Get ready to be inspired! Meet three extraordinary authors from India who have shattered glass ceilings and redefined the boundaries of literature. Divya Gupta Kotawala, Arushi Vats, and Nikita Singh – each with their unique voice and story – have captivated readers and earned accolades. From overcoming personal loss to crafting bestselling novels, their journeys will leave you in awe of the human spirit’s capacity for resilience, creativity, and triumph.
DIVYA GUPTA KOTAWALA
Divya Gupta Kotawala, a multifaceted individual hailing from Delhi, seamlessly juggles her roles as a wife, mother, businesswoman, and devoted friend. However, it was the profound loss of her father to COVID-19 in 2021 that propelled her into a new chapter of life. Graduating from Modern School and St. Stephen’s College, she pursued her passion for fashion design at NIFT, interning with esteemed designers. Despite life’s complexities, Divya maintains a balance between personal, professional, and social commitments, actively engaging in social welfare and spiritual pursuits. Her transformative journey, catalyzed by her debut book “My Dad’s Daughter,” has earned her accolades and platforms to inspire others grappling with grief. In this new chapter of life, she has won several awards and appreciation for transforming her pain into her biggest strength.
Recently her story was covered by Humans of Bombay and she also did her first TEDX talk on the theme together towards tomorrow!
She is a strong believer of faith in divine will and blessings of parents is the only way by wish one can ever succeed in life and do wonders
ARUSHI VATS
Arushi Vats has authored five books in her writing career spanning six years, writing on the subjects that feel close to her soul. In the early autumn of 2017, her first book Fragile Strings was published. It was her debut book, a start in the writing profession, which she admits was exciting and yet made her anxious, wondering how the readers would respond. After getting positive feedback from the first book, she embarked on the area of drafting novels. By the summer of 2018, her second book When Broken Hearts Meet was published, another fresh attempt and exhilarating. Arushi Vats was taken aback by how cheerfully her readers and critics responded to her book. It is a college love story between Suhaas and Avanti and the encapsulating love story that revolves around the lovers. The best-selling writer loves challenging herself and after a break of two years, she launched yet another book Oasis in the Desert and other stories by 2020. These short stories are very dear to her. While writing every story, she felt the characters in the story talking to her, as if letting their soul shine. One of the stories in the book is the chapter titled An Oasis in the Desert. Arushi felt connected to the characters Aryan and Neelakshi. These characters had a story to tell and it felt like no less than a movie on the screen. These stories are etched in her heart.
Had it not been for her friends in college who had encouraged her to pursue writing, Arushi wouldn’t have chartered this path. The author feels most real and connected to the world while writing books. Sometimes, it is the winter season or rainy monsoon when she finds herself writing endlessly on her manuscript, forgetting about breakfast or lunch. She attributes these two seasons as significant in making her devoted to writing without any writer’s block, as Arushi finds that seasons do play a pivotal role, just like morning or night in a writer’s life. Her belief is some writers find dopamine surge in the morning to work on their draft, while others prefer the silence of the night. The writer confesses being a night owl and finds words flowing effortlessly on the screen in the solitary, peaceful night where there is no disturbance.
Her creativity was unleashed at that time, and it was drafting manuscripts night after night that she worked hard to create a beautiful novel My Better Half Forever. Arushi explains that she finds Malvika and Rahul, the protagonists of the story, very raw and emotional people. These characters felt like old best friends who wouldn’t hide anything from each other. The success of this book is because the readers found the story moving, touching and the main characters relatable. These characters weren’t superficial, nothing artificial. Her fifth book, The Royal Peacock Crown was an experiment in creating a fantasy- Mythology fiction. This was the only book which made her feel connected to the divine, the higher force, which is omnipotent, omniscient yet inexplicable in many moments in life. The author elaborates how the reader’s positive reviews and experience with this phenomenal divinity motivated her to promptly begin writing her next book.
Arushi Vats’s books have been featured in Gulf Today, Asian Lite, Outlook, Financial Express, The Statesmen, DNA, India Today, The Tribune, and Mid-Day. Besides that, the author has also been interviewed by Mid-Day, Times of India Ludhiana (Print), ABP, Deccan Chronicle and more. Also, she has received awards and certificates for her contribution to the Literary World. Her sixth book will be out soon and Arushi ensures it will be promising and mind-blowing like the rest of her books.
NIKITA SINGH
From Ranchi to New York, Nikita Singh’s journey is a testament to her passion for storytelling. Born in Jharkhand, Nikita grew up in Indore, developing a love for writing at a young age. Her first book, “Love @ Facebook,” was penned at 19 while studying pharmacy.
Nikita’s rise to fame began with Penguin Books India in 2011. She went on to edit “The Backbenchers” series and write several bestselling novels, earning her the title of “India’s Leading Romance Writer” from Huffpost.
Her books, such as “Accidentally In Love,” “If It’s Not Forever…It’s Not Love,” and “Letters To My Ex,” have captivated readers across India. Nikita’s writing often explores love, loss, and self-discovery.
Awards and recognition followed, including the Live India Young Achievers Award in 2013. Nikita has also spoken at TEDx conferences and edited anthologies like “25 Strokes of Kindness.”
In 2022, Nikita married Nick Sheridan and resides in Brooklyn, New York. Her latest novel, “What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?” (2021), continues her legacy as a masterful storyteller.
With over a decade of writing experience, Nikita Singh remains a beloved author among young adults. Her dedication to her craft inspires aspiring writers, solidifying her position as “the Goddess of Racy Reads.”
Notable Works:
- Love @ Facebook (2011)
- Accidentally In Love (2011)
- If It’s Not Forever…It’s Not Love (2012)
- Letters To My Ex (2018)
- The Reason is You (2019)
Awards and Recognition:
- Live India Young Achievers Award (2013)
- Nominated for First International Young Author Award (2018)
Divya Gupta Kotawala, Arushi Vats, and Nikita Singh’s stories serve as a testament to the power of women in literature, inspiring a new generation of writers and readers. Let their journeys ignite a spark within you, fueling your own path to success and self-discovery.