- When did you discover your love for writing?
Well, I used to write for my school magazine but I really started enjoying it when I first started writing short stories in my personal diary. - What drives you to write or who inspires you?
Inspiration is something that comes from within and anything can inspire you. My family is a very big source of inspiration for me. Real-life experiences and incidents are also some of the sources of inspiration to me. I have written about my experiences in another Online Magazine. - Do you like reading? If yes, please tell us about your favourite authors and books?
I had taken to reading like a fish takes to water. Its been a long time that I have been reading all sorts of genres, biographies, auto-biographies, etc. The list is bit long but I will try to cut it short. My favorite authors are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, Ved Vyas, Amartya Sen, Salman Rushdie, Graham Hancock, Eric Von Daniken, James Patterson, Jeffery Deaver, Keigo Higashima, Jo Nesbo, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, and Clive Cussler etc.My Favorite books: The Bhagvad Gita, The Argumentative Indian, Fury, The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Tale of Two Cities, Magicians Of The Gods, Chariots Of The Gods, Along Came A Spider, The Snowman, Devotion of Suspect X, The Kill Room, Origin, Fear Nothing and The Inca Gold. The list is still long and this is just a sample as I am diverse reader. - Which genre do you prefer to write about?
Well I started with Horror/Fiction genre but now I would like to write more on Crime Mystery genres. I would also like to try on genres which explore human relations and emotions. - What are your thoughts on ‘Storytelling is an art’?
All kinds of Art require undivided attention and passion to generate curiosity and interest amongst the public. All Creative People are aware of this fact. As to Storytelling, it requires the storyteller to first transport and immerse his/her own self passionately into the story and then deliver it to the readers in a way that compels them to stay attached to that story, as if they are part of that story. It is like the reader is envisioning himself/herself as being the main character in the story and everything is revolving around that main character. All writers and Poets know of this art and that’s why they are able to create such literary masterpieces. - Every month there are so many calls for an anthology, how you choose the anthology?
It becomes difficult but I choose the one which is more akin to my heart just like the Album Of Hearts Anthology. - How you come across Album of Hearts Anthology?
I had come across a competition held by Ink Quill Publishers in the internet. So I had sent one of my submissions (‘Murder Of The Bhatia Couple’) across to them and the rest is history. - Do you have any near plans for writing your full length novel? Or Tell us about your upcoming novel?
I am planning to write a full-length novel in the crime and mystery genre. My earlier book was in the horror fiction category titled ‘Revenge Of The Evil Tantric and Horror Stories From India’ was a collection of stories. - Apart from writing, what other things you prefer doing?
Well, I love playing football, hockey despite my growing age. I also like going outdoors in search of stories and sometimes I delve into photography also. I also like trying out various kinds of cuisines (especially Bengali cuisine and sweets!). - Do you have any message for your readers?
One thing I would like to say to the readers is that if you can take some time out for reading, then I can assure you that it would be worthwhile. As books take you into a different world; away from the daily hectic schedules of life. It gives you wings to fly to far off destinations and also it brings out the creativity in you. For me it was as if ‘I had grown wings and was flying on top of the world without any stress. It was a sensation so deep that words are not enough to express it unless you experience it yourself. Moreover it is also a source of enjoyment for everyone. Once you get into the habit of reading and it can be anything, from a newspaper article to a full length feature, it will be so engrossing and it will not let you go easily. I have seen in public conveyances people take out a book or a magazine, even a newspaper to kill their time until they reach their destination. So it is my humble request to all that do kindly take up the reading habit and you won’t regret it. - What’s your message to budding/ aspiring writers?
I believe that ‘Every writer’s soul has a secret. A secret that has all the experiences of his everyday life, the unique qualities of his brain, and the dreams that he has in his heart are written large in his works’. So let your imagination flow and soar high without any hindrance. This way you will be envisioning yourself in your writing and also will be able to hold your reader by making him/her envision themselves in the same situation. Storytelling is an art and if you can master this art then you are the masters of your own destiny. So ‘All The Best To All Of You’. - Lastly, how was your experience working with us?
Working with InkQuills Publication House has been really a wonderful experience for me. Right from the selection of my submission to the publication I have been informed every step of the way. Even the Posters and Book cover are absolutely amazing. I feel honoured to be part of such a wonderful group of Writers and Poets in this beautiful Anthology called ‘The Album Of Hearts’. It would be an honour to be again associated with this wonderful group of writers and poets and also to be associated with the brilliant InkQuills group of people consisting of the super cool – Abhisar and his amazing team. My sincerest heartfelt gratitude to all of you.
So that was Rahul. Thank you for your precious time.
Wishing him good luck in all his future endeavors.
You can read more about him here.
— Interviewed by Aditi Srivastava.
