From the land of brave Rajput warriors comes another fantasy tale that celebrates their chivalry and incredible valiance. But still, there's something different in this book by the new age Indian author KHAYAAL PATEL, in his debut novel TARIKSHIR: THE AWAKENING. Something which goes beyond what the blurb says. It gives the reader everything they don't usually expect to get in one place; mystery, thrill, adventure and mythology.
I got the wonderful opportunity to interview the author of this new book, which is breaking the myths about the genres of mythology, thrill, adventure and mystery combined together.
The excerpts from the interview are here;
The excerpts from the interview are here;
Q1. There's not much known about you, can you please start by telling something about yourself?
A1. There’s not much to say, I think I’ve always been an average kid and I just didn’t give up on writing and here we are. On the personal front, I don’t read as much as I’d like, eat way too much chocolate than I should ideally and haven’t started watching any of the mainstream television series that I keep promising myself that I should start every year.
Also I hoard books in the hope of reading them all at some point in my life.
A1. There’s not much to say, I think I’ve always been an average kid and I just didn’t give up on writing and here we are. On the personal front, I don’t read as much as I’d like, eat way too much chocolate than I should ideally and haven’t started watching any of the mainstream television series that I keep promising myself that I should start every year.
Also I hoard books in the hope of reading them all at some point in my life.
Q2. The historical/mythological/fantasy fiction isn’t something much explored or preferred by the Indian authors or even the readers. What made you write a book based on that?
A2. I think mythology fiction is something that has gained a lot of prominence in the Indian market due to the increase in writers in the field. Hence I wrote something similar, but with a twist: I brought together the Ramayana and zombies.
Q3. How easy or difficult was this whole process of writing a book for you?
A2. I think mythology fiction is something that has gained a lot of prominence in the Indian market due to the increase in writers in the field. Hence I wrote something similar, but with a twist: I brought together the Ramayana and zombies.
Q3. How easy or difficult was this whole process of writing a book for you?
A3. The first draft for Tarikshir (then known as The Eye of Shiva) was written back in 2010. It took a lot of edits, re-edits and revisits to finally get it to what it is today. Balancing a full time job and finding the time to write does make it a bit challenging. The trouble with the creative process is that you have no control over when your creative juices flow. I could be sitting in a meeting at one time and have a flash in the pan idea about the next chapter I need to write and sometimes I just sit and stare blankly at the page when I have all the time in the world. It’s frustrating.
Q4. Elaborate on the jitters of writing your first book.
A4. There weren't any jitters. When I focused on the book, I simply focused on that and not on the trivial stuff - will it be published, will it sell, etc. That helped me a lot.
A4. There weren't any jitters. When I focused on the book, I simply focused on that and not on the trivial stuff - will it be published, will it sell, etc. That helped me a lot.
Q5. How much do you connect with the character of Rudra?
A5. We are both clueless, we need someone to save us, we both stick our noses in places where it doesn't belong and we both read a lot. The only difference is that one of us has a fixed destiny in life and has descended from royalty.
Q6. When are the next books in this series coming out?
A5. We are both clueless, we need someone to save us, we both stick our noses in places where it doesn't belong and we both read a lot. The only difference is that one of us has a fixed destiny in life and has descended from royalty.
Q6. When are the next books in this series coming out?
A6. Hopefully end of 2019 or early 2020. Fingers crossed.
Q7. The cover of the book is saying so much to the reader, what came to your mind when you were working on it?
A7. The cover has all the elements of the book, done by a very talented artist called Mukesh Singh. Once the reader finishes reading the book and takes a closer look at the cover, will they truly understand its significance.
For instance, if you look closely at the forehead of the skull mask, you will see a weapon…one that plays a very integral part in the book. That’s just one of the secrets in the cover, look a little closer and you will find all three.
A7. The cover has all the elements of the book, done by a very talented artist called Mukesh Singh. Once the reader finishes reading the book and takes a closer look at the cover, will they truly understand its significance.
For instance, if you look closely at the forehead of the skull mask, you will see a weapon…one that plays a very integral part in the book. That’s just one of the secrets in the cover, look a little closer and you will find all three.
Q8. If you could go back and do all this all over again, is there any aspect of the whole process you’d like to change?
A8. Absolutely nothing since all the aspects of the process; be they good, bad or ugly have led to the book being what it is today and I’m proud of it.
A8. Absolutely nothing since all the aspects of the process; be they good, bad or ugly have led to the book being what it is today and I’m proud of it.
Q9. How do you overcome writer’s block?
A9. Caffeine, sugar and more caffeine! I just pump myself with a lot of it all till I get cracking like a crazy person and churn words out.
A9. Caffeine, sugar and more caffeine! I just pump myself with a lot of it all till I get cracking like a crazy person and churn words out.
Q10. What’s your favourite book and author?
A10. Rene Goscinny & Albert Uberzo and Herge. These guys literally created one of the most beloved and enduring characters of all time.
A10. Rene Goscinny & Albert Uberzo and Herge. These guys literally created one of the most beloved and enduring characters of all time.
Q11. I’d like to know your perspective and also the business perspective for selling a book. Should one keep their story as original as they want to, or make modifications in order to sell it more?
A11. It depends on what your end goal is - commercial success or critical acclaim. There are a few books that manage to do both. In my perspective, stick to keeping your story as close to your original vision as possible because that was what prompted you to take the time and effort to actually put pen on paper or fingertips to the keyboard.
A11. It depends on what your end goal is - commercial success or critical acclaim. There are a few books that manage to do both. In my perspective, stick to keeping your story as close to your original vision as possible because that was what prompted you to take the time and effort to actually put pen on paper or fingertips to the keyboard.
Q12. Any message for your readers?
A12. This is one message I’ve given out to almost everyone and that is Please read Tarikshir and by read I mean buy and read it. I owe people money.
Thanks a lot to Better Books, Alisha and obviously Khayaal for this opportunity!
Go, read the book. It'll blow your mind. Highly recommended.
A12. This is one message I’ve given out to almost everyone and that is Please read Tarikshir and by read I mean buy and read it. I owe people money.
Thanks a lot to Better Books, Alisha and obviously Khayaal for this opportunity!
Go, read the book. It'll blow your mind. Highly recommended.
