HYDERABAD: “Be zealous in your doings”, believes author, Pallavi Rebbapragada whose first book, ‘Upon a Bright Red Bench’ is ringing bells everywhere. A touch of human-interest stories has always been the heart of her work that guided her to embark on a latest creative journey.
The writer is a blend of Punjabi and Andhraite (two states, literally!), was in the city recently for her book launch.
Excerpts from the interview:
How did your journey begin from a journalist to an author?
My voyage started in 2010 as a journalist.
I mostly covered stories related to lifestyle which I reported from more than ten countries. Since it was creative writing, there was possibility to paint a picture with every story. Writing is less about words and more about the experiences we go through in life, and, of course, thoughts.
Did you always plan of becoming a writer?
Honestly speaking, the writer in me was born by chance. I did not plan any of it, but it just went with the flow.
“Happy stories are harder to master” as you mentioned in one of your interviews. What makes you think so?
It’s difficult to develop intrigue in a reader’s mind when it comes to happy stories. People say it’s hard to make people laugh which is indeed a fact. News pieces are easier to cover as the events already took place. Bad news sells but happy stories don’t as the former is already there for people to associate with that emotion.
On penning ‘Upon a Bright Red Bench’ and Yale Conference...
Human voice wasn’t my choice because it has a tendency to create biases into a story. Bench is theme that looks at the realities of life without any prejudices.
All stories are connected by the voice of the bench. They are the characters in the stories. Also, my first literary piece has been assessed in Yale Conference by many international writers .
What should be a reader’s expectation of your book?
My idea behind using the bench was to blur the author or the human voice. You read a book to draw a thought or emotion that might connect to your sentiments for which I have universalised the concept behind it.
Your thought behind the title of the book...
I took the bench as a narrator of the stories and the bright red as it gives a sense of hope and optimism. It’s not an regular bench as it narrates the lives about ordinary people. And each story it tells is unique.