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Interview with Aarish Nandedkar



Q.1 Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?
A. First of all, thanks a lot Books Charming for featuring me on this wonderful platform. It is indeed a great honor for me.

Well, most people know me as a novelist. But I am also an ad-man. I have worked for almost 15 years in the exciting field of advertising as a writer. Currently, I am a writer and Creative Director in a digital advertising agency.

Q.2 How many unpublished and half-finished book do you have?
A. There is one half-finished book on my writing table right now. It is my second novel, and I expect it to complete it by December. Fingers crossed for it!

Q.3 Where do you get your ideas?
A. My ideas are from our day-to-day life. Sometimes people, sometimes random events, conversations or even small moments, can trigger a chain of thoughts which lead to a beautiful story. You just have to be observant and sensitive for ideas to choose you.

Q.4 What advice do you have for writers?
A. My advice is very simple. Do not be in a hurry to publish your work. Polish it, nourish it, spend time with it, take it to its highest level and then present it to the world. Let it be something that makes you proud even after many years.

Q.5 Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
A. It is a very good question, and I think every writer faces this dilemma sometimes or the other. I believe, you should write what you really care about, feel passionate about, and only then you can come up with something that will connect with people’s hearts. So, I am all for originality here.

Q.6 If you could tell your younger writing self-anything, what would it be?
A. Read more. Read varied. Read regularly.

Q.7 What are the most important magazines or websites for writers to subscribe to?
A. No particular magazine or website in my list but I religiously read interviews of the top authors- Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, John Greene, Jhumpa Lahiri, Khaled Hosseini, etc. I try to understand their thought-processes and writing ethics through their interviews. There is so much to learn from each of them.

Q.8 What is the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. I think the way a man or a woman reacts to any given situation is very different. Women are more sensitive, intense, patient, and strong. Getting the finer nuances perfectly right is a challenge when it comes to writing characters of the opposite sex.

Q.9 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. A lot of research goes into selecting the names. I try that the names of my characters truly reflect their personalities. For instance, the female lead of For the Smile of Your Eyes was christened April. Now the name did justice to her character which was a mix of softness and aggressiveness. If you see, the month of April is pretty much like this – comprising of sweltering heat as well as dashes of refreshing showers. I feel very happy that readers could connect with this name and appreciated it a lot.

Q.10 Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
A. Yes, I read all the reviews. The good ones, with thankfulness, and the bad ones, with objectivity. While the good ones give you motivation, the bad ones provide insights into your weak zones.

Q.11 Does your family support your career as a writer?
A. It is a blessing to have a very supportive family. My parents, my wife, and my daughter are my pillars of strength, generously lending me time and space to fulfill my author-dream.

Q.12 What do your fans mean to you?
A. More than what I can put here in words. My readers, my fans, mean the world to me. Giving them some moments of joy, touching their hearts, making them smile, feel good about life, this is what I write for. I feel fortunate that I have been able to build a strong reader-base in a short span of time. All my readers are very supportive of my work, always encouraging and inspiring me.

Q.13 How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
A. For the Smile of Your Eyes is my first book and hence the most special.
I am in the process of penning my second book which will be out in a few months. It narrates the journey of an introvert girl who discovers her true self amidst life-threatening difficulties.
One more work which I am very proud of is translating the book ‘Sunshine Lanes’ written by the famous Bollywood lyricist Mr. Prasoon Joshi. The translated book ‘Dhoop Ke Sikkey’ has been published by Rupa Publications.

Q.14 Do you have any unique and quirky writing habits?
A. I prefer writing at night. That is the time when my creative juices flow the best.

Q.15 What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?
A. Having my family members buy my book and ask for a signature on it, I think this is my most special achievement.

Q.16 What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
A. Thankfully, I have not come across it, so cannot really comment on it.

Q.17 Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?
A. Mr. Rohit Sharma has edited my book. Rohit is a friend and an accomplished writer himself with 3 books to his name, the latest being The Love of My Life. His name was suggested by my publisher Mr. Binay Dutta of Brosis Publishers and Distributors. 
I must say, the publisher and editor were very helpful and encouraging throughout. Their support has helped me a great deal in my writing- journey.

Q.18 Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
A. There are many on the list but I would like to meet J.K. Rowling. Her creativity just amazes me. She has created a different world altogether in her books. Besides, I find her journey as an author, her humility and grace very inspiring.

Q.19 What is your favorite book and why?
A. It has to be Mrityunjay by Shri Shivaji Sawant. The character of Karna in Mahabharata has always fascinated me. The book brings out his struggles and his life-journey in an interesting manner. Geetanjali by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore is also an eternal inspiration. I also revere Nida Fazli's work. His writing is a great way to learn about life.  

Q.20 How can readers discover more about you and your work?
A. Readers can connect with me on Instagram -@authoraarish where I am most active. They can also get in touch with me via e-mail – authoraarish@gmail.com.
It would be an honor to welcome them all to my reader family.











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