Murali Kamma

What was your favorite book as a child?

Howard Pyle’s Merry Adventures of Robin Hood captivated me so much that it became more than an inspiration for one of the first stories I wrote. When somebody pointed out that copying wasn’t a good idea, it was my first lesson on plagiarism! If I had to name just one favorite author, it would be Enid Blyton. Her books made a big impression on me when I was a child. 

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Reading. That would be my simplest answer. I discovered at an early age that I enjoyed inhabiting the imaginary worlds fiction writers were able to create with nothing more than words. Although I wasn’t a heavy or fast reader, I was a steady reader. It’s been a constant in my life, and I enjoy reading nonfiction as much as fiction. When I was in my late teens, I got this itch to create my own imaginary world with words. I dabbled in short fiction for a while, and a couple of my stories were published in an Indian magazine. But then my studies took over, and creative writing receded from my life even before I left India. I came back to it many years later. 

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

Coming to the U.S., undoubtedly. I was already a young adult when I left India. It helped that I had relatives in America. Nevertheless, it was a big decision to leave my native land, where my parents still lived, and make a fresh start in a new land. Not only was I going out of India for the first time, but it was my first time on a plane. The culture shock I experienced on my arrival was tremendous. I should add that it was my passage to America and my life here as an immigrant, not to mention my job as the editor of an immigrant magazine, that drew me to writing again.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

Yes, I listen to music while writing and editing. It’s a curious relationship, and I’m not sure how music enables me to stay at my desk and do my work. I’m grateful for the stimulation it provides. I got interested in music much later in life, but now it’s as much of a constant as reading. Music is not as effective when I’m reading. Oddly, in the digital age, I still mostly listen to CDs. Or perhaps it’s not so odd, since I stick to physical books when I read. My tablet is reserved for newspapers and magazines.