What inspired you to start writing books about your disaster dates and humorous life experiences?
For years, my friends, acquaintances and girlfriends implored me to write about all the crazy disasters dates that I had. I decided to take everyone up for the challenge and embark on an author's journey of writing. Of course, like a typical North American born East Indian male I had to spice things up if you know what I mean.
How do you strike a balance between humor and authenticity in your storytelling?
First and foremost, my number one goal when compiling a humorous manuscript is keeping my readers entertained. I place an extremely high emphasis in delivering superb quality content while maintaining a certain degree of raunchiness which is usually most of time.
Your books explore dysfunctional worlds—how do you approach turning such chaos into comedy?
In the spirit of optimism, I am a strong advocaat of the silver lining in every situation. This buoyancy attitude, knowing that after every bad date, after every ass kicking in the boardroom, and after every interaction with several weirdoes, will lead to an amazing drinking story for the foundation for my next book.
Can you share a moment when you realized that your experiences were not only entertaining but also book-worthy?
After about the tenth time being approached in a week by random people begging me to tell them or their friend about an unusually bizarre date that I had, I realized I was on to something. I figured if people who I barely knew were vicariously living through me as they anxiously wait for my next disaster date story, then why not share a slice with the rest of the planet. Humor is the best medicine, and it does not require a creepy mask or isolating at a liquor store for a couple of months.
What was the most challenging part of writing “Plenty of Freaks - Are You Sold on Online Dating?”?
This one question for me never gets too old for me to answer. The biggest challenge of writing Plenty Of Freaks: Are You Sold On Online Dating? was buckling down and writing the manuscript it in its entirety. There were many instances when I would be writing about horrific comedic dates and then felt the vibe to chase some women and go on a date. I do wish I started this venture sooner, but I plead ignorance and blame the creator for making women so beautiful.
How did you come up with the unique premise for How to Irritate a Telemarketer? Did you test any of the methods yourself?
Unfortunately, I got conned by daytime soap operas at an early age. I drank their Kool-Aid and was convinced that academic business courses could be exchanged for an extravagant corporate lifestyle with gorgeous secretaries and personal jets. But instead, every time I framed a new business degree on the wall, I still would be stuck with a phone book or a crappy CRM full of deadbeat clients to cold call on for the latest boiler-room disguised as a start-up corporation. But behind every great record of accomplishment and closing ratio every brilliant salesperson is a treasure chest of bad call memories that is strictly discussed between them and their bartender. I thought why not break the code and take it public by using my own firsthand experiences as inspiration for corny books on salespeople.
In “Don’t Ask Dumb Questions!,” what is one "dumb question" that stood out to you as particularly memorable?
Don’t you hate it when someone is eavesdropping on you while you’re trying to take a crap?
—Sidney S. Prasad, Don’t Ask Dumb Questions!
Which of your books has resonated most with your readers, and why do you think that is?
Plenty Of Freaks: Is Dating Legalized Prostitution? resonated with most of my readers because we have all encountered our share of gold diggers and excessive freeloaders at some point or multiple times in our life. Unfortunately, the dating world is abundant of people looking to score their next meal ticket. Especially in this current economy! Misfortune Cookies has received a wide reception as well. It is purely fun to imagine what is going through that chef’s mind that keeps giving you the stink eye. Readers enjoyed the fantasy of having disgruntle restaurant workers having their say on what they would personally write in the message of a fortune cookie or in this case a Misfortune Cookies.
You have a gift for making people laugh—what comedians or humorists have influenced your style?
During the late 20th century, there were an abundance of comedians on the silver screen who made me almost crap my pants for laughing so much. The scary thing was, this was the Pre-Depends Era and toilet paper felt great back then, so it was a Tuggle War between finishing watching the scene or running to the shitter. As a class clown and a walking comedian willing to be the punchline of a joke, risking it all would always coincide with my writing style and personality.
Have you ever worried about offending someone with your humor, and how do you handle such situations?
I am extremely empathetic towards other's feelings and have no intentions of offending anyone. However, let us keep this real, regrettably there is always that one anal retentive individual who gets offended at everything that comes there way. Noone can eat a banana or hotdog in public anymore without offending at least one person. Let alone write a story about it, pissing off some Joe Schmo on the subway whose too cheap download a book but chooses to it read over someone’s shoulder and get distressed by the content.
What’s the funniest reaction you’ve received from someone reading your books?
Awhile back I walked into a lounge and ironically some ex-coworkers were having a party there. I got confronted and aggressively questioned if whether a particular book of mine was based on them and my interactions with them. I was outnumbered and in some serious doggy doo doo. However, I knew exactly how much alcohol was needed to diffuse the situation and end up getting hammered with them before they stuck that five-star review where the sun does not shine.
How has your life in Metropolitan Vancouver shaped your writing and comedic perspective?
I grew up in a red-neck town for the first part of my life and usually ended up being the only East Indian kid in class or at the workplace. Moving to Vancouver was a culture shock being the third largest city in Canada but also one of the biggest East Indian communities outside of India. Everything became competitive overnight and now the novelty of being the class brown clown or the only token Indian guy at the workplace instantly wore off. I am not one to easily comply with societal norms and pride myself on being a trail blazer and original thinker. One of the best compliments that I occasionally receive from long lost friends is that I never changed and that I am still the same corky person they grew up with. I refused to change my personality and be like one those Vancouver East Indian Gangster wannabe slash jock personalities but just be me. By some strange osmosis living in Metropolitan Vancouver has given me golden writing material which would take more than one hundred lifetimes to write. As well, Vancouver life assisted me in attracting the strangest anomalies and eccentric individuals.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone about avoiding authority figures, based on personal experience?
The most crucial way to avoid authority figures is have an arsenal of methods to look like you are busy doing your own thing. For example, a couple of times cops have attempted to bust me taking a piss in the parking lot of a bar. I zipped up and pretended I was checking the air of all four tires, and they went back to pretending like they were working. I just feel sorry for the bouncer that high fived me on the way back into the bar.
What motivates you to keep writing, and how do you stay inspired during creative slumps?
Life and death will always be a part of every living organism's existence. But it would make me cringe to hear that I died with my music still in me. I strongly believe that I am destined to be a writer, and it would have been a great injustice if I quit writing after publishing the first novel. My motivation comes from all of my favorite one hit wonder sitcom stars who I grew up watching. I am left pondering how they would have evolved in other theatrical arts and how their life would have been different if they did not give up the racket. Only tennis players are allowed to give up the racquet at some point in their careers.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?
Several bestselling authors recommended AllAuthor along with positive promising feedback. I have zero regrets in being affiliated with AllAuthor, and enjoy using their tools while corresponding with their staff. The big highlight for me has been being part of an international author community which has no borders or walls, and we are equal on the same platform. Technology has been amazing bringing people together and sometimes apart especially in the waiting room before a Zoom meeting.
