Q&A: Pausali Mukherjee, Author of 'Versofiction'

Pausali Mukherjee was born and brought up in Kolkata. She has been an educator for more than a decade, and is presently working in Sikar, Rajasthan. She is also an author and many of her works can be found in several published and upcoming anthologies. She has recently come out with the book Versofiction, which is a literary mash up of verse and fiction.

I chat with her about her book Versofiction, the themes that she has discussed in the poems and mini-tales in this book, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello! Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi, I am Pausali Mukherjee. Professionally, I am associated with the profession which creates all other professions. I am a teacher and educationist. I have been working in this field for more than a decade. I am also a writer, and writing is not only a pastime for me, but rather a passion which is growing more and more day by day. I am a single mother of my four-years-old daughter. I am a straightforward person who always speaks and laughs loud and clear.

My debut book, Flip to Fillip, is a collection to twenty five motivational poems. Versofiction is my second solo book. Both these books released almost back to back, and I got Foxclues ‘India’s Top 100 Authors Award’. I have also received the ‘Best Author Award’ from Magic Book of Records and several other accolades for my achievements in the field of writing.

When did you start writing poetry? Which poets have been your inspirations?

I have been writing prose and poetry since my school days but I had never thought of publishing a book, let alone two books back to back! Actually, I was not fascinated that much towards poetry; I was more attracted towards prose. But then gradually, I started to pen down many verses and my friends appreciated my poetry, and that only fuelled me to start writing poems seriously.

In my graduation and post-graduation, I have been a student of English Literature and I came in contact with some of the marvellous works of various authors, both in poetry and prose, so all of them have been a source of knowledge for me. But I have been especially inspired by the works of Robert Frost and Wilfred Owen. They are my favourites. And I would like to mention that I personally like unrhymed verses more than rhymed ones, and have used the same in many of my verses.

'Versofiction', published by Astitva Prakashan

If you could only describe your book Versofiction in one sentence, what would it be?

Well, Versofiction has sixty two literary pieces, with two sections consisting of verses and one section having mini tales, and it is a contemplative and easy read for any poetry lover.

Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?

As I have said already, the title itself is self-explanatory, and this is a book wherein readers would find verses and fiction both. Readers would get to savour some finely crafted poems and a few thought-provoking mini tales in Versofiction. It is my wish that interested readers read this book at least once and also share this book among their circles. Versofiction can be the best gift to give to your bibliophile friends, parents, siblings, and partners.

What made you decide to come up with a literary mash up of verse and fiction for this book?

I just wanted to use some unique literary format for my second solo project, so I mingled verses with stories.

What different themes and topics have you discussed in the poems and mini-tales in this book?

Well, the poems in Versofiction are also divided into two parts. Part one is titled ‘Milangé’ and part two is titled ‘Unfinished Fairytales’. The poems in the first part deal with miscellaneous themes, whereas the poems in the second part are on the theme of broken or incomplete love. The mini-tales are again on various themes. Even in the verses of this book, I have told stories. So, the title of the book, ‘Versofiction’, is very apt.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

The pandemic is indeed a bad phase, and the entire human race is suffering because of it. I have been doing my work ceaselessly all this time, as I used to do during the pre-pandemic years. But now everything has shifted from real to virtual, especially teaching, and that’s the only difference I feel every teacher/educator is feeling. The new normal for me would definitely be to see all my students back in their real classrooms and real school buildings soon, with their real bag of books, and sharing lunch and smiles with their friends. The new normal will be to send my daughter to a real school for the first time. I hope that this new normal comes soon.

Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

I read only books by my favourite authors and books of my own choice. So in that way I don’t even know the names of many of the current best-selling national or international authors. Also, I believe that we all should respect our own choices rather than respecting others’ recommendations or references, specifically when it comes to reading choices.

Recently I felt curious to know about Shangri-La and thus at present I am reading Lost Horizon by James Hilton.

The book ‘Versofiction’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.

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