And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:

Our Mystery Author this round is Shobhan Bantwal. A native of India, Shobhan moved to the U.S. as a young bride where she continued her education and raised her daughter. Along the way, she discovered her talent for writing and that it could used as a tool to enlighten others to the culture, traditions and issues faced by those of Indian decent, particularly women.

Some of you may remember Shobhan being featured here last year. If you missed that interview, I highly recommend reading it in our archives after you've read our interview below. You should also visit Shobhan at her website:

http://www.shobhanbantwal.com

Thank you, Shobhan!

1. So, here on the east coast, we've certainly had our share of hot weather this summer. What have you been doing to stay cool??

I've been doing a lot more writing, so I can stay in my an air-conditioned home office and avoid the heat outside. In that respect, the bad weather has been a boon by keeping me glued to my computer..

2. With days of 100 temps, how similar is this weather to that of where you come from in India? I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it is less humid there?

This is pretty normal weather for many parts of India, especially the South, but where I grew up, the weather was delightful, since my rural hometown was located in a valley, where the temperatures rarely went above 90 degrees, even in the middle of summer.

3. I was admiring the pictures at your website of the traditional Indian wedding. What a beautiful couple! Who are they?

The pictures with the red-sari-clad bride and groom wearing a cream outfit with the traditional headdress are of my daughter and son-in-law. There are some other pictures of my nephew and his bride. By the way, my daughter's bridal picture is on the cover of my debut novel, THE DOWRY BRIDE.

4. I'd like to ask some questions about the ceremony. What are the seven steps? The garland exchange—would that be equal to the exchange of rings?

The garland exchange is similar to the exchange of rings—the ritual of accepting each other in holy matrimony. The seven steps are the seven marriage vows that the couple takes together as they walk beside the fire god, Agni. A fire pit symbolizes Agni, who witnesses the holy union.

5. And the henna tattoos - I believe I know the significance but could you explain it to us? Why does the bride have henna on the palms of her hands?

It is a form of decorating the bride's hands with intricate designs, but henna is also considered good for the skin since it has a cooling effect on the system, essentially soothing and calming a nervous bride. That is the reason henna is used by women all over the world to color their hair, not just for its interesting red tint, but also for its medicinal properties.

6. I also saw pictures of you at fundraisers for SAKHI and SAATHI. Can you tell us about these organizations? How does one become involved and help?

SAKHI and SAATHI are non-profit organizations that help victims of domestic violence. I give a portion of my book sales proceeds to them and other similar women's charities that assist women in crisis, especially because my first two books were about serious women's issues in India. It is my small and humble way of donating to a good cause through my writing. Getting involved is as easy as Googling them and going to their websites to find out how one can help.

7. When you are writing, what do you find to be the hardest part of the process? The easiest?

The hardest process is to keep focused on my story. I depend on the creative mood to kick in, so I don't write for long stretches, when I suffer from writer's block. But really, the most challenging part of the whole publishing process is the promotion and marketing. It takes a lot of time, patience, effort, and money to promote each book.

8. What research goes into your writing or is it solely based on experience/general knowledge?

Most of the scenes portraying Indian characters and their daily lives are based on experience and general knowledge, but I still need to do considerable research for other portions of the stories. For example, I had to research the subject of female feticide for my second book, THE FORBIDDEN DAUGHTER, since the story is based on the illegal practice of selective, gender-based abortion in India. For my upcoming book, THE UNEXPECTED SON, I had to study a few medical conditions and their treatments. For this I consulted three different doctors.

9. What is the most common question asked by your readers and the answer?

The most common question is where I get the ideas for my stories. And my answer is that there are stories all around us, even amongst the people we work with and live next door to. Every person has a unique life and life experiences, which can become a story. Just watching or reading the daily news provides plenty of fodder for a fertile imagination.

10. Tell us about your new book, THE UNEXPECTED SON.

The reactions have been mixed. My American readers absolutely love my books, since they provide a rare peek into Indian culture. They are also eye-openers about certain subjects that have not been fictionalized in a major way in either books or movies. My older and middle-aged Indian readers are not so thrilled about what they consider my “exposing the negative side of our culture.” However, the younger generation in India, especially women, are full of praise for my books, and send me plenty of fan mail.

11. Reading the reasons for your writing (i.e. dowry abuse and selective gender-based abortions), well, gave me the chills. And, if I'm not out of line asking, have these traditions crossed over to this country? And do you think the steps being taken to stop these events are working?

THE UNEXPECTED SON is set partly in New Jersey and partly in India. It tells the tale of a happily married woman who wakes up one morning to a shocking truth: she has a grown son in India, a child she was told was stillborn 30 years ago. Now he is fighting for his life. Confessing about her secret past to her family could ruin her and them—and yet, how can a mother turn her back on her ailing son, even if she has never met him.

This book can be purchased at any bookstore or online bookseller. Information about all my books, short stories, recipes, contests, photos and contact information are on my website: http://www.shobhanbantwal.com.