Hello Author Sougand Akbarian! We are pleased to have you on here for an interview. Can you please tell us something about yourself?
This is Sougand Akbarian, an Iranian translator and author. I am a bestselling translator in Iran of Indian literature into Farsi (Persian). I have been to India many times and especially to Delhi as a traveler and interpreter, that is the reason I decided to write my travelogue in English language based on my Delhi travel as SouganDilli which also made me the bestseller author as well. I am also a researcher and scholar in Translation Studies and I already presented and published my papers and articles in national and international conferences in Iran and India. I am currently based in Iran. I have completed my Masters in English Language, Translation Studies.
Your book, “SouganDilli ”, was published recently. To begin with, could you tell those who don’t know much about the book?
SouganDilli – Indo-Iranian Adhuri Kahani (An incomplete Indo-Iranian story) Is an illustrated book in RomTravel (Romance + Travel) genre by an Iranian girl. It is based on my Dill travel and my travelogue in the heart and capital of India, Dilli.
That is why I kept the letter D in the capital, SouganDilli.
Anyone’s life can change with a small incident forever. My life also changed, it has got a new and special color after my first travel to India and especially to Delhi (Dilli). My story, the SouganDevraj love story (Sougand & Devraj) is an Indo-Iranian story. Maybe this is rummy and strange to you, as there is no space between the names of these two persons and D is in common. Well, the D of Dilli is the end of SouganD and the beginning of Devraj! This book is more than just a genre. SouganDilli, is a love story, a novel which is a Safar Namah (Travelogue) of an Iranian girl in Delhi, India. A book that in many aspects is a real story.
Delhi is with D… Dunya (world) is with D
Dil (heart) is with D… Dard (pain) is with D
SouganD finishes with D, but Devraj starts with D
And Devraj’s Deewangi (madness) is also with D…
What inspired your debut?
Being a translator of Indian literature into Farsi (Persian) language in Iran and after my India travel, so I thought with myself, why I do not write my travelogue and finally, it happened and published in the quarantine of 2020. Thanks to my God on the earth, my mom, that she is the main reason and inspiration behind SougandDilli, and thanks to Chandra Kant Jaisansaria, my CK bhai ji, the CEO of Damick Publications that he trusted SouganDilli. And thanks to my dears readers to make SouganDilli one of the bestsellers by their love and support.
What is your process of writing a book?
Writing a book is a way to bring your thoughts in word format on the paper in a way to give soul and feelings to each and every word. This is the main part of writing. Then you should give details and elaborate it to make it attractive to your readers.
What book are you planning to write next?
Before that I am so happy and glad to see my readers love SouganDilli and like to read more from an Iranian author in India in English language, so by readers’ love and support, I started working on a new book in the romance genre based on a true story and I hope soon I can finish it and announce its publishing news, so stay tuned!
Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Do not give up, when you can dream then be sure you can do it!
Read a lot to write well, and bring your thoughts on paper and then elaborate it. Wishing all the aspiring author all the best from here.
Where can our readers find you online?
The Internet made the globe a small city so I am online on social media and will be happy to be in touch with my dear readers from all over the world. You can reach out to me on Instagram handle @Sougand_Akbarian, Facebook @Sougand.Akbarian and Twitter @SougandAkbarian