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1. Welcome to Writer’s Ezine. Congratulations on the success of your second book ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’. So tell us, what made you write this book?

To put it simply, I fell in love with Pradyumna! He is Kama reborn; he is the son of Krishna, the ultimate purusha. He is brave, caring, and willing to admit his faults and work at overcoming them. And most importantly, he was almost completely mine as no one else had focused on him before! The more I delved into his life ― or ‘lives,’ for he had many dashing ones ― the more I was fascinated. I then visualized his evolution from being a pampered prince to discovering that he was Krishna’s son, and then equipping himself to be a worthy warrior, father, husband, son and finally a redeemer ― filling in the many gaps left by the puranas with a vivid imagination.

The scope was huge, the canvas of myth and history was spectacular, and the depth of wisdom that lay hidden was breathtaking. Finally, ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’ marched from my computer into the world of Penguin and the homes and hearts of readers!

Presently I am working on the thrilling sequel to the book, which will feature Yamaloka and Kailasa, Vishnu’s chakra and Shiva’s trident, as Pradyumna continues to battle his own karma and that of the world.

2. Tell us something about your journey to becoming a writer. When did this writing bug bite you and when did you decide to finally plunge into it full time?

Writing has always provided my bread and butter as I have worked many years as creative director in advertising agencies and radio, as well as in corporate communications and e-publishing. A short story I wrote on a whim for an anthology started me thinking about writing a novel. Soon I became addicted to being ‘the monarch of all I surveyed’ in the world I had created, and enjoyed my liberation from the tyranny of moody bosses and long commutes. I found myself turning down even freelance work assignments as my novel consumed me.

‘The Madras Mangler’, a suspense thriller, won excellent reviews from readers and media and I haven’t looked back since. ‘Pradyumna: Son of Krishna’ is now on bestseller lists and has even found a place as suggested reading for students in a US university. ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’, a rom-com published by Harlequin-HarperCollins has just reached the bookstores, and the sequel to ‘Pradyumna’ is being written as I speak.

I’m delighted to be a full-time writer and am enjoying every minute of it!

3. Thriller to mythological to rom-com. What next do we see coming from you?

Readers still ask me why I have not written a sequel to ‘The Madras Mangler’ whose hero is a heart-stealer too, and coincidentally named Vir Pradyumna! Krishna’s son, on the other hand, has aroused a passion in me to discover other forgotten heroes and stories, and to bring to light the wisdom of our ancient lore. As for rom-coms, they allow me to write about love, relationships and careers, and bring readers a story of happily-ever-after that provides some relief from the pressures of everyday life.

As for the future, maybe you could share your preferences on the genre you prefer! Do write and let me know.

4. Why do you keep experimenting with genres? The ones that you have tried are extremely opposite to the previous ones, what made you want to try them?

Consider an actor like Amitabh Bachchan who reinvents himself with every film, from ‘Anand’ and ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ to ‘Paa’ and ‘Piku’. I think a writer too must be versatile and stave off boredom, for herself and for her readers! It is exhilarating to constantly hone your skills so that you can entertain new audiences, master varied formats and create a book that races along, capturing the reader’s heart and imagination.

Ultimately each book is a challenge, just as the previous one was and the one before that. And as an author, like an actor, is judged by her latest release, she must put forth her best effort and all her passion into the mix. And take my word for it ― it’s totally worth it when your reader says that (s)he loves your book!

5. Any particular favourite genre that you enjoyed writing the most till now?

I enjoyed journeying with Pradyumna from asura palaces to Dwaraka and Kurukshetra, growing with him, discovering dimensions in myself that I was not aware of before. The physical, intellectual and spiritual planes all meld together in this book and provide readers of diverse ages and backgrounds a thrilling ride. So at the moment, I would say that mythology is my favourite genre as it allows me to indulge my creative instincts to the full.
But tomorrow…who knows? As Scarlett O’Hara puts it in the fabulous novel ‘Gone with the Wind’: ‘Tomorrow is another day!’

6. One thing that you learnt from your writing till now, which you would like to share with budding authors.

Contrary to what you may think, it’s hard work when you have to set your own deadlines and benchmarks and seek your own rewards. But at the end of it all, it is also a labour of love that I will not change for anything in the world!

7. As a writer how easy/difficult it is to keep aside your independent self and not let your opinions ride your characters in the story?

Don’t they say that your hero is only as good as your villain? I’m not speaking here of their moral character, of course, but of the necessity to make all your important players equally convincing, so that your book rings true to life. For this, you need to flesh them out with authentic emotions, motivations and language so that they come to life and keep the reader absorbed till the very end. So if Pradyumna inspires you with his gradual evolution, Lolita in ‘The Madras Mangler’ lies and shoplifts, yet makes you sympathize with her. And Freida in ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’ captivates you with her sunny nature and her fierce sense of justice.

You may or may not agree with their actions, but an author must help the reader understand where they are coming from. And to give the character this space, an author needs to be non-judgemental, portraying them as they are, without moralizing. Pradyumna and Krishna, true to their age, married many times, and it would be foolish to evaluate them based on today’s societal mores. Some of the college students in ‘The Madras Mangler’ have a secret life, cheat or bully, as is the case in life. A writer’s role is to show them as they are, and perhaps embed a subtle message, but not at the expense of storytelling and reader interest.

I think my conviction has paid dividends, as readers often express appreciation of the authenticity of my characters, whether they are college students, heroes from an ancient time or office-goers living colourful lives in the corridors of power.

8. How does it feel to be called queen of genres after having successfully written so many genres and each a masterpiece in its own way?

It is eminently gratifying, of course! Readers who have read both the thriller and ‘Pradyumna’ comment on how smoothly I have moved from present-day college campuses to realms that are not of this earth. If readers of ‘The Madras Mangler’ praise the authentic ring of college lingo, myth lovers applaud the resonance of the language that brings gods and goddesses alive in ‘Pradyumna’. Naturally I feel the thrill of a job well done. And now, in ‘Love, Lies and Layoffs’, readers will get a peek into the fun and quirky world of a media empire as well as the politicking and power play that can make it hell.

I think it is my zest for what I am doing that reaches out to the readers. As one perceptive blogger puts it: ‘I got a feeling that Narayanan really loves the topic she has chosen, for it shines through in the energetic, sometimes almost loving story telling.’

I must thank readers for enjoying my tales and sharing their appreciation so generously!

9. With the self-publishing option growing in its own way what do you think about the quality of literature available these days in the market?

The success that Indian authors in English have achieved in the last few years has fuelled a virtual explosion of writing. Naturally, when there is exponential growth, quality tends to be uneven. Self publishing provides authors an opportunity that was not available earlier. But it is also a double edged sword as there may not be any quality controller. But finally what endures is quality writing. So, whether self-published or traditionally published, each author must strive to bring out the perfect book that is well written, engrossing and free of errors.

“Books are a uniquely portable magic,” says Stephen King. Imagine the joy of having yours counted among these and work towards your goal. Good luck!

Thank you very much for your time.