'The PM hasn't started reading my book'

Daman Singh, the writer, on her debut novel

Nine by Nine is about three young women. Is it inspired by your relationship with your sisters?
No. It's just a coincidence that we are three sisters and my story has three female leads. The female bonding is inspired from friends I made during my hostel days.

How close are you to your sisters?
Amrit is the baby of the family. I am extremely protective of her. My elder sister is someone I look up to. She is the one who has influenced me the most. She has always been the hero in my life responsible yet not bound by conventions.

She sounds like the headstrong Tara your favourite character from the novel.
(Laughs) Personality wise, I would say, they are different.

How did your interest in language begin?
Every birthday present, as long as I can remember, has been a book. Again my elder sister recommended many titles. So reading came naturally to me.

How much did your father contribute to your reading habit?
He was the one who took us out to buy books. In Old Delhi there were no bookshops near our house. One had to drive quite a distance to buy books and father would do that regularly.

You had said your father was "secretly pleased" about your decision to write. Did he offer any help while you were drafting your novel?
No. In our family we do our own things, so my father didn't really participate in the process of writing. I did show my initial manuscript to him. He flipped though it and said 'looks good.' He doesn't show much emotion. One has to read between the lines.u00a0

Has he read your book?
He hasn't even begun. He doesn't read fiction, anyway. Economics and development-based titles is what he likes.