Exclusive Written Interview with Dr. Neha Tekwani

 

 We have with us a special guest, Dr. Neha Tekwani, holder of a Doctorate in Marketing Management, a Master's in HR and Marketing, and an Honoris Causa Doctorate in Creative Writing, who is an International Literary Laureate. Author of multi-Genre books, scripts (long and short form), poetry, lyrics, informative and deep columns, she combines a world of imagination, wisdom, and strategic storytelling. 

Pursuing a creative and business-minded approach, she has built her Author Personal Brand with 32 original titles for digital and traditional publications and has co-authored 20 worldwide anthologies. 

Neha has won many international and national literary awards for her inspiring, engaging, and innovative contemporary writing. Her kit includes the prestigious Wattpad Wordsmith, Royalist, Oscar Award, Tagore Ratna and Rabindranath Tagore Literature Award, Young Woman Achiever Award, Rising Ink Literary Award, Certificates of excellence, and a change-maker in her domain since 2014. She’s also given the title of ‘India’s Top 10 Most Inspiring Women in the field of literature’ by National Books of Records and ‘Inspiring Woman of the year’ by Asia’s Top 100 Influential Women of Diva Planet Magazine, Crown Publications, Creative Visionary, and many other best author awards. 

Recently, she has begun her Freelance B2B Services for international clients/brands atan affordable hourly rate. Alongside, she's managing her Author Personal Brand as Author & Digital Marketing Strategist Officer,  aiming to provide her best in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats. 

Initially, she has gained experience as a Digital Marketing-Intern, Executive, Digital Content Manager, Content Writer, Ghostwriter, & Product Consultant on part time and freelance basis while pursuing her graduation, post-graduation, and creative writing projects. 

An ambitious and ambivert by nature, she's forever looking forward to working with brands and individual clients that help her expand her business, creative,e and marketing skills and utilize them for entrepreneurship. 

She’s a book influencer; loves glass-painting & calligraphy; has a fetish for modern style and fashion, and prefers to read and research in her spare time.

Our Founder and Editor in Chief, Palak Chauhan, ma'am, got a chance to conduct a written interview with Dr. Neha Tekwani. Here is a little sneak peek from the interview. 

Q1. When you started writing, which platforms did you own? 

Ans 1 - I began writing fiction on November 28, 2013. As a Digital Content intern, I started in May 2011, when I enrolled in the International Tourism, CRM, and Personal Grooming Etiquette Program, in addition to B.Com.

I won't say I own any platform, but since my signature series and other projects on Wattpad reached a million views, I've given my vision the name: Author NehZ Personal Brand (wix.authornehapersonalbrand.com).

Lately, I’ve added Freelance Business and Global Training Services, too. So, now it’s a three-way digital business module.

Hence, I operate as the Founder, Author, Strategist Officer, and Creative Entrepreneur from my main website and social channels.

Q2. What are the challenges you have faced? 

Ans 2 - That's one hell of a question. No matter how many times I answer this, it never gets old, and neither does the reality fade away.

As a chronic illness survivor, my life hasn't been smooth since I was seven. It's not even now, because I have to continuously face the side effects of the long-term illness, which can be exhausting when you're ambitious and probably think a mile per second.

I don't fear criticism that comes at work. The unnecessary personal attacks from those who have resented my existence due to my illness have been depressing and challenging.

From what I’ve encountered and discovered, people can be cruel due to their personal dislike of a person. They project their limited perception of capacity on an individual whom they don’t consider normal.

The teenage bullying and harassment were constant, but it even followed me in my youth years.

I was targeted online and became a victim of hacking and cyber abuse as I resumed my marketing and branding on social media. I lost a major publishing contract, and the heartbreak deepened when friends and loyal readers—who had eagerly anticipated the book’s release—felt forced to distance themselves from me.

Q3. How was your PHD journey? 

Ans 3 - My official research journey began in 2022. The preparation kicked in with COVID-19. Now, it feels as if I was entangled in the program for five years.

Besides ruling as a creative, I stepped into the research zone, and even if it wasn't the first dissertation, I was at my wits' end—nervous, excited, tired, but at the end of the day, I loved every day of it because the knowledge I acquired exceeded even my expectations and imagination.

Q4. Do you enjoy collaborating with Thought Lantern? 

Ans 4 - Oh, yes. Absolutely! It's a great Literary magazine. I am honored to have associated Author NehZ's Personal Brand with Thought Lantern for long-term growth in the publishing industry.

Q5. How much have you grown as a person? 

Ans 5 - Over the last fifteen years, I have become more mature, open-minded and emotionally intelligent than I was in my final year of school. If I may add: ‘I’m an overthinking queen sitting on the edge always.’

Q6.  How many books have you written? 

Ans 6 - I have written and digitally published 15 novels on Wattpad. Five books have been sold to digital publishers like Starry Writing, Moboreader, GoodNovel, and Webnovel for a stipulated period of time. At the end of the contracts, I intend to put those books on Amazon.

Q7. What will be your next project? 

Ans 7 - There isn't one but many. My signature series in New Adult Contemporary Romantic Fiction needs final redrafting and editing for Amazon—besides that, a young adult romance short story, a dark romantic mystery thriller, and a Lesbian romantic mystery are in the plotting stage.

Alongside, my poetry book and a few scripts and columns are due.

Q8. For how many years have you been dedicated to writing? 

Ans 8 - I have spent more than twelve years in my writing cave than travelling the world.

Q9. What is the best thing you love about writing? 

Ans 9 - The audacity to be honest, imaginative, and even cynical at the same time. 

Q10. If you could share who has been your constant support in this journey. 

Ans 10 - From my personal experience, human support isn't constant but changes with time and circumstances. The only one who is still and works in silence is Mahadev, and that's the one I look up to every day. Other than God, my first best friend's words have been my anchor. He used to be my senior in school, and although we lost touch a long time ago, his wisdom has stayed with me throughout my life.

Q11. Your journey uniquely blends creative writing with marketing strategy. How has your academic background in Marketing Management and HR shaped the way you build stories, scripts, and your personal author brand?

Ans 11 - Honestly, when HR was my major, I was suffocated because I could barely be creative since it was entirely about managing the administration, which consists of employees. I don't mean to offend anyone, but for a creative mind, it could feel like a roadblock rather than a setup.

Marketing is about consumers and their ever-altering psychology. To touch base, it's essential to be creative, innovative, and an emotional planner.

I feel relieved that I did my PhD in Marketing Management, especially with a focus on real-world industry samples, which focus more on consumer stories and experiences, the key notes to creating books that would resonate with audiences worldwide.

It has opened a path for me to lead my independent interests rather than be managed.

Q12. With 32 original titles and co-authorship in 20 global anthologies, how do you maintain originality and emotional depth across genres while adapting to evolving reader expectations worldwide?

Ans 12 - Half of those titles are in the plotting stage, and a few others need a thorough redrafting, and it's a lot of work—the research starts from the north, ends up in the South. At times, nowhere but one thing that makes the process worthwhile is the satisfaction of telling stories.

Readers/Viewers love diverse stories with impact, even if they might hate it at first, but later on, as their consciousness rises, people realize the life-changing story and the intention behind its creation.

Irrespective of what stage I am in my life, knowing that my stories would live longer than me motivates me to keep going further into this zone, and it eventually helps to adapt distinctive genres.

Q13. You’ve received both national and international recognition, from literary honors to business-oriented accolades. Which milestone do you believe truly transformed your identity from a writer to a global literary entrepreneur, and why?

Ans 13 - In the year 2023, I received Honoris Causa Doctorate in Creative Writing from Grace Ladies Global Academy, USA. The honor was given to me after submission and acceptance of my Thesis titled: Making my Mark Through the Norm of Creative Writing (Modern Day Literature) to inspire and empower the generations. It inculcated my thirteen years of self-study, research, and passion for creative writing and contribution towards the publishing industry.

It established my authenticity as an Authorpreneur (Global Literary Entrepreneur) and even boosted my confidence, which had taken a blow after I lost my USA publishing contract in 2020.

Q14. As you step into Freelance B2B services for international brands, how do you envision the future role of writers as strategic storytellers in the digital economy rather than just content creators?

Ans 14 - From the lens of a Founder, Strategist, and Entrepreneur, I perceive writing is not only an art, but a data collection of consumer preferences.

Whether we’re creating for the thrill or money, without a strong hook, the content would fail to grab eyes, and everyone who creates short or long-form content isn’t a storyteller.

Most are only performers. Even if the economy thinks AI would replace a writer, it can’t do so because we don’t just write—writers corroborate a story with a vision, purpose, and tone of the brand or platform, and it’s a task a non-writer who’s creating content might find hard to do. Whether someone is a creative writer or a content writer, the job isn’t about throwing words; it’s about having the right strategic mindset and proper analysis to propel awareness and make a change beyond the threshold, followed by legitimate profits.