Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an Indian and my hometown is Lucknow (the City of Nawabs). I am a final-year graduate of National Law University Odisha. I am currently planning to pursue MSc. Psychology (Conversion) after graduation.
I have been a self-engrossed person since childhood. I have little to no interest in communicating with people in masses. I was inclined towards law, but practicing it as a profession seems a bit unlike of me. A massive transformation of lifestyle from home to college has reshaped me in manners which cannot be articulated. I have developed a huge inclination towards psychology, especially Freudian psychoanalysis. A part of me was always into philosophy, but it was existentialism that caught my attention. My first interaction with existentialism was through Albert Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus. I still remembered I laughed with each para I read as it was the only reaction that came out witnessing the congruency of its conceptuality with our existence. As if now I am studying the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche along with Greek Mythology, which is another field that interests me. I find Dionysus as the fallen God of the Greeks, a very fascinating character. The Twice Born One, is the source of duality conceptualizing contradiction within itself. All who were attracted to him were fated to a tragic end just like him. This makes me wonder how one aspect which creates is also responsible for its destruction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
I have written a fictional piece of work as Novella titled, “Memoir: The Cathartic Night (Contemplating Temporality to Inevitability)”. It is an existentialist read which aims to embark its readers onto a contemplative journey of self-discovering. I was influenced by Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis to write a Novella conceptualizing my thinking in consonance with existentialism. It upfront deals with the absurdity that is aligned with our existence as meaninglessness in the world of nothingness.
It was the night of 31st May. I usually write a brief about my thoughts, which intrigue me before going to sleep. I have a habit of contemplating various aspects of my life, my past and about all that circumambient me. When I am alone with my thoughts, they tend to surface at the consciousness in the most unexpected times. That night was no different. As I was staring the ceiling in the dark, a thought emerged to the surface, “life and temporality are indispensably attached to the inevitability of death. Is ‘living’ a fight against inevitability?” I don’t know the actual source from where the thought may have arisen, but it may be an outcome of the current events of my life. I am living with my grandfather, who is at a critical age of 92. During the worldwide outburst of Covid-19, his health has been constantly deteriorating with no particular anatomical reason. I have never consciously realized the impact of his absence in my life, but it seems to grab my unconscious self.
On the next day, the beginning of a new month, I sat before my laptop and start writing whatever came to my mind. I never thought I’ll be able to form a Novella out of it. I have noticed one thing about myself, I feel my mind empty when I sit by myself, all alone with nothing to do. But when I keep my fingers onto the keypad, the stream of consciousness starts forming itself as words.
That’s how Memoir: The Cathartic Night came into being from my stream of consciousness.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The process of writing for me is an extemporaneous act. I cannot write with a pre-conceived notion of writing. It is a matter of time when some extraordinary thought clicks which catalyse the entire process of writing. It forms a chain reaction within and that which was once an empty mind transforms into a vivid imagination of things which were yet unknown. For me writing is an articulation of consciousness, it must take its own form.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Amongst all great legends out there, this book was mostly inspired by the classic Novella, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. The writing style of Kafka is magnificent. How he creates a world of realism with its inception of something connected to mysticism is beyond comprehension.
While the conceptuality of the book is based upon my contemplation primarily over The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. Existentialism as a philosophical movement has a huge impact on me. There are some great writers with their classic piece of literature such as Either/Or of Søren Kierkegaard, Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre and Being & Time by Martin Heidegger which have been a constant source of inspiration for me.
What are you working on now?
As if now, I haven’t started on another project, but who knows when some abstract thought hits you and form a piece of art.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Promotion of a book is a hectic task and more so for an indie author. Goodreads is a great platform to connect with a like-minded audience. Also, one should check out the lists of websites uploaded by professionals of the self-publishing industry such as Kindlepreneur and Dale Self Publishing. That’s how I happened to stumble upon Awesome Gang.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a debut author myself, I would like to share my experience with the fellow authors without any authoritative influence. There is no one who can advice the other about the ways one should write. It is all subjective and I believe that writing is something that is the actualization of the uniqueness of ourselves. Through its outwardness, it projects our inner self in the most beautiful way possible. One should always try to be true to oneself while articulating thoughts which are not the products of outside influence but are fundamentally belonged solely to the writer.
Do not write for others, but for yourself.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I haven’t had much time in the writing industry to be blessed with any advice which I can term as best.
What are you reading now?
I have currently indulged myself with the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. The Modern Library edition of Walter Kaufmann’s translation is one of the few beautiful pieces of work that I have ever encountered. I find Nietzsche to be the most enigmatic writer of all times who has a unique and convoluted anima which differentiates him amongst the rest.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Future is quite uncertain. This I believe to be one such commonality that unites us all. I don’t know how will I be pursuing my writing career, but I am confident that the adventures of my life will forever be the companion of my writings.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Away from the known, stranded to the unknown, I’ll prefer to carry along with me the books that portray a reality different from the illusory facade of realism that binds us together in the world of consumerism.
Far away from others and hence, closer to ‘self’.
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
Beyond Good & Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Transcendence of the Ego by Jean-Paul Sartre
Author Websites and Profiles
Aman Tiwari Website
Aman Tiwari Amazon Profile
Aman Tiwari’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account