Interview with Raja Sharma

Published 2014-02-18.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I have spent most of my life reading and teaching college students. My greatest joy of writing lies in sharing my thoughts with others.
What do your fans mean to you?
I willingly accept both criticism and admiration. Fans or no fans, I will continue to write, because that is the only means which provides me the greatest consolation or reward.
What are you working on next?
I am involved in several writing projects, including literature guides, short stories, poems, and novel. Some of them are near completion and some might take a bit longer.
Who are your favorite authors?
Jane Austen, Balzac, Mario Puzo, D. H. Lawrence, Charles Dickens, Francis Bacon, Jonathan Swift, Charles Lamb, Rudyard Kipling, George Bernard Shaw, and Bertrand Russel are among my favorite writers, but I often read modern writers when I need a change.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
When I sleep I take it as a chapter closed, with a hope that I might wake up in the morning, and when I wake up in the morning, a new energy and a new world happens to be there. I take it as a fresh start and continue my work.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Mostly reading or watching movies.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
In the past five years I have read more than I had read in four decades. Thanks to ebooks. They are my constant companions on my laptop, my mobile, and on my tablet. I wish they had been introduced four decades earlier.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
Yes, it was titled "The Buddha in Me."
What is your writing process?
I don't plan. I simply concentrate on the subject I am going to write about, and then I begin to write a kind of rough manuscript which is generally disjointed anecdotes or narratives. Having completed the first draft, I leave it for some time. I read it again and then rest for a while.
The following day, I start writing the final version, with a lot of additions and removals. My writing process is quite simple. I do teach literature, but while writing I show all the literary techniques the door so that I could be free from all the restrictions and norms. My writing is spontaneous and smooth. I leave it to my readers to judge what I have written.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Yes, it was a novel "Rich Man Poor Man." It kind of changed my life. I began to think broadly about life, leaving the confined world of traditions and customs which had been imposed upon my by my family, my teachers, and my society.

Before that I had read hundreds of short stories, but that was done mostly for fun or under compulsion.
How do you approach cover design?
I try to convey some ideas of the writing which my readers are going to find in the book through my cover.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
War and Peace, Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, Mansfield Park, and She. I learned a lot from these five books. They kind of proved to me my informal university of the world. Though there are several other books which I could mention here, but I believe that these five books ought to be read if you are seriously into reading.
What do you read for pleasure?
Reading is my pleasure, for I am always pleased. My work is my hobby and there is not even a single moment in my life when I am displeased or bored. Everything that is in the shape of letters, words, and sentences, attracts and inspires me.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
My epub reader on my mobile phone.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Advertising through social sites and emailing.
Describe your desk
It is an ancient oak wood desk, bought by my father about 75 years ago. It is five feet and three feet in size. It is always cluttered with heaps of books and incomplete manuscripts....
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in the mountains at a place called Nainital, in India. Nature was an essential part of my childhood and I have been greatly influenced by my childhood surroundings: rivers, mountains, brooks, animals, and trees, etc.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing about twenty years ago, in 1996.
What's the story behind your latest book?
It is the story of a man who had been compelled to see the period in history which he would have never accepted to witness if he had been given a choice....
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I did not want to go from publisher to publisher, begging them to publish my book...
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Smashwords has introduced me to the world, I have published several books up to this day and the financial gains have been improving. More than the financial gains, I have been provided greater access by Smashwords. Thanks to Mark and his team.
Write your own question here!
Why does one choose to write?
Why does on choose to write?
I don't know the specific answer, but in my case it was spontaneous. Having read hundreds of books up to the age of forty, I suddenly started writing and here I am still writing, with a hope that I would continue to do so till my last breath.
Smashwords Interviews are created by the profiled author or publisher.

Latest books by This Author

Love's Unwritten Chapters (A Romantic Novella)
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 6,240. Language: English. Published: November 15, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure, Fiction » Classics
As you delve into the pages of this book, prepare to be swept away like an irresistible whirlwind. The storytelling is enthralling, keeping you on the edge of your seat, eager to discover what unfolds next. The conclusion of this narrative promises to leave an indelible mark on your soul.
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Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 10,120. Language: Hindi. Published: November 14, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure, Fiction » Classics
"पंखुड़ी गुलाब की (सुन्दर उपन्यास)" नाम की इस पुस्तक में राजा शर्मा आपको एक अलग ही दुनिया में ले जा रहे हैं। वो दुनिया है भारत से अमरीका गयी मोहिनी और अमेरिका में ही पलकर बड़े हुए सिद्धार्थ की। इस उपन्यास में बहुत ही सरल और सजीव ढंग से उनके जीवन के उतार चढ़ावों को प्रदर्शित किया गया है।
प्रेम के अधलिखे अध्याय (एक उत्कृष्ट उपन्यास)
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 7,770. Language: Hindi. Published: October 29, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure, Fiction » Classics
मैं हैरान थी के मनोरमा अपने अंदर इतना तूफ़ान लिए हुई थी और उस तूफ़ान को अपनी डायरी में शब्दों के रूप में सजा रही थी। मुझे यकीन ही नहीं हो रहा था के मनोरमा जैसी लड़की इतना सुन्दर गद्य कैसे लिख सकती थी.............
Soulbound (Tragic Love)
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Raja Sharma's narratives possess a unique ability to deeply touch the heartstrings. With each tale he spins, he unveils a world entirely distinct from the last.
उदारता की पटरियाँ (लघु उपन्यास)
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 7,900. Language: Hindi. Published: October 24, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Adventure » Travel, Fiction » Classics
राजा शर्मा जी द्वारा लिखित इस लघु उपन्यास "उदारता की पटरियाँ" की आकर्षक दुनिया में आपका स्वागत है। यह उपन्यास एक गहन यात्रा है, न केवल ट्रेन की पटरियों पर बल्कि जटिल क्षणों और हार्दिक कहानियों के माध्यम से जो हमारे जीवन को आकार देती हैं।
Literary Jewels: Classic Short Stories for the Ages
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 19,450. Language: English. Published: October 15, 2023 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Short stories - single author
Raja Sharma, the author behind these words, pours his heart and soul into his craft. His stories are a testament to his unwavering dedication to the art of storytelling, unadorned and sincere. His words will not only impress but will also leave you yearning for more, eager to explore his literary repertoire.
द मिल ऑन द फ़्लॉस (सारांश और आलोचनात्मक विश्लेषण हिंदी में)
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 6,990. Language: Hindi. Published: October 8, 2023 . Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides - Literature, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides -- Book Notes
उपन्यास का केंद्रीय पात्र मैगी टुलिवर है, जो एक चतुर और भावुक युवा लड़की है जो अपने भाई टॉम से गहराई से जुड़ी हुई है। कहानी परिवार, शिक्षा, सामाजिक वर्ग और व्यक्तिगत संबंधों के विषयों की पड़ताल करती है। उपन्यास में केंद्रीय संघर्षों में से एक व्यक्तिगत इच्छाओं और सामाजिक अपेक्षाओं के बीच तनाव है।
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Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 5,440. Language: Hindi. Published: October 6, 2023 . Categories: Nonfiction » Reference » Study guides, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides -- Book Notes
इस उपन्यास की कहानी अपनी धारा-चेतना (Stream of Consciousness) कथा शैली के लिए जानी जाती है, जो पात्रों के आंतरिक विचारों और भावनाओं को उजागर करती है। यह उपन्यास अपने पात्रों के आंतरिक जीवन और अनुभवों का पता लगाता है, विशेष रूप से क्लेरिसा डैलोवे के साथ-साथ उन लोगों का भी, जिनसे वह दिन भर में मिलती है।
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Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 4,410. Language: Hindi. Published: October 1, 2023 . Categories: Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides - Literature, Nonfiction » Education & Study Guides » Study guides -- Book Notes
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चार दोस्तों की ये कहानी विदेश में शुरू होकर विदेश में ही अंत होती है लेकिन कहानी के नायक अज़नान की कहानी हमें उसके देश और उसके गृहनगर ले जाती है और उसके अतीत के जीवन से परिचित करवाने के साथ साथ हमें उसके भविष्य के कदमो के बारे में बहुत ही ख़ूबसूरती से बताती है!
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