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Mani Shankar

Mani Shankar Soni is from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He is currently a student of - Bachelor of pharmacy, in the Professional Education field. His hobbies are: Reading books of foreign authors, and listening the Classical music. 

INTERVIEW 

(Questions and Answers, in a conversation with Monika Singh and Mani Shankar)

If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

Mani: In my opinion: "Do not be sad if someone rejected you. Because people usually leave expensive things and go for the cheap one".

What does literary success look like to you?

Mani: In my opinion, Literary success is the development of mostly pastime uses activities, creativeness and many other things related to present in that time.

Does a big ego help or hurt dreamers?

Mani: Mostly big ego always hurt Dreamers.

What was an early experience where you learned that language (written words) had power?

Mani: According to my experience, language always works as a medium to understand communication, be it is written or spoken.

What period of your life do you find most valuable, enjoyable & eye-opening too? (Child, teenager, young adult).

Mani: I found Teenager is the part of my life and most enjoyable, & valuable

Do you Google yourself?

Mani: Yes! I do google myself.

Biggest judgmental point in society for boys?

Mani: Biggest judgmental point in society for boys is related to the job and marriage.

One rule you want to break in our society and family for boys / girls?

Mani: I want to break the rule regulations for the girls, so that they can grow with boys.

Dreams and goal of your life?

Mani: The dream of my life is not big, but it is not small as well, so I want all those things, I those qualities that can give me identity in the society.

Who is your ideal in your life?

Mani: My mother is my ideal in my life. But the word have not the capacity to explain their feelings.

What do you think, people try to control the power of boys in the name of responsibility?

Mani: Yes, people suppress the feelings of boys in the name of responsibility. They do not have enough time for themselves too. So, I think no one can understand their feelings.

What is your favorite childhood book?

Mani: I have a favorite poetry book:The random house book of poetry.

One thing, that always makes you happy, and you want to dance that time?

Mani: Only friends make me happy.

Which change need our country for basic & real education?

Mani: New syllabus according to Hindu culture can change the real education & basic education.

One thing you want to do for your parents?

Mani: I have many dreams for my parents. I can not explain it, that are decided by future.

Family or a friend, which one is comfortable for you, to share yourself?

Mani: Family and friends both help me in sadness.

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© Monika Singh and Mani Shankar

Original Source: Mani Shankar, dreamer - Interview Conversation with Monika Singh

Shashank Kumar is a student and author, from Bihar. As a newcomer in the field of literature, he has published his debut novel “An Inspirational Vengeance” and worked in two anthologies as well.

From an early age, he is fond of writing. Being from a state where the literacy rate is not so well it’s his dream to uplift his state. Many famous personalities have represented Bihar in top-level competitions, so he too wants to be a part of it.

He is a teenager yet an undergraduate student of Delhi University. He has a keen interest in kho - kho and cricket. He is a rising YouTuber as well. He is working on his 3rd novel.

His goal is:- working for laws and society. He wants to acquire all the qualities which a multi-talented guy should have.

Author Shashank

Questions and Answers!

A conversation between Monika Singh & Author Shashank Kumar

Monika: Mr. Shashank! Describe literary success!

Shashank: Literary success means a lot to me. It’s enthusiastic. When I stepped into the field of literature, I met with many new faces who are somehow related to literature and they helped me out. It is always a great treat to succeed in this golden field.

Monika: What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Shashank: The best money I have spent as a writer was the time when I was out of ideas and wanted to stay in peace for some time so that I can think over it. But due to some “aatank baads” (cousins), It was tough. So what I did is that I give them a party so that they will maintain peace.

Monika: Which one do you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult). How do you select the names of your characters?

Shashank: Well, on that front I would like to say that I always go for teenagers while writing. I always focus on the teens of this era. Sometimes selecting the 

names of characters becomes hectic, so I put the names of my friends. 

Monika: Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Shashank: Yes I do read reviews on my book title. See, your plot can be interesting for someone but it also can be boring for someone. So it depends on the reader that which genre they do like to read. It doesn’t matter the review is good or bad, I always take it positively and try not to repeat those mistakes.

Monika: How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

Shashank: Well, my first title made me feel the real value of words and emotions. 

When readers go through your content and give feedback. It becomes the most important thing for a writer to earn good feedback because they work tough to complete a book. The same happens with me, my first title made many changes in my writing skills like where to put extra emotions, were not to run by putting anything in the content, etc.

Monika: What is the best way to market your books?

Shashank: I think, the best way to market books is- reviews. The more positive response you will get the more highlight your title will be. Moreover, the reviewers play a really important role to highlight a book.

Monika: Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Shashank: Not at all. To be an author or a writer the first thing is feeling. One should feel the atmosphere and those scenes then only they will be able to pen that down so that readers can enjoy it.

Monika: What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Shashank: First of all I would like to say that trap is everywhere in every field of life. The aspiring writers do wish to showcase their talent but get stuck in the wrong hands. I won’t reveal names but I will suggest one thing to all that one should check and recheck and then only they should make any agreement to publish or submit their contents.

Monika: What is the greatest difference between books lovers and books reviewers, according to you? What is your opinion about those people, who judge your book on basis of the cover?

Shashank: Interesting one! See book lovers are those people who generally love to read books according to their fixed genre which they adore. They are not there to help any author often, that yes there are certain mistakes and something like that which needs to be edited. Simply, they go through your contents and the worst thing is that they decide a book by it is cover often. They prefer to read-only those titles which have awesome covers irrespective of the viral contents. But when it comes to reviewers plus book lovers, who love their work, they give their best. They check every line and let authors know if there is any edit needed or not. They do speak the truth and help authors to rise and shine. They love to go through every title to promote the authors. 

Monika: How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Shashank: I’ve four unpublished contents and two finished books.

Here are links to finished books!

An Inspirational Vengeance

The Love You Feel

Love it?

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Simran Srivastava

Simran Srivastava is the author of the novel ‘Marriage Without Love’. She was born and brought up in Jhansi and currently living at the same. She is Graduated in Commerce and pursuing Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance from Symbiosis University. She also holds a Diploma in Financial Accounting and studied Egyptian Archeology.

She loves to sing, read books, and learn about Indian History. Last year in 2019, she wrote articles on Hollywood for Headlines of Today News Media Pvt. Ltd.

You can read her blogs on Books, Entertainment, Finance, Social Issues, Philosophy, and Quotes; On her Website 

INTERVIEW

( Questions and Answers, in a conversation with Monika Singh and Simran Srivastava )

What does literary success look like to you?

Simran: For me, literary success is not about getting famous, it is about someone is reading my work and praising it, which also praises me.

What is the first book that made you cry?

Simran: The first book which made me cry was ‘Until Love Sets Us Apart by Aditya Nighot, it contains a real story and what happened to them made me cry a lot, I can feel the pain from which Rohit and Aisha went through and in a blink of an eye, their happy life turns into their worst nightmare.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Simran: Examine what is wrong with you and think about the changes. Read more books as you can and learn. Participate in a competition, from which you always run away. Try to talk without hesitation, be confident and face your fear.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Simran: Money which  I ever spent is on buying books and on traveling.

Which one do you write about most often? How do you select the names of your characters?

Simran: I wrote mostly on Young Adult. Characters are the most important part of any story. I select the names that tell the story of the emotional journey, show growth and they need to feel real to the readers in terms of appearance, relationships, history, ambitions, speech, and personal flaws,  which to a certain extent attract the attention of the reader’s.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Simran: Yes, I do read Book reviews and good ones always bring a smile to my face because it makes me feel proud that someone is reading my work and liking it. Bad ones hurt. But to get success you need to face bad and good things together. Bad things always encourage me to work hard and to move forward with confidence and no one ever gets success easily; bad and good things always come along. Hence, accept the good one and throw away the bad one.

What was your hardest scene to write?

Simran: The hardest one was for me is the ending because it is what all the readers look for. Some readers even read the Epilogue before they start reading the book and if it is not good they do not feel like reading it. Therefore, for me ending part is the hardest one to write.

Do you Google yourself?

Simran: Yes, I do Google myself, like every day.

What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

Simran: Negativity, Laziness, and unnecessary distractions too, create hindrance in my mind and stop me to write.

What is your favorite childhood book?

Simran: During childhood, I only read comics like Twinkle, Chacha Chaudhary, Nagraj, and Champak. I like Fairy tales but no one is my favorite.

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Simran: Yes, they do support me.

How long on average does it take to write a book? How many hours a day do you write?

Simran: Writing needs a lot of patience and diligence. I moderately write one Chapter a day and it includes 3 to 4 hours. If I write every day, the book will be finished, in a month or two. Experts told that if we write 500 words per day then we can publish 3-4 books in a year but we need to be patient.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

Simran: After publishing my first book, I get to know how important Proofreading is and create a better design for your book cover. Editing your work is extremely important.

What’s the best way to market your books?

Simran: Nowadays, Bookstores are not the only platform to promote or market your book. Internet is best for marketing anything, you can do Giveaway alerts from Goodreads, Join the Readers group, Blog posts, Promote your book socially, can do mailing promotion as well. If you are publishing your book through Kindle then Kindle provides us Free Book Promotion, Kindle Countdown Deals, Amazon Advertising, and KDP select.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Simran: Well, I cannot answer this but to write you need to feel emotions. When I write anything I connect myself with the characters and feel the emotions they are going through and if I do not feel anything then how readers will feel it and connect themselves with the characters. Whenever I am off, I cannot concentrate on writing because I cannot feel connected.

What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Simran: What is unethical for me in the publishing industry is self-publishing; we first need to pay a huge amount to buy their packages. It is good that we can buy our ISBN and select a cover for our book but it will be bad if no unit sold out. Even after all this, you do not find your book at bookstores. Besides, you need to do all the marketing as well, so it is unethical to me.

What is the common trap for aspiring writers?

Simran: After writing a book, every writer thinks that he/she is best and no one will reject his or her work but it is not true always. Success comes with lots of hardship. Some writers, after receiving rejections and bad comments accept defeat and stop writing; but that is the time for them to prove to others is, how excellent they can do. 

What is the greatest difference between book lovers and book reviewers, according to you? What is your opinion about those people, who judge your book based on the cover?

Simran: Book Lovers and Book reviewers both are different. Nowadays what I found that reviewers ask for money and DM us for Bulk Reviews with a huge amount, no one wants to read it like a lover but just to read it and review it, but it’s not every reviewer is the same. Book Lovers love the book, they accept any book, and they read it with full feel even if it contains flaws but what matters to them is a story and feel that the writer tries to bring out. Well for the book cover, I just want to say ‘Never judge a book by its cover’. Cover never explains to you that what’s the book holds inside.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Simran: One of my first writing ‘Man of My Dream’ and it’s half published on Wattpad and I am working on it. I am excited about this one because it is my first writing and contains many emotions.  

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