In Conversation with Hornbill Harcel

About Hornbill Harcel

Hornbill Harcel was born in UAE and grew up in India. She debuted with the book Woebegone Wynds in 2021. In the wake of her debut book, Hornbill Harcel was felicitated with Sahityakosh Samman and the Author Awardee Award. The Ukiyoto Literary Awards recognized her as Poet of the Year at the Kolkata Literary Carnival 2024 and her book was translated into German, Italian, and Japanese. She was recognized for literary work and contributions on World Book Day and was nominated for the Literary Fairytales Award. Where the Piopios Sing is her second book. She is fond of chasing wild paths, charting new courses, and seeking adventure. When she is not working, she is raiding books from shops, and libraries, and trudging up hillsides. She wrote her first poem when she was 14 years old and fell in love with writing ever since.

LiFT: Tell us about your book, the journey of writing it and its content?

Hornbill Harcel: Where the Piopios Sing is a collection of poetries and excerpts that sing the song of loss and grief. The book is divided into nine parts and each part moves the readers a step closer to destruction. The book is personified as a person experiencing lost love, lost friendships, lost childhood, lost home, lost justice, lost wars, lost freedom, lost innocence, lost aspirations, lost identity, etc. The book collects stamps from unread journals and undelivered letters belonging to people of different backgrounds and histories and paints them in the colors of bittersweet blue. It invokes the imagery of slipping through the grasp of time and takes the readers through the landscape of yearning and introspection, stripping the hearts naked and longing for solace.

LiFT: Why you chose this title?

Hornbill Harcel: ‘Where the Piopios Sing’ is an apt title for the book. It highlights the loss, longing, and solace that is the main theme of the book. The second reason for choosing this title was due to my mother’s undying love for birds.

LiFT: When did you realize that you want to be a writer and what’s your inspiration behind it?

Hornbill Harcel: Writing and reading has been my passion since childhood. I always used to write for myself to understand my emotions, deal with my anxiety, and keep my mental health in check. Until I realized that the beautiful thing about humanity is that we have a lot more in common than what separates us, and those differences are the key to who we are and the beauty it bring to the world. It is the differences that allow us to trace the beautiful similarities, catch a glimpse of what is pure, and provide an insight into the human story. When we open ourselves to the world, we appreciate each other’s narratives. Although we must never forget that access is a privilege and not all stories are ours to tell. Sometimes we are simply observers, and our only participation is to just be and learn. At other times, we get to share the tales of the mystery and magic we see in someone else’s life and take inspiration from their experience. That inspiration motivated me to share my experiences with the world and I decided to pursue the life of an author.

LiFT: Where do you see yourself ten years down the line in the world of literature?

Hornbill Harcel: The world of literature is ever-changing. One cannot anticipate where the winds will carry it. I only hope to become more poised and refined in my writing over the years.

LiFT: How much do you think marketing or quality of a book is necessary to promote a particular book and increase its readers?

Hornbill Harcel: The marketing and quality of a book are necessary to promote a book. There is a well-known adage among chefs, “You eat with your eyes first”. I think the same could be said for books as well. Yet I believe that the quality of the book content is not determined by its cover or the section it sits in the bookstore. However, it is a gripping factor in attracting an audience.

LiFT: What is the message you want to spread among folks with your writings?

Hornbill Harcel: I think there is a lack of empathy and understanding among people. We are creatures of conflict and sort ways to be dominant and be heard above others. We are stubborn in our understanding of the world. There is more ‘gray’ in the world than there is ‘black’ and ‘white’. We could be a hero from one perspective but deemed a villain in the eyes of another. We judge others based on one corner of a page neglecting the whole book. This is something that cannot be eradicated. But if we all become more open to accepting others and understanding their viewpoints, we might be able to understand ourselves better and that I feel is the point of books.

LiFT: What do you do apart from writing?

Hornbill Harcel: Sketching, reading, trudging up hillsides, traveling, and photography are some of my interests beyond writing.

LiFT: What are the activities you resort to when you face a writer’s block?

Hornbill Harcel: I never force myself to write. When my mind starts churning, the plot starts brewing and the wind in my hair starts changing direction, only then do I pick up my pen and write. Every author has their way of getting out of writer’s block. When I face such a stage, I go on a walk, get some sunlight on my face, and start exploring. I find solace and peace in nature, and it helps me get out of my head.

LiFT: Are you working on your next book? If yes, please tell us something about it.

Hornbill Harcel: Presently, I am working on my third book. It is one of the greatest projects that I have undertaken in terms of volume and the research that is involved.

LiFT: What are your suggestions to the budding writers/poets so that they could improve their writing skills?

Hornbill Harcel: I cogitate that people often give up on writing because they worry too much about other’s opinions and accreditation. The young generation who wishes to explore the literary cycle should forget about likeability and write from the heart. They should never lose sight of what message they want to deliver by their work and never compromise with their beliefs. One of the most important steps is to read different genres of different cultures to widen the thought process and hone the craft. One should be willing to accept criticism and build on that foundation. I would recommend journaling and wild writing. Consistency and confidence can do wonders for a writer.

Click here to order Hornbill Harcel’s Book – Where the Piopios Sing