Interview of Rajdeep Paulus

Today I would like to welcome Rajdeep Paulus, who wrote Swimming Through Clouds. You can see my review here:https://remaininhislove.com/2014/02/19/rajdeep-paulus-swimming-through-clouds/

Thank you so much for willing to be interviewed!

1.     What inspired you to write Swimming Through Clouds?

I wanted to write a story of extremes. Extreme sadness and heartache walking side by side with extreme joy and an unforgettable love story.   I feel like in real life we are constantly asked to navigate the waters of extreme emotions on any given day. One moment, we’re dancing around the living room with the love of our lives, and the next we could be sobbing over devastating news we just received over the phone. How does one do that? My hope is that through writing and readers delving into my stories, we might get a little closer to understanding how to manage the madness and why we cannot do it alone.

2.     What are some challenges you face (if any) in writing a YA novel?

The three challenges I face are 1. I struggle to let a story out of my hands for fear I could make that one scene just a little better. 2. I long to get my books in the hands of teens and as a new author, the process of finding teens (even with social media) seems daunting at times, and I eat way too much chocolate when I’m writing. Yeah. That last one was a confession. 🙂

3.     What message do you hope to convey with Swimming Through Clouds?

Simply put, that life is a fight, but we don’t have to go at it alone, and sometimes the sweetest love story can start with a tiny act of kindness.

4.     Can you tell us a little about book 2?

Sure. Seeing Through Stones is the sequel to Swimming Through Clouds, and picks up on the same day (although a few hours earlier) where the first book left off. The catch is that Seeing Through Stones is told from two Points of View, namely Jesse and Talia. And I love how their stories are so different, yet their journeys collide in the most unexpected ways.

5.     I haven’t read book 2 yet, but is the series a trilogy? Or are you working on a new series?

I’m pretty sure Seeing Through Stones wraps up the journey of Talia and Jesse and I plan to move on. Unless… well, let’s not shut any doors too quickly. In the meantime, I do have two other stand alones that I’m currently working on and editing. Crush Me is about a girl named Meena who lives in NYC and cuts to deal with the loss of her father and the heartaches that come with her family’s story. And The Color of Tomorrow is about two sisters who cross the ocean to escape poverty only to discover that there are far worse things to run from. I added links in case anyone wants a sneak peek at the first chapters. 🙂

Thanks so much for having me!

Happy Swimming!

-Raj

Rajdeep Paulus is the author of Swimming Through Clouds, is mommy to four princesses, wife of Sunshine, a coffee-addict and a chocoholic. As of this June 2013, she’s a Tough Mudder. To find out more, visit her website or connect with her via Facebook  , Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram .

Don’t forget to buy book 2 which is now available on Kindle!