Aishwarya Jha discusses her debut novel The Scent of Fallen Stars, the challenges of being published, her love for cross-cultural storytelling, and the inspirations behind her poignant, epic love stories, with Sohaila Kapur.

In this exclusive interview, Aishwarya Jha, author of The Scent of Fallen Stars, shares insights into her debut novel and the journey of getting it published. Jha explores themes of cross-cultural love, magical realism, and the mother-daughter relationships that shape her narrative. Discover how her poetic influences, experiences as a designer, and passion for storytelling help craft unforgettable characters and emotional depth. If you’re looking for an inspiring story of creativity and timeless romance, this interview with Aishwarya Jha is a must-read for aspiring authors and literature enthusiasts.

Aishwarya Jha, a poet, novelist, and creative designer, debuted her novel The Scent of Fallen Stars earlier this year. Published by Penguin Random House India, the book spans generations, locations, and deep emotions, offering readers a cross-cultural love story that’s as much about personal quests as it is about sweeping romantic ideals. In this interview, Sohaila Kapur speaks to Aishwarya about her writing journey, the challenges of getting published, and the creative influences that shaped her first novel.

Sohaila Kapur: You’re a published writer and poet. But not all writers contemplate writing a novel. It’s an arduous process. What made you write one?

Aishwarya Jha: I always knew I wanted to be a writer, since I was a child. Traversing bookstores and the magical worlds contained within their tomes, it’s impossible not to be captivated by the smells, textures, and warmth. It ignited a fire in me, a dream to one day have a book of my own on those shelves and maybe transport other readers into places touched with a little enchantment, because escaping to those realms is what makes this one, which sometimes seems so unenchanted, a little more bearable.

Sohaila Kapur: This being your first novel, how hard was it to sell it to a publisher?

Aishwarya Jha: Every author or aspiring author knows what a brutal, soul-crushing process it can be! In a way, it was even harder for me because it was only after I finished writing the manuscript and started looking into publication that I realized the story wasn’t in alignment with the trends of the marketplace today. But I was certain there would be an audience for it, so I persevered—with copious amounts of blood, sweat, and tears. And in the end, all it took was for it to reach the right editor at the right time. That’s really all it takes, even if it sometimes seems like the road there is full of potholes.

Sohaila Kapur: You have a poetic turn of phrase and your style is reminiscent of the magical realism of Latin American authors. Were you influenced by the style?

Aishwarya Jha: I enjoy magic realism very much but I haven’t read as much of it as I’d like. I think I’m most influenced by poetry itself, which I’ve also written a fair amount of. There are many poets I deeply admire, from Neruda to Faiz to Burns, and more contemporary stalwarts like Mary Oliver and Christopher Poindexter. Their poetry turns the real into magic. I feel the same way about music, which was also a big influence on the story and the writing process itself.

Sohaila Kapur: Your novel has a wide scope, in which the characters and locations are European and Indian. The chapter headings are in Hindi and Urdu and the emotions involved in the love story are very Indian, almost Devdas-like, even though the protagonist (William) is British. What inspired you to write this cross-cultural love story? Is it a fictionalized autobiography?

Aishwarya Jha: How nice it would have been if it was autobiographical! Of course, as with any writer, there’s a lot of myself in the book, even if it’s fiction. I’ve always been interested in the interplay between east and west, which is perhaps a reflection of my own disposition, and the idea of viewing things as an outsider. We have a very deep and unique understanding of love in India, with words like ishq and mohabbat that can’t really be translated, and I wanted to write a story where people who have hitherto existed in a completely different context find themselves caught in the intoxicating and transformative force of that kind of love. In the age of dating apps, situationships, and fleeting connections, I wanted to portray an epic, sweeping love story, perhaps as a reminder that there are other things to strive for and live up to.

Sohaila Kapur: Your book’s jacket mentions that you are also a designer and an entrepreneur. What kind of business are you involved in?

Aishwarya Jha: I’ve worked in many different fields, from luxury fashion to management consulting to events and creative design. All of them helped keep my creative juices flowing. Currently, I’m setting up Indophile, a venture to bring to the fore unique cultural experiences and artforms, and I also occasionally take on interior design projects because I love creating spaces that transport people, much like stories do.

Sohaila Kapur: Writer, novelist, designer, playwright, actor, director…how do you find the time for all these activities? And what engages you the most?

Aishwarya Jha: I’ve been fortunate to be able to focus on different aspects at different times, and I truly believe my experiences as an actor, playwright, and director helped me become a better author. Much of my time is now engaged in promoting the book, so I don’t know if I’ll be returning to the stage anytime soon, but as much as I’ve enjoyed dabbling in all these different roles, what I enjoy most—perhaps even more than the experience of being a published author—is the process of writing itself. That’s something I’ve learnt in the last few months; there’s nothing like spending alone time with your characters, their worlds, and your words

Sohaila Kapur: Are you planning your second novel?

Aishwarya Jha: I already have a finished draft of my second novel, which I’m very excited about. It’s in a completely different genre—Gothic fiction—and explores very different family relationships that I think will resonate with a lot of readers.

Sohaila Kapur: Apart from being a love story, it is also a book about mothers and daughters. Was your relationship with your mom the inspiration behind this?

Aishwarya Jha: My mother was definitely my inspiration for the book (and for pretty much everything I do). She’s the best and wisest of mothers, and we’ve always been extremely close. Because of that, I’m very aware of the importance of a mother in one’s life, as a child or as an adult, and I found the idea of a girl who was searching for the mother she had never known very compelling. At the same time, it was important to me to portray relationships that didn’t conform to the norm, to show that they aren’t always black and white because life isn’t always black and white, but what matters is whether there is that real, immutable love at the core. And really, what more can we ask for?