Author Interview - Vijay Medtia of "The Lost Woman Of Santacruz"

 

About the Author: Vijay Medtia

 

I am a short story writer and novelist. My debut novel, The House of Subadar was published by Arcadia Books, London. It was short-listed for the Glenn Dimplex Literary prize for new writers in Dublin, 2008.

I have had several short stories appear in anthologies; Leaving the Reno, in the Moss side collection by Crocus Books. English Babu, in the Migration anthology in association with the University of Lancaster. English Babu was set as an exam question for secondary pupils in Denmark.

Haram and British Guide, were published in Indian e-literary magazines.

My crime novel THE MISSING HUSBAND, was published in 2019 by Crocus Books and I was invited to read at the Manchester Book Festival. I was also invited to a University in Poland to read from my novel.

My new novel THE LOST WOMAN OF SANTACRUZ will be published by leading Indian Publishing House Leadstart in June 2021.

I am a British Indian writer based in the northwest, U.K.

 

 

1.What motivates you to write?

 

 I wish to tell stories in my voice, style and vision. Every writer has their unique way of sharing their stories and I wanted to do the same. This realisation came later, initially it was just about writing a good story and that also still holds true today.

 

 

2. How did you feel after publishing your books?

 

Very good and happy. It’s a special feeling to see all your hard work put into a small paperback. It’s hard to describe the feeling.

 

3. What are some of your favourite novels and authors?

 

All the great writers from the past. From India, I like RK Narayan, VS Naipaul.

 

 

4. Is there a specific reason for naming your novel?

 

Yes, the novel is set in the district of Santacruz, Mumbai.

 

 

5. Where do you write from? Do you go to some specific place, like beachside or the hills?

 

My best writing place is the library, has been for years. There are great libraries in England, where you can write in peace and quiet. And on the days where the writing is hard going, you can just go and pick up a good novel to read instead.

 

 

6. What inspired you to write the books(in general)? Any tales to tell…

 

 

7. What was your biggest learning experience throughout the writing process?

 

Writing is a lonely business; you have to have the ability to write alone for months and years at a time. Many people have talent but you also need discipline and perseverance. You have to read good novels, be open to learning from other writers. You also have to learn to edit.

 

 

8. Looking back, what did you do right that helped you break in as a writer?

 

As simple as it sounds, writing a good, intriguing story. Followed closely by learning to write properly. This part takes years and isn’t so simple. To learn the craft of writing takes years and I’m still learning.

 

 

9. Any best piece of writing advice that you would like to share with new or struggling writers?

 

Follow your dream and don’t quit. Perseverance is key, along with being sharp and learning quickly about the craft of writing. You can find many tips on how to be a writer on the net from famous writers, but for me, discipline and perseverance are very important.

 

 

 

 

10. Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?

 

I like Samurai and western films, along with Satyajit Ray films. I try to practice meditation, but that’s another story. I also write the first draft with a pen.

 

11. Any future books that you would like to discuss now?

 

 

12.What other profession excites you the most?

 

Producing films.

 

 

13.Any special mention about your reader (be it with reviews/feedback or anything else)

 

Readers are very important; we cannot exist without them and I’m always very grateful when I receive good reviews for my novels.

 

 

14.Do you write the story at a stretch or you take your time to complete it? If you take a longer time, wouldn’t you be forgetting the story? How do you tackle it?

 

I try to write the first draft at a stretch, to keep the flow going like you say.

 

 

15.Traditional or Self-Publishing? Why?

 

Traditional is good, they have the support network right behind you from the start. After the novel is published, they have the strong marketing team to publicise your novel. They have contacts that you’re not aware of in the press media.

Self-publishing is also good but I would strongly advice a writer to pay someone very good for editing the novel. Also marketing on your own isn’t easy. There some very good self-published books that were later taken on by the traditional publishers, and so this is also a good route to take by a writer.

 

  

16.How is the response so far for the book?

 

Initial feedback is that they find the novel very good and interesting, and like the central character Inspector Ajay Shaktawat. But the novel has only just been published and I’m hoping readers really like the novel.

He can be reached via his website by clicking here