The making of a writer

"There are a few incidents in the book that actually transpired, characters I have met and interacted with, and places I have visited, but the plot for 'Feni Daze' is largely fictional," shares Mathew during an interview

In Mathew Vincent Menacherry's book 'Feni Daze' the well defined characters tell a story of their past that defines their present, interestingly intertwined with the place the story is set in. And it is Goa in all its touristy glitz, the scenic magnificence and the dark under belly that the author majorly explores.

The protagonist Victor Gabriel is an ex-soldier, who has been discharged from the Indian Army He is also an aspiring writer, who is fighting inner demons, and as he deals with himself, he also tries to rekindle the once exciting relationship he has had with his girlfriend, Ana. And this brings them to Goa, the beginning of a long weekend of events that unfold taking the engaging story forward.

Excerpts from an interview:

How much of you and your roots influence the writer in you?

I was born in Kerala, but have spent my entire life in Mumbai. Back in the day there wasn't much on television, what with Doordarshan being the only channel on air, and pretty much the only thing one did for entertainment was play sports and read. I was fortunate that I grew up in a family that valued books and reading. I have been a voracious reader all my life, which I feel is a prerequisite to being a writer. I am also fascinated by the power of a story - to entertain, educate and inspire.

In addition to setting your story on Goa...it also goes back to Insurgency in Punjab...is there a back story here?

I wanted to tell the story through the eyes of an imperfect, scarred protagonist, and since he was in the army, I felt that the period of the insurgency in Punjab would provide a credible backdrop to the tale. I spent some time researching this era, what led to the upsurge of extremism in Punjab and how it played out, and then I used this as a back story. To answer the question, I was not very familiar with either the state or the events that transpired before I started my research. In fact, I had never visited Punjab even once before this.

What about your characters and how did they evolve?

Many of the characters I came up with are based on folks I have met, either in Goa or other places. They are usually a blend of two or more people.

What is your writing process like...Do you know how the story would begin and end or do you go with the flow...would you like to share any interesting moments during the process?

Typically, when I start on a book I know how it would begin and how it would end, but there's a lot of stuff in the middle that just comes to me as I go along. And then there is the reading and the research, which are indispensable, and which move the writing forward.

Are you one of those disciplined writers who sit every day and write, or a fussy writer who needs a certain kind of setting everytime you sit out to write. What kind of writer are you?

I can only write in the mornings, and I need to find a quiet place with few distractions. A coffee shop works just fine most of the time.

As a writer I am quite undisciplined, which bothers me, as I would like to write more, and good writing is nine-tenths about discipline and rigour.

What is your next book...have you started working on it

Currently I am researching a book based on a spiritual theme. It's a complex subject, and I plan to only commence writing when I am confident that I can do justice to the topic.