Author Interview - Supriya Parulekar

1. Hearty congratulations for the great reviews which the Diabolical is receiving. How does it feel?
   Feel rewarded. For every author or any creative person words of appreciation goes a long way. I find it inspiring. Initially, I was sceptical about the topic I had chosen for my story. It was with mixed feelings that I gave a nod to publish. But now after receiving positive feedback, I feel I did the right thing.    
   Depression as mental illness is something our society shies away from. They feel such a person belongs to mental institution. But this is not true. We need to be open about such topics. We need to be compassionate towards our loved ones who go through depression. We need to understand, the person suffering from depression goes through highs and lows in life. People who are weak and are unable to tackle such situations give up. They need empathy, lots of understanding, a little bit of sensitivity and lots of people around who love him or her and care. What drives a person to end his life? This question haunts me till date.   

2. Tell us why the book is named the Diabolical?
   ‘Diabolical’ means evil. My protagonist Sonya Rana is a superstar in Bollywood. But she has had a disturbed childhood. The physical abuse, neglect and the feeling of abandonment makes her a fragile person. She is drawn towards death hence the various attempts at suicide. Sonya is chasing demons from her past and this gives rise to dark thoughts in her mind. There is a diabolical inside her which tries to control her life and her mind. This diabolical, the dark thoughts within her, eventually overpowers her and takes her to her death.    
    
3. Please tell us how did the concept of the Diabolical come to you?
   In the last few years, suicide rate has gone up. People from diverse faculties, professional or otherwise chose to end their life. From where do these people gather such courage to hurt themselves and unknowingly hurt their dear and loved ones who they leave behind? If they are ending their life, it means they are hurting a lot within. There are times in our life when we feel the whole world is conspiring against us. Even successful people go through this phase. 
    
   ‘Diabolical’ is written with an aim to understand the complexities of human brain and its working. I have dedicated this book to a close friend and mentor who gave up at one point in her life and I carry the guilt of her death till this date. Only if I had been little more attentive, sensitive, understanding and been there for her when she was vulnerable. 
   When we lose a close person, what remains behind is lots of if’s and but’s and regrets. ‘Diabolical’ is also a way for me to understand what forced her to take such an extreme step. In ‘Diabolical’ lay a solution to many such unanswered questions. “Diabolical’ will sensitize you towards identifying such people who are going through lows in life. Maybe you can reach out to them in time…maybe.    
      
4. The story, characterization is raw and edgy. What kind of preparations did you make to come up with such well etched characters ?
   When I write, the characters form on their own. It’s a natural process for me. I converse with my characters and they form a part of my world. I am a very good visualizer. Being from visual media helps in adding life to the characters I sketch. All my characters are strong, self-willed with a mind of their own.  

Sketching Sonya Rana was a mean task. I would be upset for days, withdrawn, hurting inside. I wept with her, smiled with her, felt her pain. I could somehow relate to the fictional character I was sketching and it was scary. I so much wanted to reach out to her and then I created Tania, a sister who would protect and love her. Killing Sonya was never my intention but as the story progressed, I realized Sonya had to die. ‘Diabolical’ will test your patience, overwhelm you with shades of emotions and draw you in to its deep, dark world. If as a reader, you experience these emotions then somewhere it’s my success as an author. 

 

4. Please tell us something about your childhood.
   I had a wonderful, happy childhood. I come from a joint-family, stayed in this big house in suburbs in Mumbai. I had lots of cousins for company, all girls so never went out looking for company. My father was a wonderful story-teller. I think genes have this uncanny habit to manifest itself in off-springs and I am thankful to him for passing on the right set of genes to me. I lost him early on in life. But his passing away made me strong and I value the principles he imbibed in me as I grew up. He raised me and my sister to be independent, fearless and honest. My mother is one strong woman and I admire and value her. This could be the reason my stories are female dominated.   
    
5. What kind of books do you read? Who are your favourite authors?
   I have been a voracious reader. As a child I borrowed books from local library, mostly Marathi authors. Back then book stores were rare. Only access was the local library or school library. I was fascinated by fairy tales and would lose myself in imaginary world of magic kingdom, Prince and Princesses, wicked witches and elves. I read Tinkle, Noddy and Champaks. Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Sidney Sheldon and Robin Cook are my favorites. 
   
   
   Nearer to home were stories by V.P Kale, poems by Vinda Karandikar. I have read Orhan Pamuk’s ‘Museum of Innocence’. I love his writing style. It has the power to draw you in. He is a brilliant story-teller. Seeing my love for historical books, my husband introduced me to Chinese revolution. Wild Swan is engaging and gripping family memoir, encompassing three generations in China. A must read.   
   
6. You are a prolific writer. Tell us about other novels written by you.
   Writing is my passion. My characters talk to me. The stories just happen. My debut novel ‘A Soulful of Lie’ stemmed from a near death experience I had as a child. It’s a paranormal thriller with lots of action. ‘The Gangster’s Muse’ is weaved around a bored housewife and her tryst with the gangster. ‘Dreamcatcher’ is of romance genre. BFF: Best Friends Forever is for teens. It’s a cute, coming of age, love story. One Tequila, 2 Tequilas … is pure romance with beautiful moments and ‘Diabolical’ is a psychological thriller. I love touching base with different genres. 
    
7. How much time do you devote for writing? Give us some tips as to how working professionals should take out time for writing?
   ‘Once a writer, always a writer. A writer will somehow overcome all the hurdles.’  Writing for me is not technical but passion as I said earlier. Being a stay- at- home mom and an author is a mean task. I multitask while writing. My doorbell keeps ringing throughout the day, endless number of people keep streaming in an out, there are chores to be taken care of, but I don’t let it hinder my writing.
   Once I have the basic frame of my story, it becomes easy for me to fill the colours. The thoughts and the ideas keep churning in my head. Many a times the story moves ahead in my mind before I put it down on paper. I can write anytime and anywhere. If I am travelling and I think of something important regarding the story I am working on, I take notes in my cell. Believe me, a true writer will find a way out of his predicament.  
   
   
8. What would be your advice to budding writers?
   Read a lot. Try to understand what people love to read and what you love to write. Speak to fellow authors. Don’t be disheartened by rejections. Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishers before Bloomsbury picked it up and rest is history. Keep writing.  
   
   
9. How was your experience of finding a publisher?
   After series of rejections, undeterred I chose to self-publish my books. Today I have written six novels, contributed for one anthology and am a guest author for recently published anthology. I am invited to schools as a guest author. So do not let a few rejections disappoint you. have faith in your writing skills, believe in your story and you will sail through this.
   
   
10. These are the days of aggressive book marketing. Books have to be promoted. Your take on this?
    A good book will find its way to the reader. Yes, it definitely helps to be heard and seen on social media. More and more authors are releasing their books. If you do not want to get lost in the crowd then one should find new ways to market their books. Facebook, Twitter and blogs have widened our horizons. No longer are we dependent on newspapers or magazines. 
     
11. Do book reviews help in selling books?
    Reviewers and bloggers are a big help for new and established authors to spread the word. Majority of people prefer reading a review before buying a book. While others don’t base their decisions on reviews. But a book review sure helps in introducing an author and his book. 
     
12. Do you think printed books are going to disappear soon and it is all going to be about e-books?
    This era belongs to technology. But printed books will never go out of fashion. For an author or a reader, it’s a matter of delight to hold the book in his hands, inhale the fresh scent of paper and ink and be able to touch the book and flip the pages and simply share the joy of reading by passing on the book to someone else. The joy of getting an author- signed copy is incomparable. E-book can’t beat this one! 
     
13. Tell us about your future projects.
    Well, the a new project I am working on is a mature story of four friends,  involves complicated relationships and situations, a strong comment on social issue, lots of emotions and fun moments. It’s a new subject and I was restless till I got the hang of it. Now, I know how the story will progress, how the characters will move. I am in happy space now. Hoping to close the first draft by December.  

Author interview Ritesh Arora

1. Hearty congratulations for the great reviews which When the Heavens Smiled is receiving. How does it feel?
   Firstly it feels honored, to be interviewed by a capable and honest reviewer & blogger like you. Yes, readers have been praising When the Heavens Smiled and it gives a sense of encouragement on being featured in Amazon best sellers and book events that were sold out. My AHA moment has been the fact that book is not only loved by young readers who believe in love, lots of readers and elderly readers have written to me that book hasn't only entertained them but also transformed and enlightened them. So it definitely feels good.
   
   

   
   
   
2. Tell us why the book is named When the Heavens Smiled?
   I have a strong belief that human mind thinks very myopic, very rational and opportunistic too and it is by design. From my childhood, I have believed in the bigger one, that divine. Sometimes, there are certain topsy turvy times when all the "man made" doors seem closed but if your intent is good, you persevere with so much dedication that you dissolve yourself in the pursuit, and when that happens, the divinity starts appearing and the new doors/uncharted realms get opened up for us. 
   
   
   
   
   In the book, though the destiny of lady protagonist appears, however momentarily as if it is the time for curtains with no light at the end of tunnel, the male protagonist never gives up, despite being up against all odds. This is another message that I have tried conveying, that when goals are pursued with single mindedness & devotion, right people start appearing in your quest, who will take you closer to your goal, I am very certain and I make no mistake that appearing of such people is not a coincidence but divinity in motion, if you understand what I mean. Coming back to the question, since the protagonist manages to turn the winds in his favors and get the Heavens smiled, upon both of them, the book has been named so.
   
   
3. Please tell us how did the concept of this book come to you?
   The book has very clear two genres coming out, First four (4) chapters talk about friendship, love, fun, bonding while the second parts talks about discovering and traversing spiritual path when all logical & scientific doors seem closed. This is where the element of transformation and enlightenment comes in to play. We all have seen umpteen examples of first part in our common lives and lives around us, Second part is the author's creativity that has come as I was lucky to be exposed to wide variety of books in my childhood. Also being born and brought up in a spiritual place like Rishikesh also had element added to it.
   
   
4. Three friends, love, illness isn’t all that cliched ?
   You can say that but the love stories need to be one which people can relate to, and that’s why almost every reader has said, book is such a simple yet extra ordinary love story. Most of such stories in the market if you look around, albeit have negative ending but my protagonist's character is strong. He doesn't give up, even when he is up against the oddest of the odds; He is not a sci-fi hero or someone belonging to very rich class but an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere in spite of obstacles. Such love stories are little unique and not very commonly found when protagonist takes on invisible script of destiny in the most pragmatic manner.
   
   
5. Tell us how did you come up with the character of the Guru?
   Guru's character has been a blend of various personalities arising from my understanding and assimilation of various sacred texts. Additionally, I have been born and brought up in Rishikesh for some part of my life that has some good ashrams that give lots of enlightened preaching. I can only guess that both aforesaid had a deeper impression on my mind, or call it my soul and therefore coming up with Guru’s character was not difficult.
   
   
6. Please tell us something about your childhood.
   I have been born and brought in Rishikesh, a spiritual yet tourist place up in the northern India. It is also known as gateway to Himalayas. I would say, I was quite fortunate to be born in Rishikesh. We had limited amenities of life and it was simple and peaceful. 
   
   
   In my childhood, I was quite a studious, bright and obedient. My parents used to tell me that my first word was ‘why’ and it was my favorite too. Rishikesh being a spiritual tourist place, I would buy such books from book stores and read it by the side of river Ganges. I guess that was when the seeds of creativity were sown in me. We belonged to a middle class family, my father (late) was employed with a pharmaceutical company and mother was a teacher. I have sister who is doctor. I did my school from KV IDPL Rishikesh, did my engineering from Punjab and then later on Management education from IIM Calcutta. I used to play table tennis well, was a local hero  having played at District and university level.
   
   
7. What kind of books do you read? Who are your favourite authors?
   I have a large library at home which is filled with all kinds of books ranging from management (Books by Zig Ziglar, Anthony Robbins,  Malcolm Gladwell, Mathew Syed, Jack Cranfield, Jack Welch, Ram charan, Innovation principles of Steve jobs, Apple way, Sun Tzu etc.), Spiritual (Bhagvat Gita, Upanishad, Guru Granth Sahib, Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Rumi, Khalil gibran etc.), Fiction (Multiple Indian Writings, Paulo Coelho, Richard Bach. Eric Segal etc.) and Health (The light of yoga by B.K.S Iyengar, Yoga by Bihar school of Yoga etc.)
   
   
8. How much time do you devote for writing? Give us some tips as to how working professionals should take out time for writing?
   Since my job involves significant travelling, I mostly write either late in the night or weekends. Also you will find me hooked on airports either engrossed in reading on my kindle or writing on iPad.
   
   
9. What would be your advice to budding writers?
   Think new, think different and think beyond plain jane love stories. If you want to shine out, you need to try something different than boy meets the girl story for sure. Also reading, reading a lot, to have your creative juices flowing is must before any one attempts writing.
   
   
10. How was your experience of finding a publisher?
    It wasn't easy at all. No publisher wants to try with first time writers even if the script is good as first time writers are not yet "Brand". In that sense, Srishti publishers & Distributors have been extremely encouraging. It cannot be a mere co-incidence that most of the leading Indian writers have started their journey from Srishti. Jayantakumar bose and Arup bose have been great friends and guide, besides taking my manuscript for publishing and distributing effectively to every nook and corner of the country.
    
    
11. These are the days of aggressive book marketing. Books have to be promoted. Your take on this?
    Book is like any other product. Unless customer is aware of the product nd the product has captured a mind share, he may not choose to even form an opinion about it, let alone buying. So Marketing and Marketing to the right set of readers, is important. Marketing however won't do anything to ensure a long running success. A compelling & unique plot and polished & captivating style of writing are absolute must.
    
    
12. Do book reviews help in selling books?
    It does certainly. However, reviewer must perform their job with sincerity and honesty as based on their feedback, people will decide to buy/not buy. These days we have seen lots of reviews being rigged and it propounds an impression about their authored novels, which is different from reality.
    
    
13. Do you think printed books are going to disappear soon and it is all going to be about e-books?
    I read from multiple reading devices like a Kindle and a Nook besides paperbacks. As they say, Warmth of a hug cannot be compared with a hug icon, Similarly, the charm of holding a paperback, its warmth cannot be equated with ebooks. In our life time, we have seen so many essential things disappearing like alarm clocks, typewriters, Walkman etc. If book were to be disappeared, they would have by now. They will stay till mankind has interest in reading.
    
    
14. Tell us about your future projects.
    I am writing my second novel, A fiction love story on soul reunion/ reincarnation. Slated to come in April 2016, it is based on a belief that when a task or love to be more specific remain unfulfilled in the current incarnation, in the next birth we are reincarnated and that person is certain to cross our path. If we are awakened, we may sense those energies. when the paths are being crossed.

Author interview - Kirthi Jayakumar

 

1. Hearty congratulations for the great reviews which the Dove’s lament is receiving. How does it feel?

Absolutely amazing! I didn’t anticipate the great reviews, and I didn’t think I’d find such a wide audience – my understanding was that it was too heavy a book, but I am glad that more and more people are reading these stories and adopting the fact that they should be inquisitive of the truth, and to take action on that truth.

2. Tell us why the book is named the Dove’s lament?

The abject lack of peace is as good as eroding the very sanctity of what the dove stands for. The idea was to convey how the dove is lamenting the lack of peace in the world today.

3. Please tell us how did the concept of the Dove’s lament come to you?

The concept came after the stories were written. I wrote these short stories at different points of time over 2013-2014, and by the end of it, I had about 25 stories. My publisher, Dipankar Mukherjee of Readomania, and I, sat together to pull out 12 of the stories that we wanted to share. This then culminated in The Dove’s Lament.

4. The book has stories weaved around all the conflict prone areas of the world. What kind of research did you undertake for the book ?

The research came easily because I’ve worked with organsiations on all these issues. I’ve been involved (and continue to do so) with many non-profits that looked and continue to look at these issues and addresses the humanitarian need that results from these issues. In the process of hands on involvement, one learns a lot from their interactions and activities, and that culminated in the book. 

 

5. Please tell us something about your childhood.

I had a beautiful childhood with a loving family and lots of reading. Of course, what one goes through as a child forms one’s thought processes, and as a child, there were some instances of bullying, racism, abuse and a few run ins with harshness with external elements – but I’ve learned to move on beyond them, and to use my understanding of the pain and the emotion to create a sense of empathy within.

6. What kind of books do you read? Who are your favourite authors?

I am very intrigued by cause centric literature, history, politics and conflict/peace themes. I have many, many favourite authors, but I’ll go with Susan Abulhawa, Jodi Picoult, Noam Chomsky, Lloyd Jones, John Boyne, Jean Sasson, Khaled Hosseini, Siba Shaqib, Ashay Abbhi, Deepti Menon and Judy Balan.

7. How much time do you devote for writing? Give us some tips as to how working professionals should take out time for writing?

I never set aside time. I allow my desire to write to rear its head when it wants to, and I fully allow it to disrupt whatever I am doing. As professionals who work and seek to take out time for writing, I see that my pattern is perhaps the worst piece of advice since professional commitments can take a beating – but I’ve been blessed with the ability to be scatterbrained enough to multi-task, so I have had a fortunate stint so far.

8. What would be your advice to budding writers?

Stay true to yourself. It’s not going to help you if you look externally – look within. Write because you love to write, not because someone else is a writer or because it’s in fashion these days!

9. How was your experience of finding a publisher?

Easy! Readomania is GOLD!

10. These are the days of aggressive book marketing. Books have to be promoted. Your take on this?

True. With a book coming out ever so frequently, you really need to stand out. Marketing is your only way – but even in that, you’ve got to be creative!

11. Do you think printed books are going to disappear soon and it is all going to be about e-books?

No. A lot of traditional readers continue to read out of books, purely for the feel of a book in their hands. I guess it’s also vital to keep in mind that electronic content has its own limitations!

12. Tell us about your future projects.

I’m working on two books now, one fiction and one non-fiction, although when I say I’m working on them, I’m actually just looking up at my ceiling and toying with the idea, with a sense of vague cluelessness about how things will take shape. BUT, it’s the direction I want to be thinking in! I’m also working on editing two independent volumes that centre around non-fiction themes. 

 

13. Tell us something about your NGOs and the kind of work you do.

The Red Elephant Foundation is a civilian peace-building initiative that is built on the foundation of storytelling. We work by looking at individual drivers of peace – gender, culture, religion and nationality, to begin with. We then address it through cultural diplomacy, culinary diplomacy, dialogue diplomacy and advocacy.

Sonia Rao - Author interview

1. Hearty congratulations for the rave reviews which initial chapters of the Magician are receiving. How does it feel?
   
   
   Thank you for the kind words, Mahesh. Yes, the response to the initial chapters has been overwhelmingly positive. This definitely thrills me. And also encourages me because I now know my readers are eager to read the forthcoming chapters. The feedback and insights I have been receiving have been so valuable, I feel such a sense of gratitude. On another note, every Friday evening feels like my exams just got over. (Note: The succeeding chapter of the novel is sent out every Friday).
   
   
   
   
   
2. Please tell us how did the concept of the Magician come to you? Do you believe or read tarot?
   
   
   The Magician is what is called a Major Arcana card in a traditional Tarot deck. It generally refers to the creativity and energy within a person to transform their life. The persons whose birth card is The Magician have the power to manifest their desires. They are inspired to apply skill and initiative to accomplish all their goals.
   I’ve been interested in Tarot and other methods of divination for quite some time now, not so much for predictive purposes as much as to understand myself (yeah, some might call me self-absorbed) 
   
   
   In fiction, even though the storyworlds may differ, the development of the character(s) is constant and an important part of the narrative. The character arc often shows them overcoming an irredeemable situation using their talents/skills with immense courage, to emerge triumphant. Just like The Magician.
   
   
   This concept had been swirling in my mind since quite some time and when it was ready I wrote down the story. 
    
3. Your novel is being circulated one chapter a week that too by email to its subscribers. What is the thought behind using this method ?
   
   
   I consider this to be an experiment, of sorts, Mahesh. I wish I could say it was a well-planned out strategy or something, but it really was an impulsive decision. I’d been pondering the current state of publishing-affairs. Also, I’d become a bit less reticent about putting out my writing in front of my readers. I think both these factors coalesced into that one impulsive decision, but with a caveat. No posting it on Facebook or on my blog.
   
   
   It would only be by subscription through email because I reasoned that those who subscribed would be the real readers, the interested ones. And I’m really glad I did this. 
    
4. Do you think printed books are going to disappear soon and it is all going to be about e-books?
   
   
   I consider an e-reader to be a ‘device of ease.’ Once it becomes the default device (which books are at this point in time) then perhaps we’d only read e-books. I’d say the statistics currently stand at 50-50. But every single day I’m grateful for the internet and the e-readers for enabling me to access e-books, especially those related to the craft of writing.
   
   
5. Please tell us something about your childhood.
   
   
   Whenever I think of my childhood I remember this quote by Chris Patten: Those of us who had a perfectly happy childhood should be able to sue for deprivation of literary royalties.
   
   
   That said, I remember my voracious appetite for reading. Even at meal times. If I didn’t have a book to read (which was rare), I’d be reading the newspaper and, in desperate cases, the labels on the bottles and jars of pickles and jams. Come to think of it, it was almost like feeding your soul at the same time as your body. But I was equally interested in sporting activities so when I was not reading I could be found playing football or seven tiles or even kho-kho with the girls and boys of the housing society we lived in.
   
   
6. What kind of books do you read? Who are your favourite authors?
   
   
   When I look back at what I used to read, I can see phases. Once upon a time I was a fiction-freak. This was followed by the non-fiction phase: books on personal development, marketing, business management, spirituality, the works. Now, it is a mix of both. 
    
   It’s quite difficult to say who my favourite author is. I love to read any book by Michael Lutin. He’s an astrologer. But in fiction, I adore Salman Rushdie and Hilary Mantel, for the style of their writing. Well, this really is a very tough question.
   
   
7. How much time do you devote for writing? Give us some tips as to how working professionals should take out time for writing?
   
   
   I try to do the Morning pages (as recommended by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way) and if I’ve been lazy or neglectful, say for more than three days at a stretch, I get excruciating headaches. 
   
   As for formal writing, I prefer to do that immediately after the morning pages. Two hours. The best way to approach the discipline of writing, in my view, is to do it unemotionally. Fix up a time and at the dot of that minute, sit down (or stand up, it that’s the way you’re oriented) and write. Use whatever time you get; during lunch hour, during your transit times. Ideally, you’d be doing an hour or two of writing, early in the morning or then late at night. 
   
   
    The timings again depend on whether you’re an early worm or a night bird. When I say unemotionally, I am pointing at any inner critic and self-doubt issues that might arise when it is time to sit down and write. Ergo, all emotions are best kept for the narrative rather than for the process.
   
   
8. What would be your advice to budding writers?
   
   
   Read a lot! Write a lot! Rinse! Repeat! And once you’ve written a lot, study the craft of writing to make it even better. In fact, I’m also offering a NaNo Note a week, along with the chapter, as a guide for those who want to write a novel during NaNoWriMo.
   
   
9. Have you tried finding a traditional publisher? How was your experience of finding a publisher?
   
   
   No, not yet. The publishing industry “lives in interesting times” currently. Perhaps when my next book is ready I’ll have some fascinating experiences to recount.
   
   
10. These are the days of aggressive book marketing. Books have to be promoted. Your take on this?
    
    
    Marketing guru, Al Ries’ quote from Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind says it much better than I could: “In our overcommunicated society, the paradox is that nothing is more important than communication.” 
     
11. Tell us about your future projects.
    
    
    On the personal front, a couple of novels and a book of short fiction are on the anvil. The professional agenda includes The Wrimo Anthology which is getting ready and should be published soon. I’m also editing a friend-client’s first novel.
    
    
12. Your interview cannot be complete without asking about wrimo. Please tell us how did you become liaison for wrimo India and share with our readers your experience of holding that post for all these years?
    
    
    I became the NaNoWriMo ML for Asia:India region in 2011. In 2009 and ‘10 I was thrilled and excited to win the NaNoWriMo by writing the 50K words of my novel. But since 2011, nothing has given me greater pleasure than to motivate other writers to fulfill their authorial aspirations. This is a voluntary service and the sense of satisfaction is incomparable. 
    
    
    I’ve created a community of wrimos on Facebook. In November we meet in the NaNo forums but in other months, this group is the adda of the wrimos. Here, wrimos encourage each other to write more as well as hone their craft. I organize online workshops in the different elements of novel writing and marketing which are conducted by experts. Published authors join us for chats about their authorial journeys. The awareness and interest in writing and through that, NaNoWriMo, and vice -versa, has grown rapidly in the last few years. It is one of the best times to be a writer in India.
    
    
    Wrimo India blog: https://wrimoindiawrites.wordpress.com/
    Sonia’s blog: https://soniaraowrites.wordpress.com/

Author interview - Mehrab Irani

1. Hearty congratulations for the success of Mad Money Journey. Financial fiction is a new genre.
   
   How does it feel to be a forerunner?
   

Thanks Mahesh for your kind encouraging words which mean a lot to me. Its only because of erudite readers like you that we authors are inspired to write and express ourselves for the common good of everybody.

We are all born into genius. Sadly, most of us die in mediocrity. I am going to die one day. We all are going to someday shed our earthly bodies and leave for another voyage – the journey of the soul. But then, does the journey of the soul begin when we actually die physically. Is the soul actually alive when we are here on this planet? A child knows what it wants to accomplish in life. At that point, everything is clear and everything seems possible. As children, we are not afraid to dream and yearn for everything. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince us that it is not possible. By repeating the same pattern again and again, are we moving towards the death of our very soul? Everybody has a ‘personal calling’. This is the promise between God and us. It is the promise each one of us makes to God before embarking on our earthly journey. Whoever you are, you have a personal calling, a desire that originated in your soul. This is clearly your mission on earth; the purpose of your very existence on this planet.

I took it as my ‘personal calling’ of making people realize what small life they are living because of financial slavery, helping them move from financial slavery to financial freedom, re-introducing them to their dreams and empowering them with the courage to live their dreams so that they can achieve their higher self-actualization goals and answer the calling of their souls. Being a forerunner in anything brings happiness, sense of purpose and at the same time enormous responsibility. I hope to honestly justify my duty.

2. Please tell us how did the thought of a financial fiction come to you.

The world is moving forward technologically but we humans are moving backwards financially. We may have all modern facilities like online banking and investing, credit and debit cards, access to financial information, easy loan facilities but our financial knowledge is diminishing. Today, we see young educated people earning very good income but then not able to protect their money from financial predators, they pay everybody like the government, banks, electricity bills, telephone bills, children school fees etc but forget to pay themselves via surplus budget, don’t know when to cut spending and when to spend to get rich, have no protection in the form of financial insurance, are not aware of the difference between saving and investing, buy liabilities mistaking it to be assets with negative leverage which puts them in the web of unnecessary avoidable recurring expenses which then sadly makes them “slaves of money” for life – wage slave of the employer, tax slave of the government and loan slave of the bank.

To this effect, I wrote my first book called “10 Commandments for Financial Freedom” in the year 2013. It is a simple straight forward book wherein I have brought out 10 principles dealing earning, protecting, budgeting, saving, spending, investing, leveraging, insuring, common financial mistakes and rules of money which I believe if anybody follows will lead him / her on the path towards financial freedom. It’s a very simple book and I believe anybody reading it will be able to understand it. However, still it is a non-fiction book and people have to actually sit and do the hard work of reading it. After this book, when I used to meet lot of people in seminars, conferences and used to talk with them, I used to realize that there is lot of apathy towards financial thinking. When we ask a housewife that what are you doing with your money the typical answer is that, “I don’t know my husband or father is looking at it”; when we ask a young educated professional who has just started working that what are you doing regarding your future marriage, children the general answer is that, “I don’t know just now I am busy concentrating in my career”, when we ask a middle aged experienced professional in a senior position earning very good income that what are you doing about your retirement, children marriage then the normal answer is that, “I don’t know, I have invested in that mutual fund or subscribed to such insurance policy”. I am not stating that we should not go to professional fund managers, if we don’t know how to invest in specific stocks we should surely take the help of professionals but what I am trying to stress over here is that we should atleast be aware what is happening with our money. But there is total ignorance about it. And people are generally afraid about the word “money”. And it is not their fault – during school or college we have been taught everything like math, science, history, geography, engineering, medical, law etc but nobody teaches us about the most important thing with which everyone in this physical world has to deal i.e. money. Yes, whether it is a King or a beggar, a CEO or a peon, a Minister or a normal party worker, a man or a woman, educated or uneducated – everybody in this world has to deal with money. Journey in this physical world is incomplete without money. And if we don’t know how to deal with money – many times our this journey becomes like mad. So, the idea of “Mad Money Journey” came up.

The two most important things in this world is – entertainment and money. I thought why not combine both of them. Most of the people are afraid of the term money. So, let me present money to them in a thrilling suspenseful entertaining form. We all like to learn from stories and fables because we have been taught that way since our childhood. So, why not learn the most important subject also in the form of a fable? And that is when I got the idea of writing a “finance fiction”. My book “Mad Money Journey” is a completely new refreshing book which combines finance and fiction in a manner never done before. “Mad Money Journey” combines the principles of money, finance and investments on one side and of life and its wisdom on the other side in an inspirational, motivational and intuitive manner bringing out the relationship between man and money, entertaining in a thrilling suspenseful manner, promising to be a page-turner, helping and guiding its readers on a new path towards self-discovery, a financially free life wherein everybody, rather than being slave to money is actually able to live a happy successful life achieving their highest self and fulfilling their very mission on coming to this planet. The readers taking the “Mad Money Journey” will permanently change their journey by putting themselves in the right path wherein they will be introduced to their own inner self and true path. I am confident that the attempt to write a finance fiction in the form of “Mad Money Journey” will be loved and cement its space in the mind, heart and soul of the readers.

3. How much real life goes into a fiction writing? Is high level of imagination important to have for an Author?

A large part of fiction is actually real life. If an author is able to conceive or imagine something then it has either occurred in the past, happening somewhere in the present or will in most probabilities occur in the future. A writer is just making the invisible, visible. Writing is a combination of fact and fiction. Whatever genre a writer might be writing, he / she has to first get the facts correct of what he / she is writing and then the author has to convert the fact into fiction or into a presentable format wherein the reader is able to understand, read and connect with it.

4. Have you really traveled across all the countries mentioned in Mad Money Journey?

Yes, I have travelled to all the countries mentioned in the book – some in the physical form while some others in the imaginative form. Writers are basically those breed of people who convert fact into fiction and many times fiction brings out important facts. So, its not necessary for the writer to always visit all the countries, places, locations etc described in the book. The thoughts of a writer are wild while their imagination is able to capture the entire world in a few words.

For me it was important to ensure that the reader travels to all the destinations mentioned in the book, in his mind, heart and soul. The reader had to connect with the various international and incredibly different characters from various backgrounds, professionals and personalities and live with them in their house, surrounded by their place, eat their food, exist in their culture and relate to their lives. Than only the journey of the reader would be complete and would feel like a real “Mad Money Journey”.

5. Mehrab could you give us some tips regarding finances.

Tips are for waiters and not for persons managing their finances or investments.

The only thing certain about finance or money is that it is uncertain. There is a need to unravel the mysterious behaviour of money and reveal its deepest secret rules. The poor work for a living, the middle class get into debt and keep working for money while the rich make their and other people’s money work for themselves. We need to learn to make our as well as other people’s money work for us. When we achieve financial independence, we can live a personal debt-free life, enjoy our retirement, spend without feeling guilty and leave our legacy. Someone needs to make people retire from their work as their money starts working for them.

The basic advice which I would like to give everyone would be know the best sources and methods of earning money, protect their money from the ‘legal financial predators’, budget and pay yourself first, know difference between mere saving and proper investing and how savers are losers in today’s fast changing world of currency, when to avoid spending and how to ‘spend to riches’, the importance of asset allocation in the investment process, the power of positive leverage and how it can either multiply or destroy wealth, not to confuse insurance with investments, recognize the rules of money and avoid the common financial mistakes which individuals are prone to.

6. Please tell us something about your childhood.

My childhood was a very simple one. It was like any other child. However, I had a lot of inquisitiveness about various things around me. I always wanted to question and learn lot of the conventional wisdom. I also had an urge of converting complex facts into simple interesting things and then sharing it with others.

As a child, I always dreamt of a career which will help make an impact to this world, help others realize their higher self, show them how small a life they are living when they are born for greatness, remove the hurdles between man and his dreams, make everyone realize their true self potential and encourage them to answer their soul calling. I was not knowing what it will be then. But I have realized it now. It will be my “Mad Money Journey” which will permanently elevate the journey of all mortal souls.

7. How much time do you devote for writing? Give us some tips as to how working professionals should take out time for writing?

When we like something, when we love what we do, it becomes a method of expression of the inner feelings and the thoughts of our soul and it then becomes the very essence of our existence. We don’t look at time then, we just exist in space.

I never plan or schedule my writing. How can someone plan or schedule the inner thoughts of the soul? Ideas flow in my mind, writing moves in my veins, I just need a pen and paper or should I say a computer or laptop to sit and write. My only advice to working professionals who want to write would be to just express your souls and be in love with what you write.

8. What would be your advice to budding writers?

The top four things which I take care while writing are - being honest to God, being honest to myself, being honest to humanity and being honest to the universe.

The biggest challenge which I have faced is my ownself and how to overcome my own shortcomings and the problems which I might have myself inadvertently created for my ownself. And I feel that is the challenge which most of us actually face – we can win the whole world if we are able to win over our ownself.

I started writing when something within me told me that having some knowledge, perspective or vision and not sharing that with others is selfish. So I thought of sharing my ideas with the world. The purpose of writing is to connect with everyone and make this world a more better place to live. The need to make a positive difference to this world should keep all writers motivated towards their work.

9. How was your experience of finding a publisher?

If we read the story of many all time bestselling authors than they have a interesting story to tell about how they struggled around finding their first publisher, how they got rejected again and again, how they might have self-published and such fascinating and intriguing stories on which itself a book can be written. However, I don’t have any such exciting story to tell. Contrary to the majority of writers, my experience with finding a publisher was pretty easy. Infact, I was spoilt for choice as I had more than one publisher eager and ready to publish my book. But, finding a publisher is always easy, the real challenge is to find a reader who loves and appreciates our work.

10. These are the days of aggressive book marketing. Books have to be promoted. Your take on this?

When one is writing then he / she has to just concentrate on writing. The author has to be pure and honest to one’s ownself and write what he / she actually believes in. Once the manuscript is ready then let the editor do their work with full independence. The editor is the first person who is reading the manuscript and brings a whole new perspective and thought process to it. Don’t unnecessarily interfere with the editor’s work. After that the copyediting, book title, cover design, production and many other items go into it. Once the book is ready then that is your final product. Now, we have to go all out in creating awareness, branding, publicity and marketing of the book. A writer writes because he / she wants the world to know of his / her idea. Wants to connect with the world, wants the world to read his / her work and that can happen only when the book actually sells. So, if writing a book is a project then I would say that it has two components – the first being the concept, writing, editing, title, designing, production etc. and the second being branding, publicity, marketing and sales. Without the first one being good there is no hope for the book to succeed but just because the first part is good does not automatically mean that the book will succeed unless the second part is put in place.

11. Tell us about your future projects.

I would always like to connect with other people. Books is the primary medium but there are others also like talks and speeches, TV and Radio shows, press and media as wells as movies. I myself learn while connecting with people. And connecting with people helps me to understand humans better and then produce want is the real need. And I want to connect with the masses. That is why I write articles in press, appear on various TV and radio shows and now books. However, after a certain point books have a limit of penetration since there are some people who would simply never want to read. Hence, to connect with those people I am exploring other mediums like movies and TV shows. I am in talk with certain people for converting my book “Mad Money Journey” into a movie and expect to talk with more people for exploring the same idea. I am also planning to do a TV show on money and finance which will be very different from the rest. It will be a thrilling yet emotional show which will explore and connect people with their dreams and show them how money and finance is preventing them from achieving their highest self in life. The show will not just teach to earn money, it will help to fulfill dreams.

As far as my next book is concerned, I have not yet decided on what would be my next book but it might be something which will further delve into the relationship between man, money, dreams, relationships and love and the interconnection between all of them. It will further explore and investigate into the life of various characters who are going through some kind of mental, physical, emotional or psychological struggle because of money. Take the example of a housewife. She might be educated, reasonably rich, having a loving family – husband, children, in laws but might feel attracted to a neighborhood man who is financially more successful than her husband. This physical attraction because of money might be draining her emotionally and psychologically. What is the solution for her? I would like to dig deeper and deeper into such struggles which we humans face in our daily life because of the interplay between man, money and our inner feelings and dreams.

You can read the review of Mad Money Journey here