Interview With Author Neil and Ruchin Kansal
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Kansal Clunker: The Car that Rebuilt Us
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, we bought a tired 1998 Acura Integra and turned our garage into a workshop. Piece by piece, we brought it back to life, finally wrapping it in a bold lime green. To mark Ruchin’s 50th birthday and Neil’s high school graduation, we drove 5,000 miles to the summit of Mt. Evans, Colorado, the highest paved road in North America.
That road trip was more than a celebration. It was a lesson in resilience, adaptability, and courage. The Integra didn’t always cooperate. Neither the weather nor the road. But each challenge forced us to improvise, to trust, and to keep moving forward. By the time we stood at 14,000 feet, we realized we hadn’t just rebuilt a car—we’d rebuilt our sense of what was possible.
So we took on another challenge: a 1983 Alfa Romeo Spider, full of quirks and character. Restoring it was more challenging and required equally delicate work. Driving it 4,000 miles to Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America, tested us in new ways. But again, the lessons were clear: progress is never smooth, and beauty often hides in the imperfect.
That’s the spirit behind The Kansal Clunker: The Car that Rebuilt Us. Writing this book felt like another restoration project—messy drafts, fights, and the patience to keep sanding down the rough edges until the shape emerged. Just like the stubborn clunkers, the process reminded us that persistence, not perfection, is what carries you through. And that asking for help along the way is ok.
For us, cars are our canvas. For you, it may be something else. Whatever form it takes, the truth is the same: clunkers aren’t obstacles to overcome. They offer opportunities to grow, learn, and discover resilience you didn’t know you had.
This book is our tribute to that idea. To the clunkers that keep teaching us, and to the journeys—on the road and in life—that remind us the true joy isn’t in the destination, but in the rebuilding along the way.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
https://www.thekansalclunker.com/
We are also promoting on social media, a PR agency, and our own networks.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you want to be an author, just sit down and write.
Author Websites and Profiles
Neil and Ruchin Kansal Website
Neil and Ruchin Kansal’s Social Media Links
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