Written by Maddie Dawson

“The thought first came when my classmates at the postgrad found my boarding school stories unbelievable. I was always looking

for an alternate identity, I guess so the intent to chronicle these stories grew in me.”

Vivek Kumar is an emerging author with a passion for storytelling and a keen insight into the human experience. His novel, “The Forever Years,” was published two years ago. In this interview, readers will gain insight into his journey as an author and what prompted him to write this book. This book, now available for purchase on Amazon, explores the intricate tapestry of life, delving into themes of boyhood, friendship, and the coming of age.

“The Forever Years” has been praised for its evocative prose and compelling narrative, showcasing Vivek’s ability to craft deeply resonant and emotionally powerful stories. His background in literature and his dedication to his craft are evident in every page, making this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.

As a new voice in the literary world, Vivek Kumar is already establishing a reputation for his thoughtful and poignant writing. Readers are eagerly anticipating his future works, expecting the same level of depth and engagement that “The Forever Years” delivers.

In this segment, Behind the Pen, we interview Vivek Kumar and get to know more about his passion for writing and the journey it took for him to publish his novel.

Q1. Could you tell us about your birthplace and upbringing in India? How has your background influenced and shaped you as a writer?

Answer: I was born in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) and had my schooling there though in a boarding school. “The Forever Years” is inspired by my days at the boarding school and captures adolescence in the insulated surroundings of boarding school where things don’t change much through the years. That it was situated in a comparatively sluggish town, adds to the bubble.

Q2. Could you also tell us about your profession and how you manage to write alongside it? (Or, if applicable, being a full-time author, do you feel any pressure, and how do you motivate yourself to keep writing?)

Answer: I work as a Brand Strategist and my profession has seldom posed challenges for writing. My writing process is largely spontaneous, in bursts of phases so is more manageable but almost impossible to control or make to work on command.

Q3. Has writing always been your calling? What kind of writing discipline do you follow?

Answer: I have been writing amateur poetry, and plays since childhood but the idea of “writing” didn’t find me till my postgrad. It is about taking out a story/emotion/memory instead of writing. There is no method I follow but over a period of time you learn to filter certain impulses and give some nudges to the story’s progress but largely it follows its own dictum.

Q4. Can you briefly tell us about your book, “The Fishbowl”? What inspired you to write it?

Answer: It is now titled, ‘The Forever Years’. The thought first came when my classmates at the postgrad found my boarding school stories unbelievable. I was always looking for an alternate identity, I guess so the intent to chronicle these stories grew in me. But it took another 5-6 years before I could start writing them.

Q5. Which character in your book is closest to your heart, and why?

Answer: It is hard to say. And I feel the story is not about characters but an environment, a way of being and thinking, kind of an existence inside a fishbowl.

Q6. To what type of readers would you recommend your book? What can they expect to learn or gain from it?

Answer: Those wanting to relive “what it is to be a child” without viewing it from an adult lens. Also, those wanting to get a glimpse of boarding school and lifestyle of a bygone era, the pre-liberalisation India of tier-III towns. Storytelling is a mix of realism and surrealism, so those interested in being transported to a unique world should also find it appealing. I think it is a work that could be a dream for those I am interested in social studies and psychology.

Q7. How do you think you have grown as a writer from your first book to now? Do you have any advice for novice writers who dream of publishing their books?

Answer: In the beginning, you do not recognise the difference between noise and the meaning, style vs story. Also, with time you learn to appreciate your writing process and work around that.

Q8. Do you think your perspective as a reader has changed since becoming an Author?

Answer: Difficult to say but haven’t felt so. Yes, one is able to judge and analyze others’ works maybe but that’s about it.

Q9. Apart from “The Fishbowl,” what other works have you completed? Are you currently working on something new?

Answer: My debut book was “Love, Me & Bullshit!”. “The Forever Years” is my second fiction. Can’t say much about the future works as of now.

Q10. How challenging do you find it to get published in today’s market?

Answer: Publishing is easy but it is the marketing that is the challenging part. Understanding your reader set and how to reach them is what matters more I guess. Of course, a good publishing house understands the market/reader better and thus helps you with that.