Author Interview : Pushpendra Mehta, author of 'The Suitable Inheritor'

Pushpendra Mehta

Read up, the the Interview with Pushpendra Mehta, author of 'The Suitable Inheritor'. If we give this book its due, we would understand what it is that I meant by calling it a lyrical book. This work was a piece of emotional literature. 

This interview consists of how the book actually happened, how Andrew's characterisation came about, how the love angles came into the picture, how the the social, spiritual and economic backgrounds affected his writing, who his favourite authors are, and much, much more, Folks... 

How did ‘The Suitable Inheritor’ happen? Could you describe the journey?

While in Peru, my colleagues and I visited Larcomar, a unique shopping and entertainment centre that is located at the top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I fell in love with the breath-taking view of the Pacific Ocean. It was here that a few colleagues suggested I write a novel that featured Larcomar and Lima. The seeds of my novel, “The Suitable Inheritor” were sown in Larcomar.

After writing two non-fiction books, I decided to make the leap to writing fiction. I wrote the novel with my heart, soul, and mind completely immersed into it. I wrote with all the sincerity and honesty at my command to share a meaningful story with readers. The intensive journey involved long hours of writing, editing, and rewriting. 

How did the main character, Andrew Smith come about? How much of you, was in there?

'The Suitable Inheritor' and Andrew’s character emanates from my experiences and conversations. As a storyteller, I started with myself because the characters in my novel are all part of me, and observations of the world around me. 

As a writer, I have learnt to reveal emotional truths inside of me, while projecting the readers’ emotions into my characters to liven up the chapters.

How did the love angles come into the picture and why?

I feel blessed and fortunate to have been befriended by smart, wise, and extraordinary women that helped me grow as a person and enriched my written voice. I believe true love (not love) is the most powerful human emotion. 

It is a fabric of emotions woven with adoration, adaptability, support, companionship, care, conversation, commitment, understanding, generosity, sacrifice, respect, freedom, and trust. But most people do not see true love as an amalgam of the aforesaid emotions. 

This possibly explains why true love is hard to find and sustain. So I created an unusual story of true love and profound relationships that will hopefully, enable readers to rediscover true love and fulfillment.  

What according to you is different about your book?

The Suitable Inheritor is a journey to the extraordinary – extraordinary love and success. I believe that extraordinary success and love have one thing in common. They both require support and sacrifice.  

The novel explores the difference between success and greatness by weaving an inspirational romantic story that spans Chicago and Peru with a strong India connect. 

Few writers may have taken this route. And to my utter surprise, I have been told by some readers that 'The Suitable Inheritor' should be adapted into a movie. 

What was the most challenging part about writing, ‘The Suitable Inheritor’?

The most challenging part was the placement of three different worlds (Chicago, Peru, and India) into the context of a single story. 

How did the social, spiritual and economic backgrounds affect your writing?

I am fortunate to have grown up in a family that adopted the best of Eastern and Western thought and culture. I am equally lucky to have experienced the richness of life that comes through interaction with the underprivileged and the privileged, the powerless and the powerful.  

Additionally, my spiritual guru helped me get in touch with my spiritual side and did so without recourse to any monetary commitment such as fee, gifts, donation, and publicity. 

Such is the altruistic and holistic dissemination of spirituality bestowed upon me that it acts as a tremendous source of inspiration when I write a book or an article.

Could you tell the readers about your experiences and how it was it related to what you wrote?

I have donned diverse roles - writer, marketer, consultant, and entrepreneur. The magnificence of varied experiences has enhanced my understanding of human behaviour, success, life, and relationships culminating into 'The Suitable Inheritor'. 

A quote from the novel sets the tone for exceptional success and happiness - 'Pursue your passion, work with your intuition, learn as a child, and adapt as water.'

Any advice to writers that would like to be published today? How tough is it to be published?

Start with the belief that you are unique and have a story nobody else has. Remember adept story telling will engage readers. Read vigorously. Write a page every day. Write about what you know or enjoy. 

Be prepared to write, edit and rewrite. Write to make a difference or to leave a legacy. And write without fear of failure or rejection.

Traditional publishing is getting very competitive, but if you have a compelling story it is worth pitching to them. Self-publishing is easier and a faster way to launch a book as long as it is followed by effective marketing and communications strategies. 

While engaging content, editing and rewriting, attractive book cover, and blurb are important attributes in the book publishing process, but without prudent marketing or publicity a book will be confined primarily for family 

and friends’ distribution.

What is the next book that you have planned?

I have a few ideas for my next book. Hopefully, will get started in 2017.

Which book are you currently reading?  

'The Geography of Genius' by Eric Weiner.

Paulo Coelho

Who are your favourite authors and why?

Mitch Albom

Paulo Coelho and Mitch Albom, are among my favourite authors. Their books provide the transformative joy of rereading and serve as a conduit to self-discovery. 

What else do you do on a daily basis?

I indulge in reading, playing tennis, engaging with my readers, honing my marketing skills, and staying active on social media.

You can  Read the Review, right here and Buy the Book, here too.

Book Review : 'The Purpose of you in this World is for Me' by Santosh Deshpande

It was an odd beginning for Maithri. She was in the USA, in a place called Oakhurst. She goes to a community college, with two of her friends, Angel and Shirley. But she is disturbed by something. She has a strange dream repeatedly. And she repeats it to her friend in the mornings. 

As she gets used to her new surroundings, she also comes across Anand Devaditya. He is a research student from San Diego, who is at Oakhurst, on a special mission and helps out the students here. 

He has very mysterious air about him, and the strangest thing about him is the weird attitude he seems to have taken towards Maithri. He seems to be really sweet and nice to her on day and on the odd day, a complete opposite.  Though Maithri seems to have taken a liking for him, she does not understand his behaviour.

Maithri goes for a jog in the mornings, and one day she notices her odd companion. Anand, who also jogs along with her, one day acts friendly and then acts completely to the contrary. So, through college and the mysterious jogs, strangely they become friends, probably due to the fact that she continuously dreams of him. And he will not leave her thought stream either. And the best thing is that he keeps on rescuing her from death over and over again.

Or maybe, a little like a supernatural being, Anand seems. How does he manage to rescue her repeatedly and how does she always manage to get stuck on to these strange phantasms? With no one to rescue her, or so it seems… but he always finds a way.

So, a death and a few accidents later, the book also romantically enough, has a night of dancing and a lot of mysteries to solve. He never bleeds, either! A few paranormal moments later, wherein nothing ever happens to this man, the story comes to a peculiar sort of an end.

So, read up this book and I hope you manage to figure it out. :) The book was good but it had its grammatical errors every now and then. And unfortunately, you cannot miss them.

Also, this book’s title, ‘The Purpose of you in this World is Me’ by Santosh Deshpande is a little too much for me to take. It sounds very long. But do give it a read, and make your own judgements.

Thoughts through Enid Blyton and me...!!

As I stretch my fingers to start typing, as I look into the distance at the new construction, I decide to go into my own world. Because this is not the sight I want to see, I have to block all vision but I hear a sound, whirr, whirr whireee… it would never end. I feel a headache coming on. Upset, I decide that it will not do. 

Enid Blyton

So, I shut my eyes. Then, I step into the world, Enid Blyton had created for me all those years ago. I open my eyes, to look at the green grass and hear the sea hitting at the rocks round it. I look in wonder. I almost hope to see George. I did look a little like her too. With short, curly hair and the need to jump all across the beach. 

Nowadays, I am reading up, all I can find about Enid Blyton. And it’s all not good. But, there is one thing I have loved and will always love about Enid Blyton. And that is George! 

If it wasn’t for her, I could never have done half the stuff I did, at that time.

George with Timmy

She gave new meaning to being a tomboy. Of course, George of the Famous Five considered herself, a boy and I didn’t. But hey, being a tomboy was so much fun. 

It meant chopping off my hair, and living in jeans and tees, it also it also meant climbing trees, every time, a branch higher… any chance I got. It also meant bugging my father to get me a cricket bat to play with all the boys, in the colony. It also meant a rabbit (of course she had the dog, Timmy), which I chased up and down my house. Later, it meant all those games, that I spent playing, in the breaks between classes. And moving on to sports in school too… and all the traveling I did, too!! Of course, there are times when she was stupid too, but who isn't?? :)

 

But there was a reason, and I give all credit to George or Georgina. Because, I learned so much more. And felt and did so much more. I wish I was half the tomboy, she was, even today!

That’s all. I don’t really care about what they thought and what their philosophies today, are. All I can say, George was something else, and she, alone taught me what no one else could have…

Author Interview : PG Van, author of 'Destiny Embraces... : A tale of two hearts and one soul (The Destiny Series Book 2)'

PG Van

Read up, PG Van’s Author of 'Destiny Embraces... : A tale of two hearts and one soul (The Destiny Series Book 2)’ Interview.

Here, she talks about what inspires her to keep writing, what her challenge was, what the kind of research was that went into this book, how she came up with the the concept of mixing history with technology and the love story blend and much more, Folks...

What inspires you to keep writing? 

Writing has become an important part of my routine, since I started writing about an year ago. Everything I see, everything I do in my day to day life inspires me to write. 

I have formed a story around something that I have experienced and built the story. Something, that I see as a social issue is part of my story and builds the character.

Writing is a stress buster and I feel revived even if I am able to write for fifteen minutes.

What about the twists and turns? How does the story reach a point when you feel the need for a twist?

The twists and turns are what I pull together, first as part of the bare bones and build up the story to the twist. 

I believe that any genre reader likes to be surprised, when the story ends up not being, what they predicted and I love to keep my readers guessing hoping I am not giving away too much of the twist too early on.

What is the greatest challenge in writing this book?

The greatest challenge with ‘The Pure Destiny Series’ is that I started with an outline of the story that needed to be broken down into multiple books.

Meeting the expectations of my readers while keeping them captivated was my biggest challenge with this book.

How much research did you do before writing this book? What was the kind of research that went into it?

Most of my research is done, while I am writing my story outline. It is very important that the story makes sense logically even if the characters maybe too ideal at times.

I do additional research, if I get to a point where I feel like I am not giving enough information to paint the full picture.

What motivated you to write ‘Destiny Embraces’?

It is a continuation of ‘Destiny Decides...’ and is part two of ‘The Pure Destiny Series’.

The original story would be a saga if it were all in one book so I had to break it up into multiple parts.

A blend of history with technology, a couple of love stories to top it all… how did you come up with the entire concept?

I love historical love stories and I wanted an element of that in my story and with the characters being part of the technology age; that blend happened naturally.

What about your next book? When is it expected? Can you give us a preview of it?

The Pure Destiny Series will have two more parts. One will be a historical love story and the other would be the continuation of solving the mystery and finding answers to Sameera’s questions.

You can Read the Review here, and Buy the Book here, too.