One of the biggest perks of my job is getting to interview authors whose work I so admire. Who says you cant have your cake and eat it too??
I have been enjoying Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's writing for years and I have to confess that I am always sad when I come to the end of her novels -- it makes me sad to be at the end of such amazing writing and to have to wait endlessly (or what seems like an endless wait) for her next work. I want her books to go on and on. Her writing can only be described in one word - pure. It is pure magic, pure wonder, pure delight and pure pleasure. She weaves her way in and out of mystical worlds taking the reader with her - I love going into her world's, they make me come alive and rejoice. Such is the power of her writing.
And now, this lovely lady, who is as gracious as she is talented, has done it again in Palace of Illusions. The story of the Mahabharat told from Draupadi's point of view. You have to buy/borrow/beg/steal/do whatever you need to to get a copy of this book. Trust me, you wont be sorry.
I managed to steal a few precious moment's of the author't time in which she shared some of her insights into writing --
MB- Why do you write?
CBD - I write because it's fun. because it's the most creative thing i'm capable of, something that puts me in touch with a deep & sacred part of my being. i write to share great stories (as in the Palace of Illusions) with people like you who love literature. i write to share my culture and my world--with readers who know it intimately already, and with readers for whom the books are a discovery process. i write to establish unlikely connections.
MB- How did you decide to write Palace of Illusions? I would venture to say that this is your best yet. The main character has such spirit, such oomph. I can only imagine that such character development would have been a major challenge – creating someone who was not well-defined in history… how did you do it?
CBD- Thank you so much. I spent a long time on Panchaali's character, especially trying to get her voice right. I'm so glad it worked for you. I did a lot of research on the Mahabharat--as well as books written on the Mahabharat. and that gave me the basic outline of the character. but mostly i spent quiet time imagining her, visualizing her, thinking of her motives and her responses to the great tragedies of her life. those are the areas where i strove to create something new.
MB- What is the process you follow when you write? Do you outline? How do you keep track of so many plots? How do you get so much detail into your novels - do you research, interview....? Specifically for Palace of Illusions, how did you manage to keep the research manageable?
CBD- I outline parts at a time, then wait to discover more. I know in my mind about the major characters, but not necessarily how they'll change or grow. I read widely in the subject when I'm writing a novel. For example, I did a lot of ayurvedic research when writing Mistress of Spices. but then I have to be quiet and imagine the world of the novel clearly in my head. for Palace of Illusions, there was so much to research, it was rather overwhelming. I made a list of the books I absolutely had to study. I also had to research the lifestyle of ancient india--clothing, food, entertainment among the nobility, etc. I would write parts, then do more research when issues came up. I must say the internet has really helped my research--even to come up with a bibliography was a lot easier.
MB- Do you wait for inspiration to strike in order to write or do you just write everyday?
CBD - I try to write everyday. it's important for me to think of writing as a discipline, such as for classical indian singers who do reyaaz every day.
MB -What is your advice for aspiring novelists - your top three pieces of wisdom?
CBD-
1. Read a lot--especially different kinds of books. Push yourself by reading books that are challenging.
2. Read like a writer, with a pen and notebook. underline, write in margins, take notes of writing techniques.
3. Make time in your life for writing regularly
and a bonus:find a writing community, at least 1 or 2 writer/reader friends you can share your work with. All these helped me.
Thanks again Ms. Divakaruni and please know that while I was really sad when I finished your latest novel, I am eagerly anticipating, as I am sure are millions of other fans, the next one!!
