Mamta Bhatt is an Indian author with two books to her name. Her first book was "Warriors Of Kurukshetra" - the Indian epic Mahabharata for children. Mamta Bhatt has come up with her new book “An Eternal Hero – Ram” - Ramayana for children. I got a chance to interview her and I asked her various questions.
Q: What made you write the book “An Eternal Hero – Ram”?
A: The acceptance, response and appreciation to my first book “Warriors of Kurukshetra” motivated me to continue the drive… “presenting our rich heritage - Indian mythology to our young readers, in a format they would love to read.”
Q: Your first book “Warriors of Kurukshetra” received great response from the readers, any specific feedback/opinion you received and that made you go wow?
A: Many parents told me that they were surprised to see that their children had finished all 4 volumes in 2 to 3 days. Also one of my reader from UAE asked me “Aunty when are you coming out with volume 5 of Warriors, I want to read that.” There have been many.... parents have thanked us for giving Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta in a simple language that children can read.
Q: After “An Eternal Hero – Ram” & “Warriors of Kurukshetra” what can we expect from you in the future?
A: I will continue to write for children… what next is a surprise!!
Q: Why did you select mythology as a subject to write and that too targeting the pre-teens & teens?
A: I love mythology, and feel there is so much to learn from it. I felt the void for our young readers on mythology that is how the birth of my two books….
Q: How different is it to write for adults and the audience that you write for?
A: When you write for children, you really have to use your words carefully. You do not have freedom to use many words to explain the situation. Also, certain issues are to be explained in a manner they would accept. For e.g. in Mahabharat “Panchaali marrying five husbands, an adult would understand it, but for children you need to be accurate and convincing.
Q: Other than writing, what else do you do professionally?
A: I am a lawyer by profession and part of senior management team in BJN Group.
Q: How are your books different from the other books written in the same genre and subject?
A: My books are: detailed story in simple language and engaging manner.
Q: When did you decide that you want to be a writer? What inspired you to take it up?
A: Being a lawyer writing is part of the profession. I have been writing legal content and articles from the beginning of my career. But storytelling was not planned. My son who was 10 then, wanted to read Mahabharata, and I couldn’t find an apt book for him that had the complete story of Mahabharata in a simple language for his age group. As a mother, it became a big concern for me. Our books stores are filled with thousands of books, but the important one, that we as Indian parents feel were missing. I took it as a challenge and started writing Mahabharata... that is how my first book Warriors of Kurukshetra was born.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books?
A: Yes I love reading, some of my favourite authors are Ruskin Bond, JK Rowling, Enid Blyton in children segment and adults I have many…….
Q: Writers block, have you ever faced it? How did you come out of it?
A: Not so far… I love writing
Q: Can you tell us something about the research that you have put in to write your books?
A: I have read most of the books in English and Hind on the subjects. Watched videos, heard audios and met a few scholars and Rishis, in Rishikesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand (my home town) to get their views on the subjects.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike the most about mythology?
A: I just love mythology.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or you love the traditional paper/hard back books?
A: I prefer reading traditional paper books, but when you travelling overseas on a holiday, where most your time is allocated to read around the nature, you can’t carry all your books, that time I prefer my tab loaded with e books.
Q: How long did it take you to write “The Eternal Hero – Ram”?
A: Write, edit, illustrate, Print and publish - Two years
Q: Other than writing, what are your other interests?
A: Travelling and spending my time with kids. I love children since my childhood.
Q: How does your son react to your writing?
A: He loves the fact that his mom is an author and especially after the release of my first book, when his friends came home to take my autograph on their copy. He understand what it takes to write and when I am sitting with my laptop in the corner of my home, he doesn’t disturb, he waits for me to complete. Infact, at times he has surprised me with a hot cup of coffee.
Q: One message that you would want to convey to our readers?
A: Read my books as any other story book and not as a spiritual read, if you learn something great, if you don’t, atleast you enjoyed reading an interesting story.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: Thru my facebook page: mamtabhatt and twitter handle: mamtabhatt or write to me at: author@mamtabhatt.com
-- Interview with Mamta Bhatt--
Q: What made you write the book “An Eternal Hero – Ram”?
A: The acceptance, response and appreciation to my first book “Warriors of Kurukshetra” motivated me to continue the drive… “presenting our rich heritage - Indian mythology to our young readers, in a format they would love to read.”
Q: Your first book “Warriors of Kurukshetra” received great response from the readers, any specific feedback/opinion you received and that made you go wow?
A: Many parents told me that they were surprised to see that their children had finished all 4 volumes in 2 to 3 days. Also one of my reader from UAE asked me “Aunty when are you coming out with volume 5 of Warriors, I want to read that.” There have been many.... parents have thanked us for giving Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta in a simple language that children can read.
Q: After “An Eternal Hero – Ram” & “Warriors of Kurukshetra” what can we expect from you in the future?
A: I will continue to write for children… what next is a surprise!!
A: I love mythology, and feel there is so much to learn from it. I felt the void for our young readers on mythology that is how the birth of my two books….
Q: How different is it to write for adults and the audience that you write for?
A: When you write for children, you really have to use your words carefully. You do not have freedom to use many words to explain the situation. Also, certain issues are to be explained in a manner they would accept. For e.g. in Mahabharat “Panchaali marrying five husbands, an adult would understand it, but for children you need to be accurate and convincing.
Q: Other than writing, what else do you do professionally?
A: I am a lawyer by profession and part of senior management team in BJN Group.
Q: How are your books different from the other books written in the same genre and subject?
A: My books are: detailed story in simple language and engaging manner.
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| Interview with Mamta Bhatt - Author of An Eternal Hero – Ram |
A: Being a lawyer writing is part of the profession. I have been writing legal content and articles from the beginning of my career. But storytelling was not planned. My son who was 10 then, wanted to read Mahabharata, and I couldn’t find an apt book for him that had the complete story of Mahabharata in a simple language for his age group. As a mother, it became a big concern for me. Our books stores are filled with thousands of books, but the important one, that we as Indian parents feel were missing. I took it as a challenge and started writing Mahabharata... that is how my first book Warriors of Kurukshetra was born.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books?
A: Yes I love reading, some of my favourite authors are Ruskin Bond, JK Rowling, Enid Blyton in children segment and adults I have many…….
Q: Writers block, have you ever faced it? How did you come out of it?
A: Not so far… I love writing
Q: Can you tell us something about the research that you have put in to write your books?
A: I have read most of the books in English and Hind on the subjects. Watched videos, heard audios and met a few scholars and Rishis, in Rishikesh and Haridwar, Uttarakhand (my home town) to get their views on the subjects.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike the most about mythology?
A: I just love mythology.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or you love the traditional paper/hard back books?
A: I prefer reading traditional paper books, but when you travelling overseas on a holiday, where most your time is allocated to read around the nature, you can’t carry all your books, that time I prefer my tab loaded with e books.
Q: How long did it take you to write “The Eternal Hero – Ram”?
A: Write, edit, illustrate, Print and publish - Two years
Q: Other than writing, what are your other interests?
A: Travelling and spending my time with kids. I love children since my childhood.
Q: How does your son react to your writing?
A: He loves the fact that his mom is an author and especially after the release of my first book, when his friends came home to take my autograph on their copy. He understand what it takes to write and when I am sitting with my laptop in the corner of my home, he doesn’t disturb, he waits for me to complete. Infact, at times he has surprised me with a hot cup of coffee.
Q: One message that you would want to convey to our readers?
A: Read my books as any other story book and not as a spiritual read, if you learn something great, if you don’t, atleast you enjoyed reading an interesting story.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: Thru my facebook page: mamtabhatt and twitter handle: mamtabhatt or write to me at: author@mamtabhatt.com
-- End of interview with Mamta Bhatt--
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