Chatting on Arti’s blog Metro Reader:

From being a creative director to managing corporate communications and then moving on to become an author, you seem to have managed many professions. How did this transformation into an author happen? A talent for communication, a thirst for challenges, a penchant for creativity―these underlie my journey across various professions. After years of writing to a brief to satisfy clients and win over customers, I grew weary of this. I wanted to do something just for myself, to see how far an unfettered imagination could take me. And I’ve now travelled down several delightful paths, resulting in books in three different genres: a crime thriller, an epic fantasy and a romcom!

How do you manage to take out time to write? Now that I’m a full-time author, I have no excuse for not writing! But I must confess that it’s a lonely mission that overwhelms you sometimes and requires huge amounts of self-discipline and hard work before you can complete it. But everything is forgotten when your first reader tells you, ‘I loved it!’ and starts listing what they like about it!

Your first book is a thriller and your second one is a mythology. Which was more difficult to write?
The cerebral element in a thriller is high as you are required to focus on the plot, on clues, on motives and characterization. It’s almost a scientific exercise, with microscopic attention paid to the smallest detail. A myth of course is painted on a larger, more majestic canvas and requires you to blend mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions into an entertaining, engaging narrative. Extensive research, authentic settings, appropriate language, an inspiring message―a myth calls for all this and is hence much more challenging to write.

From both your books, who is your favourite character? Which of the two books is closer to your heart? Strangely enough, both my heroes are named Vir Pradyumna, something I had not planned. It’s difficult to choose my favourite, for it’s like asking a mother which of her children she prefers. Vir in ‘The Madras Mangler’ comes to you fully-evolved; he’s a hot, handsome, genius detective and is more than equal to bringing down the villain against all odds.

However, Krishna’s son Pradyumna starts off as a pampered prince and has to struggle to evolve into a warrior and to take up his mantle as the son of god. My heart belongs to him, for he is the underdog and must grapple with difficult circumstances just as we must to succeed in our own lives.

How much say did you have while designing the covers? I have always worked with art directors in my advertising career and was able to give the cover designer a briefing note setting out the physical and emotional cues, prominent visual motifs from the book and references of book covers whose style I liked. The designers were excellent and came up with mind-blowing covers that everyone loves!

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? You know what they say―If you get bogged down, just kill somebody! When I was writing ‘The Madras Mangler’, I got stuck wondering what to do with the five feisty girls I had created. Finally, I brought in a serial killer and ended up rewriting all the chapters as the tone and setting were totally transformed! But seriously, if you are unable to go forward on a planned path, maybe it’s because your characters have come to life and want to have their say. Be thankful that they have become flesh and blood and go with the flow. You will end up with a more fascinating story than the one you had imagined when you started.

What kinds of books do you read? Who is your favourite author and what is your favourite genre? Has any author influenced your writing? I read thrillers, mythology, fantasy, romantic comedies―almost all kinds of fiction, except horror. I like books that are fast-paced with authentic characters and lots of humour. In the classics, I like Shakespeare’s comedies for their witty characters and repartee, Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde for their freshness and humour, Ayn Rand for her innovative thoughts and conviction, and from the moderns David Baldacci, Lee Child and many of the popular authors. I don’t have a favourite genre for it keeps changing, as does my favourite author!

Which book are you currently reading? ‘Make Me’, the latest by Lee Child, is next on my reading list. The setting is a tiny town called Mother’s Rest. The hero is the almost mythical Reacher who teams up with Michelle Chang to fight against thugs and assassins. And here’s his motto, which gives the book its title: If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to make me.

Intriguing, arresting, fascinating―the adjectives just keep coming when it’s a Lee Child book. I must schedule some ‘me time’ to read this book, for once I start, it’s going to be a non-stop ride to the finishing line!

What is the next project that you are working on? When is the next book scheduled for release?
The next book will reach bookstores at the end of September and is already on Amazon, Flipkart and other sites for pre-order. It’s a romcom published by Harlequin-HarperCollins titled ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs.’ It’s a fizzy tale set in the glamorous world of media, chock-full of fun, friendship, romance, office politics and power games. It’s everything you experience when you embark on a corporate career. ‘Delightful characters that leap out of the page and a story that’s quirky and true to life,’ says popular novelist Madhuri Banerjee about this book.

The project I am currently working on is the thrilling sequel to ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’ where our hunky hero continues his quest to save the world. Get ready for encounters with Vishnu’s chakra and Shiva’s trident, journeys to Yamaloka and Vaikunta, and battles with demons and snakes!

Any word of wisdom for aspiring authors? You need passion, pluck and perseverance in enormous quantities. Remember that your quest to be a published author can be exhausting, but the rewards are totally exhilarating!

Thank you once again for sharing your thoughts with your readers.