Author Interview: Rishi Vohra author of Once Upon The Tracks Of Mumbai

Welcome to the Author interview that we have today, Mr.Rishi Vohra author of “Once Upon The Tracks Of Mumbai” talks with us. Thanks Mr.Rishi for spending your time in between your busy schedule.

You can read my review of Once upon the tracks of Mumbai here.

Author Interview

Hello Rishi, Welcome! I am extremely glad to have you on my blog and I hope you have a great time answering the questions.

 

1.       Tell us something about yourself other than what you have said in author’s note.

Rishi: I have shifted residences between the U.S. and India several times, but am essentially a Mumbai boy.  I love music, plays, and traveling.  I have always been a student at heart and am always open to learning anything new!

2.       Did being a guest columnist in various newspapers in India inspire you to write novel? If so How?

Rishi:  Actually, it was working on films and screenplays that triggered the writing bug in me.  I found myself enjoying the story-telling aspect immensely, and reached a point where I wanted to try writing a book.

3.       How was your experience with Jaico Publishing house?

Rishi:  As a Publisher, they were amazing as they work as a closely-knit team and include the author in the process.  They always took time out to guide me in the publishing process and answer my queries, and being in the same city really helped.  It was a very positive experience.

4.       What was the time span of the book having been written and published?

Rishi: I wrote the book just for fun with no intention of publishing it at the time.  Later on, I pushed it towards the U.S. market but received innumerous rejection letters.  Then I rewrote the entuire book and started contacting publishers in India.  Several expressed an interest to publish the book.  I would say it took a couple of years, mainly because I wasn’t actively pursuing publication.  At the time, I was working towards an MBA, a Diploma in Environmental Law, and Sommelier of Wine course, one after the other.

5.       Not every debutant authors write a serious story at the first place.  But you have taken a challenging story line and also succeeded in it. What made you take up this challenge?

Rishi: True.  I know that this was a very risky debut as not only was the subject matter sensitive, but the story and protagonist were both unconventional.  But this was a story I really cared about and I went with my instinct.  I feel that a story should really mean something to you if you want it to touch your readers.

6.       Taking a psychotic person as a protagonist is not an easy. What made you to characterize such a person?

Rishi: The character’s psychological disorders were based on a friend of mine who had similar problems.  I created the character and really wanted to give him a story.  But before I could shape up his character, I had to do a tremendous amount of primary and secondary research to understand his conditions.  For that, I have mainly my University’s Psychology Department to thank.

7.       Why did you go for railways as the backdrop when there are many other options?

Rishi: The Railways are the lifeline of Mumbai.  Many of us use local trains as a primary means of transport to cut through the chaos of the city.  But apart from us daily commuters, there are many people whose lives are tied to the railways due to the proximity of their homes to the tracks.  And it grates on their nerves.  While traveling by train, I was always curious into the lifestyles of these residents.  And while writing the story, it seemed like a natural backdrop.

8.       The whole story was taken in a serious note. You have managed well without bringing humor to the story. But do you think some humor will add more to the story? Or any plans for writing a humorous story later?

Rishi: Well, the book does have subtle humour in it.  But yes, it’s not an out and out comedy.  My next book is.  It’s set in Bollywood.

9.       How will you describe your book in one sentence?

Rishi:  ‘Once Upon the Tracks of Mumbai’ is an inspiring superhero and love story of an autistic young man, set in middle-class Mumbai.

10.  How do you take the success of you very first book?

Rishi: I have received messages from readers who have said that they saw part of themselves in the book.  It feels great to have written a book that has touched so many people in some way or the other.  For me, that is the success of the book.

11.   What’s next in line for you? Any ideas for a new project? Have you started working on it?

Rishi: As I mentioned, my next book is a light and breezy comedy set in Bollywood.  This book is based on true events.  Once again, this book is an alternative fiction.

12.   As you said you initially wrote the story for screenplay. Can we expect it to be a movie someday?

Rishi: Yes. J

13.  Who is your favorite author and what are your favorite literary works?

Rishi: I like the books of S. Hassan Zaidi.  In terms of books, The Catcher in the Rye has always been my all-time favourite.

14.  What do you like to do when you are not reading or writing?

Rishi: I like to travel, spend time with friends and family, watch plays, movies.  The list can go on and on!

15.  Comment on the current scenario of the Indian literature.

Rishi: When it comes to reading English literature, readers still prefer reading foreign authors.  But when it comes to mass fiction, the Indian market is booming.  There is a huge variety of books and authors out there, catering to readers’ preferences.  So I would say that the publisher industry is going through a very exciting phase!

16.  What is your advice for the aspiring authors?

Rishi: Read what you love!  Write from your heart!

Thank you Mr.Rishi it was great chatting with you. All the very best for your future endevours.

Thank you for inviting me on your blog Abhinand!  It was great chatting with you too!

For more information, visit www.rishivohra.com

You can buy the book from Flipkart, Amazon and Homeshop18.

Author Interview: Swarupa Chavan author of A Journey to Remember

Welcome to the Author interview that we have today. Mrs.Swarupa Chavan author of 'A Journey to Remember' talks with us. Thanks Swarupa for spending your time in between your busy schedule. 

Author Interview

Hello Swarupa, Welcome! I am extremely glad to have you on my blog and I hope you have a great time answering the questions.

You can read my review by clicking here

1.       Tell us something about yourself.

Swarupa: I was born and bought up in Mumbai. I am a Science graduate, majoring in Physics. Further to that I completed my MBA and Packaging Technology in which I am a rank holder. I love travelling and exploring new places. I am a simple and reserved kind of a person. Love reading and spending time with nature.

2.       Few words about ‘A Journey to Remember’

 Swarupa: A Journey to Remember – is all about friendship and love. It is about discovering your true self. An everyday incident teaches you a lesson for life. The core principles and beliefs that you grow up with, are suddenly challenged one day leaving you surprised and wondering what to do next. Life presents you with difficult choices to make. Sounds familiar? That’s what this novel is all about. A story about two childhood friends Ananya and Reva. Best of friends, yet having varied personalities which adds the spice to an otherwise boring life.

The story revolves around the lives of these two friends and how they manage to complicate and create chaos in an otherwise normal lives of people surrounding them. Misunderstandings, theft and fraudulence amidst budding romance and breaking hearts, twisting and turning the tale along its journey.

3.      I found the book to have too much filmy touch. Do you think it attracts the reader?

Swarupa: Every writer has her own style of writing. And at times the story demands a particular style of narration. Readers have responded positively to this style and have thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel. I think that’s what should matter. My books are entertaining and enjoyable.

4.      How do you compare the response of ‘A journey to remember’ and ‘To err is human’?

Swarupa: You can’t compare two different books of different topics. Where one is my debut novel which followed quickly with my second one. I would say both my novels have been well appreciated by readers. Malini and Anaya the protagonists of my books have become quite popular. Readers easily relate to the stories as they are true to real life. It is fun, emotional and romantic which entertains the readers.

5.      How will you relate yourself to the protagonist Ananya?

Swarupa: Ananya is a practical girl who does not believe in love and nor does she fall for the emotional traps. She takes her friendship very seriously and goes to far extent to save her friend from a difficult situation. Ananya is a character built out of my imagination. But somewhere along the line what she thinks and does I feel myself relating to her.

6.      Why did you opt for young women to lead the main protagonist in both the books?

Swarupa: It was not a conscious decision. It just happened as a natural process. I think being a woman I am much comfortable to write from another woman’s perspective. A woman’s psyche and her feelings are better expressed if you can feel them yourself.

7.      Since both your books has a simple story line, any idea of taking up a serious plot in your next project?

Swarupa: My next project is going to be completely different. It is not going to be a love story nor would it be humorous like my previous two projects. It is going to be on a completely different topic, one which is close to my heart and on which I have been planning to write for quiet sometime. I hope my readers enjoy this book as much as they have enjoyed my previous novels as well.

8.      What was so challenging for you to make this book a complete one?

Swarupa: I think being able to write in a natural way by which you are able to connect with your readers is the key to a good book. The story, narration, characters have to flow in a natural way. It should not be a made up attempt. Both my projects have been natural and true to real life.

9.      Which genre other then love, do you think is comfortable for you to write?

Swarupa: Both my novels have been of the Rom-Com genre. Apart from this like I mentioned earlier I shall be now attempting a serious topic. Emotional and Intriguing story telling also interests me.

10.   What’s next in line for you? Any ideas for a new project?

Swarupa: Yes, the idea and plot is playing in my mind. Soon I shall start working on it.

11.  Who is your favorite author and what are your favorite literary works?

Swarupa: Plenty… I love reading Richard Bach, Ken Follet, Jeffery Archer, Paulo Coelho and many more.

12.  You consider writing as your hobby or you have plans to become a full time writer?

Swarupa: As of now I have started writing as a hobby. Let’s see how things progress in the future.

13.  Any tips for budding writers?

Swarupa: Listen to your heart, be passionate about your work and keep writing J

Thank you Mrs.Swarupa it was great chatting with you. All the very best for your future endevours. 

You can buy A journey to remember from Flipkart and Amazon.

You can contact the author at Facebook or mail her at swarupa.mynovel@gmail.com.

Author Interview: Shubham Choudhary author of "My EX fell in love"

Welcome to the Author interview that we have today. Shubham Choudhry author of My ex fell in love talks with us. Thanks Shubham for spending your time in between your busy schedule.

Author Interview

Hello Shubham, Welcome! I am extremely glad to have you on my blog and I hope you have a great time answering the questions.

1)      Tell us something about yourself?

Shub: Well, as you know me from my book already, an engineer and a part time writer. I love to do things the world finds crazy.

2)      How will you describe your book “My EX Fell In Love” in one sentence?

Shub: That's something I've never been asked! Let me try. It's a journey from love to love, via some funny ways and humorous obstacles.

3)      Debutant authors prefers to write love stories. Is it because it is safe? and how did the idea of My ex fell in love creep in?

Shub: I'd be wrong if I say no. But the answer can't be a direct yes either. Yes, debut authors do like to start with love stories. Not because they're safe, but comparatively easier to write. Although you do get a promising market but a true writer won't care about the number of buyers before starting to write. Other subjects like crime fiction etc, require more research which very less people tend to do. Idea of the novel, just one fine day it struck me. I was blogger for a long time and people used to praise my humorous side a lot. So I thought, why not convert that into a book. A vague idea was there, I built upon that and now you can see what it turned into.

4)      How will you relate yourself to the main character (Yatharth)?

Shub: People do tell me they picture me while reading Yatharth's narration. But I am quite different. While Yatharth is a good researcher, I was struggling to pass all the subjects in college. While he struggles to maintain his love life, I've had my fair share! ;) Although there are a few similarities too. Like crazy friends, super cool parents and a good pre college academic record!

5)      This is something I wanted to ask you most. You have made the project work to play a pretty good role in your book, is that your own project work or you did some research on the concept to write about it?

Shub: Ha ha. Well I must say you're asking some questions which I always wanted to answer, but was never asked! Well. I've never done any serious project in my engineering, leave apart doing research on particle physics! As I said I had a pretty good academic record before college, so that time I wanted to go into research in the same field. Although, future had something else in store for me. But I managed to let it out through the book. I did slight research, just to get my facts right. Rest all was my knowledge from school time.

6)      When Shubham is such a good scholar, how did the radio jockeying come into? do you have any plan to work on it in future? 

Shub: I used to listen to Radio a lot when I was preparing for JEE. And sometimes I used to fool my friends by calling them and pretending to be an RJ from some random FM station. They told me I was good. The thing got certified when I won the RJ hunt in my college and then on the city level. Currently I am too caught up to do it, but it definitely is in the plans. Someday, for sure

7)      Do you have any plan to write another novel? If so have you started with it?

Shub: Yes and yes. I started with it right when I was halfway through my first one. It was just in an idea stage with a synopsis, until a month back when I started with it's manuscript.

8)      Humour is one of the toughest genre to write and why did select it? You wanted to be different or it was because you are ease at it?

Shub: I think my blog would answer that better. I have been funny since forever. While people say humor is the toughest genre, I find it quite easy to write. Having said that, I'd never want to stick to one genre. The day I feel more confident and matured as a writer, I'd love to try fantasy and crime fiction.

9)      How has your experience been with your publishers? What was the time span of the book having been written and published?

Shub: Leadstart is anything but unprofessional. Not once did I feel neglected, neither was there any delay from the promised timeline. I wrote the book in around 4-5 months. And they took around 4 months in accepting and publishing it. But that's not all you want from a publisher. I do have quite a lot of complaints about their distribution and publicity. But what's past is past.

10)  Who is your favorite author and what are your favorite literary works?

Shub:

• Wings of Fire: Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam,
• Memories of Midnight: Sydney sheldon
• PS: I love you: Cecilia Ahern.
• Recently, Immortals of Meluha was one book I totally loved!

11)  Do you have any plans to become a full time writer?

Shub: Not now. I have a lot on my plate and more than that, I don't think I am there yet, as a writer. I need to grow, rather evolve into a better writer with time.

12)  What do you like to do when you are not reading or writing?

Shub: What not! I sing. I am a gaming freak! I even develop android and windows phone applications. (I must say this is all I do for timepass, good at nothing :P )

13)  Comment on the present scenario of Indian publishing industry.

Shub: It needs a LOT of improvement. Self publishing is too defamed in our country. A handful of top publishers rule the industry while thousands of smaller ones pop out every day not to give the big fishes any competition but to accommodate the writers who weren't getting published otherwise. This is degrading the quality and not to mention, helping in making the stereotype that every engineer becomes a writer!

14)  What advice do you give for the aspiring authors?

Shub: I am an aspiring author myself. Still, from what I've learned:
Write, not to sell, but because your heart wants to. Compete, not with people, but with your previous best work.

Thank you Shubham it was great chatting with you. All the very best for your future endevours.

Thanks Abinand. It was really nice answering all your questions. :)

You can connect with him through Facebook.

You can buy his book from Flipkart and Homeshop18.

Author Interview: Suddhabrata Deb Roy, Author of Few Smiles and Few Tears

Welcome to the Author Interview that we have today. Suddhabrata Deb Roy shares about his upcoming novel "Few Smiles and Few Tears" with us. Thanks Suddhabrata for spending your time in-between your exams.

Author Interview

Hello Suddhabrata, Welcome! I am extremely glad to have you on my blog and I hope you have a great time answering the questions.

1) Tell us a litte bit about yourself?

Suddha: Well,I am just another regular guy. I did my schooling from Silchar ,Assam and then got admission into JORHAT ENGINEERING COLLEGE and am currently pursuing my BE degree in electrical engineering...

2) Tell us something about your upcoming novel, Few smiles and Few tears?

Suddha: Its a novel about the four L's-love,lust,lies and loathe. The story is about 3 people who take the centre stage of the novel at three different times of the novel. Its a sort of love triangle but not exactly a love triangle. More to that,the story has death and revenge, which you will understand when u read the book. The twist comes at the very end.

3) How did the idea to write "Few Smiles and Few tears" come up?

Suddha: Actually, I started writing on a broad basis, that means I started writing many things at the same time and at the end try to bring everything at one place under the same platform. FSFT was actually the plot of two novels that i jotted down two years ago,with the course of time, I realised that both of them work together much better..so the idea, u can say came out of just like that.. My plots just come,i don't try to think,they just happen..

4) How long did you take to write the story?

Suddha: It took about 15 months.

5) How has your experience been with your publishers? what was the time span of the book having been written and published?

Suddha: Well,my publishers for FSFT are the best people I have ever come across. Whitefeather Publications has been a big help to me. They are always trying to help you out regarding the marketing as well as the overall quality of the book. It took me about one year to get the book on floors.

6)When we enter your Facebook profile, first thing we could see is Student Federation India. What is your part there? Why and how did you join?

Suddha:  Well, It will be better if we don't bring political discussions into it. To answer you in plain words, I am a Marxist.

7) What does Suddhabrata do when he is not writing?

Suddha:  Ah, I do a lot of things. Besides studying, I read a lot, I write for a few local magazines. As well as, I have some duties for the Students Federation of India to fulfill. I am into reading comics very much, so that occupies a lot of spate time but more than that, I am thinking of what to write next as you know, a writer has no vacation, either he is writing or thinking about writing. 

8) So you are clear that you are going to write more. Do you plan to become a full time writer?

Suddha: Yeah,i am going to write a lot more. more projects are already slated up in the upcoming months...i don't think India is set up for full time writers except a select few, if i can be them, then surely I will become a full time writer. My writing ambitions are quite high and I don't want to just write general fictions.

9) Who is your favorite author and what are your favorite literary works?

Suddha: Well, i don't have any favorite author. I like them all equally but if you insist i would say its Dan Brown and its impossible to put up a single work because the works i read are just to diverse to be listed on the same list.

10) What do you say about the present scenario of Indian literary circle?

Suddha: The bigger the better..just the one sentence..

11) When is "FSFT" officially releasing?

Suddha: It is releasing on 25th of July.

Thank you Suddhabrata, It was great chatting with you. All the very best for your future endeavors.

You can pre-order Suddhabrata's upcoming book "Few Smiles and Few Tears" at Homeshop18.

You can connect him through Facebook.