- Could you share your journey into the world of writing, particularly your transition from travelogues to short stories, and what inspired you to compile your stories into a book format?
Travelogues, both in Marathi and English, served as my inspiration when I first started writing. They appeared in periodicals, newspapers, etc. I began writing short stories in Marathi a few years ago. A portion of those were printed in Bangalore and Pune Marathi periodicals. A few stories from “Short Story Competitions” won prizes. It gave me hope. But given that magazines only last a month, I soon understood that readers would not be able to access these pieces. Therefore, it would be a fantastic idea to compile all of those stories into a book that readers may access in the future.
- How do you balance incorporating real-life characters and experiences into your fiction while maintaining the authenticity of your stories?
I write in plain words when I tell stories. Certain characters are purely fictional, while others are based on real people I met in my day-to-day life, as well as people I met while working as a consulting architect, being an active member of a social organization, and traveling extensively in India and other countries. Likewise, this holds true for the story’s settings, moments in time, and incidents.
- Your stories cover a range of topics from light-hearted themes to more serious social issues. Can you elaborate on how you approach tackling these different subjects within your writing?
A handful of the stories in the book are humorous, but the majority deal with heavier subjects that make life hard, like misunderstandings, social issues, connections with others, blind faith, etc. Readers will gain from the story if they understand the underlying lesson I’m trying to get over, and I’ll be pleased that the piece accomplished its goal.
- What challenges did you face in conveying visual imagery through words alone, especially in today’s visually-driven storytelling landscape, and how did you overcome them?
The bulk of the stories in the book deal with difficult and weightier topics, such as blind faith, social difficulties, relationships with others, and misunderstandings. A small number of the stories are amusing. If readers grasp the underlying lesson I’m attempting to convey, they will benefit from the story, and I’ll be happy that the article achieved its objective.
- Can you discuss the process of publishing your book “Periwinkle” in Marathi and the role of Write Order / Indie Press in bringing your vision to life?
In closing, I would want to express my gratitude to Write Order / Indie Press for their assistance and support, and how glad I was to have this book, “Periwinkle,” published in Marathi.
- How do you feel about the reception of “Periwinkle” among readers, particularly the positive reviews you’ve received, and what does that mean for you as an author?
Additionally, my readers have left me with positive evaluations, which has made the effort worthwhile. Thank you
