When I first started to write, I saw an image that came to me often-- of a young girl holding on to an older white sari-clad woman: Priya Balasubramanian on writing 'The Alchemy of Secrets'

Gastroenterologist and transplant hepatologist and author Priya Balasubramanian's debut novel titled 'The Alchemy of Secrets' was released in 2020. It is a multi-generational saga and is a vivid fictional tale of a family, amidst the political events surrounding the country. The story's protagonist is Mira who has to return to the city she fled seven years ago to visit her grandmother who's on deathbed. During the course of her visit, Mira realises a lot about herself and her family. The author has packed the book with important political events woven into a fictional narrative.

In an interview with us, the author spoke about the book, the idea behind it, writing and more. Excerpts-