Category: Interview/Q&A

Q&A: The Fragile Thread of Hope by Pankaj Giri

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I’m so grateful to Pankaj Giri for sending me a review copy of his book, The Fragile Thread of Hope, which I’m looking forward to reading soon.  You can read an extract from the book here.   I’m delighted that Pankaj has spared time from his writing and blogging – not to mention reading enthusiastic reviews of his book – to answer some questions about the inspiration for The Fragile Thread of Hope and his very personal writing journey.

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TheFragileThreadofHopeAbout the Book

In the autumn of 2012, destiny wreaks havoc on two unsuspecting people – Soham and Fiona.  Although his devastating past involving his brother still haunted him, Soham had established a promising career for himself in Bangalore.  After a difficult childhood, Fiona’s fortunes had finally taken a turn for the better. She had married her beloved, and her life was as perfect as she had ever imagined it to be.  But when tragedy strikes them yet again, their fundamentally fragile lives threaten to fall apart.  Can Fiona and Soham overcome their grief? Will the overwhelming pain destroy their lives?

Praise for The Fragile Thread of Hope

“Pankaj’s characters certainly evoke sympathy and throw light on important social issues. A good read.” (Chitra Divakaruni, award-winning bestselling author of The Palace of Illusions)

“An epic tale of love, loss, hope and faith that will remain with you long after the final page. With its lovely characters and beautiful prose, it ranks right up there with my favourites.” (Renita D’Silva, award-nominated bestselling author of The Forgotten Daughter)

“A literary masterpiece!” (Keshav Aneel, bestselling author of Promise Me A Million Times)

Format: eBook (408 pp.)                          Publisher:
Published: 29th October 2017                 Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk  ǀ Amazon.com
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

 

Find The Fragile Thread of Hope on Goodreads

Interview with Pankaj Giri, author of The Fragile Thread of Hope

Without giving too much away, can you tell me a bit about The Fragile Thread of Hope?

The Fragile Thread of Hope is an emotional, inspirational fiction about love, loss, family, and finding hope in the darkest of times. Seasoned with the flavours of exotic Nepalese traditions and set in the picturesque Indian hill station, Gangtok, it explores the themes of spirituality, faith, alcoholism, love, and guilt while navigating the complex maze of family relationships.  Inspirational and heart-wrenchingly intimate, it urges you to wonder – does hope stand a chance in this travesty called life?

What was the inspiration for the book?

After my father’s sudden death, an avalanche of feelings passed through me. I realized how shocking death could be and how life can snatch people from you when you believe that they will always be with you. I realized that you shouldn’t take anyone for granted. Then, as I read other books like The Kite Runner and The Lowland, a plot began forming in my mind. I felt like weaving a story based on love, loss, and family relationships. Gradually, the characters developed in my mind, and scenes began taking shape and haunting me. After a few weeks, the characters began putting pressure on me, as if prodding me to bring them to life on the canvas of my novel. Then, as I finally obliged, The Fragile Thread of Hope was born.

You’ve previously co-authored a book (Friendship Love and Killer Escapades, with Apoorv Wanikar).  What was the most useful thing you learnt from that experience?

With Friendship Love and Killer Escapades, I stepped into the challenging yet intriguing world of literature. At that time, I had not read many books and, frankly speaking, I didn’t even know how to write a book. I was in a hurry to publish, and in that process, I ended up making a lot of mistakes. And then when the brutally honest reviews started pouring in, the harsh realization kicked in – I needed to make a lot more effort to actually write a decent book. Thereafter, I worked very hard on my language and writing skills and read many critically acclaimed books. Slowly, in time, I began understanding the properties that a good book should possess. I used that knowledge and experience while writing The Fragile Thread of Hope, and I feel that I have managed to write a decent book this time.

What was the biggest challenge you encountered when writing The Fragile Thread of Hope?

One of the biggest challenges that I felt while writing The Fragile Thread of Hope is to make sure that I managed to bring out the right emotions in the reader at the right places. That is because I have read scenes in many books where the author wants the reader to feel a certain emotion, and I felt a contradictory emotion. I wanted to avoid that as much as possible, and I felt extremely satisfied when recently one esteemed blogger specifically mentioned that she felt the right emotions at the right places.

The second biggest challenge I faced was to reduce the ‘cheesiness’ in romantic scenes. I needed to keep the romance intact and yet trim the corny factor. I had to edit and rewrite many dialogues and paragraphs several times to try achieving that. I can’t say that I have been 100% successful, but I have tried my best to do it.

The third biggest challenge was to maintain an acceptable balance while describing ambiance and emotions. You want readers to be able to feel as if they are sensually (via sights, sounds, smells) in the scene, but you don’t want to bore them with excessive description as well. You want the readers to feel the character’s emotions, but you don’t want it to be repetitive as well. My beta readers and editors helped me, but somewhere you need to draw a line and decide that a particular line(s) has to go. It is a tough task and thus one of the biggest challenges while writing a novel.

At what point did you decide on the structure of the book, with the stories of the two main characters running in parallel and only converging towards the end of the book?

I decided the structure at the very beginning itself.

Reviewers have praised the way the book brings alive the cultural traditions of Nepal.  Was this something that was important to you?

GangtokThis was certainly important to me. I wanted my book not only to be a relatable tale of love, loss, family, and hope but also to showcase the exotic yet rich Nepali culture and traditions to readers all over the world.

I wanted them to get a glimpse of my native place Sikkim – a beautiful hilly state in Northeast India – as well.

On your blog you describe yourself as ‘an author by chance’.  Why do you say that?

Thank you for noticing that :).

I am an author by chance because I never ever dreamt of being an author. I was a software engineer working in Bangalore, and I didn’t even use to read much, let alone writing. However, after my father passed away, I had to leave my promising job and relocate to my native place, Gangtok. I did manage to somehow find a decent government job and settle down there….but lost in the dark lanes of despair, I was facing difficulty in moving on. Then, one day my mother suggested to me – why don’t you start writing? She reminded me how I used to write articles for my school magazine during my childhood. The thought stuck with me, and I decided to try it out. Strangely, almost immediately, I fell in love with writing. The rest is history.

On your blog you also publish book reviews.  What has it been like being on the receiving end of reviews of your own book?

It is exciting as well as scary. It is easy to express your honest views about other books, but when it comes to your own, you do get nervous. However, I don’t mind honest reviews, even if they are a bit critical at times. It’s not that I don’t feel bad after reading a harsh review, but after some time I go through it once again rationally and try my best to find out areas of improvement and work on them. Critical reviews are necessary for a writer who wants to improve, but I have seen some commercially successful writers who shy away from negative reviews. Due to that, they keep making the same mistakes and thus keep getting negative reviews, despite the commercial success of the book. That is something I like to avoid, so I take negative reviews in the right spirit.

Which other writers do you admire?

Khaled Hosseini for his simple yet lyrical voice and the way his stories can wrench your heart.  Renita D’Silva for her humility and kindness despite being a fabulous, accomplished, and critically acclaimed author. A Daughter’s Courage, her latest novel, is the best book I have ever read. I cherish our friendship and adore her brilliant, descriptive writing.  Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni for her mastery of poetic prose. She is also such a kind-hearted person, and I’m blessed to know her.

What are you working on next?

I have a couple of stories floating in my brain, but there is nothing concrete yet. I will take time, and unless I find a powerful story, I won’t even think of sitting down to write.

Pankaj GiriAbout the Author

Pankaj Giri was born and brought up in Gangtok, Sikkim – a picturesque hill station in India. He began his writing career in 2015 by co-authoring a book – Friendship Love and Killer Escapades (FLAKE). Learning from experience and the constructive criticism that he got for his first book, he has now written a new novel, The Fragile Thread of Hope, a mainstream literary fiction dealing with love, loss, and family relationships. He is currently working in the government sector in Sikkim. He likes to kill time by listening to progressive metal music and watching cricket.

Connect with Pankaj

Website ǀ  Facebook ǀ  Twitter ǀ  Instagram  ǀ Goodreads

 

Q&A: Getting Home by Wolfe Butler

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When an author contacts you about reviewing their book and the description sounds intriguing, it’s frustrating to know it’s going to be several months before you’ll be able to  read and review their book.  Such is the case when Wolfe Butler contacted me about his novel, Getting Home.    However, although it’s going to be a while until I get to read it, that doesn’t mean I should hide it away from followers of my blog who may not have such large review piles as me.

I’m pleased to say, Wolfe has agreed to answer some questions about Getting Home, including the inspiration for the book and his own very personal writing journey.  If it sparks your interest in the book, you can find purchase links below.

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Getting HomeAbout the Book

Dealing with a past he cannot remember, a future he is not sure he wants and questioning everything from his sanity to his sexuality, Tom Jacobs feels ever more certain that the only solution is to end it all. A high level career, a perfect marriage, a power family – from the outside Tom seems to have everything he could want. Yet, try as he will, he cannot seem to escape a constant need to run. Plagued with nightmares and an ever increasing need to control his life with alcohol, Tom is spinning out of control. What begins as a mission to end it all becomes a twenty year journey to the life he was meant to live. With unexpected turns, heartbreaking revelations and unlikely allies Tom is finally on the road that leads to Getting Home.

Format: eBook, paperback (218 pp.)      Publisher:
Published: 9th November 2017                Genre: Literary Fiction

Purchase Links*
Amazon.co.uk ǀ  Amazon.com ǀ Author Website
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find Getting Home on Goodreads

Interview with Wolfe Butler, author of Getting Home

Without giving too much away, can you tell me a bit about Getting Home?

Getting Home is the story of Tom Jacobs and his journey of self-discovery. When we first meet Tom, he is from an affluent family, has a perfect girlfriend he intends to marry and a career that men twice his age are still fighting for. Not everything is as it seems, though, and Tom is fighting internal monsters that are threatening to break out. The internal battle becomes so overwhelming that Tom decides his only option is to leave everything behind.

What was the inspiration for the book?

I have agonized over this question. I started Getting Home over fifteen years ago. I remember deciding that rainy August afternoon that I was going to start writing again. What become the Prologue for the book was really just stream-of-consciousness writing. After a few minutes, as happens so frequently with authors, a small voice started to speak in the back of my mind. Tom Jacobs was born and told me his story.

Getting Home is your first published novel.  Can you tell us a bit about your writing journey?

There is so much to be said here. While I have always loved writing, I never really felt that I would be willing to put anything out for others to judge. Getting Home became my therapy. I lost the love of my life during the journey. Tom and his battles became the way I learned to deal with all the painful emotions that were eating away at me. There was also a certain amount of liberation of being able to do anything with Tom’s world with no real-world consequences. It really helped me make a lot of important life choices.

What was the biggest challenge you encountered when writing the book?

Self-doubt was number one. I would sit down and write a few chapters and be so excited about the story. Then the doubt would set in. I would tell myself it was terrible, and no one would ever want to read it. Inevitably, I would shelve it until inspiration hit again a year or two later. [Cathy: I reckon many authors will identify with this.]

What advice would you offer to writers working on their own first novel?

Just. Keep. Writing. I could kick myself for not writing Tom’s whole journey when I first started the book. But then again, it would likely be a very different book because my life experience over the fifteen years is largely what shaped Tom’s story.

I read a quote recently from Stephen King, “Write a page a day, only 300 words, and in a year, you have written a novel.” Simple words but profound. I think especially as new writers we are overwhelmed by the scope of 80,000-100,000 words or more. Break it down and commit to 300 per day. Likely you will write more than 300 and be done in no time.

Your bio photo shows a figure with a suitcase.  Is travel an important element of your inspiration for writing?

First, I must admit, the picture is not me. Rather it is a stock image. I currently do not have any quality pictures of me. I do not like to be photographed, but I am working on it and hope to post some soon. I chose that picture for my profile because it fits the character of Tom Jacobs and his journey.

I do love to travel, though my greatest inspirations always seem to come from everyday life. The overly well-dressed man at the coffee shop. The tired mom in the grocery store with four small children. The obnoxious loud mouth at the end of the bar. There are characters everywhere. People inspire me more than anything.

On your blog you’ve recently started to publish book reviews.  How do you view the prospect of being on the receiving end of reviews of your own book?

Honestly, it terrifies me, but with an odd excited terror, like riding a roller coaster or going through a haunted house. I know not everyone will love Getting Home the way I do. I do not think it is perfect, but I finally pushed myself into publishing so I would stop working on it and move forward. My only hope is that the bad reviews will come with some clear direction as to why the reviewer hated the book. I want this to be a growing experience. Just saying, “It stinks!” or worse does not help anyone.

Do you think the story of Tom Jacobs, the protagonist of your novel, would have been different if he’d followed the advice of one of your own ‘Life Lessons’, namely to fill one’s life with positive people?

I believe sometimes in our lives we choose our journeys and sometimes our journeys choose us. Tom was destined to ultimately live the life he ended up with. There was someone waiting for him that needed him. Readers will understand when they read the book. No, I think no matter what pithy advice Tom may have been given, even if he tried to apply it, he still would have done the same things.

Which other writers do you admire or enjoy reading?

Wow, this could be a long answer. Michael Crichton is probably my favourite, if I had to choose just one. He was one of the greats that we lost much too soon. His book, Sphere, has been a favourite for decades. I also have great admiration for Dan Brown and Nicholas Sparks. Dan Brown really knows how to build anticipation and play out action in a way that keeps you turning pages. Nicholas Sparks knows how to make you feel emotions and fall in love. Jane Austen, though that may be a little cliché, is my other favourite. Pride and Prejudice is a masterpiece and the only book I have read many times. Of course, it also helps that it was the favourite of my wife.

What are you working on next?

I have six works going right now. The two I am most excited about are quite different. The first is a science fiction tale of a man who wakes up in a professed paradise but with no memories leading up to that day. He starts to have vivid dreams that make him doubt which is reality, the daily life or the dreams.  The other is more of a romance but also dealing with memory loss. This time it is a woman who wakes up in a large estate house, badly injured and with no memories. I am not far along with this one, but I already know that nothing is as it seems. I do, however, have the draft opening chapter for this one posted on my blog.

About the AuthorWolfe Butler

Wolfe writes: ‘My name is Wolfe Butler. I have been an avid reader and writer most of my life. Like so many other writers, I did not believe in myself enough to think that I could make a living as a writer, so I pursued a professional career in financial services. Twenty years later and I am not as young as I once was, but I am taking the time to pursue my passion and really give writing a chance.’

Connect with Wolfe

Website ǀ  Facebook  ǀ  Twitter ǀ  Goodreads