S. Tanuja Sri Sasi Kumar: When Writing Became a Way of Finding Herself

S Tanuja Sri Sasi Kumar has loved writing stories since childhood. During her teenage years, writing became more than a hobby. It became a friend, a way to express thoughts, escape difficult moments, and understand herself better. Before publishing her debut novel, she had already written essays, articles, poems, and short pieces, slowly discovering that writing was the talent she could truly call her own.

Her debut novel, If You Had Loved Me APPA, grew from an interest in a type of relationship that is rarely discussed openly. While conversations about relationships often focus on romance, Tanuja wanted to write about broken family bonds and the invisible struggles people may carry silently. Through the novel, she explores emotional pain while reminding readers that healing and self acceptance are possible.

Writing the book itself became an unpredictable journey. What began as a story that she feared might be too short eventually became a 350 page manuscript. There were moments when she wondered whether she would publish it at all, yet she continued writing until the manuscript was complete. Proofreading later became another challenge, with hundreds of pages requiring careful checking and repeated corrections.

Publishing her first book was a major personal investment. The publisher handled distribution across platforms including Amazon and Flipkart, and seeing her own name on Amazon felt surreal. For Tanuja, the defining moment came on 15 July 2026, when she received her author copies. Holding the physical book, seeing her name on the cover and knowing every word had come from her made the dream feel real.

Her writing is closely connected to her personal observations and emotions. Even when creating fiction, she places herself in the character’s position and tries to understand how they might think and feel. Becoming a published author has also changed how she sees herself, giving her confidence and a renewed sense of purpose.

Reader responses, recognition, and her mother’s happiness have made the journey even more special. Tanuja now plans to continue writing about psychology, relationships and emotions, with future books carrying messages of self love, acceptance and healing. Her message is simple: “You may lose people, dreams, and pieces of yourself, but never lose yourself.”