An Interview With Priyank

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 10^th 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”.