Hi!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Mandz Singh to Chat About Books 🙂

With thanks to Sophie Morgan at Troubador Publishing.

Interview with Mandz Singh…..

For those who don’t know already, could you tell us about yourself and your book(s) please?

I have resided in three continents, lived in a gold rush town, travelled across Australia and stood in the elephant visiting caves of Mt Elgon. The book is about an Englishwoman, Catherine who travels with her mother from England to India in 1898. While her father who is stationed at the Punjab university is their direction, destiny intervenes and crosses her path with Kharak, a recently qualified engineer from Lahore and so begins a journey of starcrossed romance. In disapproval, her father incited by Ivan, a colonial engineer conceive a plan to avert her from falling in love with Kharak by sending him to work in British East Africa Protectorate. With everything to lose, she follows him there hoping to express her love.

Where did/do you get your ideas from?

From Historical events that I used my imagination to weave a story.

Are any of your characters based (however loosely) on anyone you know?

Unfortunately, none.

How do you pick your characters names?

Searched from names during that era and then picked the ones I liked.

Can you share your writing process with us, in a nutshell?

I used to write daily on weekdays for an hour to make my travel on the train to work productive.

Who are your top 5 favourite authors?

Fredrick Forsyth, Dan Brown, Enid Blyton, Tom Clancey, James Patterson

If you could meet any author, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Fredrick Forsyth and ask him his secret to being a master story teller.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I loved reading as a child

When did you start to write?

2006

If you could re-write the ending to any book what would it be and what would you change?

I would change the ending of The Tree Planters Wife. In the end, the lead character’s child whom she had given away died for no reason at all.

Is there a book you wish you had written?

The day of the Jackal.

If you wrote an autobiography, what would your title be?

Looking back at the dots.

If you could invite any fictional character for coffee who would it be and where would you take them?

Fredrick Forsyth and take him for a coffee at a small café near where I live.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I was a squad member of the under 21 Kenyan hockey team.

What are you working on right now?

Having published my book, I’m taking a break.

Tell us about your last release?

The Folded Notes

Do you have a new release due?

Not in the immediate future

What do you generally do to celebrate on publication day?

Had a get together with family and friends

How can readers keep in touch with you?

Through Facebook

Is there anything else you would like us to know?

I believe that every reader of my book will have something that will resonate with them that is weaved in the story

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Mandz!

Inspired by history comes this breathtaking story of star-crossed lovers against the backdrop of colourful nineteenth century India…

“The book’s cross-cultural relationship is refreshing, and its peek into sites around Lahore is delightful.”

– Kirkus Reviews

 

A different world awaits Catherine Rose, an Englishwoman who travels with her mother from England to India. While her father, stationed at the Punjab University, is their direction, destiny intervenes and crosses her path with the educated and kind Kharak. A recently qualified engineer from Lahore who works for the Indian railways, he is as taken with the feminine, unreserved Englishwoman as she is with him. Aghast at the blossoming friendship, her father, incited by Ivan, a colonial engineer, arranges to keep Catherine and Kharak from falling in love. Arranging matters, he gets Kharak sent to work in another British colony, never to see or speak to his daughter again. In the last few moments he has, Kharak manages to leave two notes for Catherine.

Flouting her father’s orders, Catherine flees in secret and follows her heart, away from Lahore to Mombasa. But little does she know that Ivan, as Kharak’s supervisor, will be there – nor that he is now her pursuer. With everything to lose, hope is all that Catherine can cling to, hope that love will win the day and she and Kharak will finally be together.

Inspired by history and written with first-hand knowledge of the locations, this achingly moving historical romance crosses continents from England to India and East Africa during a fascinating part of history. The plot is woven between lush descriptions to create a compelling story of forbidden love and an uncertain ending that will linger long after the last page.

Purchase link…..

https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/historical/the-folded-notes/

Author Bio:

Mandz Singh has been a world cup soccer analyst for a radio station, resided on three continents, lived in a gold rush town, travelled across Australia, and stood in the elephant visiting caves of Mount Elgon. This debut novel was written during commuting hours on trains to London from Berkshire, where he now lives.