Q.1 Tell us a little about yourself?
A. I am 74 years old. Born and
brought up in a remote village in Kerala where I had all my schooling in
Malayalam medium. I did my M. Sc (Physics) from Gujarat University, and MBA from
IIM Ahmedabad. I also studied philosophy, religion, and literature. Worked in five
different companies in the area of HR and Training. Now I spend my time reading, writing, and counseling.
Q.2 Are we going to read more from you
shortly? Any new project you’re working on?
A. I write an article on
socio-religious topics once every 2-3 months and mail it to friends. I plan to
publish these articles in book form sometime in the future.
Q.3 Where do you get your ideas?
A. From everyday experiences,
interactions with others, news items, books.
Q.4 What advice do you have for
writers?
A. Write only if you are passionately
committed to the idea you are writing about.
Q.5 How do you select the title of
your books?
A. The title is based on the subject
matter of the book; I also try to make the title appealing.
Q.6 If you could tell your younger
writing self-anything, what would it be?
A. In general, read on a wide variety
of subjects. Read as much as you can on the subject you plan to write about. Write,
re-write and be at it till you are satisfied. Don’t be in a rush to send it for
publication. Let the idea churn in your mind for days.
Q.7 What are the most important
magazines or websites for writers to subscribe to?
A. Books on the subject are an
important resource. Google and Wikipedia are good sources.
Q.8 What do you hope your readers
take away from this book?
A. Great achievements come from hard work, not only from in-born qualities.
Q.9 How many books have you written?
Which one is your favorite?
A. I have written four books so far.
If I have to choose my favorite, it would be my third book Beyond Gods and Scriptures - Religion Can Unite Humanity and Not Divide Us.
Q.10 Describe your writing style.
A. I try to write in an informal
style using simple language. I also try to spice up even a serious subject with
some humor.
Q.11 Does your family support your career as a writer?
A. Totally.
Q.12 Do you believe in writer’s block?
A. I have not experienced it so far.
Q.13 Does writing energize you or
exhaust you?
A. It energizes me very much. I feel
exhilarated after writing.
Q.14 Do you have any unique and quirky
writing habits?
A. I first put down ideas, expand the ideas and then edit. I prefer to write for long periods.
Q.15 What do you consider to be your
best accomplishment?
A. My third book and the present
book.
Q.16 What is the most unethical
practice in the publishing industry?
A. I am not aware of any unethical practices. I wish, though, that publishers would respond faster, positively or
negatively, after they receive a manuscript, and not keep aspiring authors in
limbo.
Q.17 Who edited your book and how did
you select him/her?
A. I edited the book myself.
Q.18 Which famous person, living or
dead would you like to meet and why?
A. Richard Feynman. Great as he was,
he never seemed to have taken himself too seriously. He also had a great sense
of humor.
Q.19 What is your favorite book and
why?
A. I have no favorite book. I read
everything - philosophy, physics, fiction, humor, and I learn something from
every author.
Q.20 Share the experience of your
journey so far?
A. I come from a poor family, my
parents were illiterate farm laborers. My journey from there to here has been
full of opportunities. I had opportunities that many may not have had. I do
not consider myself especially gifted. The only thing I did was to seize those
opportunities.
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