About The Author: Pragati Deshmukh is a seasoned media professional with almost 20 years of experience in creating content for film, TV, and OTT. Her passion for storytelling, coupled with the lockdown, drove her to write her first novel, A Dark and Shiny Place. Coming from an Army household, she loves to travel and has an easily adaptable personality. She loves animals. She’s an incurable optimist and always believes there is a solution to every problem. She continues to make successful and unique web shows and will soon venture back into films. She believes that the medium is not important; the key is to tell a great story.
Summary Of The Book: A Dark and Shiny Place is the first-person narrative of Maya, who explains her supernatural experiences of being trapped alone in her home through the lockdown. Midway through the book, the narrative switches to her sister Meera, who lives in another country, and as readers, we begin to wonder if Maya is truly experiencing the supernatural or if it is all in her mind. It’s told in a thrilling way, making it a compelling read. Until the climax, where it is revealed what actually happened to Maya and the reason for her experiences, The two-person narrative is used to show that the supernatural and the psychological could be two sides of the same coin. It depends on what we choose to believe and how we reach out for help. The book explores underlying situations related to mental health. But the bottom line is that all we need to do is reach out. Ask for help or ask others if they need help. Let’s talk is the final takeaway.
- Can you tell us a little about your book?
A Dark and Shiny Place is a fictional tale inspired by true events. It is to try and make people understand what it may feel like for someone experiencing these phenomena. It’s a glimpse into the complex human mind and the emotions attached to it. It’s told as a supernaturally thrilling story, but the subtext is psychological disorders. The end is a positive one and is meant to inspire people to reach out for help if they identify with any situations described in the book—for themselves or someone they know.
2. Is there a specific event that inspired this story or was this an out of the blue idea?
The commonalities between the supernatural and psychological symptoms greatly intrigued me. I always wanted to explore that. The pandemic and lockdown gave me the perfect timing and setup. A lot of conversations with loved ones, people they knew, and strangers on the internet led me to weave this plot. The human mind has always fascinated me, and all these ingredients coming together at the right time were a recipe presented to me by the universe as a gift. I couldn’t have asked for more.
3. What got you writing in the first place?
I always had a passion for writing. I wrote my first school article at the age of 8. I started writing my first book at 13; it’s still unfinished, but it’s there. My profession gave me the constant opportunity to create stories and write them. I’ve always believed that the medium doesn’t matter; you can tell a great story in any form. But this story needed to be a book first. Because it is meant to be experienced by an individual reader.
4. What was your impression of your first draft when you read it?
I was thrilled that I had finished it. But I am still wanting to edit it, even after the fourth draught, which is the final published manuscript! Like they say at Pixar, great scripts are not finished; they are abandoned. I understand it now.
5. Which part of your story connects the most with you? Why?
The connection between the sisters We are three sisters, and our bond is extremely strong. We live in different cities and even countries, but when one is hurting, the other just knows.
6. What makes your book the one to read?
It’s a fast and compelling read. It’s a thrilling read because of the supernatural narrative but also emotional because of the first-person narrative. The characters are extremely relatable. Each person will either connect as themselves or someone they know, and that gets you attached to Maya and Meera quickly enough that you want to read their story.
7. What was the best advice you got while writing?
Don’t worry about the outcome or who will like it. Just write what you feel is right. Tell the story you want to tell. Finish it first.
8. Who’s your all-time favourite author? Which book of his/hers made you fall in love with them?
Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Harry Mulisch, Richard Bach, and Robin Cook are some of my favourite authors. I grew up on books like Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton. Some of my favourites would be The Discovery of Heaven, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, All Agatha Christie, and One by Richard Bach.
9. What is your evergreen tip to the writers out there?
What was told to me was: don’t worry about the outcome; just tell the story you want to tell and finish it first. That’s the key.
10. What was your hardest scene to write?
The climax. It had to tie up all the loose ends yet be satisfying while keeping the pace and tension.
11. Do you have another plot brewing?
Yes!! 2 more in the pipeline. Both are very different from this one.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9395563818?ref=myi_title_dp
