Date Published: 11-01-2024
Publisher: Troubador
Matthew’s journey takes him from the poverty of a cold stone granary to the opulence of Mayfair and Kensington Palace Gardens, where he starts a family of his own. Despite working his way to the top of the business world, he remains an outsider to London’s elite. He then realises that same elite has an ugly underbelly. High society was a hot bed of depravity.
Will he correct society’s wrongs? Will the man who never succumbed to expectations be able to challenge his own destiny or will he simply accept the futility of it all?
Can you tell us a little about the process of getting
this book published? How did you come up with the idea and how did you start?
I wanted to write a rags to riches story loaded with
misfortune. Once I started, the rest just flowed. Of course, there were many
re-writes.
What surprised you most about getting your book
published?
The lack of commercial traction for a book with many
excellent reviews; I was not able to get a literary agent and self published.
Tell us a little about what you do when you aren’t
writing
I am a stroke survivor; so, I am very active physically
(jogging, tennis, yoga, pilates). I am Hindu by birth and am discovering the
core of religion. I also learn languages. I am quite a polyglot and am
currently learning German; I hope to also have a go at Persian and Sanskrit.
As a published author, what would you say was the most
pivotal point of your writing life?
Good reviews; some of them have condensed my intention and
message better than I could articulate myself.
I worked in finance before and became completely detached to
humanity. I changed to civil service to regain my senses and decided to explore
my own understanding of the human condition. Emile ZOLA, John Steinbeck and
Wally Lamb have been huge motivators.
Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think
that is?
Through following current events, spirituality, books,
movies and streaming. I also find Anthony Hopkins hugely inspiring; Silence
of the Lambs with Jodie Foster and Father with Olivia Colman are
favorites.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
Still waiting for one, maybe yours?
What has been your best accomplishment as a writer?
Emma Lodge
in Emma’s Equilibrium and Matthew Stephens in Choppiness on High Seas.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
One, an autobiography.
Arvind has three adult children, who all live away from Belgium. He reads literary fiction and was motivated to write after reading three key books: The Portrait of Dorian Gray, Thérèse Raquin, 1984 and East of Eden. He is fascinated by the co-existence of good and evil. In his first book, Emma's Equilibrium, he relates the story of an Olympic winner who suffers hurt along the way. Choppiness on High Seas charts the life of Matthew from his ignominious birth to his passing away in peace after having become one of the weathiest persons in the world.
Arvind loves languages and can speak French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati. He is a stroke survivor and rides, jogs and does yoga.
He is a strong believer in the duality of fortune and misfortune. He is deeply spiritual.
Arvind finds writing challenging and frustrating and editing particularly painful. He, however, believes that writing can be therapeutic and gratifying.
Posts
No comments: