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Join us on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, for a special discussion with author Ken Doyle: /author/show.... If you have a question for him, please post it in this thread, where Ken will be discussing his writing and books.

Remember - you can post questions here throughout the duration of the Featured Author Read at any time!

Looking forward to the discussion!

Hi Ken!

Thank you so much for being our Featured Author for the next two weeks. We see that you have lived all over the world, and were wondering how your geographic location affects your writing.

Hi, Ken.

I've done quite a bit of reading in Indian fiction--my first novel was set in Bombay--and I'm wondering who your favorite contemporary Indian fiction writers are.

DigiWriting wrote: "Hi Ken!

Thank you so much for being our Featured Author for the next two weeks. We see that you have lived all over the world, and were wondering how your geographic location affects your writing."

Thanks for having me! Geography does play a part in my writing, as I like to set stories in cities where I've lived. My first collection of short stories was set entirely in the city of my birth, Bombay. Even though I haven't lived there for many years, it's still my favorite setting.

Geoff wrote: "Hi, Ken.

I've done quite a bit of reading in Indian fiction--my first novel was set in Bombay--and I'm wondering who your favorite contemporary Indian fiction writers are."

Geoff, my favorite is also the writer who has inspired me the most: Jhumpa Lahiri. She's especially good at the short form, which is why I appreciate her work so much. I also like Vikram Seth, Rohinton Mistry, and Arvind Adiga.

Ken,

Have you read Russell Lucas's Evenings at Mongini's? Short stories all set in Bombay. (Lucas was a native.)

No, I haven't. It sounds very promising and is going on my TBR list!

Do you tend to set the fiction you're writing in the place where you're living as you write it, or can you write well from memory? (In other words, do you find that you can write fiction set in India when you're not currently living there?)

I write from memory (supplemented by a lot of research). Some of my stories are set in the time period when I lived in Bombay, so those are a little easier to write. I'm planning a novel set in present-day Mumbai, and that will be more of a challenge.

Definitely! Especially since it seems like Mumbai changes so much and so quickly. It also seems like one of those multifarious places you'd need to spend a whole life in to really understand.

Do you have any particular favorite books about (or set in) Mumbai?

Some of my favorites include:

Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry

Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry

Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal

Breathless in Bombay by Murzban Shroff

Thanks for those rec's; I haven't read the last two.

You mentioned Lahiri earlier. Expat Indian writers are, it seems, inevitably going to be compared to her going forward. Do you feel the shadow of that?

Lahiri has been my greatest influence, at least for short fiction. I suppose comparisons with her will be made for most expat Indian writers. However, she writes more about the immigrant experience, whereas my stories (so far) are all about life in Bombay and India.

Actually, I'd be honored by the comparison, if one were made :)

Hi Ken!

Rohinton Mistry is a personal favourite of mine, as well. I was wondering if you have a specific writing routine that you follow, or any tips that could help new writers stay on track.

Hi Talia,

Mistry is a fantastic writer--I'm glad you like his work!

I would love to have a writing routine; however, my life over the past 2 years has been too chaotic to permit one. I've found that different methods work for different people, so I encourage any writer to find what works best for him or her. I think the only thing that matters is to read a lot and (try to) write a lot.

Hello Ken,

We were wondering if you write with a specific word count in mind, or if the story itself dictates the word count.

Hi Ken!

How do you select the title for your books? Do they grow from your writing or do you have the title in mind before you start to write?

Thanks Ken!

What was your favourite work to write? Why does this one stand out for you?

DigiWriting wrote: "Hello Ken,

We were wondering if you write with a specific word count in mind, or if the story itself dictates the word count."

I don't have a definite word count in mind. Some stories are longer than others, but they usually end up around the 5,000-word mark. The only time I've started writing with a word count in mind was for flash fiction.

Blue Moon wrote: "Hi Ken!

How do you select the title for your books? Do they grow from your writing or do you have the title in mind before you start to write?"

The title is often the last thing I decide on when it comes to individual stories. However, in the case of my first book (Bombay Bhel), I had already decided on the book title before writing the stories. It seemed to fit the theme perfectly at the time.

Talia wrote: "Thanks Ken!

What was your favourite work to write? Why does this one stand out for you?"

My favorite story, Bhel Plaza, is from my first book. I enjoyed writing it because it encapsulates both the highs and the lows of living in Bombay--the opportunities that are available to those who work hard for them, as well as the frustration posed by the city's corrupt officials and the tangle of bureaucracy. It doesn't have a particularly happy ending, which displeased some readers, but it just felt right. Life doesn't always give us happy endings!

Hi Ken,

I couldn't agree more about conclusions - everything does not have to wrap up perfectly all of the time. What do you find harder to write, beginnings or endings, and why?

Thanks Geoff!

Speaking of titles, if someone were new to your writing, what would you start them off with and why? You mentioned "Bombay Bhel" as your favourite; is that a good starting off point?

Hi Ken,

What about the editorial process? How many revisions do your stories typically go through?

Talia wrote: "Hi Ken,

I couldn't agree more about conclusions - everything does not have to wrap up perfectly all of the time. What do you find harder to write, beginnings or endings, and why?"

I usually have the ending in mind when I start writing a story, so I would have to say that the beginning is difficult sometimes. Although, like many writers, I often get bogged down in the middle. I guess it varies, depending on the story :)

Blue Moon wrote: "Thanks Geoff!

Speaking of titles, if someone were new to your writing, what would you start them off with and why? You mentioned "Bombay Bhel" as your favourite; is that a good starting off point?"

Bombay Bhel would be my recommendation: the stories are simple, accessible, and have sufficient variety to appeal to a broad audience. I also have a free short story here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ and other channels (Saturday Date ); however, it relies a bit more on subtext and symbolism. For this reason, I don't think it appeals to everyone, at least judging from the reviews.

DigiWriting wrote: "Hi Ken,

What about the editorial process? How many revisions do your stories typically go through?"

For Bombay Bhel, I recall going through 10 or 11 rounds of revision before sending the final manuscript to my copy editor. I tend to write in layers, so the first few rounds are simply rewriting, adding depth, fixing structural holes, developing characters, etc. After that, it's more a matter of fine-tuning the prose. As a result, it took almost two years to get Bombaby Bhel finished (writing in my "spare time").

I've heard of authors who publish a new novel every month, but there's just no way I could see myself doing that, even if I had the luxury of writing full-time.

Hi Ken,

Thanks for participating in a Featured Author Discussion. My question might be a bit different than those asked above - Where do you like to write? Do you have a home office or do you prefer cafes? Are their any essential items you require to sit down and write (a cup of coffee, perhaps)?

I find it interesting how authors work in this day and age. With our culture maintaining an always-on mentality, I've found many authors express a need to "unplug" before they write.

Adam wrote: "Hi Ken,

Thanks for participating in a Featured Author Discussion. My question might be a bit different than those asked above - Where do you like to write? Do you have a home office or do you pref..."

Great question, Adam. I find it difficult to write at home, even though I have a home office. My favorite place used to be libraries, with coffee shops being a close second. However, since moving to a small town, I've had to change my habits and write more at home.

The only essentials for writing are a computer (I simply can't write "longhand"). I like listening to music while I write, but can also write without it.

Hi Ken,

Do you ever show your writing-in-process to friends and family, or do you prefer to wait until it has been polished and perfected?

DigiWriting wrote: "Hi Ken,

Do you ever show your writing-in-process to friends and family, or do you prefer to wait until it has been polished and perfected?"

I wait until my writing is ready for beta readers, typically after many rounds of editing. No-one sees it before then. I do have a couple of family members who can be prevailed upon to read my work, but I prefer to use beta readers with whom I have no prior connection.

Thanks, everyone for a great discussion and a special thank you to the moderators of this group for featuring me! Happy writing :)

Thank YOU Ken! We very much enjoyed having you as our Featured Author and reading your insightful answers. See you around the group!