First of all, I would like to welcome you in the Literary World. Being capable of expressing feelings in the form of words is itself an achievement. Here, at WordCurd we would like you to express your feelings and experience as a writer, reader and as a human.
Apart from the book events I attend, my writer’s world consists mainly of my laptop, the mango tree I face while looking up and myself.
Being in this world feels different at different times. To stare at a blank page over a longish period makes me feel depressed; to create a scenario or dialogue that has panache makes me feel on top of the world (the literary one, to be precise). The best thing, however, is that I can change the world I create on the page according to my mood or whim.
My novel ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ deals with issues that are of great concern, such as child trafficking, gender equality, marital rape and, last but not least, the role the electronic media play in presenting these topics to the public. Special is that I deal with these dicey topics in a very spunky way, at times satirical, at times suspenseful, in between adding touches of sex and humour, as I want to provide insights, provoke reactions, but also entertain the reader. Another special feature of ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ is that my male and female protagonists come from different cultural backgrounds and, therefore, look at events from different perspectives, which leads to a very passionate relationship, - for better and for worse.
By writing ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ I got a lot off my chest which I wanted to share: observations I had made, ideas I had picked up from books, newspapers and lectures as well as random thoughts that had entered my head while listening to shouting matches masquerading as TV debates. My expectations were, primarily, to create a book that is as thought provoking as it is entertaining. Of course, I would be delighted if my ‘flights of fantasy’ would add wings to my writing career.
Being a writer might not be as much of a money spinner as being a banker, but it certainly leads to a colourful life, even if you spent a large part of it glued to your laptop. As a former Mayor of Berlin famously proclaimed: “We are poor, but sexy.” On the other hand, to be rich might even be sexier. So why not try to write stuff of literary quality that also sells?
Literature has always played a big part in my life, as it opened doors into worlds, which I could otherwise never have entered. Though I have physically traveled quite a lot, mental travel has always been at least as important to me. I just love to think and dream about what I have seen, heard or felt. It also fills my writer’s well. (More about it later).
The best way to connect with your readers is to provide or confront them with a cocktail of happenings, ideas and possibilities, presented in a way that keeps them engaged. ‘Not a dull page’, that is my motto.
This question does not apply to me, as ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ is my sixth book and third novel.
I started my writing career by contributing stories to Indian newspapers an magazines. To my utter surprise, they were all printed. Some editors told me that they were of special interest as I wrote from a different perspective, namely a foreign one (I am of German origin), a fact I was not even aware of. When friends, appreciative of my argumentative nature, advised me to ‘promote’ myself to book writing as books had a longer shelf life than articles, I followed their advice. My main obstacle had nothing to do with the writing part but with finding a publisher. Well, I managed to find the needle in the haystack.
The purpose of my writing has been to express myself and to share my observations, impressions, encounters, associations they provoked etc. with a wider public. Writing keeps my thinking tools well oiled and running and, through my writing, I want to set those of my readers into motion too. I have a lot to say, but not a lot of listeners. Therefore, instead of filling the air with sounds, I fill the pages with words. And I enjoy it.
The alternative to writing would be painting and to compose and translate poetry.
I generally do not leave things halfway. I am by nature a completer. In other words: whatever I start I finish – for good or for bad. The credit for constant support goes to my laptop, sense of humour and staying power.
Laptop.
Besides the linguistic skill to sheathe what you want to say into the right words, I regard curiosity in life in all its weird and wondrous manifestations and the ability to step into other people’s shoes as core qualities. Regarding style, I am all for short and to the point instead of beating around the bush.
The lessons I have learnt while penning my books are that I can be alone for long stretches of time without feeling lonely. In fact, to create and live in one’s own world has its own charm, which, at times, beats that of the real world. Yet, I have also learnt to make a conscious effort to socialize and travel not to end up as a hermit or somebody stuck and dwindling away in the same old comfort zone.
What I want to disclose about ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ at this stage is all mentioned on its blurb. Please, have a look at it.
Everybody in my family loves books, some read them, some collect them and some enjoy their sight as wallpaper. Not a single member shies away from spending money on books. Being fond of food, they regard them as fodder for mind and soul as well as eye-candy.
With regard to writing, both my grandsons seem to take after me. They are full of ideas and know how to express them in an extremely witty way.
The best compliment I received recently from a friend who had just finished reading ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’. In her opinion, it deserves the Booker Prize.
The worst criticism I received years ago from the then director of the German School. He told me that my sense of humour comes on his nerves, as it is often uncalled for.
My stories are influenced by real life in so far that whatever I experience either personally, through reading or stories told to me goes into my ‘writer’s well’. From there elements of them pop up either by fluke or are deliberately fished out by me. As one thing leads to another, the elements form a new picture. Very little of my writing is straight reporting. I enjoy either digging deep into a matter and/or put it into a wider perspective.
I would love to become a best-selling author, list or no list.
I see myself five years older and, hopefully, five years wiser, writing in a more relaxed manner in my garden surrounded by palm leaves and birdsong.
Does not apply, as I am already a full-time writer.
It took me about two years to complete ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’. I think to become a successful author takes a combination of patience and impatience: Patience to get a scene or dialogue right, impatience to move on and ahead till you reach your destination, often unknown even to yourself. At some point, you have to stop your train of thoughts and tell yourself: This is the end.
My motive has already been mentioned under 8). The special category would be fiction (anecdotes, short stories, novels).
Yes, I am already working on my next book. It will be a book of longish short stories, which are based on either a strange statement I overheard or weird incident I witnessed or was told about. I try then to figure out through my ‘informed imagination’, how somebody could make such a statement or be involved in such an incident.
Thank you for sparing your precious time!
We hope you enjoyed the session.
Team WordCurd!
- And now as you have entered this world, how do you feel being a member of it?
Apart from the book events I attend, my writer’s world consists mainly of my laptop, the mango tree I face while looking up and myself.
Being in this world feels different at different times. To stare at a blank page over a longish period makes me feel depressed; to create a scenario or dialogue that has panache makes me feel on top of the world (the literary one, to be precise). The best thing, however, is that I can change the world I create on the page according to my mood or whim.
- What made you think that your book is different from others? What makes your book special that reader should pick it?
My novel ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ deals with issues that are of great concern, such as child trafficking, gender equality, marital rape and, last but not least, the role the electronic media play in presenting these topics to the public. Special is that I deal with these dicey topics in a very spunky way, at times satirical, at times suspenseful, in between adding touches of sex and humour, as I want to provide insights, provoke reactions, but also entertain the reader. Another special feature of ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ is that my male and female protagonists come from different cultural backgrounds and, therefore, look at events from different perspectives, which leads to a very passionate relationship, - for better and for worse.
- While writing this book what were your expectations from the book? Were you sure that this book could give wings to your writing career?
By writing ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ I got a lot off my chest which I wanted to share: observations I had made, ideas I had picked up from books, newspapers and lectures as well as random thoughts that had entered my head while listening to shouting matches masquerading as TV debates. My expectations were, primarily, to create a book that is as thought provoking as it is entertaining. Of course, I would be delighted if my ‘flights of fantasy’ would add wings to my writing career.
- What do you think of writing as a career? What importance does literature play in your life?
Being a writer might not be as much of a money spinner as being a banker, but it certainly leads to a colourful life, even if you spent a large part of it glued to your laptop. As a former Mayor of Berlin famously proclaimed: “We are poor, but sexy.” On the other hand, to be rich might even be sexier. So why not try to write stuff of literary quality that also sells?
Literature has always played a big part in my life, as it opened doors into worlds, which I could otherwise never have entered. Though I have physically traveled quite a lot, mental travel has always been at least as important to me. I just love to think and dream about what I have seen, heard or felt. It also fills my writer’s well. (More about it later).
- What according to you is the best way to connect to the readers? Words shooting from heart, an extraordinary story or something else?
The best way to connect with your readers is to provide or confront them with a cocktail of happenings, ideas and possibilities, presented in a way that keeps them engaged. ‘Not a dull page’, that is my motto.
- Now as your debut book arrives in the market, what do you expect from your readers?
This question does not apply to me, as ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ is my sixth book and third novel.
- When you were in the initial phase of the writing journey, what obstacles you faced as a debutant author?
I started my writing career by contributing stories to Indian newspapers an magazines. To my utter surprise, they were all printed. Some editors told me that they were of special interest as I wrote from a different perspective, namely a foreign one (I am of German origin), a fact I was not even aware of. When friends, appreciative of my argumentative nature, advised me to ‘promote’ myself to book writing as books had a longer shelf life than articles, I followed their advice. My main obstacle had nothing to do with the writing part but with finding a publisher. Well, I managed to find the needle in the haystack.
- What do you think is the purpose of your writing? What difference does writing makes to your life?
The purpose of my writing has been to express myself and to share my observations, impressions, encounters, associations they provoked etc. with a wider public. Writing keeps my thinking tools well oiled and running and, through my writing, I want to set those of my readers into motion too. I have a lot to say, but not a lot of listeners. Therefore, instead of filling the air with sounds, I fill the pages with words. And I enjoy it.
The alternative to writing would be painting and to compose and translate poetry.
- Does at any stage you feel like leaving the script in the halfway. Who would you like to give the credit of being a constant supporter?
I generally do not leave things halfway. I am by nature a completer. In other words: whatever I start I finish – for good or for bad. The credit for constant support goes to my laptop, sense of humour and staying power.
- What do you usually prefer-pen, typewriter or computer?
Laptop.
- What are the core qualities an author must possess?
Besides the linguistic skill to sheathe what you want to say into the right words, I regard curiosity in life in all its weird and wondrous manifestations and the ability to step into other people’s shoes as core qualities. Regarding style, I am all for short and to the point instead of beating around the bush.
- Every journey teaches us a lesson. What are the lessons you’ve learnt while penning your books?
The lessons I have learnt while penning my books are that I can be alone for long stretches of time without feeling lonely. In fact, to create and live in one’s own world has its own charm, which, at times, beats that of the real world. Yet, I have also learnt to make a conscious effort to socialize and travel not to end up as a hermit or somebody stuck and dwindling away in the same old comfort zone.
- Tell us about your latest book.
What I want to disclose about ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’ at this stage is all mentioned on its blurb. Please, have a look at it.
- Does anyone else write in your family or anyone who loves books?
Everybody in my family loves books, some read them, some collect them and some enjoy their sight as wallpaper. Not a single member shies away from spending money on books. Being fond of food, they regard them as fodder for mind and soul as well as eye-candy.
With regard to writing, both my grandsons seem to take after me. They are full of ideas and know how to express them in an extremely witty way.
- Tell us about the best compliment you’ve ever received and the criticism given to you as an author.
The best compliment I received recently from a friend who had just finished reading ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’. In her opinion, it deserves the Booker Prize.
The worst criticism I received years ago from the then director of the German School. He told me that my sense of humour comes on his nerves, as it is often uncalled for.
- How much your stories are influenced from real-life stories?
My stories are influenced by real life in so far that whatever I experience either personally, through reading or stories told to me goes into my ‘writer’s well’. From there elements of them pop up either by fluke or are deliberately fished out by me. As one thing leads to another, the elements form a new picture. Very little of my writing is straight reporting. I enjoy either digging deep into a matter and/or put it into a wider perspective.
- These days every author wants to come in the list of ‘Best-selling Authors’? What do you think about it?
I would love to become a best-selling author, list or no list.
- Tell us something about your five year goal. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?
I see myself five years older and, hopefully, five years wiser, writing in a more relaxed manner in my garden surrounded by palm leaves and birdsong.
- If given an opportunity, would you like to be a full-time writer?
Does not apply, as I am already a full-time writer.
- How much time do you take to complete a novel? Is ‘patience’ the keyword to become a successful author?
It took me about two years to complete ‘Trapped in Want and Wonder’. I think to become a successful author takes a combination of patience and impatience: Patience to get a scene or dialogue right, impatience to move on and ahead till you reach your destination, often unknown even to yourself. At some point, you have to stop your train of thoughts and tell yourself: This is the end.
- What is the motive of your writing? Does your work fall under some special category?
My motive has already been mentioned under 8). The special category would be fiction (anecdotes, short stories, novels).
- Last, but most important question readers would want to know- Are you working on another book? If yes, how different is it from your last work?
Yes, I am already working on my next book. It will be a book of longish short stories, which are based on either a strange statement I overheard or weird incident I witnessed or was told about. I try then to figure out through my ‘informed imagination’, how somebody could make such a statement or be involved in such an incident.
Thank you for sparing your precious time!
We hope you enjoyed the session.
Team WordCurd!
[…] Source: Interview with Roswitha Joshi […]
ReplyDeleteWe are all trapped in want and wonder. I n fact the golden trap of life is the worst( or the best??) trap. There are traps all around us, at every step. Our surreal existence is conditional.It is conditioned with our ethnicity, language, culture, religion, social set ups, family every thing. Trap, trap, trap ! At every corner. Ghalib the celebrated Urdu poet had said. The prison of life or the bondage of suffering are the same/ how can man find deliverance before death. I have not read your book bu t its tiile has provoked these comments. So be it !
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