Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing
Rajalakshmi Prithviraj, the author of Silence Under the blue sky
Rajalakshmi Prithviraj, the author of Silence Under the blue sky
Hi Lakshmi
Thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Q. Tell us a little
about yourself and your background?
about yourself and your background?
A. Thank you so muchfor wanting to know about me. Brought up in Odisha into a Tamil Brahmin family,
I am a ‘Hand-On’ mother of two kids. I am working as an Educationist with the
Indian Air Force. Besides being a trained Psychologist, I am also an Odissi
dancer and Vocalist in Hindustani Music. My other hobbies include cooking,
craft work, travelling and meeting people.
Q. What genre is your
book?
book?
A. My first book,
‘Silence under the Blue Sky’ is a Contemporary Reality Fiction. It is based on
a true story which has been fictionalized.
‘Silence under the Blue Sky’ is a Contemporary Reality Fiction. It is based on
a true story which has been fictionalized.
Q. How do you
describe your book?
describe your book?
A. The story is set
against the backdrop of the mid-air collision of two helicopters of the Indian
Air Force. It attempts to bring out the pain that one of the victim’s families
undergoes as well as the cohesiveness that exists amongst the personnel of the
Indian Air Force. It is about existence of Hope in Suffering. It is also about
the fact that men and women in the Indian Air Force are no different when it
comes to human emotions.
against the backdrop of the mid-air collision of two helicopters of the Indian
Air Force. It attempts to bring out the pain that one of the victim’s families
undergoes as well as the cohesiveness that exists amongst the personnel of the
Indian Air Force. It is about existence of Hope in Suffering. It is also about
the fact that men and women in the Indian Air Force are no different when it
comes to human emotions.
Q. Why did you select
the title?
the title?
A. Silence has alanguage of its own. It can express love, support, anguish, anger, joy, hatred,
disgust, pain; in fact, every emotion that exists under the sun. Also, for us, the men and women in blue (the color
of the uniform we don), this organization is like the Blue Sky under whom we
belong together as a part of a big family. Since this book was about the pain
of a family in the Indian Air Force, hence the title, ‘Silence Under the Blue
Sky’.
Q. What made you
decide to sit down and actually start something?
decide to sit down and actually start something?
A. This book is
based on one of the turning points in my life. After the death of my husband,
Late Squadron Leader V Manoj, a Helicopter Pilot, I felt that I was getting
into depression. Being a Psychologist, I decided that the best way to cope was
to live through my trauma all over again. Hence, I took to writing. Besides, I
always wanted to pay a befitting tribute to my soul mate, my husband. What
better way than penning a book!!!
based on one of the turning points in my life. After the death of my husband,
Late Squadron Leader V Manoj, a Helicopter Pilot, I felt that I was getting
into depression. Being a Psychologist, I decided that the best way to cope was
to live through my trauma all over again. Hence, I took to writing. Besides, I
always wanted to pay a befitting tribute to my soul mate, my husband. What
better way than penning a book!!!
Q. How much reality
and how much fiction did the book portray?
and how much fiction did the book portray?
A. The story is 95%
reality and 5% fiction. In fact, the story is about what I underwent. Every
incident, every conversation is verbatim and stated exactly as they happened.
However, the attributes of the narrator and few characters are fictional along
with all the names so as to protect the real identity of serving personnel.
reality and 5% fiction. In fact, the story is about what I underwent. Every
incident, every conversation is verbatim and stated exactly as they happened.
However, the attributes of the narrator and few characters are fictional along
with all the names so as to protect the real identity of serving personnel.
Q. How did you manage
to write the book while you are working and also you have to take care of two
toddlers?
to write the book while you are working and also you have to take care of two
toddlers?
A. You are soright!!! My professional and personal lives do keep me on my toes. However, the
moment I understood the cause of my depression, I started writing. I would take
10 to 15 minutes break (not exceeding an hour) at workplace, when work got
hectic or stressed me out. I would also spend 1 to 2 hours at home after
putting my kids to sleep. It took me almost 8 to 9 months to complete my
writing, but every minute was worth the effort.
Q. Would you want
your kids to be air force officers like mentioned in the book?
your kids to be air force officers like mentioned in the book?
A. I definitely
would love to see then don the Air Force Blue uniform, and even the overalls of
a Flying Pilot if possible. But then, my girls have to qualify and successfully
pass the tough selection procedure and meet the required standards of the
Indian Air Force.
would love to see then don the Air Force Blue uniform, and even the overalls of
a Flying Pilot if possible. But then, my girls have to qualify and successfully
pass the tough selection procedure and meet the required standards of the
Indian Air Force.
Q. What are your
ambitions for your writing career?
ambitions for your writing career?
A. I see myself
writing as long as I can. My endeavor will be to keep posting on my blogs (till
the time I do not get posted to a place where there is no Internet!!!). I will
also try and publish one book every year on the birth date of either of my
kids.
writing as long as I can. My endeavor will be to keep posting on my blogs (till
the time I do not get posted to a place where there is no Internet!!!). I will
also try and publish one book every year on the birth date of either of my
kids.
Q. That’s really
interesting. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
interesting. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
A. Write if you love
writing. Write straight from the heart, because it brings you closer to the
readers. And as far as publishing is concerned, various Independent Publishing
Platforms are available to make your dream come true. Simply put, just be
yourself, let go of your inhibitions, and WRITE!!!
writing. Write straight from the heart, because it brings you closer to the
readers. And as far as publishing is concerned, various Independent Publishing
Platforms are available to make your dream come true. Simply put, just be
yourself, let go of your inhibitions, and WRITE!!!
Q. Where do you see
publishing going in the future?
publishing going in the future?
Thanks to the availability of various Independent Publishing
Platforms with Print on Demand facility, Indie Publishing is here to stay. It
gives lots of flexibility to writers and authors.
Platforms with Print on Demand facility, Indie Publishing is here to stay. It
gives lots of flexibility to writers and authors.
Q. Did you do a press
release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it
work?
release, Goodreads book launch or anything else to promote your work and did it
work?
A. To share the
truth, I had planned to do a book launch on Goodreads and my Facebook Page, but
as luck would have it, I had clicked the ‘Publish’ button. There it was, my
book, visible on all electronic platforms, as a published work. My publishing
experience was like a perfect example of ‘Man proposes, God disposes’.
truth, I had planned to do a book launch on Goodreads and my Facebook Page, but
as luck would have it, I had clicked the ‘Publish’ button. There it was, my
book, visible on all electronic platforms, as a published work. My publishing
experience was like a perfect example of ‘Man proposes, God disposes’.
Q. Why did you decide
to self publish?
to self publish?
A. When I read the
terms and condition of traditional publishers, I realized it was not my cup of
tea. Besides the fact that I am a Government employee, I never wanted to part
with my story. Independent Publishing gave me the flexibility as well as
empowered me to share my story with people without giving away all rights over
it.
terms and condition of traditional publishers, I realized it was not my cup of
tea. Besides the fact that I am a Government employee, I never wanted to part
with my story. Independent Publishing gave me the flexibility as well as
empowered me to share my story with people without giving away all rights over
it.
Q. Is there anything
else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
A. Thank you so much
Rakhi.
Rakhi.
Q. How can readers
discover more about you and you work?
discover more about you and you work?
Author Blog: One stop Destination
Review Blog: Reading Writings
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OneStopDestination
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/rajalakshmiprithviraj
Book Links: (* American, UK, etc.) The links are on Store Locator
page at http://readingwritings.blogspot.in/p/store-locator.html?m=0
page at http://readingwritings.blogspot.in/p/store-locator.html?m=0
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/rajalakshmiprithviraj
Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview. May your ambitions blossom. My deepest love and kisses to the two little flowers in your garden.
