Anjali Banerjee Blends Suspense, Emotion, and Magic Across a Versatile Writing Career
Photo: Anjali Banerjee, bestselling author and storyteller extraordinaire, at home in the lush Pacific Northwest, where inspiration and creativity flourish.
From Family Secrets To Psychological Thrills
Anjali Banerjee shares insights into crafting emotional suspense, her dual author identity, the influence of her heritage, the Pacific Northwest’s inspiration, and the joy of seeing her novel adapted into film.
Anjali Banerjee is a literary force to be celebrated. With her rich tapestry of novels that span themes of love, mystery, psychological intrigue, and familial discovery, she has captivated readers across the globe. Her writing transports us effortlessly—from gripping psychological thrillers under her pen name, A. J. Banner, to the enchanting charm and hopeful narratives in her works under her own name. Whether she’s weaving intricate tales of suspense like Dreaming of Water or In Another Light, or delighting her audience with emotionally resonant, magical realism in Haunting Jasmine and Looking for Bapu, Anjali’s storytelling mastery is nothing short of remarkable.
Her accolades speak volumes, but what truly sets her apart is her ability to blend atmospheric settings, layered characters, and profound emotional depth. The Pacific Northwest comes alive in her pages, serving as both a character and a backdrop, its rugged beauty and mystic allure shaping the tone and spirit of her novels. She doesn’t just tell stories; she invites readers on transformative journeys, revealing the complexities of human experience with compassion, elegance, and thrilling complexity.
In this engaging interview, Anjali reflects on her dual identities as an author, the inspirations behind her unforgettable characters, and her groundbreaking experience of seeing Looking for Bapu adapted into the heartfelt film Anu. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or an ardent fan, her words bristle with wisdom, passion, and the sheer joy of craft. Prepare to be inspired by Anjali’s perspectives and her unwavering dedication to storytelling.
What inspired you to start writing novels that blend family secrets, suspense, and psychological drama?
I started my career addressing themes of family, culture, and personal transformation in novels like Maya Running, Looking for Bapu, and Haunting Jasmine. These stories all contain elements of magic realism. As my writing evolved, it seemed only natural to add more suspense to the mix. Inspired by authors like Joy Fielding (See Jane Run), A.S.A. Harrison (The Silent Wife), Emma Chapman (How to Be a Good Wife), and others, I tried my hand at psychological suspense with The Good Neighbor, a novel written under the pen name, A. J. Banner. Harper’s Bazaar called The Good Neighbor “a book that could be the next Gone Girl,” and the novel stayed at #1 on Kindle for 34 days in a row. I had fun writing that book, so I wrote five more novels under the same name. I’ve always loved stories that keep me guessing, and I hope to surprise readers with unexpected twists and turns.
“I’ve always loved stories that keep me guessing, and I hope to surprise readers with unexpected twists and turns.” – Anjali Banerjee
How does your background and upbringing influence the themes you explore in your books?
As the child of immigrants who grew up in India and worked hard to become successful in their professions in North America, I understand the need for diligence and self-discipline. I’m also sensitive to people who might feel like outsiders straddling two worlds, never quite belonging in one place. Characters in my books often feel a little different from others but also seek belonging. For example, in In Another Light, Phoebe Glassman feels like a misfit, spending all her time as a mortuary makeup artist, working in isolation. But she longs for human connection and to find some hope and love in her life.
As someone who writes under a pen name for psychological suspense, what are the challenges and benefits of having dual identities as an author?
It has been wonderful to have two identities. Some authors have three or four or even five! The name denotes the genre. My A. J. Banner books fall squarely into the psychological suspense genre (a prime example might be The Twilight Wife, a Publishers Weekly bestseller), while my Anjali Banerjee books transport the reader into idyllic settings with tales of love, hope, and change. I plan to combine all the elements — suspense and a mystical, hopeful love story — in my next novel. While I maintain one website for both names, it’s a bit more difficult to juggle different personas on social media platforms.
How do you approach creating complex characters like Astrid Johansen and Phoebe Glassman, who are navigating personal tragedies and mysteries?
Phoebe Glassman has lost her family and works in a funeral home in my novel, In Another Light, which all sounds very dark, but the story ends on a hopeful note. I read about her profession, interviewed the coroner, and visited the county morgue. I tapped into universal emotions—grief, loneliness, and guilt, which we all have—to deepen Phoebe’s character.
In Dreaming of Water, Astrid Johansen feels responsible for the long-ago accidental drowning of her little sister. Again, the story ends on a hopeful note, a mystery woven throughout. I tried to put myself in Astrid’s shoes, learned about her profession, and interviewed a court-certified forensic document examiner. As I wrote each book, Phoebe and Astrid came to life and helped to guide me through their stories.
What was your experience like having your novel “Looking for Bapu” adapted into a film, and what role did you play in the adaptation process?
The experience was and still is surreal. The incomparable, talented filmmaker, Sudeshna Sen, did a wonderful job of adapting Looking for Bapu into the movie, Anu. She shared the script with me early in the process and even asked for my input, which I appreciated. I supported her decision to make the main character a girl. He’s a boy in the book. The movie remained faithful to the novel—retaining the humor and pathos—but was also wholly Sudeshna’s project. I stepped back during the adaptation process, as I did not want to influence her decisions. But I was delighted to attend the sold out premier of the film at the Seattle International Film Festival!
Can you share insights into how you balance creating suspenseful plots without losing the emotional depth in your stories?
In my view, suspenseful plots are inextricably tied to emotions, as often the twist involves the main character uncovering the secrets of those closest to her. In The Twilight Wife, Kyra Winthrop, a marine biologist, has lost her memory and must unravel the mystery of her past. Each discovery comes with an emotional revelation. In Dreaming of Water, Astrid Johansen feels responsible for her little sister’s long-ago death and feels terrible guilt, depression, grief. As she investigates the truth, her discoveries alter her emotions in a profound way. Each concrete plot twist also comes with a psychological revelation.
How does living in the Pacific Northwest influence your settings and atmospheric elements in your writing?
Nowhere else have I walked on a rugged beach without another human in sight – only river otters and harbor seals gliding through the waves, magnificent ospreys and bald eagles soaring overhead. We live in a stunning state with mountain ranges, three national parks, 3,026 miles of coastline and 170 named islands in the San Juan Islands archipelago. At low tide, the islands might number up to 700. The mists, forests, and wild beaches have infused nearly all of my recent novels, especially Looking for Bapu, Haunting Jasmine, The Twilight Wife, The Poison Garden, and Dreaming of Water. How could they not?
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to explore writing in multiple genres or under different pen names? I recommend starting with one name and writing a novel that only you can write. Read widely, learn the craft by taking workshops and attending conferences, and connect with other writers. Write every day. Practice, practice. Treat writing as you would any profession. Then think carefully about why you might want to use more than one name. Often, the same author can write a variety of stories under the same name. But if you want to try something radically different, shifting from romance to a thriller, for example, you might consider a pen name to let readers know what type of book they’re buying. In my view pen names exist for the reader’s benefit, to identify a brand or genre. For example, Jayne Ann Krentz writes contemporary romantic suspense, but she also writes historical romantic suspense as Amanda Quick and futuristic/paranormal romantic suspense as Jayne Castle. The name indicates the type of book
