My journey started with my first collection Poison Apple, which was traditionally published in the US by Unsolicited Press in 2018. For my second collection, which was Gratiaen Longlisted in 2021, I went down the self-publishing route which was a little easier.
Megan Dhakshini is a fascinating individual with a diverse set of talents and interests! From her alternative occupation as a copywriter and co-founder of Next Big Think to her trilingual voiceover skills, she's clearly a creative powerhouse. Her passion for singing Tamil cover songs adds another layer of depth to her personality. Living in Sri Lanka, she finds inspiration from her surroundings for her artistic pursuits.
Q: What inspired you to become a writer?I have always been one! I started writing poetry and short stories in my early teens and I was first published in the “Lanka Woman” at 14. I edited and put together a little English magazine in school during our OL years as well, when doing anything on Word, on a computer was magical! My mum is a voracious reader and reading was what I did every day after school. I’m so thankful for the habit being instilled in me because of her- it’s what has got me to this now.
Q: Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a published author?
I honestly wish someone would do that part for me! I love writing but the process of putting together a collection, drafting countless submission emails to publishers, reading as many rejections, then editing the work and working on cover art etc, putting it out and marketing it afterwards, is just....tiresome?!
My journey started with my first collection Poison Apple, which was traditionally published in the US by Unsolicited Press in 2018. For my second collection, which was Gratiaen Longlisted in 2021, I went down the self-publishing route which was a little easier.
I usually write whenever I am inspired and collect work, after which the process of filtering what fits into the collection and what doesn’t, begins.
Q: Describe your novel in one sentence as if you were telling a friend.
Softly We Fall will break your heart, in slow, short bursts of raw, emotionally charged verse about feelings- magnified to the smallest detail; read it and fall slowly into this melting space of love and loss.
Q: How would you describe your writing style or voice?
Honest, raw, lyrical and lament-like!
Q: Where do you draw inspiration for your poetry?
Life is inspiration enough for verse to flow from time to time, but I must say I have found music and movies (which I’m an ardent devourer of) to be a great source of inspiration for my poetry.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Anita Nair’s “Mistress” which I’m really enjoying.
Q: Who is your favourite author and why do you admire them?
Too many, I can’t just name one. Sharanya Manivannan for her lyrical prose, Anais Nin for how she interprets passion, Leonard Cohen and Charles Bukowski for the flesh and flavour in their writing, Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling for the magic that I never tire of, and quite recently I’ve loved the work of Akwaeke Emezi.
Q: What fictional character resembles you the most?
I had trouble figuring this one out, so my best friends came up with a good mix!
I am Jo from Little Women and Frankie from Grace & Frankie with this healthy mix of cartoon characters thrown in- Melman the girraffe from Madagascar, Smurfette, Jasmine from the 90’s Disney animation, Sadness from Inside Out and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh!
Q: Name a book you have recently enjoyed reading?
Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.
I love Life of Pi and The Little Prince. These are books I return to often.
Q: Tell us about a book you enjoyed reading as a child and the effect it had on you.
My childhood was full of Enid Blyton and I think the wonder and awe I still possess for the smallest thing of beauty or the absolute pleasure I take in the magic of sunsets and full moon nights and Christmas and Santa Claus is all due to the worlds these books created for me. The romantic in me gives all the credit to ginger beer, hard boiled eggs and bread picnics on remote islands in Enid Blyton stories!
Q: What is your take on self publishing?
Having published independently with the help of Sarasavi Publishers, I would have to vote it up! But the lure of being ‘traditionally” published still hovers on the horizon. Most writers in Sri Lanka are Self Published and I don’t see this changing too much in the years to come. However on the bright side, with platforms like Kindle direct publishing opening up avenues for new writers to get their work into the world, I feel independent publishing is going to be the way forward for us.
Q: Can you share any insights or teasers about your upcoming projects or works in progress?
I’m trying to see if I can walk down the path of prose, but I wouldn’t go as far as calling it work in progress...it’s still a thought in progress!
(Pix courtesy MD)
