Interviewtimes 
Akshay Shroff has been a successful advertising sales consultant of domestic and international media, spanning almost four decades, first in New Delhi followed by Mumbai.
He has been associated with Voluntary Organizations like the Lions Club and the Junior Chamber International in senior positions and also with trade bodies viz. the Delhi Advertising Club and the Press Club of India.
Married to Jayna since almost four decades, he has been a responsible family man, a doting father of Rohan and a loving father-in-law of Stuti. He has a Bon Vivant nature, nurturing friendships since about six decades. Travel, Trekking, Reading and Writing have been his passionate hobbies. Lover of Nature and animals, dogs have been his companions on and off.
His debut novel, THE MONK was first published in June 2016 and it had sold several thousand copies within a month of launch, earning the National Bestseller tag. It is currently being published in the Croatian language for distribution in Croatia.
After the phenomenal success of the same, he has converted his passion for writing into a full time engagement resulting in this second novel, a sequel to the first, THE MONK RETURNS. Interview Times had a detailed conversation with Akshay, below are the the excerpts,
Q1- What inspires you to keep writing ?
ANSWER – My grandfather used to contribute articles in The Times of India, English and Navashakti, a Marathi Daily. His right hand being partially paralysed, late nineteen fifties until his demise in 1966, he dictated and I wrote for him. My command over the languages had been acquired during those early years of life. Since my early teens, I had also developed a habit of reading, both fiction and non-fiction.
A piece on India’s achievements until then written by me had been published in my school’s annual book when I was in the X Standard. When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in July 1969, the 1000-word article that I wrote had been put up on the College Notice Board for a few months attracting compliments and praise from the professors, staff as well as my peers.
Inspired by these exposures at a very young age, I had dreamt of becoming an author. However, business commitments, family responsibilities and social life had prevented me from pursuing my ambition until much later in life.
Finally, about a decade ago, encouraged by my wife, I took the pen in hand and the rest is history.
Q2- How do you source ideas for your books ?
ANSWER- I have been an avid reader of newspapers, again since quite early in life. The habit has helped keep me abreast of local and global affairs in almost all the spheres of human endeavor. The idea of a novel on terrorism hadn’t been difficult to manifest.
Q3- Apart from writing whatelse you love to do ?
ANSWER- I have always been in awe of Nature — whether the rivers and seas or the forests, animals or plants; due to which it had been obvious for me to cultivate my love for Wildlife (initially poaching and later conservation), trekking and travelling. And of course, the love for books has been paramount.
Q4- Would you like to give some simple tips to our readers who wants write anything?
ANSWER- I am not sure I have reached a stage where I can coach anybody or give tips to initiate anything. However, from my personal experiences, a burning desire to write, exhaustive reading, acquisition of knowledge and determination to pursue my ambition has helped me immensely in the furtherance of my wish.
No decision to write can ever fructify unless one sheds lethargy and overcome inertia..
Q5- According to you what is difficult to write a friction or a non friction?
ANSWER- I haven’t tried writing a non-fiction book so far, hence I may not be able to give a convincing comment. Again, here too, I think on whatever topic or genre one wants to write, there’s no substitute for hard work and one has to go at it relentlessly and against any odds.
Q6- How do you manage to maintain your daily work schedule ?
ANSWER- At the age of 23, I had joined the local Chapter of a worldwide voluntary organization, the Junior Chamber International (then known as Jaycees) for self-development and personality development courses. Time Management had been one of the several programs that I had been fortunate of attending. QED.
Q7- How do you react to the reviews of your readers ?
ANSWER- Naturally, every author would yearn for 5-star ratings and highly commendable reviews. But one must be open-minded enough to accept and respect an adverse review too. Because that truly helps one strive for excellence, avoid mistakes in subsequent projects and try to appreciate the reader’s perspective. At the end of the day, having a finger on the pulse of the readers would go a long way in being an accomplished and a successful writer.
Q8- Who are your favourite authors and why ?
ANSWER- There have been many; first and foremost is Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. I have also enjoyed reading Alistair Maclean, Irving Wallace, Frederick Foresyth, Arthur Hailey, Mario Puzo, Robert Ludlum, to name a few prominent ones. Of late I have been exposed to many Indian writers viz. Arvind Adiga, Siddhant Sanghvi and many of my author friends on social media platforms.
Q9- What are your future plans in terms of writing ?
ANSWER- Two years ago I hung up my boots as an ad sales consultant professional. So, now my entire time is devoted to writing. After my debut novel, The Monk published in June 2016, its sequel. THE MONK RETURNS is now on the anvil, most probably in February 2021, being published by Penzone Publishers.
