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Roopleen: Can you give us a quick rundown on what your new book ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ is all about?

Usha Narayanan: The book is set in the current scenario where people will do anything in order to get what they want from life -whether it is money, success or power. It sets you thinking on whether it is possible at all to find true love amidst office power play and politics. ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ is a heart-warming tale of life today that will appeal to anyone who wishes to find their soulmate.

R: Theme, plotting, characters, setting. How do you build the basic framework and go about spinning a story into a gripping, immersive, propulsive and a sure-fire page turner?

UN: I start my stories with characters who appeal to my imagination, for after all, I’m going to live with them for some 250 pages. Then I begin to add details to their character- their dreams, desires, fears and quirks. I join them on their life journey, sometimes ending up far from where I had thought my story was headed. At other times, my hero, heroine or villain needs a push forward. That’s when I need to step in and pump up the action. The right locations, snappy dialogue, humour, building the pace- all these and more have to be mixed in to garnish the final product. Then come the numerous revisions, pruning or adding necessary elements, checking the language, and making sure there are enough twists and turns to keep the reader engrossed.

R: Every writer has a unique writing voice. How is yours different from others?

UN: Some of the key elements are- perfectly nuanced language and lingo that befits each character’s age and background. An upbeat tone makes my book fun to read. And finally, a crackling plot that keeps you turning the pages late into the night.

R: You’ve had two bestsellers before- ‘The Madras Mangler’ and ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna.’ Your latest release is getting rave reviews and is on the road to becoming a bestseller. What is your secret tip of hitting the bestselling list each time?

UN: I write what I would like to read myself. I view each book as a fresh challenge and focus my energies and skills on making it as perfect as I can, for I owe it to my readers and to myself. I regard each creation as a tribute to the vibrant human spirit that I see around me every day. And I use readers’ feedback to fine tune my writing so that I can continue to improve.

R: Surprisingly all your books fall in different genres- one is a thriller, another mythology and yet another rom-com. How different are the writing styles within each genre and how do you switch between them? What’s the next genre that you intend to explore?

UN: Being a bookaholic, I read all genres and enjoy delving into the intricacies of each. However, as you point out, the tone and the style have to be carefully orchestrated. My thriller, ‘The Madras Mangler’ was an intellectual exercise. The language had to be lean and mean, in order to establish the mood of a city paralysed by fear of a serial killer. My second novel ‘Pradyumna’ needed a vast canvas and a more flamboyant style as well as a loftier tone. The tone of my latest book, ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ is more frothy and fun, portraying contemporary culture and the compulsions that motivate young people.

My next book will be the second part of ‘Pradyumna’, which is due around the middle of next year. As for what will be written after that, I can only say that I have a dozen ideas whizzing around in my head!

R: You had a successful career as a creative director. What made you change track and embark on a journey to become a full time writer?

UN: A creative person usually hates monotony and repetition. Even when I was working, I kept moving between various related fields- advertising, radio, corporate communications, media and e-publishing. Writing to suit the requirements of clients helped me hone my skills, but now, as a full-time author, I can write to please just one person- me!

The freedom I enjoy and the unalloyed pleasure of designing my own universe grew to be addictive and I gradually began to turn down assignments in order to focus completely on my novel. ‘The Madras Mangler’ received excellent reviews and then there was no turning back. ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’ features on several bestseller lists and I hope that my latest, ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ will help brand me as a writer of quality fiction.

R: How does your background in media help you while writing a book? Does it make you more inclined to write what you feel readers would like?

UN: As a creative director in an advertising agency, you have to be an expert in crafting your message so that consumers will try out the product or service that you are promoting. You need to be able to package the product- both literally and figuratively- so that it is attractive and pleasing to your target audience, whether it is a child, a youngster or a senior citizen. Naturally, these skills help considerably in writing the book and marketing it.

Having said that, I must add that it is not possible, at least for me- to write something just because it is popular with readers today. The idea behind my novel should have the power to galvanise my mind and inspire me to spend several hundred hours typing away at my computer. So my advice to aspiring authors is that they should always follow their heart, not the current trend.

R: Do you think it is possible for a writer to focus solely on the art and not bother about the commercial aspect in today’s writing world?

Award winning novelist Margaret Atwood says, ‘A word after a word after a word is power.’ To me, it is also passion and perseverance and a testament to my view of life. When I pour my heart and soul into a book, I wish to take it to as many readers as possible. And for that, I need to spread the word about what I have written, or my book will be lost among the several hundred books that are published every month.

I can reach more readers only when my book is a commercial success. If in the process I make some money too, I’m not going to say ‘No’ to that!

R: Writing a book is a long, time-consuming process that involves patience, perseverance and persistence. How do you keep yourself enthusiastic about the project and remain in a positive frame of mind throughout?

UN: Fortunately or unfortunately, I am a workaholic and keep at something till I finish it. When I hit a block, I may grumble and groan but I do not give up. I know how much of myself I have invested in my book and would hate to lose it all. So I persevere.

R: One of the biggest changes in the writing industry in recent years has been the trend towards Indie Publishing. What is your take on the quality of books that routinely get published through this route?

UN: Change is the one thing we cannot avoid, especially when market factors come into the mix. In recent years, the success that a few authors have achieved in terms of fame and fortune, have inspired many others to jump on the bandwagon. Not all of them could be published in the conventional way, and new options of self-publishing emerged to meet the need. The quality of writing and the editing may be uneven, but the market will be the ultimate leveller. Only well-written books will survive and bad ones will sink without a trace.

R: Having a story in the head is one thing but telling the story is a totally different ball game. How would you make the new breed of writers to understand this, especially those who are impatient to get published in whatever way possible?

UN: Good things come to those who wait. You need to be patient till you get your book just right. You have only a few minutes to grab a reader’s attention, so you must make sure that every detail is right and that the book is the best you can make it. Good luck!

Dr Roopleen is a Motivational counselor, Speaker, Ophthalmologist and Author of two books- ‘Principles of Success Made Easy’ and ‘Words To Inspire The Winner In YOU.