Interview with author- Amit Shankar!!!

An Interview with author- Amit Shankar who has written Chapter Eleven recently.

1. Hello Mr. Amit, what is your feeling after being an author now? What’s your perspective about life now after achieving a rare flagship in your life?

Ans: Well, I guess it is another milestone, albeit a much cherished and treasured one.

I believe it was my perspective that made me choose writing rather than the other way around. I feel so empowered impacting lives and minds of people, making them delve deeper and helping them in deciphering life. 

2. When you saw your first novel for sale on E-commerce websites and placed at a bookstore for the first time, what kind of thoughts dominated your mind?

Ans:- I remember walking into the Landmark bookstore, Gurgaon and seeing my first title, Flight of the Hilsa, stacked on the shelves. I was too numb to react or even to comprehend the emotion. It was overwhelmed being in the company of other authors and sharing the space with them. 

3. Before we head towards discussing your book, we would like to know in spite of being an author, what do you exactly do? And do you wish to continue with the job or come into full-time writing?

Ans:- I am the CEO of South East Asia’s largest animation company. Being a creative guy, it gives me immense satisfaction in leading a creative organization, mentoring young creative minds and chartering the course of animation in this country.

I was on a sabbatical for 2 years to complete my first two titles, Flight of the Hilsa and Chapter 11. But then I realized being away from people was drying me up from within. Work place as vibrant and diverse as mine gives me immense opportunity to observe and understand. Numerous reviewers have pointed out the fact that they could not believe that a man could write so well from a young girl’s point of view. Well, I owe it to my work place.

On a different tangent, writing requires immense dedication and focus. So yes, at the right opportunity and the moment, for sure, I could consider being a full time writer.

4. What is your latest book all about? And from where did this idea occur to you? 

Ans:- Stories happen to me. I sleep over them, with them, let them engulf me, consume me. Post that, the process is fairly simple…to pen it down. Currently I am toying with two plots. Both are women centric. One, from the POV of a young girl, while the other the turbulent story of a young mom.

5. How much long did it take to write this book from the moment you started developing the story to start writing it till completing it finally with editing and all?

Ans:- I write in blocks. So I am not too sure about the precise time frame. Also, I write pretty fast. So the actual time taken to write, would have not been more than 30 days. For sure, you would be knowing that I don’t re-read or edit my work. Also, I don’t let anyone else edit it.

6. Indian Publishing is too hard to deal with, was it easy for you to get a Publisher or did u wait for a long time to get your work published?

Ans:- Cakewalk is the word I would use. And I am eternally thankful to Renu, the Managing Director of Vitasta; my publisher. She is such a sweetheart, always there for me. I owe a great deal to her.

7. What are the Promotional strategies that you and your publisher have applied to promote/market your book?

Ans:- Every story comes with its own destiny. And every story finds destined hearts and minds. I let my words do their own promotion. For sure, we do have a basic online presence with some banners on my page etc., some reviews here and there but apart from that I don’t have any strategy.

8. What exactly is your target from your Books- 1. Getting most copies sold out, 2. Getting the love of readers or 3. You just wrote it because you wanted to write a book once in your life, hence you have no targets?

Ans:- Love is what I seek, minds and hearts is what I explore.

9. By when are you coming up with your next novel? And if possible, do give us an idea about what it would be.

Ans:- Two stories, two plots and two ways. I would choose one. As soon as I finalize on the road, for sure, will let you know.

10. In the end, tell us in 5-7 lines, what speech will you give if you win a Major Award for the Best Indian Author for your books?

Ans:- I would like to quote this Black Sabbath song 

“The lover of life's not a sinner 

The ending is just a beginner 

The closer you get to the meaning 

The sooner you'll know that you're dreaming 

So it's on and on and on 

Oh it's on and on and on 

It goes on and on and on, Heaven and Hell”