Author Interview: Devika Das (Author of The Mind Game)

Author Interview

Author- Devika Das

Interviewer- Animesh Das

An avid reader, passionate writer, entrepreneur, theatre artist, editor and poet, author Devika is indeed an all-rounder in the truest sense of the term. She started her journey as a blogger in 2008 and finally self-published her first work “7 vows of Marriage”, (a book on the essence of marriage and relationship) in 2016.

An amazing orator, author Devika is a trained Salsa dancer too. In 2017 she published her collection of poems ‘Reminiscence’ and in 2018, her first self-help book ‘The Mind Game” from Bluerose Publishing. Two of her short-stories have been selected in the anthologies “Undo” and “String in the Garland”. Her current title “The Mind Game” has received huge positive feedback not only from the readers but also from the critics as well.

Recently I got a chance to interview her and discuss a few important issues related to books. In this interview she has expressed her views on various issues and shared many unknown facts about her life and writing career.

A.D- First of all, thank you for giving me the opportunity and congratulations on the huge success of your current work.

D.D- Thank you for this opportunity of sharing my experience. I would love to share it with your audience :)

A.D- Ma’am you started as a blogger and after a very long time you decided to self-publish your first work. When and how did it dawn upon you that you don’t want to stuck merely as a blogger but explore your writing potentials as an author?

D.D- The first book ‘7 Vows of Marriage’ was an outcome of a casual chat about the relevance of marriage, whether we really need to marry etc. My friend urged me to share my views with the public. So, I chose to publish it on Amazon KDP.

A.D- You have a taste for various things, you are a successful writer, a theatre artist, poet and trained salsa dancer. Who is your inspiration?

D.D- Self. I always wanted to experiment with things and then pursue my passion. I want to explore every facet of life. I am working full time for an IT Company and simultaneously exploring different aspects of life too.

A.D- You have spent a long time in the Publishing Industry, Is there any particular thing you have observed in the publishing industry which is not ethical?

D.D- There are several players in the publishing industry. I strongly feel that many good authors miss out and leave the race as they cannot compete with the marketing tactics. An author is not rich when he/she writes the first book. The marketing budget seems daunting and might force the author to leave the competition. Marketing a book requires financial investment and patience. Authors should wait for at least a month to measure the organic impact. I feel if an author feels that his/her content is good and worth reading, don’t worry. You don’t need to become a bestselling author within few weeks but eventually in the long run the book will perform well. It is a business strategy.

A.D-Currently there is a rat race going on among the writers for becoming a bestselling author, and unfortunately some of them are going to the lowest levels to achieve their goal. What is your take on that?

D.D- Unethical practices are involved in every industry not only publishing. I feel in the long run, high-quality content wins the race. So, write well and intend to create a pleasant reading experience for your readers. 

A.D- Among the roles of a theatre artist, entrepreneur, dancer, speaker and editor, which role do you enjoy the most?

D.D- It is difficult to choose one as all of them have contributed to my personality in one way or the other. But, I think I will choose actor. I love the experience of bringing a character to life through my stage performance.

A.D- There is no denying the fact that the world of Book writing and publishing in India is hugely male dominated; do you take that as a drawback or a challenge?

D.D- It is a good challenge. I believe content will eventually win. Blue Rose Publishers has entrusted confidence in my handiwork. So, a big thank you to them. So write strong and noteworthy content. Mediocrity does not have a long life.

A.D- How important a role do you believe book promotional activities play in the success of a book (in terms of readership)?

D.D- Earlier, writing was a hobby and a noble profession. With the commercialization of the publishing industry, the book is a product for the author. Hence, to market your product, book in this case, you need book promotional activities to reach the target audience and spread awareness that your book exists. However, I still feel that the content will be the USP and help an author gain a loyal reader base who will wait for the author’s future works. Fortunately, I have been able to create a decent reader base with The Mind Game. They are excited to read my second book.

A.D- Do you hear from your readers much? What kind of things do they say?

D.D- Readers have accepted my books very well. I am fortunate that within a year of its release, The Mind Game exceed my expectations in terms of performance. We have begun physical distribution in New Delhi and the book will be available in bookstores across India in the near future.

A.D- Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

D.D- No. I have created an identity for myself with my original name.

A.D- What piece of advice would you like to give to the young writers?

D.D- Write from your heart. But when you are in the writing mode, don’t treat your manuscript like a start-up product. Focus on writing high-quality content; read if you do not know much about the topic. Marketing activities should be your priority once you sign the publishing contract.

A.D-Have any new author grasped your attention recently?

D.D- No.

A.D- Can you tell us a bit about your future writing projects?

D.D- I am halfway through my next novel; it is Hindi fiction. Next I plan to document my solo trips in a coffee-table travelogue. I also want to capture the essence of the festivals of India and the cultural heritage of West Bengal specifically.

A.D-Thank you for sharing your valuable insights with us and all the very best for your future endeavors.

D.D- It was a lovely experience answering the questions. Thank you for such a wonderful interview. Hope we can meet in person when I visit Kolkata next time.