Rahul Balaji: Author of The Bagheera Chronicles- Interview

About the author:

Rahul Balaji has always been passionate about storytelling. His favourite genre is fantasy and aspires to revolutionaries Indian Fantasy fiction genre. He considers himself an encyclopedia of myths and legends. This is his first book.
He believes that our “desi” folklore and mythology can be a great source of inspiration for many-many supernatural tales, sadly we have never tapped into it.

Interview:

1: I was curious about asking you this question Why you choose this Genre? What made you write this book?

Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. It gives you scope for an Utopian world where in the end all is well. Like I said before, I wanted a break from the harsh realities of my life and hence decided create my own little world of magic.

2: Is it difficult to write this genre? How? 

It is extremely difficult, especially if you are an Indian author who is writing a paranormal or fantasy novel with an Indian setting. Vampires, werewolves, faeries etc, are European concepts, which cannot be replicated in an Indian scenario. That is why you have to come up with your own mythology. Ours is a diverse society with so many religions and each having their own mythology. It becomes even more difficult to create common mythology that is believable to all the factions of the Indian society. 


3: If you have to write a book in any other genre which genre you would write in?

I think I would write a book in the horror genre, and ghost mythology is something no one has explored much (at least in Indian scenario)

4: A piece of learning that you would like a reader to take from your book?

That there is hope and magic all around you. That they are one and the same. You just have to sincerely believe in it for it to work. If I have pick something from my book The Bagheera Chronicles, then I would say- If an ordinary teenage boy can find a way to tackle a 300-year-old curse, then you and I can very well survive our mundane lives.

5: What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
I am a night person, I start around 9-ish and go till 2 or 3 a.m

6: What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Mythology-based books, High-fantasy, paranormal romance, English literature (Jane Austen, Bronte sisters etc.)

7: a recent book that you read?
Norma by Sofi Oksanen (Irish author)

8: What is Success for you?
Appreciation and acknowledgment from the readers. 

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