About the Author
Vikash Goyal is a reader, writer, and businessman from Kurseong, Darjeeling Hills. THE OTHER SIDE OF SMOKE is his first book which is a philosophical fiction cum psychological thriller, delving deep into the more metaphysical and surrealistic realms of literature. Vikash is also a blogger at WordPress.
Interview
Q) Tell us about the idea behind the book?
The idea was to bring the characters I’d created to life, and to write a book that would document the way my soul speaks and thinks. A lot of readers have asked me what genre my book falls into, and I think what drove me, in part, to write The Other Side of Smoke, was also to create something different, and, if I may, contribute to literature, in my own humble way.
Q) How much time did it take in the process of writing?
About four years in all. I started blogging in 2017, although I had been writing since I was a young boy, and the novel began taking shape soon after the blogging process began.
Q) What did the process of writing this book teach you?
You know, the lessons, so to speak, reveal themselves to me time and again. Through the writing process, I learnt the truth of the old proverb “Where there is a will, there is a way”- as cliched as it sounds! I’m a businessman and my work takes up a lot of my time, so I had to wake up in the wee hours to do this for myself. I also learned that once you have a story, hell nor high water can stop it from being told.
Q) What inspired you to write this book?
The desire to write, ever since I can remember, was the greatest factor- and since then, inspiration revealed itself in many different ways- through my surroundings, my way of thinking, my experiences, the people I met, the authors I read, and so on.
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Q) Which is your favourite part from the book?
Ah! Now that’s a brutal question! If I must say, then I guess, the diary entries…all of them.
Q) A book that had an impact on you, which helped you in writing this one?
I can’t say what helped me as such, but what did have an impact on me was my father’s journal, and knowing him through them. I discovered how alike we were, in thoughts and having lost him too early in my life, the impact of the journal was immeasurable.
Q) Tell us about your plans? Planning a new book?
Oh, certainly. Although, I can’t say what shape it’ll take or what genre it’ll be in, as of yet.
Q) How your life changed after the book was published?
I’ve been doing more of what I always saw myself doing – associating with writers, artists, attending literature fests/events. I am being “discovered”, amid amusingly surprised and awestruck people, who’ve “known” me all my life!The most interesting circumstance was the pouring in of feedback from people, their reaching out to me about the book and quoting my lines to me. It’s an indescribable feeling!
Q) What is a literary success for you?
To be known for the genre I have written in, and to be read by multitudes of people.
Q) A message for all the readers.
Thank you, for picking up The Other Side of Smoke- I can assure you you’ll find something in it to carry with you for all time
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