Author Interview: Shuchi Singh Kalra

Shuchi Singh Kalra is an Amazon best selling author of two romantic comedies - 'Done with Men' and 'I'm big. So what?!'. She is the wife of an Army Officer, the mother of a pint size daughter, and two lazy cats, but she's also been an optometrist, a wine connoisseur, baking enthusiast, a restless traveller and a compulsive nomad. She's a sucker for funny romance and does her best writing surrounded either by mountains or the ocean. The characters in her books are the kinds everyone knows at least some of, in their real lives. She also runs a quaint writing and editing studio and is currently a full time editor managing the official blog of India's largest travel portal. When not doing any of the above, she loves engaging with people on social media and inflicting her opinions on random strangers. She loves creating quirky craft work and is a hoarder of eccentric fashion accessories for no reason at all. 

You can also go over our review of her latest book "A Cage of Desires" by clicking here. It was fun interacting with Shuchi. Have a look at the compilation our interview with her.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

I was born in Lucknow but I spent most of my childhood in Libya. My parents returned to India when I was 11 and I completed the rest of my schooling from Seth MR Jaipuria School in Lucknow. I went on to study Optometry from the Bausch & Lomb School of Optometry in Hyderabad and then did my Masters in English Literature. I belong to a family of academicians, mostly doctors and professors. Both my parents are independent medical practitioners, and my husband is an Aviation engineer in the Army. I am the first in my family to go take up writing as a profession.

Tell us about your book.

It's been a long and arduous journey but my third book  ‘A Cage of Desires’ is finally out there in the stores now. Although it straddles many genres but if I had to label it, I think it would come closest to contemporary romantic erotica. It initially started off as a short story published in New Asian Writings anthology. The story received a lot of praise which encouraged me to develop it into a full-length novel. Like all my other books, this one too is also woman-centric but the central theme is far more intense. It's about a woman's journey towards facing her inner truth and finding freedom. At the same time, it also explores the depths of female sexuality, toxic love and emotional abuse. I'm sure every reader will relate to it at some level. 

Tell us about your other books.

My first Book was ‘Done with Men’. It was all about the romantic (mis)adventures of Kairavi Krishna – serial dater and ditzy girl extraordinaire. She is a travel writer and is urban, young and…single. After an unfortunate rash of loser boyfriends, she is pretty much done with men and ready to focus on her career. But her latest assignment, to cover Sunburn in Goa, packs more surprises than she bargained for. In the middle of partying, falling off her balcony, food allergies and ex-boyfriend encounters, Kairavi develops a hopeless crush on her dreamy doctor, but she isn’t sure if he would possibly be interested in more than her broken clavicle. And then we have Kay’s best friend Baani, Kapil (Baani’s fiancée), Ravi (Kay’s boss), Ricky (Kay’s latest ex) and the The Thought Bubble (Kay’s alter ego) to add to the mayhem. It was a fun romantic comedy.

My second book was ‘I’m Big so What?’. I have always felt that plus-sized girls have been severely underrepresented in Indian mainstream fiction. There are so many books from western authors that have plus-sized heroines but that space is severely lacking in India. I thought it’s high time the plump girl breaks out of the stereotypical role of a friend, sister or comic relief, and takes over as the main lead – with a strong personality of her own and dreams to boot. Through Roli, the protagonist of IBSW, I also wanted to explore and bring forth the social and emotional challenges that a person of that size might typically go through, and how it would impact their confidence and self-worth. 

While my first two books were at their core, breezy romantic comedies, my latest book ‘A Cage of Desires’ is comparatively more serious, dark and brooding. Like my previous books, this one is also women centric but it has more complex characters and emotions which are deeper and more layered than the first two books of mine.

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

I have wanted to write for as long as I can remember. My first unsuccessful attempt at writing a book was when I was ten. It was a science fiction written in a school notebook, and it eventually got lost somewhere.

I have always found solace in writing, even as a child. I remember writing little poems and stories although I never tried to get them published. All through my school years, my writing skills were my only saving grace as I had no other talent to speak of. I can’t say I wanted to become a writer because those days (using those words makes me feel very old), it wasn’t really seen as a career option, at least where I came from. But I did maintain a personal journal and won the occasional writing/essay competition.

My journey as a professional writer began in 2005, when I was working as an Optometrist at an eye hospital. I took up some academic writing assignments just to escape the drudgery of 9-5 (which was more like 7-9 at the hospital where I worked) and it was only when I received my first payment that I realized that I could make a full-time career out of this. I quit that job, took the plunge and kept at it. Looking back, I feel so glad that I did. I wouldn’t trade my career and lifestyle for anything else in the world.

As far as writing my first full length novel goes, a friend of mine was telling me about her sister who had gone on a vacation after a breakup and had landed up in the hospital injured – that’s how the seeds of this story were planted in my mind. As for the title, I saw a random tweet by someone who wrote “I’m so done with men” and I realized that so many women (me included) have gone though that post-breakup phase when we say “I’m done with men” only to go falling in love all over again. It is not merely a phrase, but a feeling that most of us have actually experienced at some point. Since it encapsulated the essence of my story so well, I decided to weave it into the narrative and use it as the title too.

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

My most favorite part of the writing process is the moment when I finish a book. It’s an amotionally overwhelming moment. I have never not cried every time I have finished each of my books. My second most favorite part of the writing process is reading the reviews for my book. Friends and family will always tell you that your writing is great but it’s really heartening to read a review from a reader I do not know that says that someone found your fictional characters so relatable and that it reminded them of themselves or some other real person. It’s a great feeling to read that.

My least favorite part of the entire publishing process is the marketing and promotion part. As a newbie author you assume that once your book is accepted for publishing, your job is done. It’s only after my first two books that I have come to realize that the hard part starts after your book has been accepted by the publisher. Even though my books were received well, in hindsight I realize that they could have fetched much better sale figures if I had concentrated more on marketing them well.Marketing and publishing are the hard, sweaty, boring part of the publishing process and I hope I get better at it with my future books.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

 I love reading all kinds of books from rom coms to classic literature to Indian writing and everything in between, I’ve lapped them all up. I believe that my writing style carries the influence of all the authors I have read till date. Unfortunately, between my current full time day job, my kid and managing my home, the worst casualty has been my reading frequency. I hope to make up for it soon.

Which is your favorite book and why?

There are too many, different ones in different genre :)

Who are your favorite authors?

There are just too many authors I love! I have been a voracious reader since childhood and I never missed a chance to bury myself in a book. From the Bronte Sisters to Enid Blyton, and Shakespeare to Sophie Kinsella, I’ve loved a whole lot of them. I am currently reading a lot of Indian authors and I think some of them are extremely good story tellers. 

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I have been writing professionally for over a decade as a freelance writer and editor with my small firm that went by the name of ‘Pixie Dust Writing Studio’. Currently I'm in a full time corporate job working with India’s leading travel platform. This is my first full time office job. I have a school going daughter and manage my home alone since my husband is in the Indian Army and posted in another city. It’s hard to manage everything alone and find time to write but I am trying to get better at stealing more free time to concentrate on my writing.

What does your writing space look like?

Every time I have moved houses, the first thing I have done is set up my study. That cozy space is always my favorite place in my house where most of my writing takes place.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

When it came to my professional assignments while I was running my writing editing firm, I couldn’t afford writer’s block because there were deadlines to be met and clients to answer to. However, when it comes to my books, I give myself more leeway to slack. When I do face the reader’s block while writing my books, I have discovered that reading books from the same genre I am writing is the best way to break out of a block. It helps bring my mind into the same zone and usually I find a trigger for the words to flow sooner or later.

What motivated you to write this book?

It was a discussion with a Pakistani author who writes under a pseudonym that triggered the story. I wrote a short story titled Maya which received a lot of critical acclaim from the readers and I decided to develop the story into a full fledged novel. From there, it flowed on its own.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

Out of all my books, ‘A Cage of Desires’ took the longest for two reasons. First, it was unlike my first two books, which were breezy romantic comedies, a genre which naturally comes to me. ‘A Cage of Desires’ is a dark, brooding, contemporary romantic fiction with a sprinkling of erotica. The characters are way more complex than my other books and the emotions are darker and more layered. It was an emotionally exhausting process to write it and took me more than two years to finish the book. 

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

‘A Cage of Desires’ hopes to connect with the darker side in all of us that lies hidden under layers of our superficial real public self. I hope that people struggling to bridge the gap between their deep real selves and the roles they are forced to play in the real world can identify with the characters in the book and believe that if Renu can break from her cage of desires to discover her true inner self, then so can they. 

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

It’s really difficult to accept the fact that when you have poured your blood and soul into writing a book, the publishers might not love it as much because they receive hundreds of manuscripts a week. That rejection is hard to face, especially when you are a newbie author. It’s extremely demotivating and often makes you want to give up writing altogether. But once your manuscript gets accepted by a publisher then this challenge is over. The next hard part comes when you are waiting for the book to finally release in the market. The gestation period between a manuscript being accepted and the book finally seeing the light of the day is extremely long in India, frequently extending to well over a year. It’s pretty frustrating to wait that long. And once the book is out, then the next challenge is to market and promote your book. That part is another long sweaty journey along a dreary boring road. But if you love writing enough, all this pales in comparison to the joy of holding a book in your hand with your name written on top of it :)

What kind of research have you done for the book?

I mostly write from imagination, but I draw from my personal experience and those of people I know. So far, I haven't written anything that requires very intensive reasearch or fact checking but I will delve into that too soon enough. All thanks to the internet, most of the research I have needed so far has been possible with the help of a broadband connection.

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

‘A Cage of Desires’ traces the journey of Renu who escapes from her cage of desires to discover her real self. It’s an inner journey of pain and hope. The title just popped in my head one day thinking about how all of us are trapped in a cage of our desires and how much we want to escape from it and discover our true selves without needing anyone else to validate our existence.

Why should we read your book?

There is no end to the issues we as women face everyday! Right from safety, sexism, social pressure, career limitations, family dynamics, gender prejudices, abuse—there are so many issues that need to be talked about. One might say that some of these are relevant to men too, but women’s voices have been stifled for far too long. And as a woman writer, I felt I owed this to my tribe. We women live in the same world, but at the same time our realities are very different. I was brought up by very progressive parents who never discouraged me from voicing my opinions, or expected me to put up with the social norms just for the sake of it. I was a wild, rebellious teen but nobody asked me to tone down my personality and be more ‘ladylike’. My father taught me to hit back at bullies, and not take nonsense from anyone. As for the society, I could somehow never bring myself to care enough about what other people think about what I say or do.

Gender biases existed all around me but they were not a part of my immediate environment. It took me a while to realize that the way I was brought up was not the norm. My relationships with men opened me up to a lot of grim realities.

A large number of women in India continue to struggle with gender biases on so many fronts every day that it is insane. I want to be a voice for all these women and write about big and small issues that affect our everyday lives. Through ‘A Cage of Desires’ I have tried to carve out characters that everyone can identify with, at least in part, and believe that if they can discover their true selves, then so can everyone.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

I have a website that your readers can connect with me at http://www.shuchikalra.com/ . However, I admit that I am more of a social media person and the best way to connect with me is through my twitter handle @shuchikalra

What advice do you have for budding writers?

I don’t think I am experienced enough to dole out advice. I myself still am on the learning path. But I can definitely say that don’t wait for the perfect moment to write that book cooking in your head. Set a routine, write a few words everyday and FINISH that first draft. Don’t waste time on fancy words and expressions when you are writing – just let the story flow. And some of the harsher things that I wanna tell young writers are

- It’s going to be slow. Very slow. There’s no such thing as instant gratification.

- It’s not enough to be a good writer. You have to learn to market yourself well.

- Don’t count on books for money, at least until you have a few bestsellers out in the market

Becoming an author requires a lot of patience and perseverance. It is an unbelievably slow and painful process, at least for most of us. There will be times when you feel like giving up – just remind yourself why you write and keep going at it.

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Author Interview: Kunal Narayan Uniyal

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

First of all I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to interact with all, through this interview. Well, all I can say about me is that I was always a writer, since I started writing from my childhood days. Be it nature, river, clouds, humans and beauty, all used to inspire me to write something about them, some beautiful words, which can define their presence to all. My very first poems being love, relation ns and death. I did my schooling from St Thomas College, Dehradun one of the most prestigious institutions in India. After that, I got selected for a marine academy in Chennai, where I received my initial training and then joined sea as deck cadet, immediately after passing out of the academy. I was 18 then and with that my journey with sea, life and nature began.12 years down the line I am a ship captain, commanding huge ships over vast oceans traversing through pirates, cyclones. But that poet was always alive in me, wherever, whenever I used to go which ultimately led to composition of poems which formed part of my book.

My family, which includes my mother, father, elder brother, a beautiful wife and a lovely daughter. They have always been supportive about my writing and it is all because of their good wishes that I am able to designate time to my writing.

Tell us about your book.

“Sparrow In The Mirror” is an English poetry book, which deals mostly in spirituality. You will find answers to all your questions be it maya, death, immortality, approach towards yourself all bringing us closer to us. This book will give deeper insight about Indian spirituality and its practices to people everywhere. To summarize the book one of the poem says-

“Wings need to be chipped, feathers need to be clipped, this pain need be taken, to steal this body from the mortal reigns

Let the body float in this thin, mystified air of lord, who picks us from this bond of death no rain will wet you, no pain will shiver you, this worldly life will be finally lost

lord just hold me tight, let me be pulled to your land, where no wing is known, no rain to drench me, just you cuddle this bird, with so sweet your touch”

Tell us about your other books.

In all I have written five books. First four are poetry and the next one due for publishing is the fiction novel. My first book was Hindi poetry collection "Kuch khwab Sagar Se", Second was English Prose and poetry "Unanswered". The third one was again Hindi poetry collection, "Main Tula Hoon". The fourth one is English poetry "Sparrow in the mirror". The books have been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. I have received acclamation in India as well as abroad for my books, which deals with spirituality and the positive approach towards life.

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

Well, I wish I were new, ha ha. The best part about writing especially when you are a pot is that you are very observant about situations and people around you. They all find space in your work. Each person can relate with your writing and can find solace from your words. It is the message from the divine, which a poet is passing to the people and in turn is progressing towards the almighty. Ya publishing can be cumbersome and hectic at times but with a good publisher and nice editing, I think your book is in good hands. 

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

Oh no, not at all, I don’t read much. But yes, as I have told before, I like to observe the nature and people. This is a continuous process and it happens each and every moment of my life. 

Which is your favorite book and why?

I have read once "A real Man" and it has truly inspired me. The book is on a Russian pilot who loses his legs in Second World War but due to his determination and courage return back to flying. I really found the book very inspiring. Apart from that, I am an avid reader of Sri Aurobindo's work.

Who are your favorite authors?

Maxim Gorki, William Wordsworth, Keats, Munshi Premchand and Sri Aurobindo.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I am a captain of a ship, a professional sailor and  a passionate writer. I make sure that I pen down everything I observe and see. During my professional career also, I used to write. As I have told before, my family specially my wife is very supportive of it and it is all because of them that I am able to write.

What does your writing space look like?

My writing space, ha ha. It is either my workspace, bus, tram, tube, park everywhere. All is my work place. I have barely written a book sitting in a room.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I never face one. If you know what you are writing about and why you are writing, you will never have one. Keep your concepts clear is the secret.

Tell us about your upcoming novel.

Journey to the next level is about a man who undertakes the task of rescuing the soul of a man in coma which is caught in the unknown levels of life after death. Not knowing how and where to go, he finally finds the guru who shows him the hidden path to the next levels; the path which connects the mortal world to the conscious realities of being. In his journey he passes through various astral, cosmic and mental levels of consciousness where he discovers secrets of existence and how the divine play effects each motion of our life and after. He not only faces barriers in form of lower vital and volte conscious forces in his journey but must fight his own ill traits if he must succeed in his task. However, he need to careful with time, as each passing moment is not only pulling the soul of the man from where it can never return but also will make it impossible for his own soul to return to his mortal body, if he stays longer than the time assigned to him. The novel which will open the secret avenues of various levels of consciousness, the hidden worlds of para cosmic realities and the struggle of petty human soul against the immortals.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

It took me three years, yes three years to complete my novel. I actually saw me growing with each chapter of the book, my approach towards life, my behavior, my acceptability of everything going around me changed with the progress of the book. I wrote it when I was on ship, I wrote it when I was travelling round the globe, I kept writing it when I was in London for two years and then finally was able to complete it.

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

Their way of looking at life and beyond. It is for people belonging to all age groups. Mystic beings, magical creatures, adventurous world and the mesage of spirituality hidden in it. It is based on my true experiences. I am pretty sure it will change the way people look at death.

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

Being a published author, I didn’t had to face much hurdles as I was already signed by my existing publisher. Even before I had started with my book, I had my publisher with me. But yes my first book faced almost fifty rejections.

What kind of research have you done for the book?

As I have told before, my research is based on my real experiences. Practicing spirituality has led to the revelation of many new aspects of life which was unknown before.A true writer is one who offers something new to the world rather than following age old dogmatic customs.

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

We are all travelers in the great caravan of life. The journey continues even after death. 

Why should we read your book?

To understand what actually lies beyond the petty circle of life and death; what is the main purpose of our life; why do we exists and who is playing the divine game with us.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

http://kunalnarayanuniyal.wixsite.com/kunal-narayan-uniyal

What advice do you have for budding writers?

Just write, irrespective of whether someone reads or not just write. Write for the satisfaction of your soul; write to mend your heart, just write.

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Author Interview: Sunil Sapra

The author, Sunil Sapra is founder and CEO of Singapore based growth Accelerator for early stage software companies, Risan Asia Business Partners Pte Ltd and has been involved with many startups in his 23 years of work. Since childhood, he participated in plays, dramas and other stage activities. During his college days at BITS Pilani, he acted in, directed and modified few Hindi plays and was very passionate about this art.

Later he lost touch with this creative side, and for many years didn’t do anything in this domain. After moving to Singapore in 2013, he started writing once in a while but it was during the silver jubilee reunion of his batch in 2014 that his poetic side found its “Faqeera” and he wrote some poems and songs for the reunion. Since then he has written over 500 poems in the last 4 years. Most of his poems are inspired by the daily life and what goes on around us. When you read his poems, you will feel as if you have written them yourself and that’s the power of “Faqeera”.

We interviewed him recently. Here are the excerpts.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family. 

I was born and raised in Gurgaon and lived there for most of my life and for last five years, I have been living in Singapore. My parents worked in Education department and I was born on Teacher’s Day, so it was destined that someday I would write a book. 😊

I studied engineering in BITS, Pilani and actively participated in the Hindi theatre there. That’s where I developed interest in the creative side of life.

Tell us about your book. 

The book Faqeera Chal Chala Chal is a collection of 84 Hindi poems written by me. The poems cover everyday emotions with topics ranging from Self, relationships, God, dreams, wishes, pain etc. People who have read the book tell me that they feel as if they have written it themselves.

Tell us about your other books. 

Faqeera Chal Chala Chal is my first book. However, I should do at least 2 more, one this year and one next. 

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

Certainly, by chance. I started writing only around 2014 and it wasn’t serious. I posted few of them on my Facebook, friends liked them and encouraged me to write more. 

Around the same time, we had our BITS batch reunion and I wrote a fun song “BITS Pilani Jaisi Koi Jagah Kahan” which was loved by BITSians of all ages and batches. I followed it up by the first poem in the book “Kadam Tham gaye”. That’s how the momentum built up which is over 500 poems strong now. 

After my father read some of my poems last year, he insisted that I should get them published and that’s how the book happened.

As a new author, what is your favourite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favourite?

The most favourite part is when you feel your words have done justice to the thought and it gives you immense joy. If everyone else likes the poem and I don’t vs. I like it and no one else does, I will pick the second case always.

When you must decide about how many should go into the book and which ones to drop, that I think is the most difficult part. I won’t use the cliché that I love all my poems equally.  Out of the 500, that I have written, I certainly like about 50% much more than the rest 50% and I do have my Top 25.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

I used to be an avid reader and would finish at least one book a week. It was no surprise for my friends and acquaintances to receive books from me on any occasion. Motivational, biographies, mythology, fiction, poetry, stories, venture capital, technology, almost every genre. Now a days, my reading has dropped quite a bit and I read summaries and blog more than the books.

Which is your favorite book and why?

Krishna – The God who lived as man. The most mesmerising book about the most complete, the most magical Faqeera that the world has ever witnessed. Many of my poems are inspired by this book including my very favourite, “Kahan ho, kahin par”. My book is dedicated to Krishna.  

Who are your favorite authors?

Kaajal Oza-Vaidya, Osho, Gulzar Saab, Subroto Bagchi, Mohan Rakesh, Manto.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I have been working in IT sales for 23 years and currently run a Singapore based Venture Builder company that helps start-ups in international expansion.

Poetry is a hobby and passion and not profession. Writing doesn’t take away much time because I write only when I am in the “Faqeera zone”. The ones I wrote just for the sake of it or on someone’s request are so visible and clearly out of place. 

As long as my work and writing doesn’t intrude in my family time, they don’t have any problem with it. 😊

What does your writing space look like? 

I don’t have a writing space as such. I have written poems while on a travel, during evening walks, at home, office, restaurant, hospital, cinema hall, anywhere. It’s all about the “Faqeera Zone” engulfing you. However, my balcony overlooking the ocean is my most favourite corner for writing. Have a look at the writing corner and the mesmerizing view from there.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I don’t force myself to write because the contrived poetry isn’t something that I like. Since I write only as a hobby, I am not answerable to anyone and that’s why I go for days/ months without writing a single poem and sometimes I write 5 poems in half hour. There is no pattern or discipline to it yet.

What motivated you to write this book?

Some friends on my Facebook who regularly read and encourage me, always suggested that I should convert few of my poems to a book but I wasn’t very serious about it. 

When my father insisted that I should publish them and my wife helped me get a publisher and suggested that we should associate the book with a good cause. That energized me and got me going.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

Most of my poems were scattered on FB and on my page www.facebook.com/chalfaqeera. 

Though the poems were ready but the process was still energy consuming one. The challenge was to get them all together in a document, decide the structure and flow of the book, out of 300 poems at that time, how many to include and which ones, do proof reading, how should the cover page look and what it should depict, acknowledgments etc. 

As a first-time writer, you change your thoughts and plans every day and that needs so much rework. It was very difficult to draw a line that after this no more changes and this is final copy.

Overall, it took about 4 months of working on weekends but with gaps in between.

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

Most of my poems are straight from the heart. They are not necessarily my experiences but sometimes a friend told me something or I read about something or some other inspiration. I hope that the poems will make people think and help them connect with their emotional side.

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

Mentioned already. Otherwise, the publisher was quite supportive.

What kind of research have you done for the book? 

There isn’t any research involved actually, because the poems are based on one’s emotions and experiences.

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

Can’t recall since when and why, but I have always used the word Faqeera for the soul, the inner voice in my conversations and writings. And since life is a journey where nothing stops for you, the time, the earth, the world, nothing. So, one must keep moving too.  That’s why, Faqeera Chal Chala Chal. 😊

Why should we read your book?

Two reasons:

- It might help you find and connect with your own Faqeera. Trust me, that would be an awesome feeling.

- All proceeds from the book are being donated to charitable organizations. The book needs that support.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

www.faqeera.com ( Under development) and www.facebook.com/chalfaqeera

What advice do you have for budding writers?

Write something that inspires you and let it flow. Unless you are writing a professional book, write for self and don’t interrupt the flow of thoughts. Edit later and edit brutally. 

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Author Interview: Rahul Rai

Rahul Rai, an IIT graduate has recently authored a book called The Myth of Hastinapur. The book is based on the greatest epic of all times, Mahabharata. The well articulated book is based on great research and depicts good story telling. We recently had an interview with him. Have a look at what we discussed. Also, visit here to read our review of his debut book.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

I am an IIT alumnus and after my graduation, I have been working as a data scientist for more than 10 years. My hometown is Lucknow where my parents live now while I am located out of Gurugram. My father is a retired civil servant while my mother is a housewife.

Tell us about your book

The Myth of Hastinapur is based on one of the greatest epic in the world, Mahabharata. It contains stories around different incidents which eventually culminated into war while the end chapters’ deal with guilt, remorse and reminiscences of few main actors in the war. Each of these stories can be read independently though they follow a sequential order to maintain the continuity of the tale.

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

Since childhood, I have loved telling stories to people around me. I had a blog (now defunct) of my own where I used to share my stories with my near-ones. But I lacked discipline of writing a book. It was around 3-4 years ago that I decided to follow a more organised approach towards writing which helped me come up with The Myth of Hastinapur. I would like to keep on writing more in future so would like to classify myself as a writer by choice.

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

I consider myself as a very picky learner. Even in my professional career, I don’t like things which are a black box about which I don’t have much knowledge. I try to decipher them till I am able to break their code. I was able to complete this book around October last year but I took a lot of time in understanding the publishing process. From editing, illustrations, book cover, ISBN assignment, online distribution etc., I found everything exciting considering they were quite novel to me.

Needless to say, a lot of people helped me through the process. I liked your review which talked about how The Myth of Hastinapur seems to be edited well. I am highly indebted to Alka Ranjan for this. She painstakingly took up the task of editing which was not limited to just looking for grammatical errors and sentence correction, which in themselves are hugely demanding tasks, but also provided me with great ideas about the overall flow of the stories and suggestions to improve upon certain scenes.

Like editing, each of the different processes were a learning experience for me and I enjoyed them all be it learning from Vikas’s thought process when he was sketching illustrations or co-ordinating with Abhilash when he was trying to create the cover of the book.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

Yes, I am. I really love reading fiction. Paul Auster, Vladimir Nabokov (you need a dictionary along with his books), Haruki Murakami are few of my favorites. The Book Thief, One flew over cuckoo’s nest, The Bridge on the river Kwai, Mrityunjai are few of my favorite books.

Which is your favorite book and why?

It would be difficult to point to a particular favorite as there are so many but would like to talk about the ‘The Book Thief’. It is based on the 2^nd world war and revolves around a German family. Very few protagonists come closer to the endearing portrayal of characters like in the book thief. This book in its pages brings to life each and every human emotion and I would recommend everyone to read it.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything?

Yes, I am a Data Scientist by profession. I think everyone tries to find time for their hobby which is writing in my case. I like writing. It helps me at many different levels and has definitely helped me to grow. So, it is not that difficult to find time for it. The Myth of Hastinapur was written when I was enjoying my holidays or when I was engaged at a client location or when I was travelling. I tried to find time for it whenever I was free from my other priorities.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

There is only one way (at least for me) to do it; to keep on writing. ‘Tears of Rudra’ was one of the stories with which I struggled. I think I spent almost 15-20 days thinking about how few of its last pages needed to pan out where each day started with writing a paragraph and ended with deleting it. And it was only after a fortnight that I started making some progress. So, as a writer, I think you should keep on pushing yourself to write good content.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

It took me almost a year to finish this book though few of the stories like ‘Yudhishthira’s Dilemma’, ‘Wrath of Draupadi’ took shape couple of years back. Writing is not always enjoyable even if you have written tonnes of stories, novels etc. It requires a lot of patience and self-motivation. Like any other activity which someone wants to get good at, writing requires one to give his undivided attention and remain focussed.

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

Each step was a challenge considering it was a totally new venture for me. I followed a sequential approach to each of the steps (editing, cover design etc.) as I was a bit busy on personal front but it helped me gaining deeper understanding of the whole process. Considering the amount of time I have invested and the information and knowledge I have gained about the whole process, I think I am ready now to establish a publishing house J though I intend to remain a writer.

What kind of research have you done for the book?

My research is mostly internet based. But for The Myth of Hastinapur, I had my repository of knowledge ready about Mahabharata, Puranas, Ramayana which I had studied in my childhood. But internet helped me refresh my memory. Also, I tried to remain as close to the facts as possible. 

My whole idea was to while remaining closer to the incidents as written in Mahabharata to humanise the whole façade and make it more realistic with a belief that each one of us has the capacity to become Yudhishthira, Draupadi, Arjuna or even a Krishna. Needless to say, each one of us can become like Duryodhana or Shakuni as well and should remain aware of this fact.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

I am present on Facebook and made a recent profile on Goodreads.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rahulrai.iitkgp

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8043369.Rahul_Rai

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Author Interview: Grazia Gironella

Grazia Gironella (Bologna, Italy, 1963) lives at the foot of the Eastern Alps, in Northern Italy. She loves nature, eastern cultures and martial arts, and is fond of written words, both as a reader and as a writer. In addition to Searching for Goran, to the present day she has published on the Italian market several short stories (Tarja dei lupi, Tabula Fati, 2008, plus about fifteen more on anthologies), and essays on writing (Per scrivere bisogna sporcarsi le mani, Eremon, 2011 – La via delle parole, Eremon, 2015). In her blog Scrivere Vivere (www.scriverevivere.blogspot.com) she shares with fellow authors and wannabes the joys and problems of writing.



We recently interviewed her over email. Find below the excerpts of the same.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

I was born in 1963 in a quite traditional middle-class Italian family, with my father a law enforcement officer and my mother a housewife. As a shy, lonely child with few relatives, I didn’t enjoy the company of kids my own age in the first years of my life, so my attention was drawn to books, that became my friends. I attended a scientific high school, then an institute for interpreters and translators, since I loved languages.

Tell us about your book.

Searching for Goran is the story of man who is struck by amnesia after a car accident. Going back to his old life, he is faced with a reality he no longer recognizes, that includes a wife who is difficult to love and a two-faced business partner. Then visions start appearing, incomprehensible and devastating, belonging to another place and time and – above all – another man.
Goran decides to find out what is happening to him and follows the clues in his visions of ice and struggle for survival across Europe, heading for Scandinavia; but he's not alone, because his past is not ready to let him go yet, for better or for worse.

As a new author, what is your favorite part of the writing/publishing process? Least favorite?

The first draft is the most exciting part. I like seeing the story take shape before my eyes, part on my own planning, part coming from who knows where. I’m also very patient and precise in the revising phase, which is really tough job, but is also rewarding in its own way. I suppose the least favorite part to me is feeling unable to write due to lack of ideas or incapacity to stay focused.      

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

I read three-four books at a time, choosing in accordance to my mood. This doesn’t mean I’m a fast reader, because I can devote to reading just a small part of my time, maybe one and a half hour a day. I read about thirty to forty books a year, not more. I love novels that have a fantastic side, but also any other genre, if it’s well written. I read plenty of nonfiction on different topics such as nature, spirituality, eastern cultures and writing. At present I’m reading a summarized version of the Mahabharata. I like biographies as well.   

Which is your favorite book and why?

I have many favorite books, but The Lord of the Rings is “the Book” to me. I read it when I was sixteen and fell in love with J.R.R. Tolkiens’s worldview and values. I still read it the novel now and then.   

Who are your favorite authors?

Brandon Sanderson, Ursula Le Guin, Patrick Rothfuss, Diana Gabaldon… but the list is long and ever changing.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I’ve been working as ground staff in an Italian airport for 25 years before I moved to a new town and decided to stop working. Now I have the privilege to devote my time to my family – my husband, my 21 year-old son and my dog Maya – and to writing. I also practice regularly raja yoga and taiji.   

What does your writing space look like?

I have my own desk in the very middle of the kitchen-living room area. Of course a room for me might be better, but I appreciate the company of my family while I work at a story. I’m usually able to stay focused even in the most horrible mess. On my desk I have screen and keyboard, paper for my notes, a jar full of colored pencils and a small tray that has become almost an altar to me, where I put all the small things I collect while walking in Nature, like flowers, stones, moss, wood pieces, feathers.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

Do I really? Well, sometimes I simply stop writing for a few weeks and try to get engaged in some other activity, just to wipe away the idea that I have to keep writing no matter what. If this doesn’t work… I ask heaven for ideas, and the right attitude toward a form of art I will never have the complete control of.  

What motivated you to write this book?

I was looking for a story to tell, as usual. I had read something about amnesia and found it fascinating. What is life, seen through the eyes of a person with no past? Then came the second, thrilling question: what’s the worse that might happen to a person suffering from amnesia? To start remembering something, but realizing it’s part of someone else’s past. Then came a journey with my family across Europe, destination North Cape. In Finland I learned about the dire straits people had to face during the Great Famine in the 19th century. These two elements struck the spark.   

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

The novel was written in about one year, but it underwent a new revision after a couple of years. My writing phases are planning, writing and revising. To start writing I need to know who the characters are, what they want and what will happen in the story. I prefer not to devote months to a novel before realizing that I’ve come to a dead end! During the planning I’m not deciding the details, though; there’s always a great deal of surprise waiting on the way. After the first draft is finished, I let the manuscript rest a few weeks or months (the longer the better), then I start the revision, that is thorough and demanding, with plenty of readings and different kinds of adjustments that are dealt with separately.      

What are you hoping people to gain from your book?

I think there are a few messages hidden in Searching for Goran: the awareness that to flourish as persons we need to know ourselves, and dig deep, even when what we find there makes us feel uneasy; the need to forgive in order to move on with our lives; the importance of resiliency, a gift that exists in each of us. Hopefully something of all this will stick to my readers and be useful in their lives, just as it’s been useful to me.   

What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

Oh, there were plenty! In its first version, the novel was finalist at an important literary award in Italy and was therefore published as an e-book. After a couple of years, I kept wondering: “so what?”. There was no promotion on the publisher’s side, so the novel simply agonized. That’s why I got the rights back, I reviewed the novel once more, and self-published it on Amazon, in ebook and paperback, both in Italian and in English. I think this is the best possible way to offer my novel to the readers, in this specific situation.     

What kind of research do you do for your books?

Searching for Goran includes both historical events and scientific data, so it was vital for me to make thorough research. You don’t want readers to come up with criticisms of that kind! For my researches I always use the internet, and possibly some expert who is so kind as to help me. With the social media now available it’s not so hard. 

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

The former version’s title was (translated from Italian) Two lives are enough. It was a good title, in my opinion, but I wanted a new title for the new novel, so I chose one that described Goran’s inner and outer journey, on my translator’s advice.

Why should we read your book?

Because the novel is a mystery, but there’s much more to it. Goran’s is a fascinating story, rich in emotion and – if I may say so – very well written. I’m not taking all the credit: Juliet Bates, the English native speaker who translated the novel, really made a good job. 

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

On my Italian blog Scrivere Vivere (http://scriverevivere.blogspot.com/) I deal with the many different aspects of a writer’s life. I suppose you and your readers should use the Google translator, which is not the best way to appreciate a blog, but I can assure you will be warmly welcome.   

What advice do you have for budding writers?

Don’t be hasty and keep ambition at bay. I know stories are written to be read, but if you cannot love writing in itself, regardless of sold copies and of the publishers’/readers reactions, you’ll probably have a hard time with writing sooner or later. If you self-publish your works, just as I did, demand the best of yourself. Last, write! Planning, thinking, dreaming, talking about writing is not writing.    

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Author Interview: Satyendra Dhariwal

Satyendra Dhariwal is an author who lives only for writing. He was born in a remote village of Rajasthan and loves to write on vivid subjects. His way of storytelling is something from which you can't escape. His stories clutch your mind right from the beginning and don't leave you even after finishing the read. Other than enthralling and enchanting the readers, his tales give ample amount of food to their brains in order to grow them beyond limits. Along with writing novels, he also loves to write poetry. His novels are always comprehensive to the 'core of the ocean.'...and what can be told about a person in a short biography. He just wants to remain a writer and serve you till life. But in order to fulfill that you need to buy his books more and more.

We interviewed him after his new book "The Involute Dunes" (English) / अव्यक्त कामल (Hindi) was released last month. Here are a few excerpts.

Where do you belong to? Our readers want to know about your education and family.

I belong from a remote village (near Pilani) of Rajasthan. Now, education!! This is where people think I am joking whenever I answer this. Well, I have studied till 12^th (10+2). It was not that I did not want to study further, it was a play of fate; I lost my father just after my schooling. And now I have my mother, wife and a younger sister in my family.

Tell us about your book.

This book is epic, seriously an epic desert saga born in the age of Kali. I don’t have enough space here to tell the comprehensiveness of this book. It is not about one or few things, it is about everything. By keeping this in mind, let me give the overview of the book (which again is not sufficient to capture the essence of the saga) – “There were the tales of legends sailing in the air of Jaisalmer, legends of the forgotten warriors, rulers, of people; of the forgotten empires; legends of the forgotten beauty until this volume. We have read many epic volumes from the previous ages but here is the epic saga of the age of Kali filled with abstruseness of the desert land.

We are in the eleventh century and India is called ‘The Golden Bird.’ Islām is a newly born religion and is spreading its pinions with rapid velocity. These are the times when Indian rulers are fighting amongst each other. So does the Jaisalmer and Mārwār. But there is another huge nation which is eying upon India. The ruler of that place wants to reign over India. He wants to make Jaisalmer his Centre because Jaisalmer lies on the famous ‘World Silk Trade Route’ and is the connecting link between the Western and Indian trade.

This is the tale of two generations. The tale of magnificent desert land and golden city. The tale of a huge empire and two little Kingdoms. Tale of  bravery, politics, friendship, lust, the tale of war, tale of love & hatred, of faith & deception, tale of importance and futility, of establishment and ruination; and overall, the tale of Salvation.

It is more than a book and even more than a motion picture and is an irresistible read. Welcome to ‘The Involute Dunes’, a timeless description of the timeless people and places.”

Tell us about your other books.

My previous book was titled ‘An Immortal Story: a tale of tolerance beyond limit’, which was released in April 2014 in Jaipur by Ayush Books. By the way, I am giving it for free on my website (involutedunes.com) for a limited time as a promotional gift for my dream project ‘The Involute Dunes.’ [You can also download the FIRST FIVE Chapters of The Involute dunes completely FREE from there.]

What is your writing journey like, where and when did you start? Are you a writer by choice or by chance?

I am a writer certainly by choice. I want to reach my books out to the whole humanity. I was an avid reader since my childhood (now I don’t read much). I read everything with interest, no matter what the subject matter, topic, genre, category of the printed material was. I wrote in school too but only when provoked. But the real turn came when I heard the story of a mythological movie and thought that I can write better. I began to saunter in the verandah of my house and within half an hour I cooked up a story, a novella rather. That was the beginning.

Are you an avid reader as well? What kind of books do you read? What is your frequency of reading?

I was, and I used to read whatever I got my hands on. There was nothing for which I can say that I liked that kind more. Now, I don’t read much. But my taste is not bound to any particular thing.

Which is your favorite book and why?

Favorites change with time and circumstances. But there is one book for which I had thought, alas! if only I would have written that book. And that book was ‘Madhushālā’ by Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

Who are your favorite authors?

I have read Munshi Premchand more than anyone else.

Do you pursue any other profession apart from writing? How do you manage everything? How do you find family time amidst all this?

I don’t do anything except writing. So there is no scope of managing. But, when I start writing I go into a kind of shell, into solitude, so that I can immerse into the world completely that I am creating.

What does your writing space look like? 

My writing space is a plastic chair, sometimes my bed, sometimes it may be under a tree, it can be a open roof; sometimes I bolt myself inside a room for hours.

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I think almost all writers overcome this phenomenon by themselves, naturally, with time. I can’t say if it is writer’s block but I feel fear whenever I finish writing a book that I have completed this now, now what next? Would I be able to write one more or not? This is the only thing I fear. Else, I am never short of creativity whenever alone. The hardest part is to finalize the topic, the theme on which I will write. Once it is finalized, then I make a rough outline and just that. I don’t make plots, details etc. before writing. Most fun part of my writing is that even I don’t know what will follow in my story; and what twist & turn it will take ahead. It flows, just flows as if I am telling and story to myself; or I can also say as if someone is telling me and I am writing smoothly.

What motivated you to write this book?

This book is set in (imaginary) Jaisalmer, and I feel that I have some special connection with this desert land. I see a different kind of beauty in that desolate land. Apart from that I wanted to convey something to people, wanted to tell the things which are lost. I wanted to give ample amount of food to the brains of people in order to make them grow to understand ‘All That Is.’ And I think that God has helped me to convey that through this mesmerizing tale of Timeless people and Places.

How long did you take to finish this book? What was the process like?

It took me 10 months to complete the first draft. But as a whole process it took me two years to complete this in both the Languages.

What kind of research have you done for the book?

My whole life is a research and I have put a large part of that in this book.

Any story behind deciding the title of this book?

There is no such story, but it took freaking four months before I finalized the Title (The Involute Dunes) of this book.

Why should we read your book?

Jaisalmer and 11^th century,  isn’t it enough. I don’t want t give any spoilers, it is available for just ₹ 39 on my website (involutedunes.com), just go, get in, and dive in to experience the Involute Dunes, believe me it will come out to be a saga you have never read before. A world of dunes containing the beauty of desolation and a story never heard before.

Do you have any blog or website the readers can visit?

Yes, involutedunes.com. Please visit. You will get my previous novel for FREE there; and you can buy The Involute Dunes at dirt cheap price there. Still not sure, okay, you can download the FIRST FIVE Chapters completely FREE from there and then decide whether to buy it or not.

What advice do you have for budding writers?

No matter what you get in response, no matter whether you get published or not, never ever stop writing. It is for yourself, not for others. It will make you, the true you. It will keep you alive, keep you evolving. Please keep writing, no matter what. Writing is bliss in disguise.

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