Even as we breathe right now, somewhere, someone is cooking up a story that is set out to take us on a roller-coaster of emotions -- getting our eyes teary or sending out a chuckle -- impacting us in ways we’d never imagined.
The end goal is always to incite readers with exciting information and touch a heart, or two, by letting one's thoughts fill the paper. But, it all begins with something simple, like the intention to tell a story, and this author has something to share.
Having previously written books such as Goa Rewound, Raw Earth, Kaddio Boddio, in his new book, titled Colonial Sunset, author-journalist Alexandre Moniz Barbosa weaves a love story between a Goan woman and a Portuguese soldier.
This work of fiction unfolds against the backdrop of Goa's liberation, amidst the political unrest and uncertainty, touching on themes like love, freedom and prejudice.
Published by the Broadway Publishing House, Panjim, the book is all set to be launched on April 19, 2024 at Fundacao Oriente, Fontainhas, Panjim, at 6 pm.
Speaking to GT Digital, Alexandre Moniz Barbosa shares what shaped the story he sought to tell.
What was the idea that led to ‘Colonial Sunset’, your sixth book, and why did you choose this title?
The idea came from an interview I had done with a couple – Portuguese man and Goan lady – in 2011, who had come down to Goa to celebrate their golden jubilee. It was interesting as the man had been a soldier with the Portuguese army at the time of Liberation, and the woman was from Goa.
They had got married on December 17, 1961, just two days before Liberation. That got me thinking, what if it had been the other way around. And so came the idea for the book.
The title Colonial Sunset does not just signify the end of colonial rule in Goa, but there is another story in the book that happens in present times, and this shows how perspectives among Goans have changed from 1961 to now; so it is also a sunset of people’s prejudices that existed in 1961. Hence, it is a play on the words 'colonial' and 'sunset'.
Why did you choose Goa’s Liberation as the backdrop for your story?
I do believe that we need to understand that period better. Mere history and its interpretations won’t help, it is literature that facilitates this learning and understanding.
My book is one story of Liberation. There can, and will, be many more stories just waiting to be told. In fact, I do have the idea for another work set in the same period, but this would probably not deal with the events of December 19, 1961.
How difficult was it to write this book, which is a work of fiction?
Every book has its own difficulty level. This book required a substantial amount of research of the period, of the buildings in Panjim (as it takes place in this city), of the social life at that time and also how people would react to situations.
What did help me was that I have books on this period at home, and so, I didn’t have to spend too much time in the library. Also, I could draw upon recollections of conversations I've had with people, who had lived during that period, to understand life at that time.
It being fiction, I was able to take some liberties, but not too many, as I had to keep the story as close to actual events as possible.
How long did it take you to write this book? How did you stay motivated to keep your creative spark alive?
I think I had the first draft down in about 75 days. Then started the process of rewriting – adding and deleting – that took many more months, and then, the editing of the work.
So, the book grew in length and was enriched in content until it achieved its final shape. Since I am off full-time journalism, I was able to finish that first draft in 75 days, otherwise it would have taken me a lot longer.
What keeps me motivated is that as I write, the characters start coming alive and then they start talking to me. So, lying in bed at night and trying to sleep, a character may say that he or she requires more challenging situations, or may say that what I have written is not how he or she would react to a particular situation. They kind of come alive and that keeps me writing, as I have to do justice to the character.
Given that this is your sixth book, have you ever faced writer’s block? How do you overcome this?
I write when I have a story to tell. It is not as if I have to write something new the moment I finish one book or short story. In that sense, I have not faced writer’s block.
But, there are so many themes within Goa itself that can be written about. It is a matter of developing the single sentence idea into thousands of sentences.
So, if you have that idea and you are passionate about expanding on it as a story – short story or novel – then you need to discipline yourself to sit and write, and then, rewrite.
Do you think writing is a fulfilling career given that not all writers make money?
It is fulfilling and it is a passion; it is not a career.
Has any writer inspired you, or are there any specific writers that you admire?
I have been stirred by a variety of writers. Ruskin Bond is one, P G Wodehouse is another that I grew up reading and still love re-reading their books.
Besides, in my younger days, it was the thriller writers that I would pick to read. This changed later, and I started reading other authors, and that included award-winning writers.
Now, however, I am reading a lot of Indian authors and varied genres. For instance, at the current moment, since it's election time, I’ve deliberately picked up fiction on Indian politics and elections, and I’m finding it very interesting as I can relate what I am reading to real life.
But, at different times, there were different genres and writers that got me interested. For instance, when I wrote Touched by the Toe, it was Loyd Douglas and his book The Robe that was playing in my mind.
(The novel 'Colonial Sunset' is available at Broadway Book Centre, Panjim, and will also be available on Amazon and other stores following the book launch on April 19, 2024)