Kusum Sawhney is a controversial writer who has penned Wych Stories, a collection of short stories and two novels - Ayãla and Kindred Spirits. Her works of fiction address uncomfortable issues related to abuse, passions, sexuality and oppression. Kusum was born in the U.K and lived in Africa, before she moved to Delhi, India. She has been residing in Delhi for more than 15 years now. In her works the protagonist generally goes through a lot of trauma and unsettling situations. The story is complete with dark situations getting darker with the turn of every page. "The subject matter is heavy and that is why my style is simple so that the meaning is understood,” she says in an interview.