Author’s Corner: With Judy Balan

In the ‘Author’s Corner’ series we shine the spotlight on promising first-time female authors. Hope you enjoy reading some fun facts about them!

Kick-starting the series is Judy Balan, author of Two Fates; the breezy story about a clashing couple always at loggerheads with each other and their journey to getting divorced.

If you had not become a writer, what would you have been?

I’m an all or nothing person and don’t believe in alternatives. Like I always say – I’m the single mom who quit her job without a Plan B, without alimony and with a 2 year old in tow because at that time, all I knew was that I had to quit my job. But then, it worked for me. So I really can’t see myself doing anything else. Who knows, maybe I would have made T-shirts with “clever” lines such as – I took the road less travelled and look what happened!

What is the best thing about being a published author?

There are a lot of things; embarrassing friends at Landmark by pointing at my book and going ‘See, see! My book is on the Bestseller list!’, googling myself every morning faithfully for new reviews (still not above these cheap thrills), getting random emails from people who really liked the book (or blog) and of course, the idea of living off my royalties! But on a more serious note, it’s good to be taken seriously.

What is the hardest thing about writing a book?

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For me, it was the commitment. I’m the most disorganized person I know – so pinning myself down every day to write – whether I felt inspired or not, was really what I found most challenging. Also, I was so used to writing blog posts which took an hour – at the most – to write; after which I could get a rush out of hitting the publish button and having comments in my inbox within minutes. With a book, you reap the fruits more than a year later. But I’m going to – in grandmother-like fashion – tell you that it’s totally worth it!

If you were a man, would there be anything different about your book?

Heh, yes. I might have parodied Twilight instead.

Who was the first to read your book? What was their first reaction?

It was my friend Andaleeb (also an author). She kept texting me every few pages, cracking up over something in the book. Such a lovely feeling.

One book you would love to have written?

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It’s one of those sweeping sagas that stay with you long after you’ve put the book down – a book you want to go back to, a book you can’t get enough of. Also, her style is something else – she truly writes like a dream.

Future literary plans?

I’m on a deadline for book #2 which should hopefully be out end of this year. Or maybe early next year. Other than that, I have a newspaper column coming out shortly and I’m very excited about that – it’s been a dream.

Thanks Judy! We hope your forthcoming novels turn out to be even more successful than your first!

*Photo credit: Avinash Peters

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