About Pratik Thakore
Pratik Thakore is a Mumbai-based operations leader at a 1,600-person technology company. A painter, amateur perfumer, and the kind of music obsessive who can trace a line from K.L. Saigal to Kumar Sanu to Pink Floyd without pausing for breath. Bathroom singer, enthusiastic cook, and devoted consumer of Bollywood in all its forms. Blood Brothers was his debut novel. Father to Viaan, husband to Reena, son to Akshay and Binita. Publishing a book had been a lifelong dream, and a 30 minute conversation with Apurva led to co-authoring this book with him.
LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it, and its content.
Pratik Thakore: This was Apurva’s concept and one day, over drinks, during a random conversation it suddenly occurred to us that both of us shared a dream of becoming authors. He had a story in mind, and was struggling to find time to devote to it. I was going through a bit of a health scare at that time, and decided to use my time better and focus on writing. The book itself is a family saga about power, legacy, and the question every dynasty eventually faces: whether the empire you built is worth what it took from the people you love.
LiFT: Why did you choose this title?
Pratik Thakore: It underscores Vignesh’s (The main character) mindset, everything has to happen fast. And it is also how Apurva himself works 🙂
LiFT: When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer, and what was your inspiration behind it?
Pratik Thakore: Publishing a book had been a lifelong dream, and a 30 minute conversation with Apurva led to co-authoring this book with him. Apurva & I have known each other since 1st grade and have remained friends through the years.
LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?
Pratik Thakore: Hopefully still writing books. My first solo book will be out soon, and 10 years down the line I hope to have published at least 25 books!
LiFT: How important do you think marketing and the quality of a book are in promoting it and increasing its readership?
Pratik Thakore: Extremely important in today’s world with so much noise.
LiFT: What message do you want to convey to people through your writing?
Pratik Thakore: Nothing really. Just have a good time reading it!
LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?
Pratik Thakore: I have a job as a COO, a father, a husband, and a son :-). My other hobbies are music, making perfumes, cooking and occasional paintings.
LiFT: What activities do you resort to when you face writer’s block?
Pratik Thakore: Force my mind to go blank. Do nothing. Cook. Make perfumes.
LiFT: What if your story were to be adapted into a movie? Who would you want to work as the director or actors in it?
Pratik Thakore: This is a family saga with melodrama and emotions. Karan Johar maybe? With Kamal Hassan as Vignesh (One can dream, can’t one?)
LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If so, could you tell us something about it?
Pratik Thakore: Yes, I am. It is a Bollywood inspired family saga running from the 1970s till today.
LiFT: What are your suggestions for budding writers and poets to help them improve their writing skills?
Pratik Thakore: First, start writing. Consistently. Have friends and family who will read for you. The more you write, the better you will be. Keep meticulous notes.
Click here to order Pratik Thakore’s Book – Empire of Haste
