An Article by the Asian Review

 https://asian-reviews.com/2025/03/11/fiction-mirrors-the-truths-emotions-and-complexities-of-the-world-we-inhabit-rohan-monteiro/

 

Fiction mirrors the truths, emotions, and complexities of the world we inhabit.” Rohan Monteiro

By dhanukadickwella on 11 Mar 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Q: Not everyone writes, nor can everyone write. Tell us what inspired you to pick up a pen and start writing, along with a brief introduction of yourself.

A: It was 2014. I had just learned I was going to be a dad. I was at that point a research consultant in Singapore in a job and role that wasn’t going anywhere. I felt I needed to do something with my life that my kid (s) would look up to. Something that felt more meaningful instead of sitting in an office all day. That’s when I decided to write a book.

My name is Rohan Monteiro, and my first non-fiction novel, ‘Keep Calm and Go Crazy’, was published in 2015 by HarperCollins. My most recent book was released last year by Westland Publishing. Shadows Rising is set in the present times and deals with characters from South Asian mythology. It is the first in a seven-book series. Book 2 will be released in 2025
 

Q: As one correctly said, every writer has their own reasons for writing—whom they write for and why. How has the feedback from your readership been?

A: Feedback on Shadows Rising has been overwhelmingly positive, with forty 5-star reviews. I did have one solitary one-star review by a reader who was disappointed I was “subverting the mythology”, but unfortunately, you can’t please everyone.
What I’m also glad about is how several authors have praised the series. I’m a huge fan of Mike Carey (author of Lucifer), and he wrote to me saying he enjoyed it. Ditto with Sam Sykes, Manu Pillai, Sidin Vadukut, and Ashok Banker, among several others.

Q: Our readers would be interested in learning more about your work. Could you elaborate on the story behind this book?

A: Shadows Rising is the story of a yaksha (a semi-immortal being) named Akran who is living incognito in Mumbai. Banished from the heavenly court a long time ago for a crime he was falsely accused of, Akran just wants to be left alone. Unfortunately, a kidnapping reluctantly brings him out of his shell, and he begins investigating. The plot revolves around Akran and his friends, other beings from Indian mythology, working together to
Rescue the kidnapped victims and save the world.

Q: The writing process is unique to each writer. After all, it is dynamic. What is your writing process?

A: I read this great comment on Reddit recently that all Charles Dickens had to do in his time was either write or go to watch public executions. Unfortunately, today, we have a great many other distractions, Netflix, Prime, and Disney being only a few of them. What I prefer doing is disconnecting from the digital world completely while I’m writing. This means that for eight months in the year, I’m off television or social media. That helps me focus. During that period, I ended up writing anywhere between 1000-2000 words a day on weekdays. Sometimes I end up doing this in an hour; other times it takes 2-3 hours. It is a commitment, but over time, it gets easier.

Q” Writer’s block is often discussed. Has it ever affected you? If so, when and how did you deal with it?

A: I tend to read a lot of books in the genre that I write in, i.e. fantasy. In an average year, I read between sixty to ninety books. That is often a great stimulator in coming up with ideas.

Q: “Fiction is the reality of the fiction we live.” What is your take on that statement?

A: Fiction mirrors the truths, emotions, and complexities of the world we inhabit. Our lives are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and others, whether through culture, history, or personal experiences.
In my particular case, I like tapping into stories from mythology and cultural lore and weaving them into a modern-day narrative. They resonate because they tap into classic fears, desires, and conflicts, even with gods, demons, and other supernatural elements.

Q: Three decades ago, one could sit and read fiction without much concern for facts. Today, readers are obsessed with accuracy due to their information-driven mindsets, often making it difficult for them to fully enjoy a piece of fiction. In your opinion, how has this overwhelming access to information impacted readers’ literary appreciation?

A: I think it’s great. I feel like readers will appreciate a piece of writing more if they better understand the layers that an author includes in his work. Sometimes, a particular paragraph may resonate precisely because you know exactly what the writer is alluding to.
What it forces us, as writers, to do is also ensure that we engage with readers not just at a story level but also through cultural nuance. A stray reference to a song that’s currently popular, an eatery that’s well known, or a recent activity that’s in the news is something a reader can read and say, “Aha! I know what he is talking about. Maybe it’s not a current event but a reference to something historical or even a timeless myth. Maybe it’s a different perspective on something from another point of view. All of these serve to enrich and enhance the reader’s experience. It also makes rereads more interesting because you might end up spotting easter eggs that were missed the first time around.

Q: What are your thoughts on the digitalization of books and its impact on readers, literature, and overall human well-being, which literature ultimately aims to enhance?

A: I’m actually in the minority here, for I love digital books. I realized in my teens that I was never going to be able to afford as many books as I could read in a year unless I switched to e-books. Once I began working, I could afford them, but I quickly ran out of space. With overflowing cupboards of books, including comics, I finally decided to make a permanent switch to ebooks. I still have at least two hundred books at home I’ll need to give away at some point, but as of now, the only books I actively buy are ones that I cannot find a digital copy of.

Q: Would you mind giving us a hint about your future work?

A: I wrote two books last year. The first is about a series of murders in UP. The story is a thriller/horror that taps into local folklore involving Vetalas and ghouls.
The second is a noir thriller detective story in Bangalore. All of my writing takes place in the same shared universe, so there are cameos and easter eggs that people who are familiar with my work will be able to spot.

Q: Any parting words?

A: I love engaging with readers. Find me on Instagram, and I’ll be happy to chat about writing/answer questions.

By Dhanuka Dickwella