Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hey folks, I am Srijit Mondal.
Speaking about myself , I’m a 20 year old from Kolkata, West Bengal. Other than my writing career, I pursue a bachelor’s degree in Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. An IYMC pre-finalist and scholar, mathematics, literature, data and the human mind amuse me and leave me in awe. My books have won me wide acclaims including nomination in “Top 100 Innovators in Education”, an esteemed award presented by the GFEL in 2019. Recently I’ve got a nomination for “Author of the Year 2019” from Ne8X Litfest and “Best Debut Author” from Star India Awards 2019.
I have published four books till now, three mathematics books and a book of Bengali poems.
Of the three Mathematics books ,my first book ,the first edition of “Mathematical Tricks” was a Bestseller for a long run of 87 days also spending time in Amazon India’s “Hot & New Releases” , selling over 500 copies in 6 months all over the world.The second edition of the book is also out now and is doing equally well.
My second and third book “201 Mind Boggling Problems In Mathematics” and “1001 Objective Problems In Mathematics” has also been favorites to various educational institutes and students preparing for various entrances. These books as the names suggest, covers some “out of the box” problems delicately designed covering a vast range of topics from set theory, algebra, geometry to almost everything.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest book, “Uro Bhabnar Jonmostup”, is an outcome of the experiences of life faced by young minds. As the title suggests, the book is a collection of poems and a few short stories curling up from random thoughts on almost anything and everything – social dogmas, love and emotions, friendship, intellectualism and many more. The book has got positive criticisms from writers and intellectuals and has been an Amazon India “Hot New Release” selling more than 100 copies in a month of its release.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have been a hardcore booklover since my childhood gobbling anything from comics, fantasies, literary pieces and the craving has just increased with age. Writers and what went inside their mind always fascinated me but I never thought I’ll be one.
I remember writing my first poem when I was 16…too late may be but better late than never…haha.
First idea of mathematics book came just from the love for the subject and the poetry book is a collection of what me and my co-authors have written over the past few years
, I never plan and write. I generally write when I’m idling may be…suddenly some thoughts come and I jot it down .
Even for mathematical things, it’s like I’m solving a problem and I find it great and useful…I take a note, some shortcut or some useful formulae…it’s just that way. Later on I find a place to add it in the draft.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Well, its hard to pin point some particular authors or books which have influenced me…there are a lot of them.
Yet some special Mathematics books are there like “Finite dimensional Vector spaces ” by P R Halmos, Mathematical Circles, Arthur Engel’s “Problem Solving Strategies ” and a lot others.
In literature, books by Nicholas Sparks, Dan Brown and a lot others don’t fail to amuse.
What are you working on now?
I have a poetry book (this time in English) coming up, a collection of around 100 poems on varied topics. It’ll be out in a month or two. I wish to go for a crime fiction and a book on Life Lessons. Let’s see
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have an obsession towards “Organic” reach. But I still have my own marketing strategy. Facebook ads and aiming proper groups related to the books helps the most. Also Quora is another useful site alongside a lot of sites that review books for free.
For paid promotion I choose promotion either in newspapers or through Amazon paid ads.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Naturality and uniqueness. Do something unique, don’t copy others. Have your own style because that style will later on become your signature, will speak for you. And yes, take the risk of self-publishing your book if traditional publishers are not taking up your book. Self-published books with quality writings and proper publicity are nowadays beating a lot of traditionally published books. So believe in yourself and go for it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not to look back and learn from failures is what we always hear from our elders and teachers.
But one of my teachers once said me a beautiful line, “Fail…and then use these failures to build your staircase…climb up and you’ll see its the strongest staircase to success”.
What are you reading now?
A voracious reader…I’m gobbling up a lot of books presently…there’s The ABC Murders, The Fault in our Stars, Inside Chanakya’s Mind, Kargil: The Untold Story and a lot of others.
I’m three-fourth way through and will be finishing up soon.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I wish to go for a crime fiction. It has always been a dream to be someone like Agatha Christie…marvelling readers with the strangest mystery and crime plots. And a book on Life Lessons is also what I’m thinking of. Let’s see
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?
Umm…let me think…
Well firstly I would like to have an Atlas so that I can at least try to find my way out…haha.
Other than that I would love to take Paradise Lost, Brief History of Time, Brief Answers to Big Questions and Life 3.0
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