Teen author Baani Pasrija on her first book Chimera

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

Somewhere around when I was 10, in my 6th grade at school, I was given a task to weave a short story about anything I wished. Whilst I was making a plan, multiple ideas came to my mind. Later, when I executed my plan in the form of words, I realised that this is something I would love to do. Consequently, writing became my hobby, and later, my passion. Ever since then, I wanted to write a book and get it published.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It took me quite a while, about 5 months, to complete this. That is because, since I took it as my IB Personal Project, I had to record each and every step of how I go about the process as well as research; hence, I had to conduct a lot of research before writing.

Where do you get your ideas or information for your books?

The ideas, I try to make them completely mine. I try to be very less biased, however, obviously, the inspiration is always a good book I read or a film I liked or my personal experiences. The information, I prefer primary sources. For example, if my book is about a psychological condition, I will try to see a psychiatrist to gather information. The alternative is the internet and informative books.

When did you write your first book? How old were you?

This is my first book, and I am fourteen.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I have still not come to terms with what I desire to pick up as a career. I want to be a writer one moment, a car designer the other, and an astronomer the other. It pretty much keeps varying.

What does your family think of your writing?

My family is very supportive. They give me honest opinion about what is well-written and what is awfully written. They have been a major help through the process of writing this.