1.  When did u find yourself lost in the world of words?

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I have never really written for a purpose – it is just something I love to do. In my early childhood, I would spend hours writing, as well as making illustrations for my own stories. A number of my poems were published in children’s magazines back in the day. I continued to write through my teenage and later in college.

I kept writing in office magazines for a couple of years, but the demands of my career as an Information Technology professional and my travels across the world soon left me with very little time and creative energy to write fiction.

However, as I travelled across the world, I grew as a person getting to observe people from widely varying cultural backgrounds and to study their emotions, their thoughts, their behaviour from various perspectives. And stories began to grow all over again.

I started publishing my work with the popular e-books Nargis Through my Summers and Loves Lost. My short stories in various genres were also published in international e-magazines like Romance, Under the Bed and eFiction.

In the Shadows of Death is my debut novel. A psychological thriller, set in the city of Kolkata, the story is a whodunit with an emotional core, published by Srishti Publishers and Distributors. My e-books are now available in paperback as Romance Shorts.

2. Do you believe that self-experience is important to keep your pen flowing? What motivates you to write and just keep writing?

I will answer this question with reference to my novel In the Shadows of Death.

 The story explores the dark recesses of the human mind and the stark realities of urban life in contemporary India. The depiction of unpredictability of human behaviour, and the complexity of human relationships in the novel has roots in my keen interest in psychology.     

My characters are not all black and white, and I am never judgmental. I offer reasons for their actions, which primarily have their roots in past experiences. The insecurities and vulnerabilities my characters suffer from, and the inner devils they battle are all very real – some I have experienced myself, some I have been witness to.

The setting also reflects my own experiences in the corporate world, thanks to my association with the industry for almost two decades.

3.What is writing for you? 

 Writing is a passion that actually allows me to unwind. Sometimes, stories have grown from thoughts I have penned down in airport lounges or on long flights during my business travels. I believe if you are really passionate about something, you end up finding time for chasing your dreams.

Writing is also at times a cathartic experience for me. It helps me give vent to my emotions and to create stories out of them in the process.

4. What are your views about Feminism? 

Women have always formed the backbone of my storytelling.

In my view, Feminism needs to be perceived in the wider context of Humanism. At the end of the day, it is all about ensuring equality and fairness of all individuals, irrespective of gender, language, nationality and other divisive considerations.

I will take my novel In the Shadows of Death as an example.

While there are female characters in the story who make certain personal relationship choices and the resulting indiscretions often lead to their eventual doom, such instances are balanced in the novel by situations where the failure of a relationship is attributed to the man denying his woman the bliss of motherhood or, routinely ignoring her emotional and physical needs or, choosing to pursue his professional and materialistic ambitions at the cost of the relationship or, being unduly suspicious and insecure.

I try not to be judgemental, and for every character, there is a sub plot delving into the circumstances that cause that character to behave in a certain way. This, in fact, has been hailed as one of the strengths of the book. As Ms. Abhinaya Harigovind says in The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/murder-mystery-and-urban-life/article8078673.ece) “his characters are not all black and white, and he is not quick to judge actions such as adultery as being sinful. Rather, he examines the several alternate reasons for their actions.”

5. How important it is for a writer to be a good reader? 

It is extremely important for a writer to be a good reader.

In my view, reading the works of the masters is a learning experience. It allows a writer to develop a world view and a perspective of how human beings think and behave under various circumstances – circumstances we ourselves may not have experienced in our personal lives. Reading enriches our own thinking and enhances our ability to express ourselves more effectively. It shows us how our emotions and our feelings can be structured to form a story that appeals to our readers.

6. Most memorable life event...

 Holding my son in my arms for the first time was a memorable moment.

7.What is social media for you? How do you see social media? 

For me, the social media is an extremely powerful platform that is essentially breaking down barriers. It brings an author closer to her readers, an actor closer to her fans, our leaders closer to the people who elect them. This has allowed an unrestricted flow of thoughts, of opinions, of feedback and has helped develop a camaraderie among different sections of the society that was unheard of till a few years back. This has also emerged as a powerful medium of communication and collaboration with huge benefits for the enterprise and the individual.

Having said that, it is up to us to ensure we use the reach of social media to our advantage and avoid the obvious pitfalls. We need to be more restrained in our usage of social media. Nothing is private any more. It is important to protect our impressionable children from some of its adverse effects.

Also, people hardly talk about their failures on social media. Facebook posts, for example, are always about that great job, the lavish dinner, the wonderful partner, the expensive vacation, the wonderful gifts and so on. In the process, we are getting into a situation where we get to see a ‘doctored reality’ of people’s lives. And subconsciously we end up comparing our own lives with this edited reality of others, getting depressed and frustrated in the process. 

8. What would you like to convey to the young literature enthusiasts?

I tell all aspiring writers that it is important to create real, identifiable characters in a story. Correct use of the language is essential. An author should ensure that a story progresses at a uniform pace – a story that slows down after an energetic start is a big let down for me. Finally, it is not about the length but always about the impact of a story. I have read 1-page stories that have left me thinking for days.

[Sourabh Mukherjee is author of the book "In the Shadows of Death", Romance Shorts and e-books Nargis Through My Summers, Loves Lost]