Summary Of The Book: Do you wish you could turn back time and be young again, fall in love and do the things you always wanted to do? It can be arranged – just speak to the A.E.C. But as with any negotiation, there’s some give and take. So read the contract carefully before you sign your life away.
1. Can you tell us a little about your book?
It’s a supernatural love story with Indian mystical undertones; it’s about the eternal search for happiness in our everyday lives and the mistaken belief that it can be achieved by focusing on the external rather than through self-discovery, contentment and through love.The story has a fantasy component to it via the protagonist’s desire to rectify the mistakes in his life by desiring to turn back time and be young again to re-live his life a second time around with the benefit of hindsight.This fantasy of the protagonist is made possible by the mysterious character “The AEC,” who appears to have supernatural powers and can grant wishes for a price. The protagonist has to decide whether the price is worth paying and must read the contract before he signs his life away. Although the book is about mystery and the supernatural, it has strong elements of everyday values like gratitude, sacrifice, realising priorities in life, enjoying what you have, the simple joys of life, and above all, the meaning of love.
2. Is there a specific event that inspired this story or was this an out of the blue idea?
I think growing older makes you want to look back on your life, assess your past achievements and failures, and wish that you could have done things differently. Focussing on this subject introduced the idea of the book.
3. What got you writing in the first place?
As a child, my mom used to read us stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which fired my imagination and took me towards the field of acting and writing. In school, I used to love reading and reciting poetry to the class, and later on in college, I became involved in theatre. So reading and writing scripts for plays and monologues was a natural progression, leading to the writing of poetry, short screenplays, and stories.
4. What was your impression of your first draft when you read it?
It seemed too short and ended abruptly, so I re-visited the story and added the final ending.
5. Which part of your story connects the most with you? Why?
The ending reinforces my belief that the simple joys of life are the most precious.
6. What makes your book the one to read?
It is an easy-to-read short story, simple in language but exciting at the same time, with elements of fantasy and the supernatural combined with everyday human desires and emotions.
7. What was the best advice you got while writing?
Be original.
8. Who’s your all-time favourite author? Which book of his/hers made you fall in love with them?
There are so many authors, too many to mention, but I like Khalil Gibran, who had the knack of conveying such deep philosophical concepts in simple words, rather like Mirza Ghalib. I am currently reading a book by a UK-based South African writer, Mr. Tim Harkness, about 10 Rules for Talking. It is a brilliant book about having difficult conversations in everyday situations. I am also a fan of Dr. Vandana Shiva, who has written several insightful books.
9. What is your evergreen tip to the writers out there?
Read a lot and do your research; choose a subject that you will enjoy writing about, and let your unconscious guide you.
10. What was your hardest scene to write?
The final scene in the book.
11. Do you have another plot brewing?
I have just published a book of short poems with the title “A Bit About Life.” I have an idea for a thriller in my mind; it is about financial fraud.
Amazon Link : https://www.amazon.in/dp/9357764372?ref=myi_title_dp
