I interviewed Rita Joshi, author of the book, The Simla Paintings. Author has answered the questions in a very crisp manner and I hope you will like the interview. You can read the complete review of the book at Book Review : The Simla Paintings and Other Stories - Rita Joshi.
-- Interview with author Rita Joshi --
Q: How does it feel after “The Simla Paintings” being published?
A: The book has been warmly received by readers. It is a good feeling to have written something meaningful which has had an impact.
Q: After “The Simla Paintings” what can we expect from you in the near future?
A: I am working on some more short stories.
Q: Are these short stories inspired from real life or are they completely fictional?
A: The roots are inspired by real life, like my observation about campus life in the story "Awakening," my observation of the living goddess tradition in Nepal in the story "The Goddess'" and experiences with theater in the story "Curtain Call." But the characters and plots are fictional.
Q: How easy was it to complete the book? What kind of support you received from your family, publisher, etc?
A: The stories have been written at different times over many years as and when a story occurred to me. It is in fact very difficult to publish short stories in India. Heritage Publishers agreed to do the book. It has had so many good reviews in leading newspapers, it is remarkable. I feel more publishers should encourage short stories.
-- Interview with author Rita Joshi --
Q: How does it feel after “The Simla Paintings” being published?
A: The book has been warmly received by readers. It is a good feeling to have written something meaningful which has had an impact.
Q: After “The Simla Paintings” what can we expect from you in the near future?
A: I am working on some more short stories.
Q: Are these short stories inspired from real life or are they completely fictional?
A: The roots are inspired by real life, like my observation about campus life in the story "Awakening," my observation of the living goddess tradition in Nepal in the story "The Goddess'" and experiences with theater in the story "Curtain Call." But the characters and plots are fictional.
Q: How easy was it to complete the book? What kind of support you received from your family, publisher, etc?
A: The stories have been written at different times over many years as and when a story occurred to me. It is in fact very difficult to publish short stories in India. Heritage Publishers agreed to do the book. It has had so many good reviews in leading newspapers, it is remarkable. I feel more publishers should encourage short stories.
Q: How was the experience of getting the book published?
A: It felt wonderful to see it in print. The artist has given it a beautiful cover.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Who are your favorite authors?
A: As a professor in English with a Ph.D, I certainly read more than I write. And I have published many papers on Indian authors and DH Lawrence in journals in the US and also India. I have just reviewed "The Collected Essays of Lawrence Durrell" for the US based academic Lawrence Durrell journal. I read a lot of contemporary fiction and nonfiction.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike about being a writer?
A: It felt wonderful to see it in print. The artist has given it a beautiful cover.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Who are your favorite authors?
A: As a professor in English with a Ph.D, I certainly read more than I write. And I have published many papers on Indian authors and DH Lawrence in journals in the US and also India. I have just reviewed "The Collected Essays of Lawrence Durrell" for the US based academic Lawrence Durrell journal. I read a lot of contemporary fiction and nonfiction.
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| Interview with author Rita Joshi |
A: It is wonderful to be able to create worlds and people with words; it is nice when it has an impact on people and you feel you have added to their pleasure and also their world view. However ideas do not flow easy. Sometimes it just doesn’t come out right and you have to keep reworking on it or abandon it.
Q: Do you always wanted to be a writer, what inspired you to take it up?
A: I never really thought of being a fictional writer; academic research has been my primary interest. In terms of creativity from student days I was involved with theater. These stories occurred to me so I thought it would be nice to write them. When I had a few written, I showed it to a few friends who encouraged me to publish them.
Q: Do you always wanted to be a writer, what inspired you to take it up?
A: I never really thought of being a fictional writer; academic research has been my primary interest. In terms of creativity from student days I was involved with theater. These stories occurred to me so I thought it would be nice to write them. When I had a few written, I showed it to a few friends who encouraged me to publish them.
Q: You are a teacher by profession and I guess a writer by passion, what similarities and differences do you find in them?
A: As a researcher and teacher I get to discuss books. This is very analytic and interesting. As a creative writer I get to express my perceptions through stories. This is a very different kind of activity.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or you love the traditional paper/hard back books?
A: I read only traditional paper/hardback books. I find e-books too unfamiliar.
A: As a researcher and teacher I get to discuss books. This is very analytic and interesting. As a creative writer I get to express my perceptions through stories. This is a very different kind of activity.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or you love the traditional paper/hard back books?
A: I read only traditional paper/hardback books. I find e-books too unfamiliar.
Q: Other than writing, what are your other interests?
A: I enjoy listening to Western classical music and watching serious cinema.
Q: If you had to give one reason to our readers to read your book, what would that be?
A: I think all the plots have an element of suspense.
A: I enjoy listening to Western classical music and watching serious cinema.
Q: If you had to give one reason to our readers to read your book, what would that be?
A: I think all the plots have an element of suspense.
Q: How long did it take for you to complete the book?
A: As said I wrote these stories as and when stories occurred to me over many years. I didn’t set out to be a writer so the question of facing a writer's block didn’t really occur.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: By reading my book!
A: As said I wrote these stories as and when stories occurred to me over many years. I didn’t set out to be a writer so the question of facing a writer's block didn’t really occur.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: By reading my book!
-- End of Interview with author Rita Joshi --
You can order a copy of the book from Amazon
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