Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a law student hailing from Eastern India. I was born in 2003 and received my education from two premier schools in Kolkata before giving the Common Law Aptitude Test and receiving an All-India Rank of 300, which enabled me to get enrolled in the college of my dreams. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cooking, watching anime and, of course, writing! I have currently published multiple short stories and one novelette, and am working on my first full-length novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘The Aliens’. It is a political science fiction story focusing around an imagined inter-planetary refugee crisis. I was prompted to write the book by the worsening humanitarian situation in many places around the world, especially in and around Central Asia. These difficult conditions often left so-called ‘displaced persons’ with no real way out or place to call home, and I wanted to convey this struggle, albeit through some unusual lenses.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
One habit I’ve been trying to shake is my tendency to use an excessive number of ever-more complicated pronouns to combat what I see as too many repetitions of a character’s name in quick succession. Though I’m sure that names fade into background noise for readers fairly quickly, my own brain absolutely refuses to forget, with the result that I slowly have to comb through my works after I’m done and remove these inventions with simpler text. Thankfully, I’m getting better with practice.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Some of the biggest influences on me have been George Orwell, William Golding, Enid Blyton, and Rick Riordan. An eclectic collection, I know, but reading them has enabled me to find the perfect balance of whimsy and darkness when I build my own worlds. There are many terrible things and bloodshed and death in this cruel Earth we have inherited, but there is also light, hope, and laughter. Any work claiming to be organic and real must incorporate both faces of the coin. Besides them, Brandon Sanderson and Stephen Baxter have been big influences in how I build my worlds. My favourite books include 1984, Animal Farm, everything Riordan, and The Arthashastra in non-fiction.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my first full, honest-to-god novel in the contemporary paranormal fantasy genre, tentatively titled ‘The King of Bones’. It is the first book in an envisioned ‘Staff of Dattatreya’ series that draws heavily from mythologies and legends from across the world with a special emphasis on Indian culture.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s easier than it looks. Trust me. Writing can seem like this labyrinthine, eldritch space sometimes, especially when you get to the business side of things. But by and large, it’s like any other art form. Unless you’re absolutely trying to min-max, the fun is the most valuable thing you’ll get out of it. Obviously, this doesn’t apply if you’re writing for money. But if you’re writing for your own enjoyment first and foremost, don’t overthink it. Just jump in and let the current lead you where it will. Even if you only sell 2 or 3 copies, you’ll still have a completed book and a massive ego at the end to feel good about 😉
Author Websites and Profiles
Budhaditya Ghosh Website
Budhaditya Ghosh Amazon Profile
Budhaditya Ghosh’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account