'It would be foolish of me to write about India'

AMRITA MUKHERJEE / TNN / Dec 10, 2006, 21:15 IST

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Says well-known author Jeffrey Archer as he talks exclusively to us about his respect for the country.

'It would be foolish of me to write about India'

Says well-known author Jeffrey Archer as he talks exclusively to us about his respect for the country.
You started writing to settle a bad debt. But when Not a Penny More; Not a Penny Less initially sold only 3,000 copies, did you ever have doubts on your abilities as a writer?
Yes, I was very disappointed that it only sold 3,000 hardback in England and 8,000 in the USA, and indeed for the next couple of years I was struggling to keep my head above water.It was not until I wrote Kane and Abel, that my fortunes changed, and the people of India supported me in great numbers.
What according to you is the most important thing to become a successful writer?

The most important things are energy plus talent. You must accept that the process of writing a book is very hard work and there are no shortcuts, but a little talent helps.
So many people have written books post 9/11. How do you think you have left your mark in False Impression?
I've been very touched by the number of letters I've received saying that the section in False Impression which deals with Anna's escape from the North Tower on 9/11, is some of the best work I've done. It was a tremendous challenge from a research point of view, requiring me to read many descriptions from people who had been in the tower that day, before I even sat down to write about how Anna escapes.

What do you know about India and how much are you aware of your popularity here?
I have visited India three times, and most recently last year when I had a wonderful short holiday in Mumbai before joining the QE2. I have been aware for many years of the support and friendship India shows towards my work, but this is not surprising as it is a great reading nation.
Any chances of your coming to our country and writing a book based in India?
I have no plans at the moment to return to India, and will not be writing a book on India as we have so many great writers from your country — V S Naipaul, Vikram Seth, and Salman Rushdie. It would surely be foolish for me to join in with these masters.
lucknow.times@timesgroup.com

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