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The mystical children’s adventure story, The Gang of Six Plus One is set with the Himalayas as the backdrop. This spirited adventure is a tale of friendship and trust. The children and their faithful guide finally return home to a tumultuous welcome and merrymaking.
In our Q&A, the author shares his experiences of this amazing adventure.
What made you want to be an author? How did you come up with the title of your book?
I was midway through my memoirs when a good friend of mine read one of the chapters and suggested that I would do a good job writing stories for children. At first, the idea didn’t appeal to me as I was more interested in completing my memoirs and was also not confident that I could actually write children’s stories. But my family members persuaded me, and once I started, I enjoyed the writing and didn’t stop till I finished the book.
Enid Blyton was the source of my inspiration – her book series ‘The Famous Five’ gave me the idea for the title of my book.
What is the spirited adventure in your story all about?
The spirited adventure is all about the desire to travel and see new places despite the obstacles and hardships. A heart-pounding tale of daring and heroism!
According to you, which chapter of the book is the most adventurous that will make readers want to come back for more?
Chapter 9 undoubtedly – its fast moving and you are curious to know what happens next. A captivating story and character development are always key indicators for me.
How did you pick the names of your characters?
The names are those of my grandchildren and their best friends. The only fictional name is that of Zino the mountain goat.
Is this mystical adventure story created with the Himalayas as the backdrop? How exciting can that be for your book readers?
More than the Himalayas, I wanted to give publicity to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as this state has been making the news for the wrong reasons with the Chinese laying claim to it.
How challenging was the treacherous landscape, the terrifying animals, and the unpredictable weather?
You mean…Just when everything was going as per the plan, fate intervenes and makes the adventure take an unexpected turn. Well, to be honest, it was not challenging at all. I just let my imagination run riot.
Overall, how would you describe your experience?
No exaggeration, but I would say, ‘most gratifying’. It has invoked the desire in me to write many more books on travel and adventure.
