Congratulations on the release of ‘Poems by Sampriti’. Tell us something about your book. Some highlights or the subject.
How is it different from other, earlier books of this genre that were released recently?

My book contains some of my poems and are based on the day to day occasions in the year. It is different because I as a child have written the content unlike people like adults or authors.

What kind of books inspire you as a writer? Who are your favorite authors?
The books which inspire me are poems of Ruskin Bond and authors like Roald Dahl

Tell me something about yourself and your background. We understand that you are a student and very busy with your studies, but then how do you manage time to write?
Even if I am busy with my studies as a class 6 student, wherever I am, like in my class or outside somewhere if I want, I can frame a poem in my mind at any point of time. Whenever I get time, I note it down in my diary.

What inspires you to write? Who inspired you to become a writer?

I was inspired when I was 9 years old and read the poem called the snail by Ruskin Bond. I thought why can’t a child write and from that day my journey began.

What is the response from your readers so far about this book?
My friends are very exited.

What are your future goals? Do you want to see yourself as an established author in the future?
No, I don’t want to be famous. I just write for fun and want my poems to reach maximum people.

Any words of advice from your experience for fellow children authors to encourage them?

I would suggest you should read more and more books. It can be poems or stories. Not only my book but any book as it will improve your vocabulary, thank you and I would love for you read my book.

1. Congratulations on the release of ‘Tarpor’. Tell us something about your book. Some highlights on the story. How is it different from other, earlier romantic fictions that were released recently?

The novel depicts the pain of a non-resident Bangalee (here ‘Akash’), who started a life in a foreign country, but never felt attached to it. He represents many who left behind a failed love, political dream, and a loving community. As time goes by, he feels the increasing urge to reconnect with his homeland, thereby forgetting that the context back home has also changed and become challenging. His journey with his daughter (Sumona) served here as an adventure to rediscover his love (Falguni) and home country.

A novel is generally addressed to an audience. In my case, it was also for me. It provided me the framework to learn writing. I found it fascinating to establish a relationship with the characters and try demonstrating them as real. It was a struggle. Only the readers can say whether I have succeeded.

I find it difficult to put my novel in relation to other fictions as I am not sufficiently exposed to them. However, unlike popular patterns, which include either a happy end or separation, I tried to encourage the readers to invent ‘what next’.

2. What kind of books inspire you as a writer? Who are your favourite authors?

I like novels which capture the challenges of social transformations and visualize the dialectic interplay of art and culture, politics, religion, and humanism.

Beside Rabindranath and Nazrul, Sarat Chatterjee, Bibhutibhusan Bandyopadhyay, Humayun Ahmed and Ahmed Sofa are my favourite Bangalee writers. During my student life in Germany, I have come across German literature represented by Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Guenter Grass, and Heinrich Boell. In addition, I am fascinated by the great French writer Viktor Hugo and Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

3. Tell me something about yourself and your background. We understand that you come from a different profession, but then how do you manage time to write?

I am a management consultant, specialized in the non-profit sector. Strategies, entrepreneurship development and non-profit management are my core areas of expertise. I come from a semi-urban area of Bangladesh (Joypurhat) and left for Germany at the age of 19. I have spent nearly half of my life in Germany, and Canada. During my short professional years in Bangladesh, I was a university teacher, researcher, and freelance project management adviser.

I always wanted to write but never managed to spend the time necessary to write. The fear of not finding the right words and style hindered me a lot. Then came the COVID19 months. Finally, I had the time and was encouraged by friends. I think one must make a start even though it’s hard. The next one will come for sure.

4. What inspires you to write? Who inspired you to become a writer?

I must admit I have not read much in the recent years. But I watched movies and dramas and was not at all impressed by most of the stories they were based on. I always thought my valuable relationships with the people at large might be also the sources of beautiful stories to write about.
Late Soumitra Chatterjee, my favourite Bangalee actor, was once asked ‘Why are we not having good Bangla films anymore?’ He reacted saying that the contemporary films were seldom based on literary pieces. That hurt me a lot. Since then, I had a dream to write stories. I tend to believe that he has inspired me to write stories.

5. What is the response from your readers so far about this book?

I was positively surprised by the initial responses during my debut publication ceremony. Three eminent personalities in Bangladesh observed that the novel touched the real life of many expatriate Bangalees, included some enlightening characters and was worth reading in one sitting. Many readers did not rule out that the story might end up as a film.

6. We hear from sources that you have made an audiobook out of your book. Tell our readers something about these developments with your book. Also, are you interested in making a movie out of this book?

Originally, the idea came from a close friend. He liked the novel and thought his children should read it as well. However, they cannot read Bangla, and an English translation was not in the horizon any time soon. His sons represent nearly 12-15 million Bangalees living in foreign countries, who either cannot read Bangla or do not have the possibility to buy the novel or find it more comfortable to listen. Since the story is about a Bangalee expatriate, the urge to reach them out played a significant role. Not to forget, Power Publishers was ready to do it.
I already mentioned that Soumitra Chatterjee has inspired me to write stories. I would be more than happy if the story behind the novel becomes the basis of a film. ‘Film-Literature’ link is what I always dream of.

7. Tell us about your next or upcoming book.
My next novel is ‘Shesh Potra’ and set to be released by May 2022. It depicts a love story of a rural boy during the teen years. The novel shows that even though a relationship does not lead to a way the main actors would like, it can be a source of dreams, emerge as a reference point for human relations and act as a dynamic force in youth.

I am enjoying writing and really dream of authoring a series of stories. The upcoming one ‘Pagolmon’ will be based on our great Liberation War 1971, seen from the perspective of a teen (12 years), who had watched it happening live. I hope to publish it before the Independence Day (16th December) in 2022.

8. Any words of advice from your experience for the upcoming young writers on how to set up their career as an author?

Only advice ‘Start writing’. Everybody has a story to share, and mankind will be deprived of your beautiful stories. Therefore, start writing, today, now!

• Congratulations, Qasim Khan on the release of “The New Age Marketing”. Tell us something about your book. Some highlights or the subject. How is it different from other, earlier books of this genre that released recently?
  “The New Age Marketing” is all about the digital world that we live in today, and how over the past few years everything has transitioned online. Keeping that in mind, “The New Age Marketing” will act as a guide for anyone who wants to learn more about building their presence on an online platform, from scratch! What sets this book apart is that it draws from my own personal experience. As someone who has been in this field since my early-twenties, I want to show people that there is no complicated formula to find success in the digital world. Think of me as a friend sharing some advice through this easy to read and easy to follow book.
• Tell me something about yourself and your background. We understand that you come from a different profession, but then how do you manage time to write?
  I am Hong Kong born with a bachelor’s degree in film and Animation from Birmingham City University. In 2018, shortly after my graduation, I established by own online production house in Hong Kong. Presently, through different digital platforms, my team and I have partnered with people all around the world to make our vision a reality.
  As a youngster, I was a blooming entrepreneur. Most kids would go to school to study, but I would go and study the demand for different products and services amongst my peers, to earn some extra pocket money. In primary school to high school life, I would reconstruct toys and create beautiful drawing, Sell Games memberships and my classmates would buy them. I saw that teachers would ask students to copy the school rules every time they got into trouble. So, I sat down and copied the school rules hundreds of times and sold them to anyone who needed it. I was eventually old enough to work, and spent the next few years dabbling in multiple jobs, be it in construction, as a labourer, as a waiter, as a shopkeeper, etc.
  Having saved some money, I decided to build something of my own and started Qasim Khan Productions. While setting up the foundation for my production house, I had to maneuverer through all sorts of technicalities: how to start a business, how to register a company, how to market your services. To make sure I was going in the right direction, I was also working for multiple companies to learn about digital marketing and applied some of those skills to my own business.
  Throughout this journey, I was jotting down notes and journaling about my experiences. I decided to compile all my experiences and start writing “The New Age Marketing” to help other people just like me and give them a more concise and accessible way to gain information.
• What inspires you to write? Who inspired you to become a writer?
  In the initial stages, I struggled a lot to grow my production house starting from zero. Since there was no one to teach me, I had days when I was completely lost. However, I braved on, did intense research, and worked hard to achieve my goals. This is what inspires me to write. I want to share my experiences, my ups and my downs, and tell people that they are not alone. I wrote this book to inspire people to go out and accomplish their dreams of becoming big in the digital world.
  My biggest inspiration to become a writer is myself from four years ago, when I was clueless and full of questions. I write this book as an homage to him.

• While there are other books on digital marketing, how is your book unique or different from them? What unique information or topics does your book cover on the topic of digital marketing?
  What makes this book unique is that you have to think of this book as a classmate who allows you to copy their homework. There are comprehensive samples and steps in the book that readers can take and apply to their own situations. I extensively discuss all the recent developments in the world of digital marketing which are not only useful for implementing in a business but also for creating one’s own personal brand.
• Why is the subject of this book so important in the present day for everyone? Does it have updated latest information on digital marketing?
  The world is becoming increasingly digital, whether it is media, business, education or currency. After the Covid-19 pandemic, majority of sectors have move to working from home. To advance in one’s career or education, one must stay on top of their digital game now more than ever. This book investigates different ways individuals and businesses can make use of ever-advancing technology to solidify their online presence.
• Tell us about your next or upcoming book.
  My upcoming book will be a cinematographic A to Z on film making. The next book will teach readers about making films for themselves or for clients, generating income, and starting their own production business.
• Any words of advice from your experience for the upcoming young writers on how to set up their career as an author?
  I will suggest young writers to choose their target audience, figuring out who they are writing for and how readers can benefit from their work. By narrowing down your audience, you will be able to connect with the audience more personally, allowing you to write better.