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Interview With Author Rohini Kottu

by Rohini Kottu
(Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)

1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?

I live in Mumbai, India. I am currently pursuing Masters in Clinical Psychology and hope to become a psychologist and an acclaimed poet too someday. In my free time, I like to read poetry, stories, novels and just about anything that catches my interest.
My first book “Method To My Madness” is a poetry collection and is a product of my observation and inquisitive nature.
Apart from writing poetry, I also like to write flash fiction and short stories.

2. How did you start writing?

Writing is something that comes naturally to me and I have never known otherwise. I remember writing even as a child and though much of what I wrote was nonsense, it piqued my interest and helped me express myself.
In school and college, I would participate in writing and essay competitions and sometimes write speeches for other students as well. Appreciation from teachers and friends is what kept me going. Soon, some of my poems got published and that was the final push I needed to occupy the writing space.

3. Is there a message in your book that you hope readers will grasp?

My book presents several true stories in the form of poetry. Each poem signifies a story we walked past and perhaps, didn’t notice. I hope my readers ponder over each story and understand the feelings and experiences behind it. My message is simple: Contemplate the journey of life.

4. How did you come up with the title?

The title “Method To My Madness” is actually a phrase, which means there is a reason behind someone’s odd behaviour. I chose this phrase because, at first glance, the collection of poems may seem rather random. Each poem is a story in itself. This title signifies that there is an underlying method/concept that binds the book together.

5. What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?

My goal was to present these hidden stories and be as true to them as possible. None of the stories were distorted for achieving poetic effects. I did my best and hope my readers think the same. Whether or not I have actually achieved my goal will be known only through the feedback given by the readers. But regardless of the outcome, I am open to criticism and suggestions.

6. What were some of the challenges you faced on the road to publication?

The entire process of searching for good publishers and getting in touch with them was quite confusing as I am new to this. But thankfully, I came across Cyscoprime Publishers who believed in the idea I wanted to share with the world and constantly supported me.

7. What makes your book stand out from the crowd?

I am a student of clinical psychology and a poet as well. So, my book has an invisible underlying theme of psychology, where I try to understand each story objectively and present it in an artistic way. I have merged the disciplines of psychology and literature to bring out a very unique flavour.

8. Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?

I am aware that writing is a very spiritual for some individuals. For me, writing is therapeutic. I use it as a form of self-therapy and a way to express myself.

9. Where do your ideas come from?

My ideas and almost all my poems are always influenced by something I observe or come across. And concerning my book, it is entirely inspired by real experiences, feelings and life in general.

10. Are there vocabulary words or concepts in your book that may be new to readers? Define some of those.

Yes, there is a poem titled ‘Schadenfreude’, which means pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune. It is a German word and interestingly, there is no English word for this.
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