personal of personal essays a long time in the making. You can read it in Issue 1 of Tether's End Magazine here.

---
Website
Twitter
Instagram

Buying links

Bookshop
Amazon