JAYANT SWAMY
INTERVIEW QUESITIONS
1. Discuss the journey of becoming an author.
An avid reader since childhood, I had always been enamoured by the power of the written word and the intricacies of the English language. Several stories would always be swirling in my head. My first tryst with fiction happened during the mid-80s. I had written some short-stories and a novella and sent them off to popular magazines of the time. None of them responded.
Circa 1998. I was emigrating to the US. Vikram Seth had made it big on the international writing scene with his novel A Suitable Boy. I bought a copy of the book at the Bombay airport. A routine activity you would think, but one that changed my life. Reading that epic novel, one of the longest published, my writing dreams, hitherto unarticulated, took flight.
I enrolled myself for a Certificate Program in Literary Fiction at the University of Washington. Over the next several years, I published two non-fiction anthologies, and went on to complete my first novel, ‘Colours in the Spectrum’.
My latest novel ‘Family Secrets’ has been published by Vishwakarma Publications of Pune. The cover is designed by The Book Bakers. The novel is steadily garnering reader appreciation on Amazon and Goodreads ever since its release in October 2020.
2. What are the advices the author would like to give to the future or the aspiring writers?
Be bold. Express yourself. Write, Organize, Revise, Write. Writing is an iterative process. If you don’t enjoy writing, don’t become a writer.
Be authentic. Write for yourself and your readers. Write what you believe in. Write about what you know. If you want to write about what you don’t know – read, research, absorb – and then write.
Be innovative. Play around with genres. Use words that resonate with you. Coin your own phrases and expressions. Experiment with book structure. Develop a signature style. Do it all with full abandon
Patience is key. Never take rejection personally.
3. What was the most difficult point while writing this book?
I enjoy the process of writing. The fun is in creating, disrupting and re-creating. The most difficult part was getting the book published after it was written.
In early 2018 I lucked out. Suhail Mathur of The Book Bakers, the noted literary agency, agreed to represent me. The going has been smooth after that.
4. Why did the author decide to write and stick to family drama?
I am a keen observer of human behavior and enjoy writing about human relationships. ‘Family Secrets’ is as much a corporate thriller as it is a family drama.
5. What makes you smile the most?
I laugh a lot. Expressive by nature, I am fairly dramatic in day-to-day situations. Laughter signifies energy to me.
Long back I realized that happiness lies in the little moments of life. Pleasant memories especially those simple moments shared with my parents who are both now gone, never fail to bring a smile to my lips – whether I am by myself or talking about them with friends and family.
I live in picturesque Seattle with breathtaking views, many of which are available right through the windows of our house. Snowclad mountains, unending rows of green trees, glistening water over the lake, an azure blue sky, a sunny day, a full moon night, the cool breeze that loves to make love to my face. . . all bring a smile to my lips
When people recognize me as an author, when I receive a compliment for my writing, when my book garners that new review, when I read my own published interviews . . . I have a smile on my lips
6. What’s the theme of the book cover from your view point?
The novel is the story of two half-brothers, with a series of intelligent face-offs between them. The rolling dice represent the salvos and counter-salvos they throw at each other. A jewelry heist. A boardroom move. A tiara theft. An income-tax raid. A hostile takeover. The tiara on the cover matches the description of the diamond and sapphire tiara, a royal heirloom belonging to one of the brothers, which prominently features in one of the biggest twists in the plot.
7. When will you be launching your next book?
My next book is in the non-fiction genre and deals with personality development. I hope to have the manuscript in the hands of my literary agent by mid-year.
8. What interests you the most as an author?
I love creating complex characters that are memorable and will linger in the minds of my readers long after they have put down that book and then intersecting their stories into the plotline.
9. How did you decide the characters’ names?
The names just came organically when I was writing. Now that you ask, I am figuring out my own rationale.‘Family Secrets’ is a dynastic drama spanning three generations. More modern the times, shorter the names.
The elder generation names are the longest. Vikramaditya and Rani Gayatri Devi are ‘powerful’ names. Sulakshana felt apt for a woman filled with equanimity.
The second generation. Abhimanyu was chosen for obvious reasons – parallels with his namesake from the Mahabharata. Siddhartha and Sadhana – the names felt like they fit the fun-loving loving-couple I have created! Nayantara meaning ‘star of one’s eyes’ is an ethereally beautiful woman who has a fleeting but meaningful presence.
The third generation – Rahul was a popular name in the 70s and 80s!
10. How did you manage to write with your job?
If it means so much to you – you must find the time! That is my motto.
My debut novel ‘Colours in the Spectrum’ was written during my consulting days with IBM. I was a road-warrior flying out of Seattle every Sunday and returning home on Thursday. That manuscript was mostly written on airplanes and in hotel rooms.
‘Family Secrets’ had an extremely slow start. In November-December 2014 my mother who lived in Bangalore was taken ill. I was a freelancing consultant at the time. Taking a hiatus from my gig I stayed with her in our Bangalore flat for two months. Hanging out with her at home, day in and day out I had fun writing a big chunk of Family Secrets during that time. The icing on the cake – I got my lawyer niece to review and iron out the courtroom drama.
For brisk progress on my current book – the non-fiction one on personality development – I must thank the social situation brought about by COVID 19. Cutting out the myriad activities I might otherwise been involved in, I have been super-focused and maha-productive!
