“I firmly believe that if a story has an
intriguing plot and is well told, it will find readers regardless of anything” says
the author Prashant Pinge in a candid chat with Timid Fingers. When his next
book Secadu, is scheduled to release
in next two days the author opens up on his new book, on the Indian readership
of fantasy fiction and on his inspiration behind writing in this genre.
Prashant Pinge: My
literary journey started more than a decade ago. It has certainly been a
rewarding one thus far, with several publishing credits along with award
nominations. However, at the very core, it has always been about pursuing my
passion. So I am really grateful to be on this wonderful journey that provides
me with the opportunity to express my imagination through words.
TF: Children’s fiction is always your
forte, any particular reason behind that or you always wants to write
children’s fiction?
Prashant: I have
found the children’s fiction genre to be very endearing. It is a paradigm where
animals can talk, where toys come alive, where fairies live across the street,
and where magical creatures play with you. It gives me a chance to let my
imagination flow without any constraints. So yes, I do enjoy writing children’s
fiction but also plan to experiment with other genres.
TF: Your new book Sceadu, which is
going to hit the stands soon, is a fantasy fiction. I would like to request you
to say few words about the book.
Prashant: Sceadu
was born out of my fascination for shadows. The adventure starts when a century
old book transports four children to a land inside their shadows. The reluctant
visitors search for a way back but find themselves chased by the Hefigans,
creatures of Sceadu. The stakes are suddenly raised when an ancient prophecy foretells
the doom of the world they left behind. The children have no choice but to try
and unlock the secrets of the shadow or suffer the destruction of their own
kind.
Sceadu is a fast-paced
adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological,
the real and the mythical.
TF: How tough it is to pen down such
a story which can exist in imagination only?
Prashant: The
biggest challenge when penning down a story like Sceadu was coming up with a
logical basis for the land. I did not want to have the protagonists travel to
another land without giving the readers a reason to believe that such a place
could actually exist. I had to do a lot of research in psychology and mythology
to add that layer which makes this entire adventure so plausible.
TF: There is loads of new author
coming but fantasy fictions by Indian authors are very few. What do you think
the reason behind this, is this because writing love story is always a safe
genre or something else?
Prashant: There
is obviously no doubt that popular fiction is a hit with the masses in India.
However, the concept of fantasy is also strongly rooted in our culture if you
consider how deeply connected it is to mythology. So I would say that fantasy,
in that sense, has been there for a long time in our psyche. I cannot pinpoint
a specific reason though for the dearth of Indian authors writing fantasy
fiction, but I do believe the trend is changing.
TF: Do you think there is enough
readers in India for this kind of book, which will force them to go beyond
their imagination?
Prashant: I
firmly believe that if a story has an intriguing plot and is well told, it will
find readers regardless of anything. And besides, we have a very sophisticated
reading class in India, and I have absolutely no doubt they will enjoy reading Sceadu
immensely. In fact, a lot of fantasy fiction from the west has garnered
significant fan following in India. So I would expect nothing less for my book.
TF: Any incident you want to tell us
which you have experience while framing the plot of Sceadu?
Prashant: I got
up one night for a drink of water. I switched on the lamp and reached for the
glass. At the same moment, my shadow mirrored my movements on the wall behind.
That was when I asked myself the question. What if my shadow held a land with dangerous creatures waiting to find a
way into our world? That was how the plot for Sceadu was basically conceived.
TF: Why have you chosen to publish
your new book Sceadu on your own? Why not a establish publisher or a
self-publishing one?
Prashant: The decision to take the
self-publishing route with Sceadu came after a lengthy period of deliberation.
The primary drivers were complete creative control and the ability to reach a
global audience. However, I do plan to work with publishers, with my next work
of children’s fiction already picked up for a 2015 release.
TF: So, are you going to try some new
genre in your upcoming endevaours or the plan is sticking to these, children’s
fiction or fantasy fiction?
Prashant: While I
will always continue to work in the genres of children’s fiction and fantasy
fiction, the basis for my writing has always been the need to tell a great
story. So I do not plan to restrict myself to these genres only. In fact, I am
working on a romantic comedy right now. And I also plan to write a historical
fiction novel in the near future.
TF: Which is your favorite book in
these genre you write, or I would say which book you used to keep under the
pillow while sleeping as a kid?
Prashant: It
would be very difficult to identify one book, but I am really enjoying the
Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. As a child though, I was completely
enthralled by Enid Blyton.
TF: I hope everyone liked the book as
much I did. All the best for the book. Now few words for your readers who might
have already got bored and few words for the Timid Fingers blog.
Prashant: Thank you for the wishes. For
the patrons of this blog, just pick up a copy of Sceadu. I guarantee you will
never take your shadow for granted again. For the Timid Fingers blog (and
especially the force behind it), a very big thanks for reading and reviewing
the book. And all the very best!
Website - http://prashantpinge.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/prashantpinge
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SceaduTheBook
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