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The book 'Ouija Board'(L) and author Akhil P. Dharmajan'Ouija Board', by debutant Akhil P. Dharmajan which is believed to be the first in India to be published after being serialised on Facebook will be released at a function to be held at a public crematorium on Sunday. Excerpts from an interaction with its young author.
He was so passionate about writing that he attempted a novel when he was only in Class 7. To a curious friend, he wrote one page each every day, though the text is no longer with him. His passion for letters only grew up even as his father sent him to a polytechnic in a bid to convince him that some vocational training is a must to make a living. Apparently being not convinced of the theory and owing to a strong determination he chose to join a literature programme soon after finishing his diploma.
During all these years he kept on writing, leaving to his credit over 15 short stories and two novels, one of which would see the light on Sunday. Akhil P. Dharmajan, a 22-year-old youth hailing from Pathirapilly in Alappuzha, believes he is here to tell tales. Desperate for someone to listen to his stories he turned to Facebook where he came across a number of readers, some of whom were so generous that they offered all possible help to their writer for they wanted him to be in print too. Thus Akhil's first novel, believed to be the first in India to be published after being serialised on Facebook, has got into a book's shape.
"Ouija Board", as the name suggests, is a horror thriller on over 200 pages. Doing justice to the plot and setting which is centred around the town of Alappuzha, and raising the eyebrows of many, the book will be released at a function to be held at the public crematorium in Chathanadu."I had a passion for writing right from my childhood. I finished my first novel when I was in class 7. After writing "Ouija Board" in 2013, I approached some publishers, but all of them refused to publish it citing my lack of experience. Hence I decided to post it on my Facebook account," says Akhil.
Akhil hails from Pathirapilly in AlappuzhaBuoyed by the warm reception his posts received and on understanding the importance of an FB page, which would serve as a platform for birds of feathers, Akhil launched a Facebook page titled “Katha”.
The page 'Katha' where he serialised his novel has over 17,000 likes now.
"Ouija Board", is being released using the possibilities of crowd funding. The entire amount which crosses Rs 35,000 was pooled in by Akhil’s FB friends.
Akhil doesn’t want his readers on FB to be disappointed by just reading on print what they have already read online.” There must be something new. So I have made some changes in the text. Hence even those who have read it online will find it fresh,” he says. Asked about his favourite writers, Akhil gives a list of variety which includes, Benyamin, Kamala Surayya and Kottayam Pushpanath.
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