The Writing Life with Swetha Amit
New author interview on the release of Swetha's chapbook, Sailing Paper Boats & Other Stories
With the release of her latest chapbook, Sailing Paper Boats & Other Stories, this new installment in Ginosko Literary Journal’s author interview series features Swetha Amit—writer, MFA graduate, and quiet chronicler of nature’s mercy and menace.
In this conversation with
, Amit reflects on the forces that shaped her voice, the meditative rituals behind her writing practice, and how personal experience and environmental grief come together in these pages. Sailing Paper Boats is not just about disaster—it’s about resilience, the fragility of human connection, and the paper-thin moments that somehow still carry us forward.Paper boats may be fragile. But they sail on.
About You as an Author
What inspired you to become an author? Was there a defining moment or influence that set you on this path?
I interviewed authors as a journalist in India for several years. I was always inspired to write a book someday and wondered what it would be like to share my words with the world and connect with readers. The strong desire to pen a book began in 2016. The thought was conceptualized and implemented when I moved to the Bay Area in 2017. I had the opportunity to take a creative writing course at Stanford Continuing Studies, authored a memoir in 2020, and then completed my MFA from the University of San Francisco, writing three chapbooks since then.
How would you describe your writing style and approach to storytelling?
I think my writing style and approach have evolved over the last few years. Ever since I began writing flash fiction in 2022, it has become tighter and more minimalistic. I have learned to present the conflict and hook the reader right from the start. In flash fiction, this occurs mainly within the first two lines; in a short story, it happens in the first passage. I mostly write fiction in the first person or even second person, as my stories explore themes of grief, trauma, loss, and loneliness. I feel that my first-person perspective enables readers to connect with my characters instantly. Overall, my style is lyrical and descriptive. I enjoy writing from the POV of a child narrator, as children express things plainly, and I find that very liberating.
Who are some of your biggest literary influences or favorite authors?
I grew up reading Enid Blyton, Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, and many classics. Some of my favorite books are The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka. I love reading works by Elif Shafak, Marjan Kamali, and Eowyn Ivey. I also enjoy the works of Venita Blackburn and Francine Witte in the flash world.
What’s your typical writing routine like? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you stay focused?
I write at least four days a week. Some days, I tend to write for more hours than others. If I cannot write for some reason, I read instead. I love writing early in the mornings as soon as I wake up. The world around me is quiet and meditative, which fuels my words. Sometimes, my writing flows better after exercise, and I usually write until noon or late evening. My ritual is to read something for five to ten minutes before I begin writing. It’s like a warm-up routine for me. What helps me stay focused is that I keep my phone away to aid my concentration and keep me in the zone. I also drink a lot of green tea while writing, which helps me remain calm and focused.
About Sailing Paper Boats & Other Stories
What is the title of your chapbook, and how would you describe it in a few sentences?
My latest chapbook is Sailing Paper Boats & Other Stories. It’s a collection of short and flash fiction stories about the impact of climate catastrophe on human lives and relationships. The stories are narrated from the perspectives of men, women, and children.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wrote the stories in the book in response to various word prompts from webinars and workshops I attended. Upon reflecting on some of these stories, I noticed they were all related to rain, storms, or climate disasters in some way. This was a timely collection to create. I wrote one story about the Capitola Wharf, as it is close to my heart. I participated in a triathlon in Capitola back in 2017 and swam around the wharf. It was heartbreaking to see the wharf split in two, and I remember feeling helpless upon hearing the news. When I returned in the summer of 2024, the wharf was under repair, and I decided to weave a microfiction around it.
What themes or messages do you hope readers take away?
I have addressed universal themes of grief, loss, loneliness, and longing, which I hope will resonate with readers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Climate catastrophes are also universal. Recently, there have been forest fires in Australia, an earthquake in Thailand, and fires in LA at the beginning of the year. These natural disasters have affected many people. This book serves as a way for readers to realize they aren’t alone in their journey and are at the mercy of Mother Nature’s wrath.
How does this compare to your previous works?
My first chapbook, Cotton Candy from the Sky, is a collection of stories that explore how humans seek refuge in nature while battling life’s adversities. Here, you can see nature’s nurturing quality. In Sailing Paper Boats, we witness nature’s fury and how it impacts several lives. However, nature has a way of teaching us that we are stronger than we think we are, in either case. My other book, Mango Pickle in Summer, deals with the impact of food on the memory of loved ones. A couple of stories revolve around nature—one is set on a hike and the other is about the narrator reminiscing about a beach and how a tsunami destroys the narrator’s loved one.
Do the stories in this book deal with challenging, heavy topics like those featured in Ginosko?
Yes. Here, the narrator in the first story faces a brewing storm that threatens to sweep away the homes in the fishermen's community. His father is missing, causing significant uncertainty in the narrator’s mind about what their lives will be like in the future. Similarly, each narrator in the other stories is haunted by something, whether it’s the forest fire, earthquake, or a deluge.
Personal Connection & Impact
What does this book mean to you personally?
As someone who finds solace in nature, I have often wondered why nature unleashes its wrath upon us. While writing this book, I realized how nature teaches us about adversity, resilience, and the impermanence of things. I have visited some of the places in the book and been affected by some of the incidents. Writing these stories is my way of combating the helplessness I felt whenever I heard about the forest fires and deluge.
If readers could remember just one thing after finishing your book, what would you want it to be?
Nature doesn’t discriminate against anyone when expressing love or unleashing wrath.
If you could sit down with a reader after they finish your book, what would you ask them?
Which story resonated with them and what did they learn from this collection?
Looking Ahead
What’s next for you? Are you working on another project?
I am currently working on two novels. One revolves around an Indian immigrant woman in her 30s living in the Bay Area, who struggles with her cultural identity and individuality. The other is a sports drama from the perspective of a woman protagonist in her forties. I am also dabbling on a couple of chapbooks. Let’s see.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Do not let rejections burn your dreams. Stay focused, committed, and enjoy the process of writing. Most importantly, believe in and have conviction about your writing. Never give up. The rest will follow.
Where can readers find you online?
Website: swethaamit.com
Instagram/Bluesky: @swethaamit
Twitter: @whirlwindtots
Thank you, Swetha, for sharing your insight and your words. We’re delighted to spotlight your work and celebrate the release of Sailing Paper Boats & Other Stories