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Author Amanjot Kaur Tells All About her IRDA Winning Book

The Ninth Incarnation was the winner in the Spiritual (Fiction) category in the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.

Following find an interview with author Amanjot Kaur.

“I am honored and delighted that The Ninth Incarnation was chosen as the winner in the Spiritual Fiction category by IndieReader Discovery Awards! I would like to thank all those who supported me in completing this book, particularly Raj Giandeep Singh and Ustad Ji Narinder Singh Sandhu. The making of this book was a huge labor of love, and it has been such a beautiful gift to experience its positive reception by both the young adults that it was written for as well as adults.

It is a blessing to have forums like IndieReader where so many up-and-coming independent authors are celebrated and able to share their wonderful, unique books with the world.

Thank you so much for recognizing my book, and for this amazing experience!”

What is the name of the book and when was it published?

The Ninth Incarnation, published October 29, 2024

What’s the book’s first line?

“Time’s running out, Seal!” an urgent voice shouted.

What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch.”

They say cats have nine lives, but time is running out for Seal! She never imagined anything beyond suburban life, her daily work in the Cat Orphanage, and putting up with Supervisor Mota’s demands. But with the appearance of the mysterious mouse, Mukti, her life is about to take twists and turns she never dreamed of.

In this multi-cultural tale of self-discovery, Seal experiences cross-continental travels as she meets with Tansen, the Great Teacher. She is catapulted into a high-stakes, adventurous quest across Nepal, Japan, and India. Seal becomes an unexpected student in the mysterious arts of the East-meditation, music, yoga, and the secret Soto technique-and something precious is on the line, the life of her best friend, Ardaas, who has been kidnapped by Kadir, a violent and dangerous gorilla.

Only Seal can find them. Will she be able to complete her training with Tansen, find Ardaas, and confront Kadir before it’s too late?

In this amazing fantasy tale of reincarnation, awakening, and enlightenment, Seal experiences the beautiful spiritual traditions of the East and in the process of self-realization, comes to experience diversity and friendship in its many forms.

What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?

I was deeply inspired to write this story after my experiences living in Asia.  The cultural and spiritual traditions of India, Japan and Nepal are so beautiful and fascinating. I wanted to introduce them, and bring them to life for western children.

What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?

I would say the most distinctive thing about the main character is her willingness to experience the unknown and face her fears. The character of Seal reminds me of herself because she was my cat in real life. I gave her anthropomorphized experiences in the book. But her personality was always her own.

What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?

The main reason someone should read The Ninth Incarnation is that it has the ability to make them laugh, cry, and remind them of the deep interconnectedness and universal truths that exist within all beings everywhere.

When did you first decide to become an author?

When I was 11-12 years old, I felt I would someday become an author.

Is this the first book that you’ve written?

No, but it is the first to be published.

What do you do for work when you’re not writing?

I am currently a Senior Service Specialist with a health insurance company,predominantly serving Medicaid and Medicare patients. I work with both customers and providers to solve problems big and small.

What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie? 

The best part about being an indie is having complete creative control and final say over the project so that my vision comes across 100% in the finished product. Most difficult is having to learn so many different things outside of writing and illustrating that are compulsory when there is no “team” there to tackle the 1,001 other things that go into bringing a book into being.

Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)

I am motivated by my love of children and desire to share stories with them that delight as well as leave life-long impressions.

Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?

It would be a three-way tie between Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, and Charlotte Brontë.

 

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