Author Interview with Balakarthiga
AFour years in the making, Butterfly Met Hurricane by Author Balakarthiga has gone through challenges similar to the one a baby takes up as it makes its way out of its mother’s womb. Safe, nourished and protected by Bala in her laptop, this book forayed into the world to create goose bumps on the skin of every reader.
Circling around the hurricane that refers to either of the protagonists – Kayal and Cyril – Butterfly Met Hurricane deals with the darkest recess of the human heart and mind. The black holes are brought out with thundering language that saturates the pen of this young lady.
Let’s have a talk with Bala and summon out some of the mysteries that make this author so well crafted in the art of writing.
Deepika: Why did you write this book?
Bala: Vulnerability is a trait very unspoken of in romance novels. I wanted to tell a story about two flawed characters, and the chaos that uncovers with each decision they make, eventually blowing off a happily ever after.
Deepika: How long did it take for the writing process?
Bala: For this particular book, it took me four years to finish writing it.
Deepika: Which was the hardest scene to write?
Bala: The climax I struggled with how to make it believable and real. It took me a long while to arrive at the maturity I needed to write this climax. I started this story when I was 20. I had to become the person I was, experience the things I experienced to write the climax that I wrote at 24.
Deepika: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good and bad ones?
Bala: I do. I don’t believe in being sensitive about bad reviews. In fact, I strongly believe that a book is a product, and when someone pays for it, it doesn’t really belong to me anymore. The minute I make the decision to publish my work and put it out there – it belongs to the reader. What they want to say about my book, is their freedom. Critics – both good and the harsh, are well within their rights as a consumer to say what they want to say. I think encourage an open space for people to express negative feelings about a book is very healthy, and very important.
Deepika: How do you select the names of your characters?
Bala: I am very very choosy about naming my characters! Infact, I stick with ethnic, and real names that we see in our daily lives, in our country. I consciously stay away from names that sound new, rare or fantastical. I like simple, everyday names – especially when I’m writing romance or a contemporary.
I believe that when I name a character, almost 80 percent of my job is done. The names speaks to me. It tells me what the person is like, what they would do, and what they probably wouldn’t.
Deepika: How many unpublished and half written books do you have?
Bala: I have two unpublished manuscripts and two works in progress. I do not have any half-written books!
Deepika: Does writing energise or exhaust you?
Bala: If it exhausts me, I wouldn’t be doing it!
Deepika: What’s your favourite under-appreciated novel?
Bala: I think all of Ashwin Sanghi’s novels deserve more love. Sure, he has his own cult following, but I feel like the man is really filling a void in the Indian Publishing Industry by writing political conspiracies, and he deserves to be celebrated like a rockstar!
Deepika: What is your writing Kryptonite?
Bala: A noisy, messy room filled with way too many people.
Deepika: Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
Bala: I have managed to finish my goodreads challenge two years in a row, so I think I haven’t had any reading slumps, or whatever it is that we’re calling it. I actively participate in the bookstagram community, and when you are on the internet, meeting and talking to people about books, I highly doubt you’ll ever have a reader’s block!
Deepika: Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
Bala: Personally, I think one of the most important thing that fuels a writer is empathy. While I can’t say if someone can or cannot write if they don’t feel strongly, I believe that those who do feel strongly write better books!
Deepika: What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
Bala: Paid reviews.
Deepika: Any final thoughts to add?
Bala: Where do I even begin? Probably by being so frikkin’ humbled and proud all at the same time.
This career as an author of two books wouldn’t be possible without all the wonderful people who buy my work. If you guys buy or preorder my book, please let me know in the comments or in DM, so that I can thank you personally. You can even tweet to me @BalakarthigaBk
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To get your copy of BUTTERFLY MET HURRICANE, click on the link.
