At Sugermint, our aim is to bring to our entrepreneurs community some of the motivational interviews and success stories from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Samina Mushtaq Khan, a Kashmiri Author of Obsessed with The Dawns for an exclusive interview with us.
This is the interview of Samina Mushtaq Khan, Indian women entrepreneur and a Kashmiri Author of Obsessed with The Dawns. Let’s learn more about her inspirational journey and her advice for our growing community!
About Samina Mushtaq Khan
Samina Mushtaq Khan hails from the downtown area of Srinagar, prominently known as Shehr-e-khaas Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir and is currently working in a bank.
She has been brought up in a middle class family. Although coming from a conservative society she has never given up on her dreams.
Samina is a library Science Graduate and have been fond of book since form childhood, but never got much time to read.
Library, for Samina is a place of solace and she would recommend every confusing soul to visit there once, as it has been quoted, ‘if in chaos visit the library, you will definitely come up with the answer/solution to your problems.
Her debut book ‘Obsessed with the dawns’ published under the banner of Lieper publications Pvt Ltd. has brought her laurels and has been acclaimed on various platforms throughout India. She has started her writing journey post 2014 after she has survived a trauma, as per her statements.
Besides being a writer, Samina has a deep interest in reading as well. She considers books as her mentors and keeps on reiterating people to read more and more.
As of now, she has opted for self-publishing venture, took part in various anthologies and recently worked on a co-authorship project under the name ‘In search of skies.’
She has been an active participant in poetry competitions an open mic events. She has also judged various online poetry competitions and offline as well. She has been frequently invited on various open mic events as guest speaker.
Samina Khan, an uprising author from the valley has already CLA (Coimbatore Literary awards, organised by Markfly publishers) and AAGHAAZ 2K20 organised by AuthorInYou, winner trophies in her credit.
Samina said that hard work, consistency and dedication always pay off. She has also won nominations for other prominent awards for her debut book entitled ‘Obsessed with the dawns’.
Samina Mushtaq Khan, resident of Shehr-e-khan has bagged Special mention in Cherry Book Awards Fest. The online award fest which was organised by Cherry Book awards in association with teams of Inspirant and Digital Golgappa.
While thrusting on her future plans, she opines of publishing a collection of short stories for which she is working hard.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: It was never planned actually. I have been writing from early age but never recognised it a talent of mine. But, as it is been said, some things happen to mend you, what if they broke you at first instinct.
Same happened with me, when a tragedy befell and I was left with nothing except for pen and paper. But those emotions were so true, that it touched every painful soul and it’s because of my readers I recognised my potential of being a writer. I write pain.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Well! It was post 2017 when I had written a huge content already and started performing in open mics and events.
People started acclaiming my work and, to be honest, I never had considered myself a writer; it’s because of the people I got that tag. Thanks to my well-wishers.
How many books have you written?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: Single project is just a one book, besides I had participated in more than ten anthologies. Recently my co-authorship project happened with an author namely Hari Priya nanduri.
My debut book entitled ‘Obsessed with the dawns’ was published in 2020 under the banner of Lieper publication Pvt Ltd and my co-authorship project was published by Swadhya Publishing House.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
I am a great procrastinator. My writing has never been scheduled, it just happens as per my mood. Besides being a banker my time schedule is peculiar I am bound so I have to manage time as per my work.
But, yes I can’t give up on writing because it is my place of tranquillity. I write when I am happy. I write when I feel anxious and I write when I am sad.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: Again! It depends, but for some writers who are more concerned about their task it can take a month, a year or more. It all depends on the writer’s plot and how is he going to set it.
When did you write your first book?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: My first book got published in the year 2020 and it was all shut in Kashmir, like there was no connectivity at all and that thing has cost me a lot.
I wasn’t able to make promotions and launch it in a proper way. Lots of my readers didn’t know when it happened.
How do books get published?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: Well! It’s a big topic of discussion, all I can conclude here is, you can opt for self-publishing or traditional mode. It all depends on you.
But to go for tradition mode you need to be patient enough to get dejected as there are so many things or we can say lots of bridges to cross over but a surety of getting your book recognised.
You don’t need to invest in fact publisher pays you back. But on the other hand, self-publishing mode requires a lot of money a well amount of contacts to get your work acknowledged over all platforms. There are other modes of opting for publishing like E-books, audio books etc.
What is the most difficult part about writing for you?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: Portrayal of your thoughts in a well explained manner so that your readers find it easy to grab the concept of what you actually want to say. Understanding your reader’s interest and writing as per that is really a challenging task.
What advice would you give new writers?
Samina Mushtaq Khan: No doubt you have been blessed by Allah and you can write miraculously well, but in order to shape your work you need to learn and understand different concepts related to your field.
Just don’t stop on leaving marks on a paper, turn it into a golden ink by grabbing the ocean of knowledge in you and believe me nobody will dare to stop you.
Where can readers purchase your books?
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Samina Mushtaq Khan: You can get a copy from Liepers publication Pvt Ltd. Amazon Kindle edition. Google Book reads and Shopclues or you can contact me on my Instagram handle @khan_samina_mushtaq_