1. 1. When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller? As a reader, my first novel was “I too had a love story”. That story left an incredible impression on me. That was the time, when I realized, even I wanted to pen down stories. I wanted to narrate something which people could connect instantly with. The kind of storytelling I enjoy is where people can imagine the scene as the story goes by, and hence I decided to write the story accordingly. I started building up the points. As I moved ahead, I could see the story, narrating the incidents and one day I concluded the story.
2. How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
e-love* *Terms & Conditions applied revolves around love and technology. Today technology has surrounded us. Day starts off with texting someone on whatsapp and calls off with updating the status on FB. Social media know moreabout anyone than someone elseI wanted to pen down a story which could connect the three dots i.e social media, technology and impact of technology on someone’s life so,finally I came out with e-love. A story which would reveal the same.
3. What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book(s), but nobody has? Write it out here, and then answer it.
Since the day of book launch, I have been asked numerous questions such as Who is Akshi? Is this your story? How much time did it take to complete the book? I was delighted answering all the questions which were related to the book. As an author I wishsomeone to ask me this question “Describe your four years of writing the book. Was there any time, when youwanted to just leave the book in middle and put an end to your writing career?”
Answer to the above question is that, every success comes after hard and serious efforts put forward. During the last four years, I was completely dedicated towards this book. When I started writing I completed first draft of the book within a week. When I gave my first draft for review, reviews were certainly discouraging and as a result I had writers block. Due to some serious efforts and motivational words by one of my friend I was able to start writing again and I re-wrote the book. I edited the book several times and gave it the final shape. In between I had to take break of six months due to my CA final examinations. As soon as I was free from my studies I again got back to working on my book. I remember the day when my publisher accepted my book and all my hard work got paid off. Glad to see, my manuscript is a published book.
4. What field or genre would you classify your book(s) and what attracted you to write in that field or genre?
My first book is a fictional romance novel. I love writing romance. When I used to write articles, they were always connected to love, romance, relationships only. So as of now romance is my favourite genre.
5. Do you believe there is value in a review? Do you believe they are under rated, over rated, or don’t matter at all?
Yes I do believe that a review is always valuable. I feel there are many avid readers. They know about different books, diverse writing styles and what factors make a book a great novel. For me their opinion matters. Apart from the passionatereaders, someone who has just started reading novels, review of that person will also matter a lot to me. Each review, whether it is good or bad, overrated or under rated, positive or negative, it matters. If any review is not as per our expectation, and an author takes it in a positive way, certainly he or she can improve writing skills. I feel writing is an art which is learned over a period of time, thus review helps in improving the art of writing.
6. What is your biggest fear about having a book published?
I’ll be honest; there were actually two fears that I always had.
First was the dilemma, “whether to keep the book simple or make it commercial.” I wanted to write something which could connect people and thatwas when I decided not to make it commercial, it was one big fear I had. However, glad to see, that people are loving “e-love”.
Second biggest fear,how my family would react on hearing about me getting a book published.They were not aware about my writing, so when it came to telling them that I was soon going to be a published author, it took a lot of guts to pick up my phone, dial my dad’s number and tell them that dad “I am getting a book published and will be a published author soon.” My family accepted my writing passion and they allowed me to go ahead with my dreams.
7. If you have multiple books published what do you feel is your greatest work, why?
If multiple books are published? Difficult to answer, as for an author, every work of him is great ;it’s the readers who will tell the greatest work. For me I feel, my greatest work would be my first novel only. Reason being my first book was my first step to becoming an author. I am not aware how many people are going to love “e-love” but for the rest of my life, it will be my greatest work even if I write some of the bestselling novels in future.
8. What is the intended audience for you book?
My intended audience is every person who is addicted to use of technology driven platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp etc. If you ask me to be very particular, then my target readers are the teenagers who are habituated with these online platforms. Today these social platforms have narrowed down the distance and thus have made the entire globe a single village. However, this has a side effect too. So to find out the answer and to experience how technology has changed lives, love of two people, I welcome readers to pick up the book and read.
9. What makes a good story, why?
I like reading books. I like or pick those stories which can instantly connect me. I’ll prefer a story which won’t allow me to move from my seat and it happens only when story is written in a simple way, with the aid of fewspices which can hold someone’s interest. Dragging or stretchingthe scene makes the story boring, which should not happen. I feel best story is the one which is written with the sole purpose of narrating it rather than selling it. I have read many romance fictional novels, but only few are my all-time favorite because those were written in a way which could hold my interest.
10. What would you like to write about that you have never written about before?
Question of my interest. As of today I write fiction romance and I’ll keep doing it. I’ll also try to enter another genre but one thing which I would like to write duringmy journey of being an author would be a biography. I want to engrave someone’s life on pages and tell it to the entire world. The person whose life would be carved would be one who left an incredible impact on my life. I hope that day would come soon.
11. Were your characters based off real life people/events or did you make it all up?
My characters are a blend of few people inspired from real life and some imagination so that they can be according to the storyline. I write fiction but the thought is from the events happening in the real world. Characters of the book are to an extent inspired from real life but they were made perfect with the help of imagination.
12. Do you view writing as a career, labor of love, hobby, creative outlet, therapy, or something else?
Sole and whole purpose of writing was my passion. I don’t see it as my career or as hobby. I see it as my passion. Something which emergednaturally to me, something which will never go away from me. Writing helps me relax in stressful situations, adds to my joyin my happy days. I feel I am blessed to have such a passion which would never make me feel alone or bored in my life.
13. What is your favourite scene in the book? Why?
One more favorite question. My favorite scene in the book is when Ankit proposes Akshi. Its visualization gave me goosebumps and it still does. I kept it simple, as it would happen in reality. I remember, it took almost a day to create the scene and pen it down.
14. Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
I think, characters in the book are reflection of the author. An author narrates a story through his character. So I feel to an extent a character in the book represents me as well. However, let me make it clear before the readers of the interview thinks otherwise; it is not my story ;)
15. Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
Yea, I do read. (It is the reader in me, which has inspired the writer in me). I like novels written by Preeti Shenoy and Ravinder Singh. I read the book and highlight all the lines, which I like. Once I am done with reading, I read all those lines again and try to learn out of those lines.
16. What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
“Write to narrate a story, not to sell a story” the only advice I have received and the best one till date.
17. What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
People say that love is unconditional but I feel love comes with certain terms and conditions. There are certain hard core facts and bitter truths associated with love. Being an optimistic we want to see happy ending or ending which is as per our expectation but through e-love, I have tried to showcase the real facts about the life.
18. Do you have a subject/genre you would never write about, why?
Yea, I have. Since the day of writing I have never written about one thing i.e. horror. I’ll never write a horror story. I will never make any effort to frighten my readers. I would like them to cherish the love and spread it around them. Moreover, to be very honest I have never read any horror book. A horror book comes with lots of twist and fear but I feel I can’t go through that horror or shock and tolerateit. So for me horror is banned.
19. Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
First of all I am thankful to Jonali for giving me anopportunity to put my thoughts in front of the readers. For readers, e-love* *Terms & Conditions applied is my debut book. The book revolves around love and technologies impact on relations. This book was written keeping in mind the real happening in the real world and depicts one of the faces of the virtual world relationship.
Read the book and please post your review. What did you like about the book, what made you hate the book, best scene about the book, anything which you would like to post. Your review will help me sharpen my skills. You can reach out to me at all the popular social platform, which are listed below: I am looking forward for your review. Book is available on amazon and flipkart.
E-Mail: Ankit.bohra16@gmail.com
Blog : www.e-lovetc.blogspot.in
Facebook : www.facebook.com/ankit.bohra39
www.facebook.com/elove.tc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/e_love_tc
Instagram: @ Ank_Bohra
I'd like to thank Ankit Bohra for this interview. Here's wishing him luck for all his future works.
