Author Interview

 

Let's start the session with your introduction to our audience. 

Q1.What themes do you often explore in your writing and why do they resonate with you?

DEEPAK: This was my first attempt of writing the book “WINGS TO FLY”. The book is all about my 14 years of volunteering journey. I have captured my learning, experiences and lot of success stories of young adults while volunteering with Udayan Care, a 29 year old NGO. Udayan Care is today present in 15 states and 36 cities across India.

I have also covered a bit about my family’s philanthropy in different ways.

Q2.How do you balance your personal experiences with fictional elements in your stories?

DEEPAK: Let me clarify that my book WINGS TO FLY is a 100 percent true story and there is nothing fictional about it .In fact I personally read only inspirational books like autobiographies of Dr. Abdul Kalam, Mother Teresa, Railway man Sreedharan, creation of Wealth which is about the journey of Tata group, Mahatma Gandhi and so on.

Q3.It was truly a large and daring journey that you undertook in your life. Who would you say was your constant supporter or motivator while you achieved this enormous feet?

DEEPAK: My late father would continue to be the biggest motivator when it comes to giving back to society. I have dedicated my book WINGS TO FLY to him. After that I will give full credit to my best half meaning my wife Dr. Sunita Sharma. She herself is my equal partner in crime and without her constant support I would not have been able to do what God wanted me to .As an old saying goes there is a woman behind every successful woman. So is my wife and my mother behind me all the time.

Apart from that, founder of Udayan Care Dr. Kiran Modi is also a great inspiration for me and she as my elder sister is also a big motivational factor for me to do more every day.

Q4.How do you envision impact that your book would leave on the readers?

DEEPAK: I have divided my book WINGS TO FLY into three phase of life-, learning phase, earning phase and returning phase. If each one of us whom God has given so much could adopt this philosophy in life that would be the real impact I would like to see. GIVING IS LIVING is my life’s motto for last many years.

Q5. Tell us something more about your unique title of the book.

DEEPAK: In fact I got inspired by Dr. Abdul Kalam book title Wings of Fire.

My book title sounds unique as I am making best efforts to support those children who are out of home and have their own dreams to fulfil. I and my wife are guiding, counselling and mentoring them as our own children.

Q6. How has your journey been with your book?

DEEPAK: The journey has been pretty good so far. It has sold almost 2500 copies and I have received a royalty of 1.5 lacs from sale of books .The entire sale proceeds as mentioned on the back cover of the book  has been donated to Udayan Care .In future too I would do the same.

Q7.Tell us something about your contributions and achievements is regards to the NGO you are working with.

DEEPAK : It would take pages after pages to describe it. The book WINGS TO FLY is all about my contribution and achievements while volunteering with Udayan Care since 2009.Whatever I am today is all because of Udayan Care. I am indebted to Udayan Care and would like to repay till my last day.

Q8.How do you approach the process of developing characters and bringing them to life within your stories?

DEEPAK: There is nothing fictional about the stories covered in my book WINGS TO FLY. It’s a 100 % true story about my journey and each and every character in the book is there in physical form ready to narrate their story if required.

Q9 .Imagine your book being adapted into the movie what kind of soundtrack or music genre do you envision enhancing the mood and themes of your story?

DEEPAK: The sound track should be such that it inspires an individual to give back to society in the form he/she desires.

Lot of directors from Bollywood have approached me after reading my book to create a documentary on the book. In absence of financers/producers I have been unable to take it forward. May be someone after reading your blog comes forward to support.

More than 100 reviews of the book on Amazon is a testimony to the content and quality the readers have found after reading the book WINGS TO FLY.

Q10. Lastly some motivation for the young writer among us.

DEEPAK: Please spread the word about the good work my NGO Udayan Care is doing for community. I know the power of PEN is extremely strong. They can share their experiences regarding the” Give Back to Society “in whatever way they want to contribute please.