Hello again!
Welcome back!
Monday DOES continue, but hopefully it's a Good Thing!
Now we're going to talk to Geetha Krishnan, who writes under Niranjan!
An author and editor, Niranjan’s biggest ambition is to have a character named Garth in every book they write. Niranjan writes books rooted in mythical worlds, and their stories are often a combination of magic and futuristic technology.
When they are not writing or editing, Niranjan can be found cooking or just lying on their couch watching or rewatching C Dramas and writing fanfiction.
I have a facebook group as well where you can interact with me
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1622573631409888
You can find me on twitter and hive as
@ormakal
I am also on Instagram as niranjanauthor
I’ve recently joined mastodon, so come say hi there as well, I’m @ormakal@writingexchange.com there
I’m on discord, but at present my server is only open for fanfic readers, but you can add me as a friend. I’m Geethr75#5829 there
Star Trek or Star Wars? Star Trek
DCU or MCU? DCU
Firefly – gone too soon or overrated? Gone too soon
Reboots – a great idea or a lack of creativity? Depends, I think. I’m always looking forward to reboots because we get more of the content we loved, and I’m interested to get another interpretation, but yeah, sometimes they fall flat.
A book you’re looking forward to release (by someone else)? Only one? I have a lot!! Roses Wild by Van D Vicious, Child of Prophecy 2 by Aud Simmons, An Unkindness of Angels by J.E Mueller, and the Running Bet series by Nico C Grey
A book that pleasantly surprised you? Can’t say there is one, since I try not to start a book that I don’t expect to enjoy, but yeah, been unpleasantly surprised by a few, lol.
Coffee, tea, or cacao? Coffee always, though I wouldn’t say no to lemon tea either
Favorite hangover recovery recipe? I don’t drink, so none?
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
To be honest, it’s something I’ve wanted all my life, like I used to make up stories in my head from when I was very little, and write down things as well, but I think a concrete wish was made while I was doing my post graduation
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
Dreams sometimes, lol. Like seriously, the basic idea of Deathless Ones and a major chunk of Blue was based on dreams I had, as was There’s Always a Morning. Sometimes, ideas just come to me, like what if this happened to this? Sometimes a cover may spark an idea. It all varies, but I’m a pantser, so most of my books start with a kernel of an idea, and everything else is just happening as I write.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
I wish I could say I have a set schedule, but nope. I do grab my laptop as soon as I’m up and I’m on it for most of the day, but it’s not all writing I’m afraid.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I sometimes talk to myself when I write, like you know, act out the scene in my head, and I make weird faces all the time.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
Sixteen or seventeen, I don’t remember exactly, but it was a story me and my cousins made up with a cast of our favourite (and not so favourite) tennis players and actors. I wrote it, and it filled two 200 page notebooks. It was in my mother tongue of Malayalam, but unfortunately, it’s lost now.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to cook, but I also watch a lot of C Dramas and I write fanfiction as well
What does your family think of your writing?
They’re very supportive, but they don’t read my books, lol.
How many books have you written?
Which is your favorite? Well, if we’re taking into account every book I’ve actually finished drafting, there are fifty five. It’s hard to pick a favourite since when I think of each one, there are things and people I love. But if I have to take a pick, Spaces of Silence. It’s a tale about friendship and found family with a mystery as well. It’s a short read, but it’s very emotional.
Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Writing is a craft and you become better at it with practice. So, write as much as you can. If it’s bad, you can always make it better later. Write what you enjoy. Writing should be fun. Also, when you try to get betas, get people who will tell you the truth, and who are conversant with your genre. Don’t accept every feedback since everything is subjective. Try and see if the feedback is an objective evaluation or a personal preference of the beta. Like I had one beta tell me that they liked a side character more, so they should be the main character, which obviously isn’t the kind of feedback I can implement.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
So far, only good things, lol. One reader has said that the character of Alexander Selwood is their favourite fictional character, and another has said that they enjoy everything I write.
Do you like to create books for adults?
All my books are for adults, so yes, I would say I do enjoy creating them.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Depends. I’m very empathetic, so if the characters are suffering or something, it leaves me exhausted, if they’re in a good place, I feel good.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I actually write the majority of my books under the pseudonym of Niranjan. It’s the name of my son who we lost three years ago, and this is my attempt to keep his memory and name alive even after we’re all gone
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
I generally write what I want, and changes depend on feedback from betas and editors.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you building a body of work with connections between each book?
All my books other than the series ones are standalones. Connecting them up would be fun, but I fear it would be fairly impossible, lol.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
111, lol. I don’t know if I’ll finish them all in this lifetime, but I’m certainly going to try.
What do you have coming next?
The fifth and final book of my series was released on November 27th, and in December I have Prajwalita, the second book of Jaya! coming out on the 15th. The first book, Pradyutita was a semi finalist of SPFBO 2020 and is also free to buy. I have five books on pre-order for 2023 as well.
Colliding Forces on January 19th, The Soul of Magic on March 4th which is also my son’s birthday, Changes in the Wind on May 24th which is my wedding anniversary, The Flame of the Dragon’s Oath on July 27th which is my daughter’s birthday, and Stolen from a Dream on September 16th which is my husband’s birthday.
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