Nayantara Roy is a talented storyteller, and a remarkable new voice in contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, ‘The Magnificent Ruins’, is a masterful exploration of childhood, secrecy, and the ways distance can illuminate hidden truths. Born in Kolkata in 1985, Nayantara—known as Tara—moved to the United States at 18, driven by a dream of working in television. Today, she leads the acquisition and development of original scripted TV series at STARZ, a division of Lionsgate, and was recently recognised by ‘LA TV Weekly’ as one of the top 40 under 40 trailblazers in television.
In an interview with Asian Voice, Nayantara spoke about her novel including themes of family, memory and identity, writing process and much more.
The novel intricately weaves themes of family, memory, and identity. How did you balance these elements in your storytelling?
The story is told entirely from Lila’s perspective, giving us insight into her world. However, it was important to me to ensure that the other key women, Maya and Geeta, were also given agency. Memory became a key tool in that process, allowing us to explore their perspectives and delve deeper into the past. While we see everything through Lila’s eyes, we also gain a more nuanced understanding of her mother and the other characters. I wanted to create a story where the lines between good and bad weren’t so clear-cut, and memory was an effective way to achieve this. Lila, as an unreliable narrator, shows how memory can distort reality—after all, the way I remember a situation is often different from how you recall it. This plays into the central conflict of the novel. Identity also fascinates me; I juggle multiple identities. I’m American, but very much Indian as well. In America, I feel distinctly Indian, and in India, I’m treated as an outsider, which creates an odd, liminal space. Lila shares this sense of being both an insider and an outsider, and it was important for me to explore that duality.
Lila’s journey takes her back to Kolkata to confront her past and family. How did you conceptualise her character, and what does she represent to you?
Someone asked me at a book club event why I chose to make Lila 29. I felt she was at a pivotal age, standing on the cusp of a new chapter in life. At the start of the book, she's a millennial in Brooklyn, grappling with complex decisions about her career and relationships. When a life-changing event thrusts her into a new world, she's completely unprepared but possesses a certain wisdom. Lila is reckless—putting herself in difficult situations, like being the centre of attention at her ex-boyfriend’s marriage—but her actions reflect the impulsiveness of youth. To me, she represents a stage in life when we’re on the edge of “real life,” always waiting for a moment of clarity. But without confronting the past or finding closure, it’s hard to move forward. Lila represents between East and West, and the freedom to shape who we want to be while struggling to leave behind who we’ve always been.
This is your debut novel. What were some of the biggest challenges and joys you faced during the writing and publishing process?
The challenges in writing this novel were significant, especially since it’s not a traditional story. It’s sprawling, and I wouldn’t advise debut novelists to start with a 600-page book. I definitely made life harder for myself, but I had an amazing editorial agent who helped me whittle it down, followed by a supportive editor. A major challenge was ensuring that all three women had agency and distinct voices—a goal that took fine-tuning to get right. Writing the novel in the first person was also tricky, especially when making a point-of-view shift toward the end. Representing class and outsider/insider dynamics added further complexity. While these challenges weren’t always easy, writing itself is a joy. The biggest reward has been seeing how the book resonates with readers. When my agent read it for the first time, I could see the passion she felt, and my editor has been an incredible advocate. In today’s time, it’s crucial to have people who truly love your book to help it reach the readers who will connect with it—and that’s exactly what’s happening, which is incredibly gratifying.
Are there any lessons you learned from writing this book that you’d like to share with aspiring authors?
Writing a novel requires a deep love for the story you're telling, or a sense of urgency that compels you to write—it’s a true labour of love. Most writers aren’t in it to become billionaires, so persistence is key. I’d advise any writer to choose a project that ignites a fire inside them. As for more practical advice, even though I’m not sure it's always the best for a debut novelist, I found outlining to be incredibly helpful. I've heard many writers prefer to write without an outline, allowing the story to unfold organically, but that approach doesn’t suit me. I began without structure, but after a couple of years, I created an outline. Even though it evolved over time, having a clear roadmap, especially for a large cast and a big novel, was crucial to seeing the bigger picture before diving into chapters.
