Of days and nights

Hailing from Mumbai, author Kainaz Jussawalla out with her first book ‘Coffee Days, Champagne Nights, and Other Secrets’ says that the book was officially launched by famous writer Javed Akhtar in her home city. She hopes that readers realise what she has written is just pure fiction but relate to it nonetheless.

The book is a collection of seven short stories,which in their own way deal with a strange sense of romanticism, mingled with a very human dichotomy that will leave readers puzzled. During an interaction, Kainaz reveals more about her first work.

When did you start writing?

I am writing since I was eight, but never thought to publish a book. I used to go to coffee shops in Mumbai, I used to observe people and would start writing. I wished to write funny stuff, but somehow real stories came to me. My grandmother always told me that I will become a successful author.

Tell me about the title of the book. It is based on the first story - Coffee Days, Champagne Nights. It is about women in distress. The coffee signifies a day and champagne signifies night - so we have two phrases day and night.

Can you elaborate on your stories?

My book explores the different perspectives of people and their secrets. This is a collection of seven short stories; dark fiction that deals with the complexities of the human mind, some are quitesensational and from different parts of India. My book is mostly woman-oriented with male characters. Thereis romance and sensational drama with twists and turns. You could say each story is like a small screenplay.

My favourite is on extramarital affair, it’s the truth of life, no matter what we like to think, and I look at men’s point of view as well. Story seven is about a gang of women about a dream of every human being - to break free from responsibilities and duties and just live it up for a while! And there is another story about old men finding love at the age of 60.

Is this book related to your life incidents?

Yes actually story number three was perhaps a bit inspired from my own life, but thankfully mine was not such a dramatic ending.

Who is your inspiration?

I can’t list out particular author’s name. I am very religious. I feel that if you perceive a god gifted talent then that is your inspiration. I draw inspiration from nature, not from people.

Kainaz concludes that the sequel to the book is almost complete, “This is a part one of the two-book series. I have completed five stories for the second book.”