Adreamer, a wanderer, a writer, an editor, a freelancer, and at times a philosopher – that’s what Neha Jha says she is. But with the varied hats that she dons, we are sure she’s only being modest. Writing for her is a way of life, a way to express the beating of her heart, a way to explain the tick of her brain, and that’s not all. Heading the Creative & Communications team of Event Eyes Communications, she is the force behind Lit-O-Fest, an out-of-box idea that presented the established authors and the wannabes in an exhibition format at Sir J. J. School of Art and Architecture, Mumbai.
Chandni Mathur: A writer, author, poet, dreamer and believer! Which of these is closest to you and what is www.nehanarrates.com about?
Neha Jha: I think I am more of a poet than the rest. My emotions, imaginations, thoughts, all occur in form of verse. And that is how www.nehanarrates.com found its way. The website is an online diary where I pen down these verses.
CM: You came out with a poetry e-book Moods and Musings. What was your inspiration behind its compilation?
NJ: Moods & Musings is a collection of emotive poems, the ones I have written in last few years. The passion was the inspiration. Though yes, the purpose was to know if people could relate with my poems.
CM:What influences your writing?
NJ: Emotions drive my writing and it has the biggest influence on what subject I chose, what words I pick and what meanings I create.
CM: How supportive is your family – tell us about any such incident where in you felt ‘it’ wouldn’t have been possible without their help?
NJ: Family has always been the source of strength. When I delivered my baby and had to leave a well-settled- lucrative- full time job to take care of her, it was only the encouragement from family that helped me work and develop my ideas of author-publisher event.
Emotions drive my writing and it has the biggest influence on what subject I chose, what words I pick and what meanings I create.
CM: You juggle many a portfolios. Then, how did you land into an event management company? How did lit-o-fest come into your platter?
NJ: All the portfolios, somewhere, are connected. Whether it is writing, heading media & communications, handling creatives or managing PR, all of these are interlinked. And I enjoy doing all of these. Event management came my way seven years ago when a company offered me good package for handling its event communication department. Money was important to survive in Mumbai as I had not made much of it at the prestigious newspaper I was working with in those days. After spending few months at that company, I knew I had an inclination towards organizing events.
With Author’eyes 2015, which gradually turned into Lit-o-fest, I merged both my interests – writing & organizing an event together. A learning and networking event for the budding authors.
Rapid Fire
Three words to describe Lit-O-Fest.
Write Your Way
Neha Jha—a writer or a poet?
A poet, yes!
Your best memory.
The best memories are yet to be made! That is what gives hope to life!
Mumbai to you is?
Dreamland!
A thought that scares you.
Losing those whom I love.
CM: Throughout your journey in the publishing world, what do you think was a turning point that pushed you a notch higher?
NJ: Getting associated with Jaico Publishing House was a turning point. India’s first publisher of paperback books in English language! The company supported me to an extensive level from the beginning when I was merely conceptualizing Author’eyes 2015. The owner Mr. Akash Shah and the National Sales Manager, Mr. Vijay Thakur were big support.
CM: Despite of all this, is there anything that you wish to achieve?
NJ: Yes, a lot. A long list of ‘yet to achieve’ things. I am a greedy person! I feel I have just started living my dreams.
CM: You have been in this industry for 10 yrs now. What advice do you have for the upcoming writers and poets who are looking for a platform to showcase their talent?
NJ: It is very important to know your strengths as well as your limitations. Just wanting to be a writer can only make you a self-published author. If you have to make it big, polish your skills. If your book is well written, it will find a publisher, if not now, may be few weeks later. But it will.