09/07/2025
17 year old author, Soumya Jinaga launches her second book ‘Sincerely’,
unveiled by Aparna Piramal Raje
Reign Williams Jr. has spent his life preparing to lead the family company, yet behind her achievements lies a haunting inner battle that leaves her questioning her place in the world. Ezra Hamilton, who was once the embodiment of joy, now isolates himself and refuses treatment as his illness consumes him. When their paths cross at the hospital, Reign and Ezra find unexpected solace in each other’s struggles.
Weaving together the stories of two individuals battling their demons, ‘Sincerely’ creates a narrative of isolation, vulnerability, and societal expectations. This is the storyline of ‘Sincerely’, authored by 2007 born writer, Soumya Jinaga. This interesting fictional book was launched at the hands of Chief Guest Aparna Piramal Raje, Writer & Public Speaker, and author of the best-seller, Chemical Khichdi, on 5th July 2025 at Crossword Kemps Corner, Mumbai.
This is the 17 year old author’s second fictional book. Her first book, ‘Trapped’ was released in 2021, when she was just 13. And penning ‘Sincerely’, started a few months after her first novel was released. “The concept had been on my mind for a while, but it was during a quieter moment in my life that the characters and story began to take shape. It started as a fleeting thought and slowly grew into something much bigger”, shares Soumya.
From ideation to final publication, Sincerely took around four years. And in 2024, Soumya was ready with her novel and signed up with Austin Macauley Publishers and wrote the final draft, followed by editorial revisions. The book was finally published in 2025.
Aparna Piramal Raje lauded Soumya for her achievement of starting her journey as an author so early in life. “Normally an author would debut in their 30s, some even in their 20s, but it’s very rare for a teenager to do it, that too her second book. And she has chosen a very serious theme, where the main protagonist is dealing with mental health challenges and another battling cancer, and both meet at the hospital. Not exactly the kind of scene that Gen Z would be associated with. It’s truly remarkable that she has delved deep into these issues, at such a young age”, she said in admiration.
So what was the inspiration that led her to weave this story? “The inspiration came after a few close family members were diagnosed with cancer. Watching their journey opened me up to the reality of loss and grief, and how fragile life really is. It made me think about how we love, how we grieve, and how deeply illness tests the bonds we take for granted. I wanted to explore the way two people can be tethered by pain, yet still find beauty and strength in each other”, she reveals.
The plot, characters, and dialogues are fictional and born purely from her imagination, but the emotions running through the story are deeply personal. Every feeling stems from real moments she has lived or observed. While the events themselves aren’t drawn from real life, the emotional truths behind them absolutely are, making Sincerely a compelling read!
The author’s two fictional novels are completely different in tone and genre. ‘Trapped’ was a fast-paced murder mystery – plot-driven, suspenseful, and rooted in unraveling secrets. ‘Sincerely’, on the other hand, is much quieter and more reflective. It explores grief, love, and human connection and is very character-driven. “I’ve realized that my writing often mirrors whatever I’m reading at the time, and during this period, I was drawn to slower, more introspective narratives. The shift felt natural”, sums up Soumya, who is a complete bookaholic and has a passion for reading fictional books and a voracious appetite for them.
The 330 paged book is published by Austin Maccauley. The kindle edition is priced at Rs.400 and Paperback is priced at Rs. 1100, and is available on Amazon.
