Reviewstation had an awesome time talking to Ratnadip Acharya and his Journey as an Author. Let us throw some light on his journey…
Q1. Firstly, tell us something about yourself and your background?
Answer: I am a very contented loner who spends long hours all alone either reading books, watching nature & sometimes drinking whisky. I have a five-year-old son and a doting wife. My son demands a lot of time of mine. He loves my narrating him comics’ stories in an exaggerated way. By profession I am an Electrical Engineer. However, my technical background and literary activity peacefully coexist.
Q2. When did you start Writing?
Answer: I started writing when I was 25 years of age (Now I am 39). For the first 8 years my manuscripts had faced no less than 150 bitter rejections. You name any Indian publisher and I would assure you that it had rejected my work. At 33, somewhat disheartened, I had thought of quitting writing as I thought destiny had another plan for me, but then one day I got a mail to submit a story for Chicken Soup For the Soul. Since then I contributed numerous write ups to Chicken soup stories. It was followed by my first novel from Sristhi which got published effortlessly and now another novel.
Q3. So you are a magician and now a writer? Tell us about both your profession journey and which you enjoyed more?
Answer: I enjoy performing Magic as well as writing. Both these things offer joy in different ways. You see, once you perform magic you can witness astonishment on the spectators’ face right away. It is so rewarding. But as an author you start getting compliments at least a month or so after your book reaches readers.
Q4. “Life is Always Aimless… Unless you love it” and “Paradise Lost & Regained” Both books are of different Genre. Tell us something about your books”
Answer: ‘Life is always aimless…’ is somewhat like autobiographical with a dash of imagination. I would not call it a real stuff with lots of literary merit. It was rather a mundane but honest and candid story. But with ‘Paradise Lost &Regained’, I think, I have reached a new height. I cannot vouch for its commercial success or it is too early to comment upon it, but I do not think in last few decades of Indian literature anyone had worked on such an unusual and original idea.
Q5. I have read both the books and have found Paradise Lost & Regained totally a different type of book. What research have you done for the book?
Answer: Probably you know the word ‘Research’ means you are repeating a search. It simply means a research work cannot be an original one. I do not do any research for my work. To my understanding the novels based on research are lifeless and soulless. For me literature or any creative work, for that matter, is basically an excuse to open your bare soul to others. Allow them to enjoy its innocence, beauty and love. Research works simply means it is soulless.
Q6. What is your source of inspiration when you write?
Answer: Life, its beauty, its celebration. Nature; everything it has, right from wind, river, trees to stars. I believe, you must have felt it after reading ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’.
Q7. You have worked with two different Publishers. Tell us your journey with both the publishers?
Answer: It was smooth and hassle-free.
Q8. Tell us some interesting facts at the time of writing both your books?
Answer: The first novel was partly autobiographical and hence the entire writing went on effortlessly. But a strange event took place while I was working on ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’. I had never imagined that the story of a little deer would be anything more than 25 thousand words. But I had an uncanny feeling throughout the writing period that someone was holding my pen and adding more events to the novel that I had not imagined before. Eventually, it became an 85 thousand words novel.
Q9. How important is the characterization of the book?
Answer: It is very important or else your writing loses authenticity. Your characters must not be inconsistent if you are not deliberating making it like that. And that’s why visualizing the entire work before starting to write is very important.
Q10. What marketing Strategies you are doing for promoting your book?
Answer: Nothing as such. Let’s see where my career as an author ultimately reaches.
Q11. How important is to get your book reviewed? Did it help you in promotion?
Answer: I sent the book to many reviewers. But honestly speaking, I really do not know if it really helps when it comes to reaching more readers is concerned. In fact, I often feel, nowadays quantity of authors is more than that of readers.
Q12. What you do when you are not writing?
Answer: I have a varied interest. I read lots of books (chiefly non-fiction), learn new magic tricks, watch nature for long hours, and spend time with my little son and loving wife.
Q13. What hard work one has to do to make it a good story?
Answer: Please don’t think that you can write a masterpiece after reading a few shallow chick lit. First of all, learn the language well, read the works which have earned immortality. They are one hundred times better than the books those dominate the present best seller list. Spend long hours with yourself. Ask your being if you have an original story to say. If you get then answer ‘yes’ only then you write, or else, give yourself time until a unique idea surfaces itself to your mind. Having said that I do not claim that your good story will bring you immediate success. No one can predict that.
Q14. What are your future Projects? What Genre will you choose for the next book?
Answer: After reading ‘paradise Lost & Regained’ probably you know I am deeply interested in life and its mystery. My next work will again be on the mystical dimension of life. No stale story… it will be unique and totally original.
Q15. You have written two books and both are of different genre. Which book is close to your heart?
Answer: I think, you know the answer; It has to be ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’. In fact I often feel that the little deer of the novel is my self-projection. Probably, it is self-projection of all of us who listen to their being.
Q16. Did you face any difficulties in writing your Second book? Tell us...
Answer: Not at all, rather I felt someone guiding me to sail from one event to another effortlessly. It is an inexplicable feeling. Probably it happens only when you want to write a book that you totally believe in.
Q17. How does it feels to be a Published writer?
Answer: I am a loner and deeply enjoy my own presence. I am not very active on social media either. So it does not matter much if I am a published author. Only thing that really matters is compliments on my work from unknown people.
Q18. How do you select a title for your book?
Answer: I just hit upon it.
Q19. Describe your style of writing?
Answer: I pour my soul out on the paper, no hypocrisy, no shallow business.
Q20. What message would you like to tell to readers and debut writers?
Answer: Read good works before you start writing. Real literature starts where chick lit ceases to exist. And be with me… I will never produce predictable work.
Author can be contacted at…..
Ratnadip Acharya
09819237962
[email protected]
Thanks Ratnadip for sparing valuable time with us…All the best for your book…
Q1. Firstly, tell us something about yourself and your background?
Answer: I am a very contented loner who spends long hours all alone either reading books, watching nature & sometimes drinking whisky. I have a five-year-old son and a doting wife. My son demands a lot of time of mine. He loves my narrating him comics’ stories in an exaggerated way. By profession I am an Electrical Engineer. However, my technical background and literary activity peacefully coexist.
Q2. When did you start Writing?
Answer: I started writing when I was 25 years of age (Now I am 39). For the first 8 years my manuscripts had faced no less than 150 bitter rejections. You name any Indian publisher and I would assure you that it had rejected my work. At 33, somewhat disheartened, I had thought of quitting writing as I thought destiny had another plan for me, but then one day I got a mail to submit a story for Chicken Soup For the Soul. Since then I contributed numerous write ups to Chicken soup stories. It was followed by my first novel from Sristhi which got published effortlessly and now another novel.
Q3. So you are a magician and now a writer? Tell us about both your profession journey and which you enjoyed more?
Answer: I enjoy performing Magic as well as writing. Both these things offer joy in different ways. You see, once you perform magic you can witness astonishment on the spectators’ face right away. It is so rewarding. But as an author you start getting compliments at least a month or so after your book reaches readers.
Q4. “Life is Always Aimless… Unless you love it” and “Paradise Lost & Regained” Both books are of different Genre. Tell us something about your books”
Answer: ‘Life is always aimless…’ is somewhat like autobiographical with a dash of imagination. I would not call it a real stuff with lots of literary merit. It was rather a mundane but honest and candid story. But with ‘Paradise Lost &Regained’, I think, I have reached a new height. I cannot vouch for its commercial success or it is too early to comment upon it, but I do not think in last few decades of Indian literature anyone had worked on such an unusual and original idea.
Q5. I have read both the books and have found Paradise Lost & Regained totally a different type of book. What research have you done for the book?
Answer: Probably you know the word ‘Research’ means you are repeating a search. It simply means a research work cannot be an original one. I do not do any research for my work. To my understanding the novels based on research are lifeless and soulless. For me literature or any creative work, for that matter, is basically an excuse to open your bare soul to others. Allow them to enjoy its innocence, beauty and love. Research works simply means it is soulless.
Q6. What is your source of inspiration when you write?
Answer: Life, its beauty, its celebration. Nature; everything it has, right from wind, river, trees to stars. I believe, you must have felt it after reading ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’.
Q7. You have worked with two different Publishers. Tell us your journey with both the publishers?
Answer: It was smooth and hassle-free.
Q8. Tell us some interesting facts at the time of writing both your books?
Answer: The first novel was partly autobiographical and hence the entire writing went on effortlessly. But a strange event took place while I was working on ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’. I had never imagined that the story of a little deer would be anything more than 25 thousand words. But I had an uncanny feeling throughout the writing period that someone was holding my pen and adding more events to the novel that I had not imagined before. Eventually, it became an 85 thousand words novel.
Q9. How important is the characterization of the book?
Answer: It is very important or else your writing loses authenticity. Your characters must not be inconsistent if you are not deliberating making it like that. And that’s why visualizing the entire work before starting to write is very important.
Q10. What marketing Strategies you are doing for promoting your book?
Answer: Nothing as such. Let’s see where my career as an author ultimately reaches.
Q11. How important is to get your book reviewed? Did it help you in promotion?
Answer: I sent the book to many reviewers. But honestly speaking, I really do not know if it really helps when it comes to reaching more readers is concerned. In fact, I often feel, nowadays quantity of authors is more than that of readers.
Q12. What you do when you are not writing?
Answer: I have a varied interest. I read lots of books (chiefly non-fiction), learn new magic tricks, watch nature for long hours, and spend time with my little son and loving wife.
Q13. What hard work one has to do to make it a good story?
Answer: Please don’t think that you can write a masterpiece after reading a few shallow chick lit. First of all, learn the language well, read the works which have earned immortality. They are one hundred times better than the books those dominate the present best seller list. Spend long hours with yourself. Ask your being if you have an original story to say. If you get then answer ‘yes’ only then you write, or else, give yourself time until a unique idea surfaces itself to your mind. Having said that I do not claim that your good story will bring you immediate success. No one can predict that.
Q14. What are your future Projects? What Genre will you choose for the next book?
Answer: After reading ‘paradise Lost & Regained’ probably you know I am deeply interested in life and its mystery. My next work will again be on the mystical dimension of life. No stale story… it will be unique and totally original.
Q15. You have written two books and both are of different genre. Which book is close to your heart?
Answer: I think, you know the answer; It has to be ‘Paradise Lost & Regained’. In fact I often feel that the little deer of the novel is my self-projection. Probably, it is self-projection of all of us who listen to their being.
Q16. Did you face any difficulties in writing your Second book? Tell us...
Answer: Not at all, rather I felt someone guiding me to sail from one event to another effortlessly. It is an inexplicable feeling. Probably it happens only when you want to write a book that you totally believe in.
Q17. How does it feels to be a Published writer?
Answer: I am a loner and deeply enjoy my own presence. I am not very active on social media either. So it does not matter much if I am a published author. Only thing that really matters is compliments on my work from unknown people.
Q18. How do you select a title for your book?
Answer: I just hit upon it.
Q19. Describe your style of writing?
Answer: I pour my soul out on the paper, no hypocrisy, no shallow business.
Q20. What message would you like to tell to readers and debut writers?
Answer: Read good works before you start writing. Real literature starts where chick lit ceases to exist. And be with me… I will never produce predictable work.
Author can be contacted at…..
Ratnadip Acharya
09819237962
[email protected]
Thanks Ratnadip for sparing valuable time with us…All the best for your book…