Interview with Jasveer Singh Dangi
Author of Ensemble - A collection of short stories and essays
Jasveer is a training & development and health & safety professional. He was part of the team of trainers that trained volunteers of Commonwealth Games 2010. His first book; 'Version One and a Half (Version 1 1/2)' is available on Amazon Kindle and Notionpress.com. His second book; 'Diary from Heaven' is available on Amazon Kindle, Amazon.in, Flipkart.com & Notionpress.com. In 2018, he was awarded by IISSM for his contributions to the Health and Safety training domain. He loves the outdoors and is a big movie buff. He shares his thoughts on his blog https://abra-ca-dabra.blogspot.com/, his website; www.jasveersinghdangi.com & https://jasveersinghdangi-87442.medium.com/
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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
