Presenting you the super exclusive interview of a young and talented author of ‘The Overview Motel’, Rohaan Ohlyan, which is his debut novel. I recently read the book, and ended up loving it. If you haven’t read it then you must. Go grab your copy now. You can check out my review on it in the review section. Here’s a quick word with him… Enjoy!!
•Hi Rohaan, for those who don’t know, could you start off by telling us a little bit about you and your book ‘The Overview Motel’.
Hi I am Rohaan Ohlyan and I am currently pursuing master’s in data science from Monash University, Melbourne. Apart from writing I play the guitar. I am also a passionate sportsman, football being one of my favourite sports.
A passion for writing led me to author my debut book “The Overview Motel,” a psychological crime thriller. This book starts off with two characters entering a motel on a rainy night after their car has a puncture. As the night begins, strange events lead them into a state of frenzy. They witness something indescribable. Could it be a figment of imagination of two weary travellers or is there a psychopath on loose? Will the two have an option of escaping the motel? Can anyone be trusted? Will they make it out alive?
•What inspired you to start writing?
I have been writing short stories ever since I was a kid, and this time I wanted to write a book, and get it published.
•How long does it take you to write a book?
Took me a year while I was in my undergrad
•Do you write full-time or part-time?
Part- Time
•What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Football, Guitar and Gaming
•What was your favourite part, and your least favourite part, of the publishing journey?
Favourite Part – Deciding the cover page of my book
Least Favourite Part – Proofreading
•How do you develop your plot & characters?
I developed my plot over a sheet of paper with the help of a diagram to make events simplified for me to relate to anytime later, and I did the same with the characters, and noted every minute detail for them as well.
•Why do you choose to work in this genre? Do you consider yourself a genre writer, or do you want to try other genres?
I chose to work in this genre, as I had a very strong threshold on my story idea. I would definitely want to try other genres.
•What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
– Create a pitch black room and slowly add elements in that room. This will help describe the author what he/she can visualize when the reader reads the book.
– Stick to first person or third person throughout the book, whichever the author chooses to use in the beginning.
– Make sure the story line keeps the reader hooked, by leaving some suspense at the end of each chapter
•What does your family think of your writing?
My mom’s an avid reader, and she was quite impressed with the way I wrote.
•Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
Yes, they love the book and the especially the plot. Some of my readers want it to be converted into a movie.
•Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
Yes I am available on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Yes definitely, readers can interact with me.
•Who is your favourite author?
Agatha Christie
•Your Favourite book
Sleeping Murder – Agatha Christie
•What’s your favourite food?
Butter Chicken
•Your favourite tourist Destination?
Norway
•Your most cherished memory
When I published my book
•Are you working on anything at the present, you would like to share with your readers about?
Yes, I am working on a compilation of short true stories
•What does success mean to you?
Success for me is standing up on my feet and being independent.
•If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Hardworking
Passionate about what I do
Focused
Fun Part
Pick One:
•Day or Night
Day
•Text message or call
Call
•Summer or Winter
Winter
•Tea or Coffee
Coffee
•Cats or Dogs
Dogs
•Movie or Book
Movie
•Reading or Writing
Writing
•Car or Bike
Car
•Paperback or e-book
Paperback
•And lastly, what advice would you like to give to aspiring authors?
I would like to encourage the aspiring authors to write whatever comes to their mind first, and not be wary about it. This will make them gain confidence later on, as they can further modify those ideas and story trails.
They should outline their entire story as a timeline with each characters descriptions on a separate rough page, while writing, to make things simpler as they progress along their book.
And lastly, write your heart out!
Thank you Rohaan for giving your time.
All the best for your future projects.
Elysian Bookgraphy 