About The Author: 23 Authors of the Writers Collective, Bengaluru
The Writers Collective is a diverse crew of experienced, award-winning authors and newly minted writers. The Collective’s roster features colourful entries across age groups. A Yoda-like writing guru. A schoolteacher who belts out cool rap lyrics. Doctors masquerading as writers, and vice versa. There are a considerable number of aviation enthusiasts, including some who can actually fly. A spiritual guru with an iron fist A writer who prefers to sing.
The Writers Collective counts as its own a Sahitya Akademi award winner, a Best Debut Novel award winner, and published authors of spy thrillers, self-help books, geo-political commentaries, and hi-tech thrillers.
Summary Of The Book: Relationship Ragas is an anthology of 23 short stories that explore relationships of every possible kind.
1.Can you tell us a little about your book?
Relationship Ragas is an anthology of short stories that portray a spectrum of unique situations. Like white light, the stories burst through creative prisms and paint spectacular pictures, textured by a range of emotions. The idea-to-book process was self-driven and one of a kind, with workshops and extensive peer reviews to elevate the stories of fellow writers. The experience was uplifting in more ways than one. The result is Relationship Ragas, an eclectic medley of bonds, friendships, and the attendant pangs of separation. Of anguish, healing, and spiritual journeys. Humour in unlikely settings and situations Social justice and deadly revenge Fanciful flights to the future Painful remembrances. Life’s choices regretted and new beginnings. Told in twenty-three voices, unfettered by customary norms, Relationship Ragas is as fresh as it gets.
2. Is there a specific event that inspired this story or was this an out of the blue idea?
The Writers Collective came together to encourage writers, hone writing skills and provide honest feedback. The snippets of writing that emerged over a few months, got us thinking about coming out with an anthology of short stories.
3. What got you writing in the first place?
Writing is intensely personal, with writers usually closeted in their spaces for quietude. While this works for some, the writers of this anthology found inspiration in a congenial crowd.
4. What was your impression of your first draft when you read it?
The stories were unique, and each had a voice of its own which needed to be heard.
5. Which part of your story connects the most with you? Why?
Each story has an “aha” moment which stems from a life lesson or a life experience that comes from deep within.
6. What makes your book the one to read?
Every story will resonate with the reader. The diverse locales and situations are exciting and ring true.
7. What was the best advice you got while writing?
Listen to your readers. Their perception is the reality. We were fortunate to have 22 authors who read and critiqued our stories before publication.
8. Who’s your all-time favourite author? Which book of his/hers made you fall in love with them?
Indian authors whose writings have become classics, from R K Narayan’s Swami and Friends to Amitav Ghosh’s The Glass Palace,
9. What is your evergreen tip to the writers out there?
Come together with other authors. They will nurture and inspire your writing.
10. What was your hardest scene to write?
The stories with deep psychological distress would be the most difficult to write.
11. Do you have another plot brewing?
We have had so much bonding and learning with this book that it has become almost addictive. Anthology 2 is our next fix!
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.in/dp/935776433X?ref=myi_title_dp
