Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am originally a kindergarten teacher. I loved my work like a king in his realm. I never thought I would be a writer even though I enjoyed writing. All I had ever written was on-the-spot imaginary stories for children that I plan to publish some day, random blogging and posting my self-written quotes on Facebook and my website. Writing Emit Eht harshly landed me into publishing world with blunt force.
Emit Eht is my first speculative science-climate fiction and visionary romance.
I also published ‘Roo Molly Roo’ a children’s picture storybook which I now plan to convert into a series soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is ‘Emit Eht’. It is ‘Time’ spelt in reverse and wants readers to know that simply by readjusting our perception of ‘Time’ we can solve many real mysteries of the world. The inspiration to write ‘Emit Eht’ came to me rather strangely. One day I was meditating when images of Earth starting flooding my mind like some animation video. They were so shocking that for next several days I was dazed just trying to figure out their meaning. I was filled with an urgent desire to share those images and their meaning with the world. This desire was so great, so compelling that I couldn’t do anything else. I resigned from my job and started writing Emit Eht. Indeed, Emit Eht is part fiction-part truth. Shocking truth. As readers and writers, we all know how closely connected fiction is with reality and reality with fiction.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes. When I am writing I feel like I am stoned. Literally stoned! The thoughts about the story drown me so completely I start living in it. In such a state of mind, I usually don’t feel hungry, sleepy or tired. The slightest sound of music (which I normally love to listen) or television will disturb me and everything else like eating, sleeping or even visiting the washroom seems like unpardonable waste of time. And it is a beautiful beautiful feeling! I am actually missing it now that the book is finished.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
A long time ago, a baby was born into a poor rural family. His mother died while giving him birth and he was denounced by his father as ‘unlucky’. He was taken care of by a wet nurse but she too died within six months. He lived liked an orphan with nothing and nobody to look after him. He never got a home, a school or formal education and on growing up followed some ascetics who lived in nearby forest who taught him to read and write. This child, on growing up, wrote a book that is to this day one of the greatest books in History and Literature. The book was Ramayana (written in 1631) and the boy was Tulsidas. I always thought, if someone in those circumstances could write, why can’t I?
What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on ‘Maya- The Simulation Game’. This is my second science fiction novel about a computer prodigy girl who is really just like a hard cold computer who sees the world very differently. The difference between her artificial world and the real one and the secrets that she discovers forms the central theme of the story.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Winning reader’s hearts is usually the simplest, the most difficult and the best method for promotion. Readers don’t care which publishing house published the book, when and how. They love good stories and love whoever wrote them. Give them good stories and they are yours with heart and soul. Connecting to readers is therefore my best method and Awesome Gang one of the best websites to help me do that.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author myself and very much in need of advice.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Whatever you want to do, you can do it. Now do it.
During my publishing phase I was very doubtful of myself and even scared. This advice came to me in my dreams one night. I woke up and couldn’t believe what I had heard. I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget it. I have to admit, it is one of the best advices I have been given.
What are you reading now?
‘The Wife Upstairs’ since it is based on Jane Eyre and I am a huge fan of anything ‘Jane Eyre’.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After being inspired by reading Emit Eht, some of my readers have requested me to become motivational public speaker and help people learn modern meditation method that actually works. But before I enter into that, I have over 30 children’s stories to publish and it is quite a lot.
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?
The Epic of Gilgamesh, Mahabharata, Iliad, Odyssey and a dictionary because these books are so complicated and extensive the solitude of the deserted island will be ideal to read them and ponder over their mysteries, literary beauty and intellect.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ratna Srivastava Website
Ratna Srivastava Amazon Profile
Ratna Srivastava’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account