Paula developed her skills and love
for writing fiction in a very, very interesting Nigerian boarding
school, where the lack of television meant she had to invent
entertainment for everyone else. She loves reading manhwa, watching
Indian TV dramas, listening to music, and writing short stories.When not
doing any of those or in the classroom handling R code, she’s refining
her LinkedIn or taking Instagram selfies.
She lives in California with her family,
including her two fellow triplets, and is currently dreaming of a future
PhD in public health—and maybe another novel.
Visit her website or connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
My book, Shape of the Sun, focuses on a heir to an Indian construction empire that has to decide between choosing ethics or not when he falls in love. The stakes are higher because he is going against his half-brother for this inheritance, and the latter is playing very dirty, so love is an obstacle and he’s trying to maneuver it.
I believe I was really inspired by how fiction canon traditionally does not express male leads in an unflattering manner, and going further, how some actually have male leads that do terrible things but put in major efforts to compensate for it, which could come off as whitewashing in realtime. Raj, SOTS’ male lead really is that central character that is by no means misunderstood and is particularly consciously unreliable. There is also meta-fictional commentary on whether romance can really wipe out negativity as well as the effect of family neglect, and performative masculinity.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
I actually thought of Shape of the Sun after seeing a particularly sad image that won a Pulitzer, I believe. The sun was being particularly oppressive in the picture to a child that was malnourished and at risk of being prey to a vulture. The next day I believe, I was listening to a friend discuss how the sun was a proof of life and something that everyone cherished.
In that moment, I couldn't help thinking how the sun could be two-faced and given meaning based on who was describing it; it was a problem to some and a promise to others.
Raj, SOTS’ lead is exactly like that. Sure, he is rich and handsome and is the lead, but based on who you are asking, he might not have done some really nice things, which you get to see in the book.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Yes, I didn’t want it to be too priming in a way that readers concluded what the themes were and entered the novel with that idea in mind. Sure, there is romance and I could opt for the popular go-to of a couple on the cover, but that book really involves more themes than that. So I wanted a cover that conveyed seriousness, but not to the point that people thought it was horror or something like that.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
I was the cover designer, and I did it in Canva.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
I haven’t gotten many comments on the cover compared to the content, but one did admit that the cover might be understating the rich content and a possible problem for garnering interest. Thus, I am contemplating a revised cover after a few months of floating the original. But nothing is certain yet, as I am watching for more reviews.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
Try Canva templates first. If you can afford it, Threads is a good resource for finding out from other indie authors which artists produced their cover work.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Shape of the Sun is literary fiction, romance, inheritance drama and family saga all at once. Readers should approach it with an open mind and also be prepared to expand their worldview and perspectives. All reviews are always welcome.
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