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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Anand Jay shares the inspiration behind his new YA adventure book, The Legend Of The Jaguar King, and his creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Anand Jay about his life and career, the story of his new YA adventure book, The Legend Of The Jaguar King, and what inspired him to write about a secret society.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
My name is Anand Cholera (writing as Anand Jay), an avid world traveller, lover of ancient history, former competition-level boxer, dog fan, soon-to-be husband and now a published author!
When did you first WANT to write a book?
My parents were contemplating a move to Kenya when I was six and the teacher at the school there asked me if I wanted to play outside or write a story. I chose the latter and the first sentence of my first, seven-page book was, “There was a man, and he had a knife” …to this day I still know how to write a catchy opener, and I’ve learnt to channel my inner demons in the hallowed squared circle!
When did you take a step to start writing?
I grew up immersed in incredible literature, particularly enjoying The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis (along with pretty much everything else he wrote) and The Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari not long after. Following those expedites I always dreamed of writing a story which intertwined beautiful storytelling with a twist of mythology. Sadly, the rat race got the better of me and I found myself deep in the rabbit hole of everyday life before I was rescued by my greatest inspirations in 2014.
My sister was mid-way through her first novel at the time and my brother who was working through his first EP inspired me to emerge from the shadows of society and re-ignite my passion. With their guidance, the Legend of the Jaguar King, my debut novel, started to take shape.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
I started writing in 2014 with the first draft (which I am ashamed to say involved a time machine…) completed a year later. Having read it and taken counsel from my siblings, we all knew the seeds of a great story were there, but the plot needed serious work, effort and refinement (and the time machine needed to go)! Eight years and seven iterations later, I typed my final word, knowing that I had written, in my view, a novel that I would be forever proud of.
What made you want to write The Legend Of The Jaguar King?
I have always been intrigued by ancient history and have spent time studying the powerful Ancient Greeks, the dominant Roman Empire and the subtle nuances of Hindy mythology. More recently the civilization of the Maya garnered my intrigue, with their mystical cities hidden deep in the jungles of Central America unlocking clues to our past, present and future.
Having spent countless hours investigating this largely unstudied population, ideas began to formulate in my mind of artefacts hidden within the unpopulated structures which could change the way this world existed. The foundations of an Indiana Jones-style adventure had begun to emerge and, like the opening scene of my favourite movie of all time, Raiders of the Lost Ark, a large stone ball of an idea began to chase me down the narrow passageway.
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Legend Of The Jaguar King?
It was knowing that when the going got tough, to not listen to those who offered the easy way out. Friends will tell you, it’s OK you tried. Aspiring authors will see in their Instagram feeds and all over YouTube an average writer who uses AI, telling them to “know when to walk away.” In my opinion, that is utterly lazy and the mentality of someone who wants an excuse to quit. My view is you walk away when you can, hand on your heart, say you have put every ounce of your heart and soul into every word. This is the advice my siblings gave me and I couldn’t have been prouder to follow it.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
There are two protagonists and there are two inspirations (if you’ve been listening you’ll know who I am referring to!)
Seventeen-year-old Ayush Mahavir, the male protagonist, is a supremely gifted, but troubled young man. His intelligence, physical capability and laugh-out-loud wit, make him an endearing character and one that everyone can relate to. Every good quality that Ayush possesses, is embodied by my brother tenfold.
Annika Frederiksdottr, the female protagonist, despite her clear advantages in intellect and brilliance, will always have a point to prove. For her, nothing is enough and she is extremely motivated to be better than anyone else, driven by those she grew up around. That brilliance and sheer willingness not to quit is my sister, the strongest person I know.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
My relationship with antagonists is an interesting one. They are, in almost every case in the real world, driven by an idea that they feel is truly right. It is a quality we all have, but an antagonist has a line that they will cross to get there and that is what can drive them to the realms of becoming truly evil. It was that idea that helped me to mould the character known as Adrian Peirce. His journey to becoming the juggernaut of a man that we are introduced to in The Legend of the Jaguar King is born out of mystery, and the actions we see him take in this book are the mere tip of the iceberg in terms of what he is capable of.
What is the inciting incident of The Legend Of The Jaguar King?
Like Santiago meeting Melchizedek (the Alchemist) and Harry meeting Hagrid (Harry Potter), Ayush Mahavir is introduced to the mercurial talent that is Kian Kan. Kian offers Ayush the opportunity to step beyond the veil and see the world in its truest form. Should Ayush accept the opportunity, he will be subject to a challenging initiation, to join the group that Kian represents and to hear the chilling words which are both frightening and enticing…to the people we are no one but to the world we are everything…
What is the main conflict of The Legend Of The Jaguar King?
Ayush struggles to overcome his past. His upbringing is one that I wouldn’t wish on even my own worst enemy and it is the constant reminder of what he has lost, which holds him back from achieving his full potential. If he can learn to let go, accept what has happened and move on, he has a real shot at greatness.
With Annika, she is always hindered by the need to impress her family. They are already established and brilliant whereas she always feels she has something to prove. The process she undertakes in the pages of the Legend of the Jaguar King, reveal the lengths she is willing to go to, to prove her brilliance.
Did you plot The Legend Of The Jaguar King in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
After the first iteration (which was absolutely seat of the pants) I plotted everything, knowing the effort up front would be worth the wait. Every word was meticulously planned as I am setting everything up for the trilogy. I have planned a true journey of discovery for Ayush and Annika’s, intertwined amongst the mystical, hidden worlds that they will encounter.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Legend Of The Jaguar King need?
All editing was done by my siblings and me. You can pay an editor but, in my view, if there is a skill to be learned then do it yourself and with those you trust. Unfortunately, not everyone will be as lucky as me to have the most skilled writers they know as members of their family.
Given we did it ourselves it took the best part of a year (with long breaks to ensure we did not get too caught up in the store). The feedback from the readers so far is that I have a future career as an editor…!
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Do not give up. Fight like your life depends on it to get your words onto a page and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Writing skill can be learned and developed as the years go by. Your inner voice can grow and develop so it is unique. The one thing you can control from the outset however is effort. Give it 100% and you’ll get there!
Can you give me a hint about any books you’re planning to write?
As mentioned earlier this is part one of three. The journeys of Ayush and Annika do not stop here and the initial stages of book two are being written in my head as we speak…(hence the vacant look on my face).
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
In the past few years I; i)have graduated with a degree in Corporate Governance and Company Law, ii) proposed to my now fiancé, iii) trained three wonderful doggies, iv) am midway through relocating to our wonderful new home in Northern Ireland, v) boxed on shows at the York Hall, the mecca of English boxing and; vi) established a wonderful new doggy daycare business with my fiancé.
I can truly say that NOTHING I have or will do, will compare to the moment when I was able to hand the final versions of the book to my incredible parents who have always supported by creative side, and my brother and sister, the two people who have read every word starting ten years ago.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/463bnOj
https://www.tiktok.com/@anand.jay?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
https://www.instagram.com/anand.jay.lojk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anand-cholera-4622576a/
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