Interview with Jasveer Singh Dangi
Author of Ensemble - A collection of short stories and essays
Jasveer Singh Dangi embodies a diverse tapestry of talents—author, podcast host, behavioral trainer, and esteemed health and safety professional hailing from Canada. What began as an unforeseen journey into writing in 2018 with his poignant childhood memoir, Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½), swiftly burgeoned into a prolific career marked by nine published books and two collaborative works.
He recently started his journey in the world of cinema as a Producer of a short film titled ‘Yes Sir’. The film, themed around caste bias, has been exceptionally well-received and featured in over twenty film festivals worldwide. It was third runner-up at the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards (DPIFF), 2024, in the Best Short Film category.
Despite his self-professed label as an accidental author, Jasveer’s literary prowess has garnered widespread acclaim, punctuated by a string of accolades and recognition.
- His magnum opus, The Hunter Genesis – Book 1, found its place among the coveted list of summer must-reads by esteemed platforms like ANI Asia, Jio News, and Zee5.
- He was featured in the list of Top 19 most unique writers of 2023 by INKZOID Foundation.
- He was recognized as the author of the Year in Fiction and Non-Fiction category by Ukiyoto Publishing for his book Ensemble – A collection of short stories and essays.
- Hailed as one of the 10 Indian Authors Redefining Modern Literature by Kathmandu Tribune in January, 2020.
- He was recognized by Ne8X with Sahitya Kosh Samman Award in Literature.
- In 2019, Literature Light recognized him as one of the top 100 debut authors for his debut book, Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½).
- He was named as the ‘Author of the Fest’ at the Writing Wizards Fest 2020 for his book, Double One Zero (110) - Out of the shadows. The Writing Wizards Fest is an initiative by The Twilight of Poem (www. twilightofpoem.in).
Beyond the realms of writing, he’s earned commendations for his contributions to health and safety training, further cementing his multifaceted expertise. In 2018, he was awarded by IISSM for his contributions towards the Health and Safety Training domain.
Jasveer loves the outdoors and is a big movie buff, which is quite evident given the use of quotes and songs from movies at strategic places in all his books. He is an avid observer of his surroundings and uses characters and instances from everyday situations for his stories. His works include:
- The Hunter Genesis - Whatever it is, wherever it is, he will find it (Book 1 of the Hunter series),
- The Essence of Ganga – The Story of Mandakini,
- Ensemble – A collection of short stories and essays,
- The Incredible Mr. Sweets – A coming-of-age story of an ex-con who finds his calling in life through music,
- Shahenshah – The story of Shrenik Shah, the cancer conqueror,
- The Metro-Maniac Chronicles - Through the eyes of an Obsessive-Compulsive Metro-Maniac,
- Double One Zero (110) – Out of the Shadows,
- Diary from Heaven - Confessions of an Eternal Junkie,
- Version One and a Half (Version 1 ½) - A glimpse of India in the ‘80s,
- Concealed Words (Co-Author), and
- Life – A culmination of stories (Co-Author).
He also shares his thoughts on www.storymirror.com, www. medium.com, www.merrative.com, #jasveersinghdangi (Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook). His podcast is available on his website - www.jasveersinghdangi.com, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast and Spotify.
Buy this book
How would you describe Ensemble to a new reader?
- I had no specific topic in my mind when I started writing this book. Each time the ‘hat’ (my brain) initiated its magic, it brought out something new, just like a magician’s hat. This book is a collection of random stories which bear no connection with each other. Some are a creation of my weird imagination while others are random thoughts and precious memories. It also comprises some stories from my life. It has something for everyone-from adventure to thriller to horror to everyday life situations- sometimes involving confused thoughts, motivational articles and essays, and some of my childhood stories from the 80s.
The ‘Ensemble’ is my first attempt at creating an anthology and compiling different stories in a single book. It is an attempt to cook a perfect magic potion through various stories by mixing different emotional ingredients.
What was the inspiration behind Ensemble ?
- The inspiration to write this book comes from my father Late Harinder Singh. He was a great story teller. Some of my fondest memories as a child is that of him narrating us stories at night. This book is dedicated to him.
Which authors do you admire? How have they influenced your writing style?
- Chetan Bhagat & Roald Dahn. Before I started writing I had never read any books apart from textbooks. These 2 have been my motivation because I have only read their books till now. I use my everyday experiences to write books.
Can you tell us a little about the locations in your book?
- Different stories in the book are set in different locations in Indian and Canada
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Don't be afraid and take that first step.
What's your writing process?
- It starts with an idea & then I keep scribbling whatever comes to my mind. Over time I keep combining bits & pieces to put together a story.
Which character in Ensemble has had the greatest impact on readers?
- The story silence will have a deep impact on readers. It's about my father's last few moments with us.
If Ensemble were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him/her?
- There are many stories in this book which can be adapted for TV or Film
How have readers responded to Ensemble?
- Avid readers of my books have loved this & some have even called this my masterpiece
Where next? What are you working on now?
- I am working on my next two part treasure hunt/super hero story
