Almost four and a half years to the day I first had a daydream
which eventually morphed into an idea that spawned a trilogy; here I’m, penning
this blog as I wait on tenterhooks for the launch of my first book. I guess it is the logical culmination of a
long process that started with my getting inspired by JKR and writing Emilio
Esparda and the Sword of Life way back when I was in class 5th- a
mere 11 year old writing a novel! From Kalazar Kai (like Salazar Slytherin) to
a Governor of Magic, it was a vividly imagined resplendent world I had filled
with characters liberally borrowed from Harry Potter, my first hero.
From being on the editorial board of the School Magazine, to
basking in the glory as my English teacher in class 7th went around
the department telling others to just learn from how well I structured everything
I wrote (I guess one of the biggest reasons I took to writing in a big way is
the sheer encouragement I would receive from here every time I wrote something.
The last time I met her two years back, she said, ‘Hopefully, we’ll see a book
written by you in the market soon!’ Can’t wait to go back and tell her, ‘Ma’am,
this is all because of you!’), from reading every kind of fantasy fiction to
having this steadfast belief (often bordering on arrogance) that I am a pretty
good story teller, this has been one heck of a journey. A special shout out to my cousins, Pramath
Parijat and Shubhankar Parijat. The Avaasya Trilogy began as collaboration
between us before we shelved the project, only for me to take it up again after an year!
The last few weeks have been frantic; the last few months
surreal. I have seen myself grow, learn
become wiser and change as a person. Experienced remarkable highs and
depressing lows. I have learnt how writing a story is probably the easiest part
of it all. There have been phases where I have doubted the story, the book, and
myself. Phases where I have been disappointed let down and left with the
feeling that perhaps the book isn’t good enough. That perhaps I’m not good
enough. I have gone through phases where I have been unable to write even a paragraph.
Equilibrium is a book I finished writing
in under a month when I was seventeen! It’s a book that had Red Ink Literary Agency
sign me solely on the basis of four sample chapters ( I started writing after
I was signed) It’s a book that was bought by my publishers when I was eighteen.
And yet, it’s a book that took three years to see the light of day.
Those who know me intimately would swear by how I have been
going on and on about my book ever since I signed up with Red Ink. From going
on ‘bragging’ about the book to stop talking about it altogether because of the
sheer embarrassment of not having an answer to ‘When is it going to be
published?’, I have been through it all.
And it is this intervening period of three years that has
probably been the most magical part of my life. Looking back, I can proudly say
that this has been a coming of age experience for me. I have spent hours sitting on my bed, staring
at my book collection and imagined about that time in the not so distant future
when my own novel would occupy the place of honour in that collection. I spent
hours realizing how that ‘not so distant future’ is simply not happening. But I
guess it was all worth the wait. Someone once told me everything happens for a
reason and everything happens for good. I guess all the delay made me more
mature.
I have learnt the importance of dreaming and relentlessly pursuing
it to the point that no one can deny you. I have learnt the importance of
giving something your everything and that the greatest happiness in the world
is when the thing you have dreamt about every waking minute is finally happening.
I have met some wonderful people who influenced some of the
characters in the series quite heavily. I have shared my dreams with people who aren’t
around anymore. I have acquired a new perspective. And probably, have learnt
not to take everything for granted. I don’t even know why am I writing this,
but just felt I needed to thank so many people for just being there and
occasionally dreaming this dream with me.
I hope the book doesn’t leave you disappointed. Thank you so
much for all the support on Facebook these past few days. It means a lot. This
book is my dream… everything.
Paras Joshi!
