AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

1. Let's start the session with your childhood reminiscence!!

Oh - that’s a good place to start. Considering that most of the anecdotes and lessons are from my childhood, it makes sense. I had a wonderful childhood for the first 12 years of my life. Wonderful parents, a loving younger sister, a simple middle-class family with great values, a focus on education and life lessons, and a nomadic life (thanks to my dad’s transfers) that opened our eyes to various cultures and experiences. In short, it was a wonderful childhood.

2. How do you know when a manuscript is ready for publication?

You usually have a plan in mind, and once the storyline is complete as per plan you know your draft is ready. And then, once you have edited it a few times…maybe half a dozen times….and read it cover to cover to ensure that you missed nothing. Perhaps then. But even with those checkpoints, it is sometimes common to find a little something that slipped your eyes and made it to the published book. 

3. Are there any authors or books that have had a significant impact on your writing style or creative journey?

Being a voracious reader, quite a few authors have influenced my love for language and writing. And I think I picked up bits and pieces from several of them. For instance, Enid Blyton was my earliest favourite and she taught me the art of creating those imaginary worlds where the reader could just get lost. PG Wodehouse, another favourite, taught me the beauty of the English language and the play of words. Popular fiction authors (too many to name) showed me how you could create page-turners by keeping the reader hooked to the storyline. So I learnt a bit from every author I read. 

4. How do you balance your personal experiences with fictional elements in your stories?

In this book of mine, there are no fictional elements and so this question is not really relevant. All the anecdotes in this book are personal experiences that really happened - no imagination or fiction there.

5. Can you talk about the role of setting and atmosphere in your writing? How do you create vivid and immersive worlds for your readers?

I mentioned Enid Blyton and how she creates those vivid images in your mind - whether it is the boarding school where you can actually feel you are sitting in the classroom/common room, or the adventure series where you are actually on the road, cycling away through the countryside - and her writing was always about the setting and the atmosphere. So I guess when I started writing, I tried to create the imagery for my readers as well. When I was writing about my earliest experiences in scenic Mount Abu, for instance, I could actually recall the scene vividly in my mind and I just recreated it in words for the reader to experience. I think the context and the setting are so important for you to appreciate the narrative.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are just starting on their own creative journeys?

Stay the course, believe in your dream and in your ability to write. Also, be disinclined about planning and executing your writing project. And do not get disheartened when writer’s block hits you - be aware of it and let it pass. And once your draft is ready, edit and edit it till you get it right. 

7. In today's rapidly changing publishing landscape, how do you navigate the world of self-publishing versus traditional publishing?

Today the options are plenty for aspiring writers. Earlier, when we had a handful of publishers and you had to queue up to get your manuscript review, today the avenues are plentiful. And for aspiring debut writers, self publishing is a great option. Of course, I would advise that you study the market, understand the pros and cons of going with established publishers versus self-publishing houses and then decide on the right course. ,

8. Could you share a sneak peek into your upcoming projects or works in progress?

I do have plans for a second and third, and hopefully more, books. For my second book, I plan to go with the same genre of personal experiences and learning, but slightly different from the tone of this one. I also have a fiction in the making, but yet to decide whether that comes next. 

9. Imagine your book is being adapted into a movie. What kind of soundtrack or music genre do you envision enhancing the mood and themes of your story?

Something poignant and nostalgic perhaps? That would set the tone of the environment for the stories. 

10. Any life incident which inspired you the most?

All the ones mentioned in the book, of course, and then plenty more that could not be covered as well. Hopefully, they will come in a sequel. :-)