Monday, August 22, 2016

Interview with author Nikita Lalwani

In a conversation with Nikita Lalwani, author of the book 2 Peg Ke Baad. The book hasn't got anything to do with Alcohol, it is a collection of fourteen short stories that took place 2 Peg Ke Baad. To read the book review of the book, visit Book Review : 2 Peg Ke Baad - Nikita Lalwani.


-- Interview with author Nikita Lalwani --

Q: How did it feel when you first hold the copy of your book, “2 Peg Ke Baad”?
A: I was very happy to see my work published. It was a long awaited dream and there is yet a long way to go.

Q: Did you actually plan the book”2 Peg KeBaad”, or it just happened?
A: I started 2 peg ke baad as a blog where I would put short 2 peg ke baad stories from the people I met. I met people in various cities – Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Chandigarh etc. and it was great to listen to their confessions and theories of life. I also started writing fiction stories on the blog which were received very well by the readers, and that encouraged me to compile them in a book.

Q: What was your reaction, when you first came to know that “2 Peg KeBaad” is actually going to be a published book?
A: The idea of a book didn’t come to me as a proposition, so it was no surprise. I wrote it, approached the publishers, struggled my way to finally get accepted by few of them and its only when Srishti Publishers said that they were interested in the manuscript is when the picture of 2 peg ke baad becoming a book was there in front of me.

Q: Tell us about the support you received from your family and friends while you were writing the book?
A: My family and friends have always been very supportive towards my writing and it’s only that which has got me through the tough stages. Even though they were never too fond of the career choices made by me, switching to advertising from dentistry, my parents have always encouraged me to write.

Q: Can you tell us something about your experience of getting the book published? How easy or difficult it is?
A: Getting your book published is one of the toughest jobs in the world, but an even tougher one is to make sure that it reaches the people. And both make an equally important role in the book’s shelf life. I wrote to more than 50 publishers and got a positive reply only from 2 of them. I wouldn’t say that it was frustrating because I wasn’t unaware of the industry and the way it works here. I had a plan B in my mind, for if the book didn’t get accepted anywhere at all. Fortunately, I didn’t need to action that.

Q: Apart from “2 Peg Ke Baad”, have you written anything else that we should know?
A: 2 peg ke baad is my 2nd published book. The first one was Live Life… Stop Analysing it, which I wrote when I was in school. The book is a non-fiction philosophy and got published with Himalaya Publishers, Mumbai. After that I wrote 2 more books, which never got published. I don’t regret it though, as it just taught me more about the art and the fraternity.

Q: What can we expect from you in the near future? Any other book lined up?
A: I have been working on my next book from sometime. Hopefully, you can get to read it by next year. It’s a dark fiction that showcases the love life of a woman and compares it with how a woman’s emotions were received in our mythological history. The book is a way of comparison between the 2 different ages where everything has changed except the way the world perceives a woman’s emotions and actions.

Q: You took up writing as an intentional move or multiple sequences of events led to writing? Or you think you were destined to be a writer?
A: I started writing for newspapers as a kid, and it surprisingly felt good. It pushed me more towards writing. After my first book I knew that I want to be a writer, no matter what else I pursue in life as a career.
Interview with author Nikita Lalwani
Interview with author Nikita Lalwani
Q: Being a published author is a different feeling altogether. How do you make sure that this feeling stays alive forever?
A: I feel in order to keep anything alive for a long time, consistency is what it requires. So I make sure I write even if it doesn’t come out being as good as it should be. However, my job takes away most of my time and energy, but I am trying my best to cope up with it.

Q: “2 Peg Ke Baad”, is not about Alcoholism but things that happen or rather people do, what made you write a book on this topic? How did the idea come, evolve and became a reality?
A: Well, my idea was to explore human emotions, and what better event could allow you to unbosom what lies under the conscious levels of mind than alcohol. However, I do not intend to encourage alcoholism, but the subject allows me to talk neat, as an inebriated mind would.

Q: Out of the 14 short stories in your book, “2 Peg KeBaad”, how many of them are real, inspired, and fictional and to what extent?
A: Most of them are either an adaptation of a real story or inspired by true incidents. Few of them are however out and out fiction, but I would leave it on the audience to figure that out.

Q: Tell us about, how writing is a part of your daily life?
A: Well, I make a living out of Copywriting, so that makes a HUGE part of my day. As an author, I devote very less time to my writing, but I hope it gets better.

Q: How did you finalize the cover of the book? Did you have more options?
A: I was given multiple options by my Saurav Kumar, who designed the cover. The current cover was finalized keeping in mind the subject of the book and how clearly it explained it.

Q: Other than being a published author, what else do you do professionally?
A: I somewhere believe that I was born to write. I am working with McCann Health as a copywriter currently and wish to grow better in advertising.

Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books and authors?
A: I love to read, but I am not an ardent reader. Hindu mythology is one of my favourite subjects to explore – especially Mahabharata. I like to read Chitra Banerjee, Khaled Hosseini, Dan Brown and Dale Carnegie.

Q: If one of the short stories, out of the 14, is made into a short movie, which short story should that be? Who would be your lead characters?
A: I would like to name two here; one is Papier Blanc and the other is Rosita in the Bar. Papier Blanc is inspired from Sylvia Plath’s love life and has a lot to explore. Rosita in the Bar, is another woman centric plot that is based on the pursuit of a woman’s love. I haven’t thought of actors, but my definite choice of filmmaker for these would be Imtiaz Ali  and Anurag Kashyap.

Q: You prefer reading e-books or the traditional paper/hard back book?
A: I personally prefer paper/hard back books. I don’t have a definite answer to why, but I fall asleep as I sit to read on a device.

Q: Two things that you like and dislike about “2 Peg”?
A: Like – It can set you free. 2 pegs can make you talk neat, which we refrain from doing while we are conscious mind. 
Dislike – People make it a tool to speak up their mind, and more often to feel good. One should not have to depend on alcohol to feel good.

Q: If you have to give one reason to our readers to get hold of your book, “2 Peg Ke Baad”, what would the reason be?
A: It’s everything you could possibly want, and the best part is – it’s short! In the era of blogs and microblogs, people are looking for more fun in quick run. Short story/movie is a thing in this age. 2 peg ke baad apart from being short has stories of every genre, which makes sure everyone has something.

Q: Any message you would want to share with our readers?
A: I would love to have your feedback. Honest ones!

Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: You could write in to me on my mail id – 2pegkebaad@gmail.com. I am also available on Social Media – Twitter - 2 Peg Ke Baad, Twitter - Nikita Lalwani, FacebookInstagram. If you have interesting 2 peg ke baad stories or confessions – do write in at www.2pegkebaad.com. Would love to hear from you guys!


-- End of Interview with author Nikita Lalwani --
You can order a copy of the book from Amazon and Flipkart.
10:02:00 PM / by / 2 Comments

2 comments:

  1. Good to know about the ideas of the uprising author and good interview questions by you Mr.kaushal it's good to see your content with some your further interview session and reviews

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