About – shubhamenon.com

Shubha Menon

Author • Storyteller • Writing Coach • Bibliotherapist

A writer drawn to the stories beneath the story.

Shubha Menon is an author, storyteller, writing coach, and bibliotherapist whose work explores resilience, memory, identity, and the complexities of human relationships.

About Me

I grew up in advertising agencies where I learnt how to write fiction. In 2019, I quit her job in Ogilvy, dropping the ‘copy’ from ‘copywriter’ to become a full-time writer.

I am the author of three books. Besides, I have written plays for young adults (For Barry John’s Theater In Education) and articles for The Quint, Atlas Obscura, Women’s Feature Service and Discover India).

My first book, ‘The Second Coming’, romantic fiction, was published in 2014 by HarperCollins India. ‘RESILIENCE – Stories of Muslim Women’ was published in 2019 by FrontPage Publications. Traitor In The House, a memoir on bipolar disorder, published by Westland Publishers will be launched in October-November, 2026.

A self-confessed workshop junkie, I have attended classes on butterfly reproduction, chakra healing, Indian art, screenplay writing, film appreciation, yoga, Buddhism, Sufism and salsa, among others – alongside writing workshops with Shyam Benegal, Krishna Shah, Anjum Rajabali, New Delhi Writing Institute, Screenwriting University in Hollywood, Black Coffee Films and many more. My ongoing interest is mental health awareness and I have anchored a television show and live talks on the subject at India International Centre, New Delhi, I am a certified Peer Support Specialist trained by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), USA and have completed the Basic Counselling Course from the Sanjivini Society for Mental Health. I am a co-founder of Sunny Side Up, a bipolar support group.

A hopeless book addict, I recently trained as a bibliotherapy practitioner, with Ella Berthoud as my teacher.

Ella is the GOAT in bibliotherapy.

I am crazy about Dachshunds, flowers and books. I abhor horror movies. Numbers give me a headache. I dream of the day when I can hibernate in the hills, in a cottage with pale pink climbing roses.

The Journey

Three decades in advertising

I spent nearly three decades in advertising, working with words, ideas and communication. It was a career that taught me to observe people closely and understand the power of a well-told story.

Finding the longer story

After years of telling stories in a few carefully chosen words, I began wanting to explore them more deeply.

Long-form writing gave me the space to pause, to look beneath the surface, and to explore the complexity of people, their experiences, and the stories they carry with them.

Three books. Three journeys.

My journey as an author has taken me through three very different worlds.

The Second Coming (2014), Resilience: Stories of Muslim Women (2019), and Traitor in the House (2026) each emerged from a different set of questions, experiences, and stories that I felt compelled to explore.

Creating space for stories

Today, writing is not only about the stories I tell.

I also work with people who are looking to find their own voice, make sense of their stories, or simply discover what literature and writing can open up within them.

For me, creating that space – whether through writing, coaching, or bibliotherapy – is another way of doing what I have always loved: listening to stories, and helping them find their way into the world.

“

You Don't Need a Muse - You Need a Routine

Writing & Coaching

I am the author of three books and am soon to start the fourth. I am also a writing coach certified by the International Coaching Federation.

I am the author of three books and am soon to start the fourth. I am also a writing coach certified by the International Coaching Federation.

Book a free 1:1 Writing Coaching Session.

Reading Your Way Back to Creativity

Get curated reading suggestions that can reignite your creative energy. The course explores the following:

Explore our Bibliotherapy Programs for Creative Professionals.

Book Therapy

When Books Become Mirrors: How Reading Can Heal and Reframe

“Book therapy or Bibliotherapy is the art of prescribing books for life’s ailments.” – Ella Berthoud

I have been trained in bibliotherapy by Ella Berthoud from The School of Life, UK. Ella is the world’s foremost bibliotherapist and is known for single-handedly promoting book therapy and taking it to the world, curing many ailments on the way.

There is no problem on earth that hasn’t been discussed, explored and sorted out by a character in a book. Welcoming all readers, come, let’s get to the bottom of your angst, sadness, confusion, breakup, grief, jealousy…anything and everything that could possibly be bothering you. Even little but debilitating issues like nail biting or fear of elevators.

Here's what we will learn:

Origins of bibliotherapy
How reading creates perspective & empathy
The difference between bibliotherapy and therapy
The “right” book for your mood
5 books for clarity & calm

Book a 1:1 Request a Custom Reading List or book an introductory Bibliotherapy Session

Speaking & Conversations

Lectures • Conversations • Panels • Academic Engagements

In Conversation : On RiFoM Podcast

Shubha sat down with host Disha Kumar on the RiFoM YouTube channel for a candid conversation on writing, memory, and the making of Traitor in the House — her memoir on family and bipolar disorder. The conversation explores what it took to turn years of silence into a story, and why she believes talking openly about mental illness is the first step toward removing its stigma.