By Author Jinia Mallick
Jia Kashyap is a spirited college student with dreams as vast as the sky. Leaving her hometown behind, she sets out to build a new life in the United States, determined to carve her own path. But life isn’t as simple as she imagined.
Vikrant Singhania is a storm wrapped in calm—a driven businessman who’s carefully built a life free of distractions. That is, until Jia walks into his world. She’s not the first woman he’s met, but she’s the first to make him question everything he believed about love and control. No matter how far Jia tries to run, Vikrant’s pull on her heart is a gravity she cannot escape.
Their story is no ordinary love tale—it’s a collision of innocence and experience, freedom and devotion, youth and wisdom.
Will Jia find the strength to break free from the future she once dreamed of with Vikrant? Or will their passion survive the storms of the past, or consume them both?
1. What inspired you to write this book, and how did the concept of the story come about?
Echoes of Us was born from an emotional space within me—an unresolved connection, a what-if that kept echoing in my thoughts. The story began as a personal healing journey. When I finally understood what my definition of love was, it felt like a prayer, a belief, and hoping without any expectations. It’s acceptance—and it’s so much more than the three-letter phrase “I love you.” I wanted to capture that depth, that unspoken energy between souls, and pour it into words. That’s when the idea began to take shape—softly, honestly, and with a quiet intensity.
2. Can you describe your writing process? Do you have any specific routines or rituals that help you get into a creative flow?
I usually write late at night when the world is quiet and emotions feel louder. I light a scented candle—usually something calming like lavender or sandalwood—and let music guide my mood. I don’t stick to a strict routine, but I do follow the emotional pulse of the story. If a scene or a line feels real, I drop everything and write it, even if it’s at 3 AM.
One practical piece of advice I followed was to set a word count goal. It wasn’t rigid, but it helped me stay focused and keep track of my writing progress without feeling overwhelmed. That small structure gave me the discipline to stay connected with the story every day.
3. Are your characters inspired by real people, or did they develop entirely from your imagination?
They’re a blend. Some traits are borrowed from real people I’ve encountered or loved deeply, while others evolved organically as the story unfolded. My characters feel like fragments of lived experiences—some mine, some imagined, and some perhaps from another lifetime. I wanted them to feel flawed, raw, and real.
4. What drew you to explore themes like love, destiny, and emotional reckoning, and what do you hope readers take away from your book?
I’ve always been drawn to the idea that love isn’t always linear or convenient—it can be karmic, unresolved, or transformative. I wanted readers to sit with discomfort, nostalgia, longing… and realize that sometimes, the most powerful love stories don’t end with forever but with growth. If readers walk away questioning their own definitions of love or closure, then I’ve done justice to the story.
5. How did you create the immersive world in your novel? Did any real locations or historical events influence your setting?
The setting reflects emotional landscapes more than geographical ones. Though I was inspired by some real places I’ve traveled to or dreamt of, the emotional tone of a space mattered more to me than its physicality. Certain scenes are infused with the colors of Kolkata rains, the silence of a train journey, or the noise of an unsaid goodbye—all grounded in real sensations.
I also tried weaving in glimpses of my own experiences—some from my time in the United States, and others from places close to my heart in Kolkata, my hometown. You’ll find mentions of spots like Tea Junction, Axis Mall, and a few more favorites tucked into the narrative—not just as locations, but as emotional markers. These places carry memories, warmth, and nostalgia, which I wanted to share with readers through the characters’ journeys.
6. How do you balance originality with genre expectations, and what challenges did you face in adding your unique touch?
That’s a constant dance. Love stories often follow a familiar rhythm, but I focused on the silences between words—the unsaid, the emotionally raw. I think the originality comes from emotional truth, not just plot twists. One challenge was avoiding clichés while still delivering emotional impact. I wanted the story to feel deeply personal, even if the themes were universal.
7. What techniques did you use to maintain tension and keep readers engaged throughout the story?
Thank you! I tried to write the story as if the characters themselves were narrating it in real time, caught between decisions and memories. I played with time shifts—between past and present—to keep the emotional stakes high. Whenever the narrative felt too comfortable, I’d insert a pause, a revelation, or an emotional pivot to keep the reader leaning in.
8. With changing media and reader tastes, how do you see traditional storytelling evolving, and how do you adapt your writing for today’s audience?
I believe storytelling is timeless, but the way we present stories is evolving. Today’s readers crave authenticity—they want to feel seen. So I try to keep my voice real, raw, and emotionally accessible. While I honor the craft of writing, I’m not afraid to break form or blur genre lines if that helps the emotion land more honestly. Instagram reels, poetry fragments, or visual storytelling all complement the traditional written word now.
I would like to end this with a quote :
“For centuries, we’ve heard tales of Romeo, Ranjha, and other men surrendering their lives for love—but this story belongs to Juliet, the Heer, the woman whose love burns just as fiercely, and whose silence holds a storm.”
Don’t miss this unforgettable journey—grab your copy of Echoes of Us today on Amazon and experience a love that will set you free.
