Nepali writer Brajesh Khanal, an alumnus of Tribhuvan University, is the author of Yayavar and the recently released Juneli. In an interview with the Post, he talks about his favourite writers, his love for fiction and Juneli. Excerpts:

Can you tell us something about your new book Juneli?  

Juneli is a character from my previous novel Yayavar. Juneli only had a brief appearance in the story but she too had a role to play.  The protagonist of my story was Baikuntha and was written from his perspective.  Hence, Juneli only appeared when Baikuntha saw her. Strangely, almost all my readers loved her and felt that they would have loved to read more about her. This inspired me to write a story from her perspective. And Juneli was born.

Would you say it is a continuation of your previous book Yayavar?

You can also say that. But the story is very different from Yayavar, as is its narration. Some common characters and major incidents are similar but it is not a sequel and can be read by someone who has not read Yayavar.

How have the audiences been receiving the book?

I have received very encouraging and positive responses so far. Female readers, particularly, have been sending me a lot of feedback through social media and emails. Readers have been very receptive about the somewhat complicated multi-layered story telling technique I have applied in Juneli; another aspect which makes Juneli completely different from Yayavar. Normally writers play in their tried and tested safe grounds for their second venture. In a way I took a huge risk by trying a completely different style. It was a gamble and I am happy it has paid off.

You are currently on a promotional tour for your book. Can you tell us a bit about it?

We are actually midway in the promotions. We recently visited Chitwan and the response was hugely satisfying. The interaction was attended by a lot of readers as well as the stalwarts of the area. Other cities have also been very responsive and eager about the programme. The tour is turning out to be a very satisfying experience for me to directly be in touch with my readers from different parts of the country. We will be heading to Butwal, Birendranagar, Kohalpur and Dang in the coming week.

How do you frame your characters? Are they a reflection of people you’ve met or are they fictional creationss?

All my characters are inspired, to an extent, by the many people I have observed or seen in life. I might have infused the essence of many people in some of my characters or one real person might have been spread in to various characters.

Any writer whose work influences yours?

I cannot exactly say influence, but there were a lot of writers who have impressed me through various phases of my growing. I guess the priorities and favourites keep changing.

What was the last book you read and how did you like it?

The Museum Of Innocence, by Ohran Pamuk affected me tremendously. As I had the opportunity to visit the corresponding museum itself in Istanbul, I could really get the feel of the book which deals with love, affection and the society of Turkey.

Do you have a favourite genre? How do you pick books to read?

I mostly prefer fiction, biographies and books on philosophy. And that’s how I pick them, not particularly in that order, when I am on the lookout for new books.

Name a book that you would recommend, and why?

Recommending one book is very tough. There are so many good books written all over the world. What I like might not be liked by others and vice versa. There are so many interesting books written, recommending just one is a strenuous task.

Any book that has inspired you a lot and why?

Osho’s philosophies have affected me tremendously. Though all his compilations are beneficial, The Psychology of the Esoteric remains my favourite.

What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?

Complexity in writing puts me off. You can pen down intense emotions with the use of simple words. Even in my writing, you can see that I try to be as simple as I can. Simplicity is the key to good writing, at least for me.

 A good writer is someone who has a flair for observation. He/she should be an avid reader too and also travel, as it helps widen your perspective and shapes you as a writer.

Your advice for general readers and inspiring writers?

Read, observe, write, rewrite. And then write some more.