Sunday 3 April 2016

AUTHOR’S INTERVIEW- Questioniare with Mukul Deva

So, for this month  featuring  author from Indian Literary World  is 

Mukul Deva for many famous books Like:- Lashkar (2008), Salim must die(2009) and many more


Mukul Deva did his schooling from La Martiniere College, Lucknow, and then he did training from the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He was commissioned in December 1981 into the Sikh Light Infantry of the Indian Army and took early retirement from the army after fifteen years of service, including a decade of combat operations in India and overseas. Thereafter,he co-founded MSD Security Pvt Ltd, which is headquartered at Delhi and then the Singapore based Influence Solutions Pte Ltd. Mukul has served as a mentor on the UNITAR Fellowship for Afghanistan and a trained coach from the Henley Business School, University of Reading U.K. His passion is working with people and helping them grow. And what he enjoy most is reading, movies, swimming, yoga and traveling.





Questioniare with Mukul Deva 


How did you first get involved in with writing, are you an imaginative person? 

I have been passionate about story telling even when I was in school. I remember how much I loved sitting with my friends and entertaining them with stories that I would make up on the fly. This passion grew with the passage of years and by the time I was in the 8th grade I knew that I wanted to be a writer. It was of course duly pointed out to me that writers usually starved. Despite that, with every passing year my love affair with writing continued unabated, first I wrote for my school magazines, then the NDA and IMA journals and various Defence publications, and finally I started writing books. And now, here I am, completing my sixteenth one. Writing for me is also a catharsis... the most sublime form of expression.

What do you find most challenging about your writing?

Honestly, I find writing the most liberating and energising thing ever and don’t see any challenges in it. Yes, sometimes life can get too busy and one has to work hard to create the time required for it.

How do you keep coming up with material / content for your story?

My primary source of new material is that I keep a sharp eye open and observe everything happening around me – there are so many stories being played out that coming up with new ideas is hardly a problem.

Any specific tips you have for new writers who want to make it big in the world of published books?

Always separate the WHAT (you wish to tell) from HOW (you are going to tell it). This will make your story so much for engrossing, realistic and easier to write. Also, very importantly, write in your own voice – trying to imitate someone else is never a good idea, since it is our viewpoint which makes us unique – and that it what the reader is interested in.

What’s the best thing a writer can give to his readers?

That would depend on the genre you write in. If you’re writing fiction then the biggest thing you can give your reader is a fun, thrilling and engaging ride. If you are writing, say a self-help book, then try to pass on practical, and easy to implement wisdom

A lot of people are interested in writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from writing? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?

I am not sure I am the best person to give advice on this, however my suggestions would be
1.       Know your audience
2.       Write your best story
3.       Ensure your publisher does a good job on the publicity and promotion
4.       Explore social media to sell – if you have the time and energy for it.
Also fair to point out that my primary focus is always 1 and 2 above…J

What motivates you most in life?

Trying to build up the list of people who will cry (and remember me fondly) when I die.. J

What was the most challenging moment in your writing content development process and why?

For me, none. If one has the passion and the discipline (and I have an abundance of both), then there are no challenges.
What is the story behind the name of your book?

My next book is titled POUND OF FLESH. It is the third book of the RAVINDER GILL series; the first was WEAPON OF VENGEANCE and the second was ASSASSINS.
Five adjectives that describe you?
Adaptable.
Broken
Curious.
Caring.
Sharp.

What books would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?

That would be CHITRALEKHA by Bhagwati Charan Verma, THE STRANGER by Camus, CATCHER IN THE RYE by JD Salinger and THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON’T THEY by Horace McCoy – they all helped enhance my view of life, and taught me how to observe with an open mind.
Do you get easily provoked by positive / negative comments?

No. I don’t really care what people say or write about me – positive or negative. My sole endeavour is to live my best life and ensure that my intentions are always clear and honest.

Do you plan to write more books, as every author dream it is?

I am always writing – and my plan is to come out with one book every year.

What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid?

I love the military action thriller genre the most. It requires a huge amount of research, major technical construct and domain knowledge. Hence it is one of the most challenging genres that I have encountered. I love that challenge. Strangely enough, when I did start writing in this genre I was told by many people that Indians did not really write military action thrillers. I always found that hilarious since the Mahabharata is definitely a fantastic military action thriller, and last I checked had also been written by an Indian…:) 

Your Views on increasing plagiarism?

Don’t do it – it’s a stupid idea and takes away your major strength – your unique voice.



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