KATHMANDU, Dec 23: Shiwani Neupane's Crossing Shadows was launched by Nepal's five eminent women, including Anuradha Koirala, Arzu Rana Dewa, Menuka Thapa, Sunita Danuwar and Sapana Malla Pradhan, at a program in Annapurna Hotel, Kathmandu.
Crossing Shadows is Shiwani's second novel. Monica-Pieces of Perfect was her first novel that came out in 2012. "This is heartening to see young Nepali women coming out with English novel, and a remarkable contribution in Nepali literature," said Anuradha Koirala, CNN Hero 2010. Arzu Deuba, Member of Parliament, said that despite Neupane's privileges as a child, she has brilliantly captured diversity of Nepal's culture, opinion, and characters in the book.
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Hari Neupane, chairman of Ambe Group and the writer's father, spoke about the love and support his family provided to help Shiwani explore her thirst for writing. "We are evolving as a society where girls are now equally treated as boys in a family," Mr. Neupane said.
"I did not write this book by myself. I wrote it because of the kindness of others; I wrote it because there was always someone who believed in me, who encouraged me, who inspired me." Shiwani told the gathering today. Shiwani also discussed the process of writing a book. "Many people are curious about the process of writing a book – let me be honest here, if a writer remembered every single painful moment and the waiting period of publishing a book, one may never write again. That is why publishing a book is so often compared to giving birth to a child I think – one forgets the pain when a book comes to live."
Shiwani wants the readers to take way message of kindness from her new book. She told the audience that "everyone we meet is always fighting a battle of their own, and that is perhaps what this book is about, so let's be kind, let's be gentle, let's be nice because it is only kindness that gets us anywhere good in life."
