Kate Lansing

Interview With Anita Kushwaha

Anita Kushwaha is the author of Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters, and I’m thrilled to have her on my blog today!

I was lucky enough to read an advance copy, and GUYS, it’s fantastic. It’s beautifully written, and somehow both heart-wrenching and hopeful, and would make for an excellent book club pick.

Beyond being a talented storyteller, Anita is also one of the most supportive writers I’ve met and has been a dear friend during my debut year. So, without further adieu, welcome, Anita!

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m a recovering academic whose former life involved conducting social and environmental research in the eastern Canadian Arctic. I love reading, running, baking and napping with my cat, Noodles. I met my husband hiking the Inca Trail some fifteen years ago. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a child, but it wasn’t until I met my husband, who showed infinite faith in me, that I started believing I should take a chance and go for it. The saying about how the faith of one person can change your life rings true.

Wow, that is quite the meet-cute story! What’s the premise of your book?

Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters is a mother-daughter story told in alternating timelines, that of Asha and Mala. The story begins with the revelation that Asha’s parents have kept the truth about her adoption a secret for her entire life. But why? As Asha is thrust on a journey of self-discovery, the reader is introduced to Mala, and the choices and secrets that end up shaping both their lives. More broadly, the book is about the ties that bind mothers and daughters together, and the secrets that tear them apart, and the particular social and cultural pressures faced by the South Asian characters in the novel. 

Your story was told in multiple points of view—primarily Nandini, Asha, Veena, and Mala. Did you always plan for your story to be told in this way? Which POV did you write first?

I always knew the novel would have multiple POVs because I was interested in exploring the intergenerational perspectives of the characters and the conflicts that arise from the differences in their perspectives. Having said that, the primary POV for me has always been Mala. I feel that her story is the spine of the novel and everything else builds around her. There is a version of the story is that is completely linear, and it was Mala’s voice that I started with. But now, even with two timelines, I feel like it’s Mala’s story and the choices she makes which shape the lives of those around her.

One thing I know we’ve connected over is our desire to improve the stigma surrounding mental health, which is such a powerful theme in your story. Can you talk a bit about how this influences your writing?

There are themes that I gravitate towards over and over in my writing. Mental health is certainly one of them, a matter dear to my heart, having lost a loved one to suicide. I suppose in writing about issues of mental health my hope is to illuminate and inspire empathy. There are so many misconceptions, in some ways they are the antagonist I find myself writing against.

I loved the focus on female relationships, especially between mothers and daughters. What inspired you to explore this theme?

The most complex relationships I’ve had in my life have been with other women. There are layers and layers to our interactions with one another in particular. I’m fascinated by the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, for instance, why we place such high expectations on each other and the cost of those expectations. My characters often grapple with the pressure of being “good daughters,” which can make living authentically a challenge as they try their best to fulfill that role. I suppose I’m always trying to better understand why we treat each other they way we do.

Another thing we’ve connected over is the excellence of the recent His Dark Materials adaptation. What form would your daemon take? What about each of your main characters?

I love our mutual obsession with HDM! And I love your question! I’ve often contemplated this very thing. (Because I’m a total nerd, ha.) My favourite animals are elephants and whales, so not exactly the most practical daemons. I was born in the Year of the Monkey, so sometimes I think that would be appropriate. I have always wanted to live in a tree. And I’m a little mischievous. 

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a sisterhood story, more bitter than sweet, inspired by The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood and Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. Lots of complex family dynamics and secrets, also in keeping in with my interest in exploring issues of identity, belonging, immigrant experiences, and the lives of South Asian women. What excites me about the project is having another opportunity to explore the complexity of female relationships and family life. Endlessly fascinating topics to me. As you know, my agent is currently reading the manuscript. I’m trying hard not to think about it. And failing!

Your next project sounds incredible, and it was so lovely having you on my blog! Thank you for visiting, and for your thoughtful answers. Cannot wait to celebrate your book launch next week!!

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