In Designed by Destiny, Author Viplav Kumar Singh crafts a soul-stirring tale that captures the fragile yet powerful spirit of human resilience.
Life has pushed Shreya to her breaking point. With everything around her crumbling, she drifts toward the banks of the River Ravi in search of solace. Lost in memories of love and loss, exhaustion consumes her, and she surrenders to what feels like her final breath.
But destiny has other plans. What appears to be the end is, in fact, a beginning—wrapped in mystery, strength, and a life-altering secret waiting to be revealed.
With vivid storytelling and raw emotion, this novel reminds us that even in our darkest valleys, destiny can carve a new path toward hope. Perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt, inspirational fiction with emotional depth and a touch of mystery.
1.Your novel beautifully blends emotion, mystery, and personal growth. How did you decide on the balance between these elements?
Honestly, I never planned a balance between the three aspects—it unfolded naturally as Shreya’s journey progressed. Her heightened emotions often placed her in a state of mystery and uncertainty, yet with time, these very experiences guided her closer to spirituality. Every character she encountered along the way—whether it was Mahesh or Guruji—played a meaningful role, each offering a gentle nudge that steered her towards her destiny.
Many nights, as I wrote Shreya’s story, I realized the journey reflected not just hers, but also what I would long for in life, had I been in her place.
2.Shreya’s journey feels deeply personal and transformative. How did you approach creating such an intimate character arc?
As an HR professional, I’ve had the gift of being part of so many lives, listening to their struggles, joys, and turning points. My work as a hypnotherapist deepened this even further, allowing me to witness how people transform when they turn to spirituality.
Shreya’s journey isn’t about one person I met—it’s about all of them. I’ve seen how, in our darkest moments, the only thing that keeps us going is hope, and the faith that somehow life will realign. That’s exactly what I poured into Shreya: the belief that the universe gently nudges us into the right place at the right time, so we can discover who we truly are and step into our destiny.
3. Did the story ever take a turn that surprised you during the writing process?
Yes, absolutely. One of the biggest surprises came towards the end of the novel. I hadn’t originally planned how Shreya’s story would conclude. It was only later, as I reflected on the depth of her struggles, that I felt her journey deserved a more meaningful and rewarding resolution than what I had first envisioned.
This realization came to me almost at the final stages of writing, and it completely reshaped the way the story closed.
4. How have your own life experiences influenced the emotions and challenges faced by your characters?
Life has been kind to me in both its joys and its challenges. The good times have strengthened my faith in the beauty of life, while the difficult moments—especially those that disrupted my own plans—have gently redirected me toward better paths.
Shreya’s journey mirrors this in many ways. My own spiritual experiences shifted how I see the world and gave me a sense of purpose that goes beyond my work. The love in her character is drawn from my own love for the people around me, and there are moments in her story that touch me so deeply, I sometimes can’t even finish reading without tears welling up.
5. Nature, especially the River Ravi, plays a symbolic role in your story. How important is setting in shaping your narrative?
Nature has always felt like one of life’s greatest gifts, and I wanted that to reflect in Shreya’s story. The River Ravi, especially at the beginning, symbolizes continuity—life that keeps moving forward despite our gains or losses.
Shreya’s walk by the river came from my own belief that when we feel empty or directionless, it is often nature that restores clarity. The sound of flowing water or birdsong may seem simple, but they remind us that beauty and balance still exist, even in difficult times.
Her time in Mukteshwar or at the Ashram carries the same meaning—stepping away from the noise of the world and reconnecting with nature can completely shift how we see life. While writing, I often found myself picturing the valleys and landscapes so vividly that it felt like I was offering both Shreya and the readers a pause from routine life, and a return to the basics that truly ground us.
6. Your novel explores resilience and rediscovery. What do you hope readers take away from Shreya’s struggles and triumphs?
I believe each of us carries our own share of struggles and victories, and that’s what makes Shreya’s journey relatable. My hope is that readers find in her story a sense of hope, especially in moments when they need it most.
I remember finding such direction in a friend’s book at a time when I felt completely lost—it reminded me that nothing is truly over unless we choose to give up. If Shreya’s journey can offer even a fraction of that reassurance to someone, I would feel her story has served its purpose.
7. Blending mystery and inspiration can be tricky. Did you face any challenges maintaining authenticity while doing so?
Authenticity wasn’t something I struggled with—it came quite naturally as the narrative unfolded and the themes of mystery and inspiration found their own rhythm in Shreya’s journey.
What did challenge me, though, was working within a relatively small circle of characters. I wanted each of them to feel distinct, with their own presence and impact, without slipping into repetition. Finding that balance—ensuring that every character’s voice and role contributed meaningfully to Shreya’s arc—was where much of my focus went.
8. If there’s one message readers take from Designed by Destiny, what would you want it to be?
That’s one of the aspects I hold closest to my heart—the way this book allows each reader to discover their own interpretation.
For me, what resonates most is the spiritual belief that we are always being guided, even when we cannot see the path clearly. Trusting the journey is essential, because every experience—whether of joy, pain, or uncertainty—is part of a larger design that shapes our destiny.
To give up on ourselves is, in many ways, to step away from the divine plan that the universe has set in motion for us. I hold on to the conviction that each of us is far greater than we often realize, and that our past, no matter how heavy, should never be seen as the blueprint of our future. Instead, it’s the foundation from which we can grow, transform, and step into who we’re truly meant to become.
Experience Designed by Destiny — a moving tale of hope, healing, and rediscovery. Available now on Amazon!
