Author RV
Raman, author of the crime thriller, Fraudster, opens up to Readers’ Muse in
this interview. We @ Readers’ Muse thank the author for his candid answers that
tells us a little more about the man who created such memorable characters. We
thank you for your insightful answers, sir!
1. Please tell us a little about yourself (preferably
something that is not in your goodreads Profile!)
There is so little to say …
I used to be an ardent follower of
cricket, with India and the West Indies being my favourites. A minor dream was
fulfilled when I watched test cricket at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica (I
went on to watch many more matches there).
I’ve had the good fortune to have
travelled widely and seen different cultures. I’ve also had the ill fortune to
have had my car hijacked, not once, but twice.
2. What was the basis for writing Fraudster? Was there a specific event or a group of events that was
your inspiration?
Fraudster was an experiment with two objectives:
First, I wanted to see if I could come
up with something that would go down well with Indian readers. My earlier
attempt at another genre (epic fantasy) had found favour with some global
readers. I then wanted to write something very Indian.
Second, I saw a gap in the crime
fiction genre – few people write novels with the core in
corporate India. And those who do are a generation younger than me. In my
writing, I wanted to offer a more tenured perspective of the temptations and
challenges in the corporate world.
No, Fraudster
was not inspired by any specific group or event. I chose banking for my first
novel as it is perhaps the easiest arena to showcase varied motivations, and to
construct a white-collar crime. On the one hand, you have upright, incorruptible
people like Visht and Subbu. And on the other, you have opportunistic men
driven by greed.
3. Of the characters of Fraudster,
who is your favourite and why?
Varsha. Had I had a daughter, I would
have liked her to be something like Varsha.
4. Which character was the most difficult to frame/ create?
Ranade. For one, I don’t know any
police detectives, and my perspective of these guys is entirely based on novels
set in the western world. All the other characters are quite common in the
corporate world – the kind, upright Visht; the caring but no-nonsense Subbu; the
helpful IT support geek in Ashwin, the lecherous middle-manager in Vincent
Shain; and a bright, vivacious girl in Varsha.
5. For someone with your experience in this field, how easy
or difficult was writing Fraudster?
While the basic elements of content
were not new, assembling them into a credible crime and an industry-wide scam
took some doing. I found that writing crime fiction requires a lot more rigour
and care than epic fantasy does. Multiple components and several causal chains
of events have to fit seamlessly and credibly. I didn’t want an informed banker
or corporate executive discovering logical flaws.
6. I had a really good time reading the book. For a
computer enthusiast who is interested in reading fast paced thrillers, Fraudster was a really engaging read.
But I couldn’t really classify it in one genre. It was too realistic to be
fiction (of course it was fiction, this is a compliment!) How would you
classify your book, and why?
I see it as a combination of a mystery
and a thriller. The first murder is a classic locked room mystery, and the rest
of it is a thriller. The blurb focusses on the thriller element.
7. What is your writing habit? In calm and silent
environments or even the hustle and bustle of traffic?
I need a good measure of calm to write
and edit, and the mind must be free of cares. But formulating scenes and events
can be done anywhere. I find that walking promotes imagination and non-linear
thinking. I tend to do a lot of my thinking on my feet.
8. Are there any plans for a future book? What more can we
expect from you, sir? We’re eager in that regard.
I am in the midst of the next novel,
which is set in the Indian stock market. As a computer enthusiast, you will
find the core crime a little more IT driven (more than just Blackberry and
email).
Now a set of short rapid fire questions for you, sir!
Favourite classic book: The Three Musketeers
Favourite authors: Isaac Asimov, Arthur Conan Doyle, JRR Tolkien, PG
Wodehouse
Books that influenced you: The Foundation Trilogy, The Complete Sherlock Holmes, The
Lord of the Rings, The Four Just Men
Top five books on your bookshelf (it might even be related to your
profession!):
1.
The
Golf Omnibus by PG Wodehouse
2.
The
Complete Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister
3.
The
Complete Sherlock Holmes
4.
The
Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
5.
The
Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Classics or modern literature? Either, depending on the mood.
What is your opinion on the books that come out these days
as compared to classics?
I read to get away from the misery that surrounds me, not contemplate it
further. I find that modern literary fiction depresses me. But I still do read
some of it.
What do you do to unwind (other hobbies): An evening out with friends, or I
read.
Something that ticks off your nerves immediately: Duplicity.
Your advice to young authors? I am a rookie myself. I can’t advise
others. What I tell myself is to write for the pleasure of it, not for fame or
fortune.
About the Author:
Over a career spanning three decades and four
continents, RV Raman advised several banks, financial institutions and
corporates on various matters. He has now turned to writing fiction set in
corporate India, based on his insights and observations.
Having moved away from full-time roles, he now teaches business strategy at an IIM, mentors young entrepreneurs, advises select clients and writes.
Having moved away from full-time roles, he now teaches business strategy at an IIM, mentors young entrepreneurs, advises select clients and writes.
Tired of extensive physical travel around the
world, he now prefers less punishing mental excursions into fictional worlds of
his own creation. He lives in Chennai.
Fraudster is
his first corporate thriller, and is available in most book stores including Flipkart & Amazon.