AUTHOR’S BIO:
Pradeep Govind is an NRI media marketing professional currently working in the Sultanate of Oman. He was the Project Director of the prestigious Times of Oman Literary Contest, a first of its kind literary project in the Middle East initiated and blueprinted by him with a view to offer emerging creative writers a platform to express themselves and benchmark their creative writing talent with the best in the region. His first book titled The ‘Capillary’ Effect & Other Short Stories was published on Amazon in 2013. One of the stories in the book titled ‘Unto Thy Neighbour’ was awarded an Honourable Mention for Literary Excellence in the Top 25 out of 1114 entries in the International Short Story Contest conducted by noted writer Lorian Hemmingway, the granddaughter of the legendary Ernest Hemmingway. Pradeep is also an enthusiastic lyricist and musician and has released his own English music album on the HMV label in 1995 where he not only penned the lyrics, but composed the songs and performed the vocals as well. He also scripted the music video for one of the songs in it titled ‘It Could’ve Been Me’. He also does guest columns and articles for the Times of Oman - Oman’s leading English newspaper publication.
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
I had a flair for expressing myself effectively in words from a very young age. But I never realized that it had the potential to help me beyond essay writing in school and so I never took it up seriously. Of course I used to dabble with song writing and marketing taglines occasionally. One day, I was coming out of a temple when I saw a beggar outside. He seemed to be reasonably healthy and I wondered why he couldn’t work instead of begging outside temples. Then in a flash, a thought struck me that what he did outside the temple was exactly what I did inside the temple – “beg”. The only difference was that I was begging to the Gods I saw in those stones while he begged to the God he saw in me. That’s when I realized for the first time the folly in being judgemental. This inspired me to write my first short story titled “The Better Beggar”. Once I started to write, somehow the ideas kept coming and I ended up writing a book of short stories titled “The Capillary Effect & Other Short Stories” which I subsequently got published on Amazon kindle. The central theme of all the stories in the book was to not rush into conclusions, overlooking the fact that there could always be a truth hidden beyond the curtains of your mind. That was pretty much the same thinking that inspired my second book “I, Duryodhana...” that’s now out in the market. It is a narration of the incidents of Mahabharata narrated from Duryodhana’s angle.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
Every author will tell you that at some time or the other, he’s encountered the writer’s block. This happened to me as well. The first three chapters of my new book I, Duryodhana...were written in 2003. And then I encountered a huge block. I just didn’t know how to proceed for the next 14 years although the thoughts and ideas were percolating in my mind. I used this time to do more research on the subject. And finally when I resumed writing in 2016, the next 57 chapters were written in just 40 days. As for the getting it published, I had learnt from my experience with my first book that it’s not easy to grab a publisher’s interest unless you are either someone well known or well connected...especially when you are living outside the country.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS ?
Luckily for me, a good friend of mine M.S. Neelakantan referred me to Suhail and The Book Bakers as a literary agency.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS ?
Luckily for me, a good friend of mine M.S. Neelakantan referred me to Suhail and The Book Bakers as a literary agency.
4.How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them ?
I have a great working relationship with Suhail, although I've never met him personally. He had a lot of faith in my book and assured me that he was confident of getting me a good publishing deal. He kept his word and as a matter of fact was able to get offers from multiple publishers. I told him that I would completely leave the choice of the publisher to his discreation as I'm clueless about the industry. We finally signed up with Om Books International. Over the last couple of years, I think The Book Bakers have been doing a fantastic job in unearthing creative writing talent in India. The agency is a fantastic initiative and I wish it continues in this great work and make a significant contribution to the literary world in India.
5. How do you see literary success for yourself?
I don’t see myself as a professional writer. I am more of an inspired writer and for me to bring out something, I need a thought, an idea or an incident to trigger me. As a writer, if I am able to express myself and convey my thoughts through my words effectively and make an impact on the reader, that is literary success to me. This would not have been my answer a few years back. But over the years, I’ve realized that success is all about doing what you like and feeling good about it.
6. When can we expect your next book?
Its a creative thing...and like I said, I am an inspired writer and one never knows when inspiration could strike. Could be tomorrow, next year or perhaps never.
7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
In all modesty, I haven’t become that big enough to offer advise. However, I could share a few things that worked for me:Keeping an open, empathetic and receptive mind.
Observation skills. Always asking “Why?” and “Why not?”
Clarity in knowing what you want to convey through your writing.
A pinch of sense of humour.
BOOK NAME: I, DURYODHANA...
PUBLISHER : OM BOOKS INTERNATIONAL
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:
Awaiting emancipation through the embrace of death, Duryodhana, the fallen Kaurava prince reminisces about the past as he narrates his version of the incidents that unfolded in his life, starting from his birth as a lump of flesh. Truth is fragile and often vulnerable to distortion as history tends to favour the victors. This saga of pride, loyalty and heroism interlaced with deceit, hypocrisy, and betrayal, leaves the reader with that one vital question, ‘who is to blame?’.
Very nice interview. Pradeep Govind comes across as grounded, inspired and as a dreamengineer...
ReplyDeleteAn excellent interview. Contains a lot for aspiring writers.
ReplyDeleteHonest and down to earth. I like it.
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ReplyDelete"To not rush into conclusions, overlooking the fact that there could always be a truth hidden beyond the curtains of your mind." Brilliantly said.
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