Leela Soma published her first book, Twice Born this year, after winning a local literary prize to finish the book. She tells AIM magazine how she got into writing and on the Scottish-Indian cultural scene.

What inspired you to get into writing your debut novel? Was the process difficult?

I had always written stories when I was young and some short poems for family events. I joined the Strathkelvin Writers Group in 2006 and won a few competitions there. In 2007 I won the Margaret Thomson Trophy for the first 10,000 words of this novel. The adjudicator Scottish Writer, Robin Lloyd -Jones’s advice was to make sure I completed the novel as it had a very good story line.Winning the Trophy gave me a boost and I worked hard to finish it.

The process was not easy as some bits flowed easily and others not quite as much. One character Aunty BB took over and grew bigger than I meant to but I had to restrict her scenes and work to the plot. The main thing was to keep the momentum going and have the stamina to finish writing the original 100,000 words then edit it down to 80,000.

Is the book a sort of an autobiography?

The saying ‘ write what you know’ is true to a certain extent.This is not an autobiography but it does follow the time line of my stay in the UK and some aspects of the book are from my own experiences in Glasgow. The characters are all fictional and figments of my imagination.Some of the scenes are tales told by friends or a conglomeration of facts from different sources.

You say it reflects the changing political scene in Scotland. How?

Scotland’s fight for Independence and the rise of the Scottish National Party began in earnest in the 1970’s with the discovery of North Sea Oil and the demand for a Scottish voice became more and more voiciferous during the 70′ and 80’s.Mrs. Thatcher’s introduction of the ‘Poll Tax’ in Scotland was a turning point. The novel follows the rise of the SNP and its eventual win in the Scottish Parliament. One of the main protagonist in the novel is an SNP activist so the political landscape is woven into the novel.

What else do you do to keep your creative juices flowing?

I love reading, writing poems and have a great time meeting up with like minded people in the writing group. I also belong to the Federation of Writers Scotland and take an active part in their events.

Being an Indo-Scot gives me a unique perspective to life in Glasgow and I use all my senses to absorb what’s happening around me and use them in my novels.I am writing my second novel now and enjoying the process of creating characters who come alive as I write.

What advice would you give to other budding novelists?

Never give up.Write with passion and write atleast something everyday or plan your next scene and make notes. Never be put off by negative vibes from other new writers. Go to as many writers events that you can manage, network and listen to people who have been published.Most important of all enjoy what you are doing.

Is the Scottish Asian cultural scene any good?

The Scottish Asian scene is thriving in every way. I am not sure if there are many novelists in English, but the performing Arts are booming, fusion dances of Bhartanayam with Scottish Music, music lessons in tabla, Hindi , Urdu classes and our own Scottish Asian Artists Association exists to promote the arts. The Glasgow Mela is an annual event and very popular.The Asian population is tiny, forming only 1 % of the population of Scotland but there are areas of concentration of Pakistanis and Indians in the major cities and they keep their culture alive.Edinburgh Festival always has an Asian input every year.

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Leela Soma also keeps an online diary here: www.leelasoma.blogspot.com