|AMED ONE of Tie Out New York's Hot 25 New ‘Yorkers to watch in 2005 and one ‘of 12 remarkable women in India by Femina, author and artist Abha Dawesar i fast becoming an toreckon with Boma in New Delhi in 1974 Dawesar came to the United States to pursue a bachelors de arvard University. She ‘graduated with « degree in polit cal philosophy eer writing an honors thesis examining the eon ception of human gyeatnessin Nietasche'sOn the Genealogy of Morals” She worked inthe global financial services industry for almost eight years hefore quiting todevote time to writingand paintin Dawesar recently released her {hid nove, “That Summ aris” (Nan A Talese Doubleday, June 2006), This a compelling and seductive tale that breaks many taboos. Dawesar writes candidly about sex, incest and the fine line between love and friend! ship. Baby” (Anchor Books, February 2006), her second novel won the American Library Association’ Stonewall Award this year as well asthe Lambda Literary Award in 2008, Her frst novel, “Miniplanner” (Cleis DAWESAR November 2000), is written inthe voice of gay white man. Daswesae is also a keen artist who i adept at marrying her -nosvledge of art with her writing Uniquely, her art shows are tied in with her works of ction. Dawesar's fist solo art show was heli july at The Village Qual in Tribeca in New York City along with reading from “That Summer in Pari Davwesar lives in New York but her writing takes her to Franco and Inia, “Since “That Summer in Paris’ was, for most part, set in Paris, [had to spend alot of time there re fofmy current projects is set both arching,” she says. “One In India and in Prance and so, ‘once again, [have wo travel to both places to get my research done. Place inmy novels and working in the avery important role indispensable; one also has mo access to archives and original material Cureently in Paris, which she fondly calls her muse, Dawesar is ‘working on two projects~a novel About a small boy growing up in India and another story about a French neuroscientist and his Indian girlriend, who isan ats. nan interview with The Indian American, Dawesar spoke about her lave of books and art, movies and music. Excerpts How do you select your reading ist? IFT ikea book I ead, then find other books by the same author. Taso ask people with sim ilar tastes for recommendations. 1 tend to like books that raise if cult questions, ane transgressive and challenge taboos. What is your favorite work of fic- tion? The answer might differon another day, bu right now (say IN CONVERSATION WITH VISI TILAK The Picture of Dorian Gray" by (Oscar Wilde Its delicate and understated witha dy sense of humour that appeals to me. The idea behind the book — that of ing eternally youngand his portrait turning old electing his excesses — is bilan. ‘What contemporary fiction have you enjoyed reading recenty? CChimamanda Ngo! Adichles previous novel, "Purple Hibiscus” was a fun book to read. Her wit ingis strong and her naration lovely. The tacitum protagonist manages to say lot and Adie captures the rural and the urban, the private and the pubic equally well Seti Nigeria, ittookmeto nother continent, far and distant [think her voice will sustain and endure {recently read a book by Daniel Mason that actually came ‘outa while back ~The Piano Tuner." loved the writers seoBook Talk | rdareh arte laalaatete in paris Ella mel Tet language and his contiol over the rhythm of the nove. Itgave mea Jesire to vist Myanmar, where the novels set. The premise of the novel piano tuner from England who issummoned to tune a piano in a remote comer of Burma, is riveting let Abéeassis' novel sarod.” also the basis for the fim “Kadosh,” was. hypnot read because the wri distinct poetry and musi toi Jewish couple, childless after 10 years of marriage. According to he orthodox traction, the man an leave his wife and find anh isheart-rending becatse the hus: band sil Ioves his wife an is ‘on between his duty and his own emotions, This hook speaks ‘anyone who bas lived in a ditional society where there are constant conflicts between the private and the public and there Which is your favorite nonfiction work? Plato's “Symposium” Asa dis course on love and wisdom, it retains freshness every time read its formar asa dramatic dialog also renders ito certain artiste quality often hard to find in other forms of nonfitive prose What motivates you to write? Istarted writing because words were the ony thing that allowed me tobe myself | Titeally grew tp between sentences and para graphs. Writing something for ‘oneself, however is very diferent from writing foran audience: one doesnt embark on a novel without a reader. Creatinga fictional uni verse and living with characters allows me 1 ose a certain aware: ress of myself In the end, think any kind of ereativty demands that, and it sa sort of intellectual equivalent of doing yoga ‘What made you choose writing 2s profession? I dont think one ever actully chooses” writing as profession, shard to make a wingasa fi ‘don writer and there are really no guarantees One can only hope ‘make it through from one book the next Fone is looking for job security is not the place to come and [took my decision to quit my fall-time job in finance after care fal consideration. Ita, and stil is, isk that live with and the price Ihave to pay forthe freedom ff not going to an ofice ‘What do you think makes a good book and a good story? Suceess and good writin ‘not necessarily linked, The why one book succeeds andl another doesnt is a perpetual sub ject of speculation inthe publish ing world and, unfortunately, no ‘ne has found the magic formula iterate isa very personal mat ter and my own tastes ran toward books that challenge me to think aitferenty or throw up situations { wouldnt have thought of or ans port me to worlds that are not my own. im interested in contionting the other and entering into con versation when I 2ead a book. writing in terms of style, but I stil ler myself accidentally discover books that don't fall into cate ‘ores | also ty reading books by writer friends, regardless of ‘whether the style or content is ane Tid normally choose, ust as a means to get to know them, Do you enjoy music? Trusualy listen to classical music, beit western oF Indian, ‘and also some alternative and pop tend to need silence around m listening to classical music some times in the morning ft am in need of focus Who are some of your favorites? [think in terns of composers love Mozart, Sant-Saéns, and many baroque talians, Do you lik to liston to music whi you read? I dont. ean give my full atention to what im veadingit | Tim listeningto anythingelse, | Do you wateh films? wateh French and indie films ‘and I sometimes write about ther cvany blog, Name a couple of your favorite films and actors/actresses. [ink Jeremy Irons isan ‘extremely intelligent and interest ing actor. There are innumerabl cent but most of them arent very snow in New York because the havent really broken out into the mernational market. {dont svateh alot of desi fils, but Rekha has always been a favorit and so has Shabhana Azmi ‘There are so many movies that are based on books. Name one that you think was made well and com- plimented the book. I dorit see a lot of movies, especially those based on books, and I can’ remembera single one {saw that F thought was well made ‘Should readers watch the movie after reading the book? ean be fun w seea fm ifone Is pre be ated to take the isk of utterly disappointed. When ‘one reads book, one applies ‘ones imagination to interpreting jt. With film, one has the oppor tunity of seeing someone elses visualization ofthe same work. I could be interesting Describe yourself as an artist. Try to create Honestly without Tako find it more interesting create when I challe about possible reactions with each new work Idont like to repeat something I've already done before Name some artists and works of art that inspire you to writ At the moment I'm incorporat Gericauttin my writing, Auto por rats by artists and much of late 19th and ealy 20th century at ate aso constant sources of inspira What are your hopes for now and upcoming writers? That they write without cen coring themselve —