Do all love stories have a perfect
ending? Certainly not, some love stories are meant to bring transformations.
-
Priyank (Best Debut Author, 2014 according to Aagman
Literary Organization)
Nicholas Sparks wrote a love story. (A
Walk To Remember)
Lauren Myracle wrote a hate story. (Shine)
Chetan Bhagat wrote a story valuing
education. (Five Point Someone)
Shakespeare wrote a revenge story.
(Hamlet)
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a social
story. (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)
Charles Dicken wrote a story showing
sacrifice. (A Tale Of Two Cities)
Paulo Coelho wrote a story of hope.
(The Alchemist)
Today, our interview is with PRIYANK,
who neatly weaved all the above mentioned elements in his debut novel, ‘I AM
DEAD BUT MY HEART BEATS’. This story is a fascinating saga of love, education,
community, hatred, revenge, sacrifice and hope which unfolds the real life
problems.
Q- Do you
enjoy giving interviews?
A-
Hahaha, Yes, a lot. And thanks to you for
taking another one. I like to share the background stories behind my writing,
start-up and other ideas with my friends and readers through interviews, or may
be during interactive events at bookstores or at book fairs. It’s fun actually
to answer questions rising in other’s heart.
Q-
Why do you write?
A-
I never wanted to be a writer, nor did I have
any inclinations for writing. It all started to because of my beloved’s wish
who wanted me to write on issues which bothers true lovers form breathing
freely in Indian society, and henceforth my first book took its birth. As of
now, I have grown a deep interest in writing so that I can influence people and
bring awareness to cause positive changes on multiple issues existing in Indian
society which has actually paralyzed the country from proper development.
Q- Where do your ideas come from?
A-
I draw my ideas for the stories from whatever
I observe in the society. I look around and can easily figure out lots of
issues which have crumpled the nation, including many old thoughts, traditions and
beliefs. These real life observation and life style gives me the plot to think
of a book.
Q-
What is the hardest thing about writing?
A-
The
hardest challenge in writing is to connect with the readers. If you are able to
make readers feel that the words which you have written reflects what they can
imagine before their eyes, as if a movie is going on, then I feel you are
pretty successful as an author. The challenge is all about getting them
completely engrossed in your work as if it’s happening before them. Striking
the chord to connect with the readers is the biggest task.
Q-
How much research do you do for your novel?
A-
It
has just been one book for me, but as I have always said that I prefer writing
on incidents inspired from reality, so research work is involved in my work,
but I don’t go for intense research. I prefer observing things more and penning
those observations on paper. So mixture of real time observations and little
research to make my story livelier is what I do.
Q- While writing do you take drugs or
drink alcohol to lift up your imagination? :p
A-
No, who said that drugs or alcohol lifts up
the imagination. Imagination and Observation can be done most perfectly when
your mind is completely in your control which isn’t the case when you are drunk
or take drugs. May be others need such external elements to bring fantasy or
creativity but I do not prefer taking them.
Q- Which writers inspire you?
A-
I
prefer reading romance fiction and commercial fiction, so my favourite authors
are Erich Segal, Nicholas Sparks and Chetan Bhagat.
Q-
What is your favourite quote?
A-
I believe in this quote which i coined myself
“Live your Love with Passion”.
Q-
What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?
A-
If you do something different and if you get
decent enough success in your endeavour, then people start throwing stones at
you, I too faced criticism and it’s a part and parcel of life. But truly
speaking, I have always got healthy criticism. I don’t remember anything which
had questioned my credibility as a writer. Frankly, by god’s grace and with the
support of friends, family and readers I haven’t yet heard any such demeaning
thing about me as a writer.
Q-
What do you consider as your biggest failure?
A-
The inability in me to decide 6 years back
after my 10th boards that I shouldn’t go for Engineering preparation
and then land up in an Engineering college. I realised it little late that my
interest was never in Engineering, it was in something else and now I am
silently working on my true strength. This failure wasted my 4 years in which I
could have been far higher on the career ladder, had I understood my true
passion 6 years ago.
Q- What were you like at school?
A- Completely studious, always focused on
scoring the highest mark in class and it was because I was under my mother’s
strict teaching supervision. So, chances of searching for real passion was
never there as Indian parents don’t allow you to follow passion. They take you
through the traditionally studies way and my case was no different. I talked
very less with girls at school because of my mother’s fear and her teachings to
stay away from girls. But the moment school life ended and I was free of mom’s
rule, I fell in love, made a girlfriend and eventually that love story made me
a writer today... Hahaha !
Q-
What’s the most blatant lie you have ever told?
A-
I had mostly lied to my mother, that too about
my girlfriend. I had told her too many lies, how can I tell you anyone? But all
lies were to save my love from getting caught in the family. Once upon a time,
my beloved gifted me with a photo frame having a photograph in which we both
were present together. One day, my mother somehow discovered it from my
cupboard. To save my love, I made my girlfriend a rakhi sister and told my mom
that she’s my classmate cum rakhi sister and gifted me the photo frame on my
birthday. So, not blatant but funny you
can say. That’s all about my lies, never anything grievous I did for a blatant
lie to come up. :p
Q- What book/s are you reading at
present?
A-
Currently am reading Dongri to Dubai. Yeah,
just one book as am much occupied writing my second book and busy in my new
job’s training activities at TCS.
Q-
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
A-
For the marketing activities, cover does play
an important role especially in today’s market when debut authors are facing a
stiff competition from the bigger names in writing industry. But as the saying
goes ‘Never judge a book by its cover’, this still holds true. Cover does
influences buyers at the first look, but then they do look at the blurb,
prologue, title and reviews before buying your book. So, cover is not
everything but is crucial these days due to heavy competition amongst authors
at bookstores because a cover quickly attracts the customer to check out the
blurb and story outline before they decide over whether to buy your book or not.
Q-
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
A-
Write for yourself, and don’t think on what
others will say, Follow your heart and don’t step behind from rigorous efforts
to promote your work which is now a must with the increase in competition for
debut Indian writers against the established names in writing.
Q-
How did you come up with the title?
A-
I chose this title because the character of
Anshika in my book, sacrifices her life fighting for her love against her
family and the old social norms. She is definitely dead for everyone physically
but her heart will always remain alive for her beloved, her heart will always
keep showering her love for Aryan, her love. Someone dying while fighting for
justice never dies, they become immortals and so was Anshika. That’s why I felt
this title to be very apt.
Q-
What literary character is most like you?
A-
I am exactly like the male protagonist “Aryan”
in my first book “I AM DEAD BUT MY HEART BEATS”.
Q-
What do you do to unwind and relax?
A-
Listen to few extremely romantic soulful
songs, watch a bit of comedy series and if I need a large break, I go for a
long nap to regain freshness.
Q-
What does your family think of your
writing?
A-
Initially they were upset with my decision to
write as I was still in studies. They wanted me to complete studies first,
settle up with a handsome salary job, get married to a girl of their choice and
then try writing side by side. But I remained firm on my decision. They didn’t
know that love has power more than anything else and I decided to write for my
love. With time they learnt that I won’t listen to them and do whatever my
heart will say. They kept on disagreeing with my decision, gave lots of
arguments, heated discussions but all went in vain. Now after 4 years, with the
book getting happily accepted by readers and showing a nice response in the
market, family has changed. Now they want me to maintain this newly developed
inclination for writing throughout my career along with my job and studies. Things
changes with time and people accept you, which happened with me as well.
Q-
Did you learn anything from writing your
book and what was it?
A-
Yes, I
learnt a lot of stuff but the most important part was that I learnt how to
develop patience in one self when you are outside, fighting all alone against
the odds. I truly learnt the art of keeping myself calm during unfavourable
conditions and also realised that nothing comes by short cuts, if you genuinely
put in your hard work you will be rewarded.
“Live your Love with Passion”.