Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
With winter creeping closer and the days growing shorter, it feels like the perfect time to dive into another author interview. A little warmth for the season, and a peek into the mind of a creator who writes beyond the ordinary.
This month we're putting the spotlight on j_josho!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
What draws you to the paranormal genre?
My ever-curious mind. Yeah! The call of the unknown keeps me hooked. Always on the edge and hence the inevitable pull towards the paranormal genre.
What was the first paranormal story you read or watched, and has it inspired any of your works?
Stories from my maternal grandmother's village house (old Zamindar villa with courtyards and temples) intrigued me from a very tender age. So it was mostly real events that inspired my works. In fact, the series Sun, Moon and Stars draws a lot of references from my childhood incidents. And in terms of fiction, nothing matched 'Jekhane Bhooter Bhoy,' a Bengali anthology film adapted from Satyajit Ray's works.
What paranormal trope do you secretly love—even if readers roll their eyes?
Women Spirits. I know that readers have their heart set for Vampires and Werewolves and sometimes occults, where it is predominantly men. But I write Indian Paranormal and that particular section has a vast classification when it comes to female paranormal entities. Yakshini, Chudail, Nishir Daak, Mohini and the list goes on. There is nothing more electrifying than a woman's wrath. Brooding, hot, passionate, bad boy spirits yes but an equally terrifying female counter part, now that's an interesting trope.
What's your process for worldbuilding in the paranormal realm? Where does logic meet lore in your work?
Rain. Eerie Music. Dark room. That's all I need to get into the flow. I have also often walked through the streets of my hometown Kolkata, visited heritage cities like Lucknow and of course the queen of hills Darjeeling. The culture, the history, the architecture, the folklores of these places helped me a lot in building the settings for my stories. Mostly based on real life events in my stories I have always tried to intersect fantasy and mythology with science and real world evidences.
What's the most "serious" research rabbit hole you fell into while writing?
Ah! Yes. I was digging deeper into Draupadi's character from Mahabharata, ended up exploring some forgotten rituals from Madhya Pradesh. (eye roll)
Ever finished a draft and thought, "This is either genius or a disaster. I'll let the readers decide"?
Yes! Yes! When I completed my first paranormal story Sun, Moon & Stars Volume I during the lockdown. First I couldn't believe I had actually finished a book! Then stared at it and thought it was perhaps an absolute disaster. Commented on Wattpad India's post where people encouraged me to publish the story. I did and actually let the readers decide.
What's your writing process like? Plotter, pantser, somewhere in between or depends on the moon phase?
I don't have a process. I just write. Whatever that comes into my mind. It is after I have written the summary of the idea coming into my mind I start finding suitable names for my characters. So perhaps the Moon Phase?
Do you believe in real-life paranormal experiences? (Tell us more if you want!)
Duh! Of course. I have encountered several incidents. For instance, I was researching on the Bhangarh fort along with my cousin. The next night, me, her and her mother, we all had the same dream. Me and my cousin drowning in a lake near the fort.
Which supernatural creature would you most want to meet in real life – and why?
Shepeshifters. An interesting lot. Imagine them roaming around us like normal humans but can turn into a snake, werewolves, tree spirit and even vanish into thin air at their convenience.
What's the biggest challenge when writing supernatural elements?
I faced few like language, real-life evidence and supporting facts. That takes time to form and find out.
What's the vibe: creepy, romantic, mysterious, all of the above?
Most of the times toggle between mysterious and romantic. However, my stories are brutally raw, so that might feel cringe to some but I have been told that's what keep my readers hooked.
What's one fun or random fact about you that might surprise readers?
I am foodie and I love Sushi. That sometimes help fight my writer's block!
Which other Wattpad authors or books in the genre do you admire?
Spellbound by CrystalAndFelicity The Perfect Luna by skylar_hopeee Wild Claim by RamenLady I am still looking for recommendations on good Indian Paranormal story. If you have in mind then drop the link.
Any upcoming projects, events, or releases you want to tease?
Watching the Indian female population going crazy towards Italian men (me including), I am working on an Intercontinental Paranormal story. Let's see how it shapes. Also, I would love to know if anyone wants to read such a story.
Is there anything else you'd love to share with readers or fellow writers?
I would like to encourage everyone to read and also write Indian Paranormal stories. There is so much to explore but very less want to explore. Perhaps if more readers come forward expressing their thoughts, writers would find the encouragement to dig deeper.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
And that wraps up this interview. Wishing you a gentle December filled with good reads, warm drinks, and a little mystery. As December continues to unfold, may the stories you discover keep you company through the winter nights❄️☃️
