Interview with author Bharat Krishnan

Author Bharat Krishnan helps me kick of a new year by talking with me about his fantasy novel, Oasis.

During his virtual book tour, Bharat will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Bharat Krishnan is a philanthropic consultant in Columbus, Ohio. After ten years in Democratic politics, he wrote a memoir about his life on the road as a political campaign manager and just released a fantasy novel called Oasis. He refers to himself as a professional storyteller and amateur cook.

Welcome, Bharat. Please share a little bit about your current release.

Oasis is a desert fantasy novel that takes elements from Korean, Native-American, Indian, Iranian, and Balinese folklore and mixes them together in a revenge tale that includes magic and weird animals. I always strive for authentic diversity, and that’s what I hope I achieved here with a tale that includes voices for adopted siblings, members of the LGBT community, the nonwhite community, and more.

What inspired you to write this book?
I think mankind has always retreated to fantasy in times of darkness to try and process grief and pain. We try to cloak that pain as fantasy so we can write about it authentically without ever having to confront that it exists very much outside of the realm of fantasy. Working in Democratic politics, I was pretty beat up after the 2016 elections and this is what came out. You can see it clearly in the similarities between how the kingdom of Desire handles a refugee crisis and the Muslim ban in America in 2017, for just one example.

Excerpt from Oasis:
Lee thought this seemed like a lot of effort over the stealing of some fruit. Although, he guessed the Mengery were mad he blew up the marketplace in the process. Using the special shoes Asha had given him before he left the Silo, he jumped backwards out of reach of a Mengery’s daga.

“You’ll have to catch me if you want to dance, big boy!”

He jumped away, turning his osmosis shoes on mid-leap so a spurt of water from their bottoms propelled him to the top of a building. The beams of laser shot from their guns were so hot they caused the water in his shoes to evaporate. If there was one thing the resistance needed, it was guns. And food. And water. A place to sleep. Maybe some TV.

As Mengery on the ground shot at him with pistols, another two set a wooden ladder against the building and started climbing up. Lee took a bite out of his apple before throwing it at the armored man scowling at him.

“You are one bad apple.”

The fruit landed hard against the ladder, toppling it over and sending the two guards crashing down. Propelling himself to an adjacent building, he crashed through a window as his fuel gage read empty. His shoes needed water. The resistance could definitely use water.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m workshopping a novella that’s a bit low-fantasy and tackles the idea of white privilege, but I’m also working on a set of short stories as well.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I published my first book in August 2016, Confessions of a Campaign Manager.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I don’t ever want to write full-time. This is a wonderful hobby for me. It relaxes me, and I can do it when I want and how I want. I’m currently working towards earning my MBA at Louisiana State University. I find time to write the same way anyone makes time for a hobby. Through college and into my mid-20s, there were several things in my life I’d consider important. Now, as I enter my 30s, there are only about 4 things I make time for and writing is one of them.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know how unique this is, but I turn my phone off and close the windows when I write. Writing time is sacred and, just like time spent with my fiancée, will never be interrupted or sacrificed.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As the child of immigrants, I wanted to do crazy things my parents never could. When I was a kid, that meant singing on Broadway.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Please drop me a note if you like Oasis! You can follow me on Twitter for a free copy of the book I mentioned above, a political memoir called Confessions of a Campaign Manager.

Links:

Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

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