David Impey’s latest book The October Men is written exquisitely. If you always wanted to read a book on time travel but never had the heart for going into many details. I recently had a chance to interview him.

Q. Hi Mr. David Impey, and thank you for agreeing for this interview. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

Hello there and thanks for taking the time to read ‘The October Men’. I’m much obliged to you for that.

My background is a bit tangential in that I have spent most of my career working in the life sciences industry mostly in commercial roles. These have involved trying to translate fairly complex technical concepts into everyday language for consumption by the general public, the press and the scientific community as well (they aren’t usually the most articulate of people!).

I have been a writer since way back. I wrote my first novel when I was 13. And set fire to it when I was 14 – my critical faculties had developed sufficiently during that year for me to appreciate quite how awful it was. I got my first article published in a yachting magazine when I was 17. And I’ve been contributing articles and columns to various magazines, journals, and websites since then.

I also developed a TV format on how drugs work which was eventually picked up by a small cable channel in the US.

Q. Congratulations in your book, The October Men. Very thought-provokingly told. What led you to pick a theme based on Time Travelling?

It was two things really. The first was my musing on why there seemed to be a sudden glut of World War 2 documentaries in colour and then chatting about these musings with a friend of mine over a few glasses of wine.

It struck me that, if people were able to go back and get colour footage and return to the present, then what else could they do? The novel sort of spiraled out from there.

Q. I see you your writing style is excellent and it is what kept me going throughout the novel. What is the easiest thing about writing you find?

Thanks for the compliment. I’m not sure that ‘easy’ is the right word. The key thing is planning out the story in advance. I use a rather complex set of spreadsheets and diagrams to make sure that the whole thing flows, despite being told from multiple viewpoints, and to make sure that certain characters don’t end up being in totally different places at the same time. As happened at one stage in the draft – I had to go back and do some serious re-writes to amend this.

Once the plan is there, then I have a fairly vivid mental image of what is occurring – I also try to write about places I have visited in the past and can see clearly – and it becomes a lot more straight-forward to write.

Q. What motivates you to write?

There isn’t a simple answer to this one. I suppose I wanted to see if I could actually do it.

I was a bit nervous about making an ass of myself so I had a friend, who is a published author, read through the first draft of the first 50 pages. I asked her to put me out of my misery if I was deluding myself and she was adamant that it was worth persevering with.

Q. When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

I’ve been entertaining dreams of being a writer since I was a kid, if I’m honest. I was always making up stories on the way to school. I’ve finally got round to it.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

Obviously, I love getting a good review; it’s like being told you’re a fine parent. As for bad reviews, I suppose I take it a bit personally, although I am quietly satisfied if I elicited some sort of response as long as it’s objective and not a grandiloquent critic trying to get a laugh at my expense.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

Computer. I’m a much faster typist than writer and, besides, my handwriting has deteriorated since the days when I started using PCs as standard.

As for organisation, I file everything and anything I can on the hard drive. I’m a lousy librarian so filing systems don’t come naturally to me. That said, putting ‘The October Men’ together was not too onerous in that regard

Q. How do you relax?

I am a very keen musician. I have a recording studio which I use to write and record material for use as soundtrack music as well as commercial release. I also very occasionally play live with other musicians. I used to be a singer but I hate my voice so I leave that sort of thing to people who are talented.

I love listening to music – especially classical – whilst doing the crossword. In addition to all that, I occasionally play cricket and I enjoy walking my dog Dino.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

Oh gosh. That way madness lies.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

I tend to compartmentalize my life a bit so people from one part don’t really get to know much about the stuff from another part. To some extent, I feel that I’m rather forcing myself on them if I keep bouncing up saying “Oh yes, I also do that… and that… etc.”

So people from my life sciences / commercial side of things were very surprised to hear about the book launch.

Other than that, I don’t have any deep secrets that I keep hidden from the world. I just don’t tell everybody everything either.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

Yes. Sometimes, the books one reads as a child take on new detail and significance as an adult. ‘The Lord of the Rings’ was one such and ‘The Wind in the Willows’ made me sob twice (Mole getting homesick and ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ being the two episodes).

The one book that I would read again and again is probably ‘The Sixth Day’ by Primo Levi or ‘1Q84’ by Haruki Murakami. Both very philosophical and which reveal themselves through repeated study.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

JP Donleavy, E Annie Proulx, John Irving, Alistair Maclean (his early stuff was brilliant!)

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

Yes I am. I have just been taken on by a literary agent (thanks Helen) and she immediately asked me to draught up the plot for a second novel and the first 50 pages. Which I have just done. As for when it will come out depends largely on the success of ‘The October Men’ and the speed with which Helen and I can get a publishing deal for the follow-up. As for when: this time next year..?

Author’s Blog | Publisher Website | Goodreads

The post Blog Tour: David Impey’s October Men and Interview appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

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The Book of My Life by Abhishek Vincent
Published by Notionpress Genres: Fiction
Pages: 238
Format: eBook

Abhishek Vincent’s debut The Book of My Life: A True Love journey was released in late 2017. Full of emotions, and deciphering feelings page by page both of the character and the reader, it is a book not to be missed if you are a fan of romance fiction or like to read good heartwarming stories.

The plot uniquely starts at a railway where the author of the book stumbles upon a diary left behind a traveler. He discovers a tale of a young man in search of love. Starting from his middle school days, where he thought he found his first love along with happiness and continuing the journey after three more similar scenarios until he finally gets what he seeks. The ups and downs of his love lives and an incident that turns him empty inside with no hope left to be ever loved by someone again. But the “love” hasn’t given up on him.

The storyline is full of interesting incidents. The stories are aligned in a timely manner in the protagonist’s life. There four subplots that completes the major plot and the narrative voice following these plots is smooth and is written in first person voice. Even though I felt that the repetition of elements used in earlier subplots in this book, with quite similar incidents happening with the author. This does constitute a dragging element but just when I started to think more about it, the author pull of the curtains and introduces the climax in one of the subplots. That changes everything from a reader’s perspective.

The characterization is not that vast in proportion to the length of the novel. The main cast if deeply explored and I think this where the masterful efforts of the author of this book come into the picture.  The way he develops and displays characters, to drive the plot forward, is an effort to appreciate. It is a well-written novel that happens to satisfy its own niche.

3 out of 5

Check out my NEW Book for Bloggers and Book Bloggers

The post BOOK REVIEW: The Book of My Life by Abhishek Vincent appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Q. Hi Mr Haggag, and thank you for agreeing this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I have spent nearly three decades in the corporate business world and I am currently working as a senior executive in the hospitality industry managing a group of hotels. With direct experience in many different aspects of business, including sales, marketing, revenue management, and administration. Having worked in Germany, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, my global experiences have encouraged me to formulate my thoughts into written documents in business, management, history that I see may be beneficial to the younger generation. Eager to bring enhanced cross-cultural awareness to today’s business leaders.

Q. What led you to your book, “Legends over Generations”?
The deep admiration of the historical legends and masterminds of the various life aspects and how they have helped us grow better understanding of the world we live in was the core drive for drafting the idea of this book. In these Legends, we’ve seen inexplicable abilities that helped us define our existence and human life. Their names are engraved in the sands of time for their work in the welfare of mankind with different inventions that have made our lives easy, enjoyable and successful. The following chapters commemorate the greatest personalities we’ve ever seen who changed the world.

Q. What is the easiest thing about writing?
Identifying the core idea of the book and setting its overall structure is the easiest part for me. Once this is clear in mind, I can then go forward and draft down the main points that show and clarify the idea to my readers. Whilst I do this, I keep my target readers at the front of my mind.

Q. What motivates you to write?

Conveying the accumulative experience that I have gained throughout my academic career and the cross culture environment that I have been exposed to. Passing this knowledge to young generations who I believe are in need of such direction to help them accomplish their goals and enable them to face the everyday challenges that life brings.

Q. When did you decide that you want to be a writer?
Very recently, I reached a stage in my life whereby I realised that happiness for me, is giving back whatever knowledge I have accumulated over the years.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
Having the fact in mind that there is no limit for us of learning something new, I take the bad reviews as a new guideline either to adjust my direction or to add something new that can help me produce and perform in a better way.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?
Actually neither. My all-time go to is always a PENCIL HB2. This is the tool I feel most comfortable and relaxed with and it helps stimulate my thoughts.

Q. How do you relax?
When I see positive progress in accomplishing the preparation of my books, I feel relieved and satisfied.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?
For my first two non-fiction books, I would have created a more intense and structured marketing plan.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
Working out for me is a must. Out of all of the workouts that I do, jogging is the greatest help in focusing my mind on the coming chapters and keeping me focused throughout my writing journey.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?
Yes definitely. I rarely re-read novels but I go back to my all-time business favourites again and again. Such titles include: Blue ocean strategy, Good to Great and Built to Last.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?
Jim Collins

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?
Yes I am. I am in the process of writing my fourth book which I foresee to have the title “The Bright and Dark side of the Greatest Empires”. The core idea for writing this book is to give a strong highlight on the evolution and the development of human behaviour starting from the early ages and the tendency of countries to acquire resources, land and economic influence outside their boarders in order to expand their size, power and wealth using military force.

The post Author Interview: Ashraf Haggag appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Connecting with bloggers is always my priority and I am so glad that I could connect with JenGee last week. She even took time to visit my blog and mention me in one of her posts.

A BIG THANK YOU Jen

[Check her blog out: geejenmotw]

In her post she asked me few questions that you can I both can refer to in the screenshot below.

Yes, I do like to answer them. As you know, my history with fellow bloggers asking me questions in their blog posts (in terms of Liebster award and similar blog posts) is not great. I have hardly answered any of them by writing a blog post. I am sorry for that and did not meant to offend anyone’s feelings and their good intentions. This is a start for me.

Q1.  What is your all time favourite book or genre and why?

That would be Crime Fiction. From my early days of reading, this genre hooked me into many sleepless nights. Putting my nose in classics such as Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Dan Brown’s newly published The Da Vinci Code (which I managed to read twice once a summer) and enjoying the thrill when the verdict is about announce. Reading crime fiction novels have always been a pleasure. They are simple to follow, some of them can be highly complex and a good exercise to neurones up there.

Q2. Tell me something cool about where you live?

The city of New Delhi lives and thrives on food. There is a variety of street food,  coffee shops, cafes, bars, lounges and on most day and nights, all filled in. I could never understand how can so many people be hungry and yet there is a never ending and choices in this whole city. It’s an historic city too. Had been (and still is) a capital.

Q3. Do you have a blogging quirk? I’d love to hear a fun fact about how you read or prepare your own blogs?

Yes, I do. My foremost blogging quirk I believe is that I take to much time to prepare my blog posts and yet some of them still have typos! By ‘how you read’ if you meant that how do I choose my books to read? Well, most of them are ARC’s these days and as for other books I read are either own something I am researching about (or trying to gain some knowledge on the subject) or recommendations. In my past two year, I have hardly read any top listers/bestsellers and reviewed them, something I want to improve this year.

I just write posts as soon as I get time in my daily schedule. I prefer early mornings but cruel winter season that has been going on has disrupted my schedule for quite some weeks. So I try to finish my weekly targets during chilly nights. I try to write a post or at least a piece of a draft every day but that is a habit I want to adapt.

Q4. Have you got any top priorities for 2018?

• Reading of course. Better reading material. Some hidden gems.
• Getting into the habit of writing at least some amount of a post daily
• stop giving excuses to myself

Thank you so much Jen for visiting my blog, and I am so glad you liked the quote in the Bio section. I am looking forward to more of your interesting posts.

Do check out Jen’s Blog!

~ Find me on ~

BLOG |  GOODREADS |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK | MEDIUM

The post Shoutout to my Blogging Friend: JenGee appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Q. Hello and thank you for agreeing this interview and congratulations on your latest book, ‘Happiness is All We Want’. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I am a banker by profession, currently heading treasury sales function at ANZ Bank. Previously, I worked in senior positions at Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank in similar roles. By education, I am an MBA from XLRI and engineering graduate from IIT Delhi.  I was born and brought up in Delhi, completed by education and living in Mumbai since the start of my corporate career in the year 2000. Other than work, I have a wide variety of interests in well-being, spirituality, travelling, blogging and writing. I am married and have two kids.

Q. Briefly, what led you up to ‘Happiness is All We Want’? Is it the modern corporate failure? I mean, belonging almost similar industry as yours I am seeing that people in hustle (which might be a good thing up to a certain point) are actually not aware of their own lifestyle or rather what brings them happiness?

I will not say that it is modern corporate failure. Corporates are doing what they are meant to do – Enhancing Shareholder Value. But otherwise you are right, it is the people who lose track of their own lives and goals while running in the corporate race. Being ambitious and aiming for big things is good but people end up paying a huge price for that. Many don’t even achieve the corporate success in spite of paying the heavy price. The cost of this mad pursuit is in the form of lost health and well-being, mental issues and spiritual disorientation. Lack of quality relationships with spouse, kids, family and friends is another consequence.

I am amazed that examples of such failures are all around us still people fail to learn from the experiences of others. Examples of people who have balanced most areas of life and taken their happiness and well-being in their own hands are also around us but we fail to notice them as well. Even if we notice them, we postpone the requisite actions due to multiple excuses.

Happiness is All We Want! is an attempt to make you see this and show you a practical way to take charge of your own happiness and wellbeing.

Q. I am fascinated by your personal anecdotes. For a personal like me, who wants to find a balance between mind, body and soul, will practising spirituality lead to that balance?

That’s a great question. Spiritual well-being forms the core of my book. I start with asking why worry about your spiritual well-being and tell people how is it different from just blindly following any organized religion.

Practising spirituality or rather working on your spiritual well-being can definitely give you the balance between mind, body and soul that you are looking for. Most people want to achieve this but they don’t know where and how to start. This concept is developed gradually in the book and many tools and practices are explained for the readers’ benefit. Most of these are very easy to implement and do not take much time.

For many of the action items for spiritual development, you do not even need to keep time aside but make gradual changes in the way you live your life. Being alert to your spiritual side and making use of opportunities through the day can give you amazing peace and happiness.

Q. Where can I read more on spirituality? Any recommendations?

Yes sure. I have mentioned multiple spiritual books in my book. The easy to read and start on this path are The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran, Dhammapada by Eknath Easwaran, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, multiple books by Swami Vivekananda published by Ramakrishna Mission, Commentary on Ashtavakra Gita by Osho.

Q. Since you write so flawlessly, what is the easiest thing about writing?

Thanks for the compliments. The credit for my language goes to my father, Mr. Lal Mohan Mishra. He coaxed me to focus on English grammer and spoken English early in my childhood. In eighties, English was not the default language for talking even in Delhi. My father was serving in Ministry of Home Affairs and he understood the importance of good language. Besides, my habit of reading a wide variety of books helped me in getting a command over the language.

The easiest thing about my writing is that I merge thinking and writing seamlessly. I never think about what to write before I start writing. I have broad topic in mind but not the details. When I sit down to write, the thinking happens simultaneously and it evolves on paper. Much of my book has been written this way. It is my heart speaking to you, live.

Q. What motivates you to write?

Writing is one of the strongest media to reach out to the world. When the thoughts behind this book were condensing in my mind, I wanted to share them with as many people as possible. Hence, I began the process of writing the book. After I started, I realized that the process of writing itself was very soothing for my mind and I got hooked onto it. After completing the book, I transformed into a blogger and have created 75 posts in last year or so at my blog here.

So, the ability to share my ideas, thoughts and feelings with a large number of people, and the mental peace that I derive, motivate me for keep writing. It has never felt like a task or a burden.

Q.  When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

If you read the book, you will see that my path to physical, mental and spiritual well-being evolved over a period of 25-28 years. That’s a large part of my life given that I am in early forties. Around the year 2011, I understood that there is something unique about what I was doing and millions could benefit if I share these ideas with them.

Upon some thinking, it became obvious that writing a book was the best way to reach out to people. Since I had not written any books or blogs earlier, it took me a couple of years to get myself to start writing and there has been no looking back ever since.

Q. Could the process have been different? In general, what things Indian publishers should consider? 

I am very satisfied with the way the process went. Maybe, I could have written a few more blogs before I started writing the book. It helps to refine the writing.

For new writers, it is very difficult to breakthrough to the large publishing houses. They do want to give a chance to budding writers but the sheer number of manuscripts submitted to them is huge. But as I saw in my case, persistence pays. It makes sense to network with the publishing community through lit fests and social media channels.

I was extremely pleased when Bloomsbury (the global publishers of Harry Potter) selected my book for publishing.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

When I started writing, I used a pen and then transcribed the writing on to the computer. This used to take a lot of time. Since I am not a full time writer and have a job to worry about, I slowly started writing directly on computer. Now, I am pretty comfortable writing on computer.

For staying organized, I used the tools mentioned in the mental well-being section of my book. They have worked for me and should work for you.

Q. How do you relax?

I try to relax all the time. Relaxation is not a periodic exercise. So, whatever you may be doing, it makes sense to consciously relax yourself all the time. Following my well-being practices like yoga, meditation, running and exercising in the gym, travelling, spending time with family and friends, watching a bit of TV and select movies give me good relaxation otherwise.

Q. Do you have an agent. If yes, how did you find them? 

No.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

As I said, I would have liked to write a few more blogs so the writing could be a little better. But I am glad that I started writing the book sooner than later. I firmly believe that well begun is more than half done.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

I had never written or published any formal piece of writing (other than official emails/reports) before I started writing my first book.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

All reviews are welcome. By God’s grace my book has over 50 reviews on Amazon now and they are all good. I have never tried to influence any review. You have reviewed my book and you know it by experience.

Any bad review would give me a chance to improve my work. A bad review needs to be interpreted carefully as there are many reasons for the same. The reviewer may not have like the writing style or may not have been interested in this particular genre’. If they comment on language or editing, it is something you can improve in later editions and works.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

I do mark many books for re-reading but end up doing it in very few cases. Few books that I re-read are Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda and The Upanishads by Eknath Easwaran.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

Norman Vincent Peale, Paramhansa Yogananda, Dale Carnegie

Q. What book(s) are you reading at present?

Biography of Elon Musk and The book of Man by Osho.

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

I am writing a work of fiction. It is still evolving and the progress is slow owing to my other responsibilities at home and office. I cannot say anything about the timeline but I will try to reach the audience soon.

For any feedback/comments, the readers can reach the author on info@ashutoshm.com  and his website here.

~ Find me on ~

BLOG |  GOODREADS |  TWITTER | FACEBOOK

The post Author Interview: Ashutosh Mishra appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Q. Hello Shreyas Bhave, and thank you for agreeing this interview and congratulations on your debut book, The Prince of Patliputra. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I was born in Nagpur, did my electrical engineering there from VNIT. Since my childhood, I was an avid reader, and a fan of historical stories. Napoleon, Caesar, Genghis Khan, Shivaji, Saladin, I know all their stories by heart. I passed out of college last year, and at present, I am working as a Contractor for the Indian railways.

Q. Briefly, what led you up to ‘The Prince of Patliputra’ ?

Lot of things did. Watching I was visiting a mountain pilgrimage called Girnar in Junagarh district few years back. It boasts of a vast Jain temple and also the highest point of Gujarat state. When I enquired who had built the Jain temple, the answer I received was it was built by Chandragupta Maurya. The question which came to my mind is why a king from Patliputra which was far away, was building temples at the edge of his empire? Afterwards I visited an underground network of Buddhist caves nearby. I was impressed by its architecture. “Who built these caves?” I asked and the answer that came was “Samrat Ashoka.” This was the incident that drove me to find out more about this great Grandfather-grandson duo and the outcome is the Asoka trilogy.

Q. Since the book resides in Historical fiction genre in other words, blending the facts with the writer’s imagination, there have been a lot of research work you would have done. Did you enjoy that? How much time did you spent in researching and for what aspects of the novel?

I tapped various resources for gathering information for my book. I went from reading the Ancient Buddhist text Asokavadana to ShahRukh Khan’s Asoka movie. I also read historical accounts on Ashoka written by foreign authors like Charles Allen. So basically I was open to exploring the times of the Mauryas as a traveller and wanted to paint a picture of how exactly the events of those days must have taken place. My main focus was to create a political thriller, based on those times. A book that was of great help to shape up the land of Bharathvarsha from those times is Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India’s Geography by Sanjeev Sanyal. Finally, I let my imagination run its course and came up with fictious characters such as Kanakdatta, Avarak, Hardeo and Dileepa in the story. A brief note on the characters of the story is available at https://authorshreyas.wordpress.com/2016/02/11/the-characters/

Q. Since you write so flawlessly, what is the easiest thing about writing?

Thanks for the compliment. I don’t know about the flawlessness, but it is my practice to read every paragraph I write after i write it as a total third person. And if i can’t read that paragraph flawlessly, i tweak it then and there, that’s all. I guess that is the easiest thing. Keep it simple, silly.

Q. What motivates you to write?

The fact that I want to tell stories is what motivates me to write. There is no difference between the random old man you meet around a bonfire during a jungle safari who tells stories of the world from his life and you can’t stop listening, and me.

Q.  When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

I never decided anything as such, it just kind of happened. My father used to tell me made-up stories when i was a child, of science fiction and advanced civilizations. I guess the creative gene comes from my father who could never be a writer and it is his lost creativity that I am forwarding in my life.

Q. How was your experience with publishing process with Leadstart Publishing?

It was very good. Chandralekha Maitra is a wonderful person to work with. I was worried of how such a senior Editor would look at my work (for I am just 23, and I write like I am 22.) If you like my books, thank her. If you hate them, blame me. Whatever the Asoka trilogy will be due to her, and due to Leadstart Publishing.

Q. Could the process have been different?

In general, what things Indian publishers should consider? Indian Publishers should realize that they should come out of the ‘banking’ mentality and start thinking like venture capitalists. It is true that famous authors will always sell, but one day, they will fade and it is the responsibility of the publishers to prepare new authors to take up their mantle.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

I prefer computers, because anyway, we have to put the story on a computer before it i processed by a publisher. And in this busy 21st century, who has the time to work twice. About being organized, I recommend this Best Planner for Entrepreneur.

Q. How do you relax?

I don’t relax. Period.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

Oh, so many things, too many things. But It is a sin to think about changing the past and one must never regret and only look at the future.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

I have never watched SRKs 2001 movie ‘Asoka’ or the Colors TV serial ‘Chakravartin Ashok Samrat’ even once. I guess people will be surprised to know that.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

Unfortunately, I have never had a bad review till date. There were only some comments about bad editing of my first book, which i anyway being fixed in the second edition of the same. I was bit worried about this, because every bestelling author always tells in his/her interviews about the countless bad reviews they get on a regular basis. and i am worried that because i don’t get bad reviews, i shall never be a bestselling author (sob)

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

Yup, I re-read them multiple times. In my mother tongue that is marathi, there is word for it, called ‘parayan’.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

I have a different role model for every different genre. For the Asoka trilogy, which is Epic Historical fiction, my influence was Conn Iggulden.

Q. What book(s) are you reading at present?

Majorly non- fiction ones. I daresay my fiction reading days are over. At present, i am reading ‘Never Eat Alone’ by Keith Ferrazzi.

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

Haha. Yes, a writer is always working on something new, wherever he/she is. I am at present working on a new psychological thriller, which runs along the lines of a Christopher Nolan movie. I hope to finish it this year at the earliest. Apart from it, I have an already completed manuscript which tells the story of a controversial freedom fighter in an totally unexpected way. Let’s see which one finds a home at a publisher sooner.

For more info, you can visit LeadStart Publishing.

The post Author Interview: Shreyas Bhave appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Sindhu Rajasekaran is a thirty-one-year-old engineer-turned-writer, and a Bharatnatyam dancer. Kaleidoscopic Reflections her first novel was longlisted for the Crossword Book Award in 2011.

Q. Hello Sindhu, and thank you for agreeing this interview and congratulations on your book, ‘Kaleidoscopic Reflections’. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I’m a writer, film producer and communications consultant. A bit of a nomad really. I do everything that strikes my fancy.

Q. Briefly, what led you up to ‘Kaleidoscopic Reflections’?

A roster of anecdotes and emotions I’d collected since I was 10 finally ended up in a novel when I turned 22.

Q. Since you write so flawlessly, what is the easiest thing about writing?

It isn’t easy. At least, not for me; I do multiple drafts and edits. Sometimes I scrap whole chapters and rewrite. The one thing that comes easy to me is a deep love for the written word.

Q. What motivates you to write?

Some days I wake up with words floating in my head and I know I have to write them down.

Q.  When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

When I was 10.

Q. How was your experience with publishing process with Leadstart Publishing?

They’re a great bunch to work with.

Q. Could the process have been different? In general, what things Indian publishers should consider? 

I wish they published more experimental writing.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

I take notes with a pen and put everything together on the computer.

Q. How do you relax?

A glass of wine. And music.

Q. Do you have an agent. If yes, how did you find them? 

Yes. Found her through word of mouth and the internet.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

I don’t know.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

Ah. Can’t think of anything.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

I take what I like from it and forget the rest.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

Vanity Fair by William Thackeray.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

Borges, Didion, Roy & Zizek.

Q. What book(s) are you reading at present?

Em and the Big Hoom.

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

My second book, a collection of short stories, has found a home, and will soon be published.

For more info, you can visit LeadStart Publishing.

The post Author Interview: Sindhu Rajasekaran  appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Christopher Brookmyre is a Scottish novelist whose novels mix politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan Noir author. His debut novel was Quite Ugly One Morning, and subsequent works have included One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night, which he said “was just the sort of book he needed to write before he turned 30”, and All Fun and Games until Somebody Loses an Eye (2005). His new novel: The Last Hack is due to release in July, 2017.

Q. Hi Christopher, and thank you for agreeing this interview. Your upcoming book, ‘The Last Hack’ is due on 4th July 2017, which is an amazing read. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I have been writing full-time since the publication of my first novel, Quite Ugly One Morning, back in 1996. Before that, I worked as a sub-editor on Screen International in London, then freelance at the Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News. I have published twenty novels, most recently The Last Hack (published in the UK as Want You Gone). I have also collaborated on the FPS videogame Bedlam, based on my novel of the same name.

Q. Briefly, what led you up to ‘The Last Hack’?

I had created the hacker Buzzkill for my novella The Last Day of Christmas, before briefly revisiting the character in the novels Dead Girl Walking and Black Widow. I thought more about who Buzzkill might be, and realising that hackers deal in the same kind of psychological deception I have explored in several other books, I decided to come up with a story that would make hacking central to the plot.

Q. I am fascinated about the real elements related to Hacking (key elements such as Anonymous, irc chat, etc. ) which is the genesis of this title. You have provided which really drives the story and my inner geek. Are you constantly engaged with your inner geek?

I got my first home computer in 1981, a ZX Spectrum. My inner geek has seldom been too far from the surface ever since. I have watched home computers go from a fringe enthusiasm to an indispensable part of everyday domestic life, but no matter how mainstream the technology becomes, the sub-cultures surrounding computers have continued to fascinate me. I was heavily involved in the early, pioneering days of online gaming in the mid-90s, playing in Quake clans using a 14k modem (not recommended) and constantly upgrading as the communications technology began to improve. My 2001 novel A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away was inspired by the burgeoning online gaming culture that I had been part of.

Q. How much time went in researching for these key elements?

I generally don’t believe that you should decide to write about something and then research it. It should be the other way around. I have always written about subjects I was already fascinated by, so I have usually done a lot of research into them before coming up with a story. I had read a cople of  books by Kevin Mitnick, including his very entertaining autobiography “Ghost in the Wires”. I was also very interested by the rise of Anonymous, Lulzsec and the new hacktivism culture, so was fascinated to read Parmy Olson’s book on the subject. What most struck me was how isolated and vulnerable a lot of the hackers were, often enduring difficult social circumstances, and how their online activities were a retreat from the harsh realities of their day-to-day existences. I wanted to write about that, to show some of the subtler motivations behind hacking. I also wanted to have some fun dramatizing the techniques hackers use, some of which have been in use for centuries before computers were invented.

Q. What is the easiest thing about writing?

Not having a boss. Though I am a hard task-master.

Q. What motivates you to write?

I have had a compulsion to write stories since I first learned to write sentences at school. I never lose sight of what a privilege it is to make my living from it, as I know it is something I would be doing anyway.

Q.  When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

It is the only thing I have ever wanted to be. It was my ambition from primary school onwards, though I was a little older before I became convinced that it was an ambition I could realistically pursue.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

I am less concerned by whether a review is good or bad than whether it truly engaged with the book. I have had critical reviews that I enjoyed reading because the reviewer got his or her teeth into the issues and the characters. That is preferable to a review that says the book was good but doesn’t say much more.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

I hate writing longhand, as my hand can’t keep up with my thoughts, which is very frustrating. Also, my handwriting is a source of deep shame. I also go a lot of walks, dictating into my phone, then transcribe what I have dictated once I get back to my PC.

Q. How do you relax?

I like to run, I work out, I play tennis, and I regularly put myself through an emotional wringer by going to watch St Mirren Football Club. I am also a Buffyholic.

Q. How did you find your agent? 

When I was working at the Scotsman in 1995, the film critic read one of my unpublished novels and said he would recommend me to his cousin, who was a literary agent. She has been representing me ever since.

Q. Since you have been published almost two dozen times, what are your few biggest learning experience(s) or surprise(s) throughout the publishing process?

I have watched the business change, most dramatically through the advent of the e-book and of online retail, and the enduring  lesson is to always trust your  publishers. Writers think about the realities of publishing only once they have handed in a book and are free to look beyond the project that has been dominating their every thought for months. Editors, publicists and marketing personnel are thinking about publishing every day, responding to a changing environment. They usually know what they are doing.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

I am seldom inclined to look backwards, certainly not with regret. My thoughts are always drawn to the next story, the next idea.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

I once performed a fifteen-minute stand-up set at the Comedy Store in London in front of a full house, the opening act in a line-up that featured Rich Hall, Jenny Éclair, Jeff Green and Sandi Toksvig. It was both terrifying and exhilarating.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

I don’t get time to re-read books these days, but in the past I have re-read several books many times, most frequently the works of Douglas Adams and certain Iain Banks novels, particularly Espedair Street. The book I do make time to re-read every few years is Swing, Hammer Swing! by Jeff Torrington.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

I grew up reading Douglas Adams and Ian Fleming, which is perhaps why I was initially drawn to write outrageous thrillers with an irreverent, satirical tone. Perhaps the biggest influence was the late Iain Banks, whose work showed me that great stories (including SF) could be written with a Scottish accent.

Q. What book(s) are you reading at present?

I am catching up on Mark Billingham’s books, with Die of Shame before moving on to his new one, Love Like Blood. I am going on tour with him soon, so I want to have read these beforehand, so that if I have any questions I can go straight to the source.

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

I have completed a SF/crime cross-over novel titled Places In The Darkness, which will be out in December. It is kind of a female buddy-cop thriller set in space. I figure lots of crime fiction fans are happy to read period stories set in the past, so why not a nail-biting whodunit set in the future?

More about Christopher: Website | Twitter

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The post Author Interview: Christopher Brookmyre appeared first on Confessions of a Readaholic.

Anmol Chawla, a diehard philosopher is an industrial engineer from a well-reputed college, who is trying to find innovative ways to serve humanity, as he believes only a utilitarian mindset can solve today’s complex societal issues.

BEYOND is his first work of fiction, inspired from his own experiences with the world around him. He has ventured into many social initiatives after leaving a lucrative job in a Multi-National Company. Earlier this month, I reviewed his debut book and you can read the review here. For deep dive in Anmol’s imagination, continue to read this post.

Q. Hi Anmol, and thank you for agreeing this interview. Congratulations on your debut, ‘Beyond: A meaningful journey’ a very engaging and a thought provoking story. Tell me a little about yourself and your background?

I am an Industrial engineer and a management graduate from Thapar University, Patiala. Books have been an integral part of my life since childhood because of which I was inspired to write a book at an early age. I was into a job in Mumbai but after a year I decided to leave and join my family business.

Q. Briefly, what led you up to ‘Beyond: A meaningful journey’?

A deep desire to share my ideas of life with people led to this book. I wanted to tell people that spirituality, religion and business are not contradictory to each other but are complimentary.

Q. The setting of the storyline is very much contemporary. The blend of fiction and philosophy is engrossing as well. How did you come up with this mixture of genre?

It was spontaneous. I wanted to share this knowledge with people but not like a self-help book. This genre of fiction has helped me to present my ways in an interesting manner.

Q. How much time went in researching for these key elements?

Researching was continuous till I wrote the last page of this book. The subject on whom the book is written needs no research apart from just being open to the environment around us.

Q. What is the easiest thing about writing?

It comes like a song to me and because of which I am intrigued to write often.

Q. What motivates you to write?

My deep yearning to tell people about how small change in our perspective could change our entire life and that too spontaneously.

Q.  When did you decide that you want to be a writer?

March, 2015 when I was placed from my college at a handsome package in a MNC at Mumbai. I had stories to tell and also I had lots of time for traveling and writing. That is when I decided that I am going to write a book.

Q. What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

All are welcome as they help the book grow as a product and also makes me grow as an individual.

Q. What do you prefer: Pen or Computer? And how do you stay organised (any methods, systems, tools you use)?

I prefer computer because my handwriting is really bad and I am a highly disorganized person. Actually, the only thing that I follow is that if I decide to do some work, I should finish it as soon as possible, no more deep plannings.

Q. How do you relax?

Meditation, traveling, chatting with my loved ones.

Q. How did you find your agent? 

Internet, the place where actual business happen these days.

Q. What are your few biggest learning experience(s) or surprise(s) throughout the publishing process (especially in India)?

The biggest learning is that your book is your baby and you must put efforts for its success without having expectations from anybody else. This is a real competitive market and sometimes it takes time to reach the crowd. Having patience really helps.

Q. What would you have done differently if you could do it again?

Nothing actually, whatever changes I needed to make I made it in this newer version of ‘Beyond: A meaningful journey’.

Q. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

I am an introvert but generally when people meet me they think the opposite.

Q. Do you re-read books? One book that you would read again & again?

No, I don’t actually.

Q. Your influence(s)/ favourite author(s)?

Paulo Coelho, Amish Tripathi

Q. What book(s) are you reading at present?

Power and Position by OSHO

Q. Are you working on anything at the moment? When can we see your next work?

Soon but right now I am into the marketing of this book.

Ping Anmol on Twitter or Facebook

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