In a conversation with Namrata Madhira, author of the Metro Diaries book series. Metro Diaries - 2 is a collection of 20 short stories that revolve around life. You can read the complete review of the book at Book Review : Metro Diaries -2 - Namrata Madhira.
Q: “Metro Diaries -2” is the second book in the Metro Diaries series by you. When did you decide that you wanted to come up with the second part?
A: After the decent response to the first part I was not sure I wanted to bring the second part out. The first one was more of an ode to my transformation from a blogger to an author. I started working on this collection deciding to stay away from romance as a genre. But when I was eventually working on the title for the book I invariably came back to Metro Diaries Part 2. Somehow nothing else seemed to fit it more than that.
Q: “Metro Diaries -2” is an interesting take on life and the observations around it, how do you measure the effectiveness of the same in your stories?
A: I think I managed to keep it as close to reality as possible because of those few people who chose to ping me sharing their feedback on them with me. None of them have told that those stories look too far fetched to be true. And that is where I think I have succeeded.
Q: How did you take up writing? Intention? Inspiration? Destiny?
A: A little bit of it all I guess.
Q: Apart from "Metro Diaries" and “Metro Diaries -2” what else have you written? Anything that you want us to know?
A: I have been a part of 8 anthologies so far apart from these two short story collections which are solo.
-- Interview with author Namrata Madhira (privytrifles) --
Q: “Metro Diaries -2” is the second book in the Metro Diaries series by you. When did you decide that you wanted to come up with the second part?
A: After the decent response to the first part I was not sure I wanted to bring the second part out. The first one was more of an ode to my transformation from a blogger to an author. I started working on this collection deciding to stay away from romance as a genre. But when I was eventually working on the title for the book I invariably came back to Metro Diaries Part 2. Somehow nothing else seemed to fit it more than that.
Q: “Metro Diaries -2” is an interesting take on life and the observations around it, how do you measure the effectiveness of the same in your stories?
A: I think I managed to keep it as close to reality as possible because of those few people who chose to ping me sharing their feedback on them with me. None of them have told that those stories look too far fetched to be true. And that is where I think I have succeeded.
Q: How did you take up writing? Intention? Inspiration? Destiny?
A: A little bit of it all I guess.
Q: Apart from "Metro Diaries" and “Metro Diaries -2” what else have you written? Anything that you want us to know?
A: I have been a part of 8 anthologies so far apart from these two short story collections which are solo.
Q: What can we expect from you in the near future? Any other books lined up?
A: My next book is a travelogue based on the experiences of a solo woman and it is intended to be in series of 5 books along with coffee table books of those places with photographs. I am also working on a historical drama with Partition as the back drop and a love story.
Q: Being a published author, is a different feeling altogether. How do you make sure that this feeling stays alive forever?
A: Ah! This is something that is best done by the wonderful readers and their ever-encouraging reviews that they keep posting across various portals.
A: My next book is a travelogue based on the experiences of a solo woman and it is intended to be in series of 5 books along with coffee table books of those places with photographs. I am also working on a historical drama with Partition as the back drop and a love story.
Q: Being a published author, is a different feeling altogether. How do you make sure that this feeling stays alive forever?
A: Ah! This is something that is best done by the wonderful readers and their ever-encouraging reviews that they keep posting across various portals.
Q: "Metro Diaries -2" is a collection of short stories revolving around life, why did you choose fiction as a route to your stories?
A: Metro Diaries collection isn’t exactly fiction. As I had tagged it on my blog, it is a place where reality meets fiction. I believe the best way to describe life would be in fiction though in very liberal doses as otherwise life is something we all see daily. I have to be able to show you something very different than what you usually see to make the book enjoyable.
Q: Do you think writing short stories, sometimes, lacks justification to the characters and the story?
A: Yes and even to the plot. Trying to justify it all in say 5000 words is not that easy right? It takes a toll either on the characters or the detailing of the narration.
A: Metro Diaries collection isn’t exactly fiction. As I had tagged it on my blog, it is a place where reality meets fiction. I believe the best way to describe life would be in fiction though in very liberal doses as otherwise life is something we all see daily. I have to be able to show you something very different than what you usually see to make the book enjoyable.
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| Interview with author Namrata Madhira (privytrifles) |
A: Yes and even to the plot. Trying to justify it all in say 5000 words is not that easy right? It takes a toll either on the characters or the detailing of the narration.
Q: Any particular review that you received for “Metro Diaries -2” made you go wow? Can you share with us?
A: It has to be the first story in the book. I was told it was so unlike me, that the reader had to stop reading the book after that to grasp the ultimate truth of the story. She said even the tone apart from the plot was just not me and it took her a while to realize that it is me who has written it. I take that as a compliment because till now people thought I could write only love stories and here I was with a revenge story on adultery which was borderline promiscuous.
Q: How different is it to write short stories than the contemporary books?
A: The only difference according to me is to ensure you have kept the reader entertained till the 55000th word in your book unlike the 5000th word in a short story.
A: It has to be the first story in the book. I was told it was so unlike me, that the reader had to stop reading the book after that to grasp the ultimate truth of the story. She said even the tone apart from the plot was just not me and it took her a while to realize that it is me who has written it. I take that as a compliment because till now people thought I could write only love stories and here I was with a revenge story on adultery which was borderline promiscuous.
Q: How different is it to write short stories than the contemporary books?
A: The only difference according to me is to ensure you have kept the reader entertained till the 55000th word in your book unlike the 5000th word in a short story.
Q: Tell us about, how writing is a part of your daily life?
A: By writing constantly! From 55 fiction to a page of musings I make it a point to write daily without fail. It helps a lot not only in fine tuning the art of writing but also in staying connected to the magic of words.
Q: Other than being a published author, what else do you do professionally?
A: I have been an investment banker for a decade before quitting it due to health reasons. Post which I worked for various publishing houses both as a freelancer and as an employee to gain learning as to what all goes behind a book apart from writing it. Those 2 years have been very informative and eye opening for me in every sense. As of now I work as a freelancing editor, beta reader and manuscript reviewer for a few publishing houses apart from reviewing books.
A: By writing constantly! From 55 fiction to a page of musings I make it a point to write daily without fail. It helps a lot not only in fine tuning the art of writing but also in staying connected to the magic of words.
Q: Other than being a published author, what else do you do professionally?
A: I have been an investment banker for a decade before quitting it due to health reasons. Post which I worked for various publishing houses both as a freelancer and as an employee to gain learning as to what all goes behind a book apart from writing it. Those 2 years have been very informative and eye opening for me in every sense. As of now I work as a freelancing editor, beta reader and manuscript reviewer for a few publishing houses apart from reviewing books.
Q: Tell us something about your experience of getting your books published?
A: Both my books till now have been ebooks released on Amazon and hence it wasn’t much of a hassle. The real challenge is now I believe as I scout for publishers for my next book.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books and authors?
A: I think I read more than I write because the reader me is much older than the writer me! I have been a voracious reader since the age of 4. And fortunately for me, I am a reviewer with leading publishing houses today. I read every single day and I enjoy reading across genres. R K Narayan has to be my favourite for the simplicity he had in both his stories and in his writing. That is something I strive to bring in mine. It is very difficult to choose a favourite book, because I firmly believe there is no bad book in this world. Each one of them teach you something. Some teach you the good while some teach you the bad.
A: Both my books till now have been ebooks released on Amazon and hence it wasn’t much of a hassle. The real challenge is now I believe as I scout for publishers for my next book.
Q: Do you read as much as you write? Which are your favorite books and authors?
A: I think I read more than I write because the reader me is much older than the writer me! I have been a voracious reader since the age of 4. And fortunately for me, I am a reviewer with leading publishing houses today. I read every single day and I enjoy reading across genres. R K Narayan has to be my favourite for the simplicity he had in both his stories and in his writing. That is something I strive to bring in mine. It is very difficult to choose a favourite book, because I firmly believe there is no bad book in this world. Each one of them teach you something. Some teach you the good while some teach you the bad.
Q: You prefer reading e-books or the traditional paper/hard back book?
A: Hardback book and paperback any day over e books.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike about “Short Stories”?
A: Like
- They are short.
- They are multi flavoured quick bites
Dislike
- They are short
- This form has been exploited very badly off late.
A: Hardback book and paperback any day over e books.
Q: Two things that you like and dislike about “Short Stories”?
A: Like
- They are short.
- They are multi flavoured quick bites
Dislike
- They are short
- This form has been exploited very badly off late.
Q: If you have to give one reason to our readers to get hold of your book, “Metro Diaries -2”, what would the reason be?
A: Read this book to know life more closely.
Q: Any message you would want to share with our readers?
A: Believe. Dream. Love. Laugh. Live. Nothing else sums up life more aptly than these 5 words.
A: Read this book to know life more closely.
Q: Any message you would want to share with our readers?
A: Believe. Dream. Love. Laugh. Live. Nothing else sums up life more aptly than these 5 words.
Q: How can our readers connect with you?
A: Would love to hear from them at Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website, Reviews Blog.
A: Would love to hear from them at Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website, Reviews Blog.
-- End of Interview with author Namrata Madhirra (privytrifles) --
You can order a copy of the book from Amazon.
She is a talented writer who writes fabulous fictions. "The only difference according to me is to ensure you have kept the reader entertained till the 55000th word in your book unlike the 5000th word in a short story." So true! Wish her all the success for the book.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely she is. Thank you for reading the interview :)
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