PVLF 2025

Interview with Charu Vashishtha, Author of 'The Lady In The Mirror'

Interview with Charu Vashishtha, Author of 'The Lady In Mirror'
on Jan 07, 2022

"An architect by education, software engineer by profession and a writer by choice."

Charu was born in UK (Belfast), and brought up in Roorkee, India. She has a degree from India's premier college : Indian Institute of Technology and has worked for technology and product based companies like Tata Consultancy, American Express, Royal Bank of Scotland.
She is currently working as Senior Manager, Information Technology, at Max Life Insurance.
She is an avid reader and blogger.
She has authored a Self help ebook titled ("Tip the Skin") and it is available at e-retail portals like Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes and Noble.
She is a die-hard Toastmaster and won 2nd place at 2017 District 41 Table Topic Contest at Chandigarh. She was also one of the finalists at District 41 Humorous Speech Contest 2017. District 41 comprises of Toastmasters Clubs from North India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
She won 2nd place in 2017 edition of NUHA Global Blogging Competition and was the only blogger shortlisted from India.

Check her interview on his recently published book -

Frontlist: Why did you choose the title name - ‘The Lady in Mirror’. And what
are you trying to address to all readers through this title?

Charu: A mirror is something which helps us identify how we look. Our soul is the symbolic mirror which lets us know how we look. It makes us acknowledge and accept our blemishes as well our beauty.
We can only be happy if we become comfortable with what we are.
The book is a collection of 8 short stories where protagonists ( who are mostly womenfolk) go on a journey of soul searching and self discovery and are ready to accept their reflection in the Mirror.

Frontlist: Your book has garnered too much attention. Have you really thought
that this book would be a bestseller when you started penning it down?

Charu: I wrote the stories which helped me ponder about life and its ironies. The stories fulfilled me. I wrote the stories for the sheer joy of writing and not to satisfy my vanity of being known as some best selling author. I believe that if you write from the heart , your writings are bound to touch chords with someone's heart. Not everyone may like your stories but some would definitely.

Frontlist: What inspired you to write these short stories? Share any one short
story that you felt very touched through.

Charu: People I have met, the bitter sweet experiences I have been through inspired me to write. Writing for me is a cathartic experience. It helps me acknowledge and accept my emotions. It liberates me.
The interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri was one story which really touched me. It was about how strangers can connect. It was about the secrets which were being shared. The writing style was flawless as well.

Frontlist: What helped you the most to shape your writing journey?
Charu: The discovery that writing brought me joy and the understanding that each one of us no matter where we come from or who we are, have the right to pursue happiness, helped shape my writing journey. It was less hesitant and more truthful in my writings and that has made all the difference.

Frontlist: People are pushing themselves to discover self-love nowadays. Share
your thoughts.
Charu: Self love is the most significant. When you love yourselves, you accept yourself as you are, with your strengths and weaknesses. Once you are comfortable with what you are, you are at peace. There is no constant desire to be something you are not. There is no false image of yourself you should protect or worship. You are free. You are liberated. You are then free to love others deeply without any prejudices. You accept yourselves therefore it's easier to accept and love others, as they are, without the need to change them. This brings happiness, peace and joy. Life becomes beautiful.

Frontlist: Everyone needs some kind of motivation to grow in their life. Hence
is there any specific advice you would give to those who are on the path
of self-discovery?
Charu: Each one has their own unique journey which is incomparable. This fact should be respected. People should be respected. There are times when we feel low, but be aware that there is a fire inside of each one of us. The fire to grow, the fire to learn. This fire has to be nurtured and cherished. Don't let others scathing remarks douse that fire. Don't let anyone discourage you. Don't take anything personally. What people say and do , even if it is about you, does not reflect what you are but it reflects who they are. Know this and always do your best in any given circumstance.