Ram Halady | Last Bench

We are honoured to work with as many authors as we do at Pegasus Publishers – each with their own stories to tell. Their worlds are singular, their characters are relatable, and their creativity truly knows no bounds.

This is Author Life, a feature on the Pegasus Blog, that opens the door to each of our author’s creative process and previous literary experience, offering you – the reader – an opportunity to learn a little about the mind behind the novel.

Meet Ram Halady, author of the endearing coming-of-age story, Last Bench.

What are the three most important things you have accomplished, aside from publishing a book?

-  Winning the heart of my wife, Jeanne.

-  Getting an executive MBA degree at Northern Illinois University.

-  Overcoming my fear of photography by self-teaching and experimenting.

In your own life, what influences and inspires you to write?

When I left India for the USA in the 1980s, one part of my life froze, and with it, all my memories of growing up in Bangalore. I left behind my family, friends, and all the culture—a big part of me. Now, I return to that frozen time to replay and relish those good memories, motivating me to write.

Which book or author has had the biggest impact on you, and why?

Graham Greene. He had a simple storytelling style. He said you could begin a story anywhere. He wasn’t afraid of creating imperfect protagonists, usually faced with a moral dilemma.

How would you summarise your book in as few words as possible?

I am fascinated by how people gain their moral compass. Always, there is a pivotal time when they find their inner own; I view that as coming-of-age. In my debut novel, a 15-year-old Vikki with a single mom and modest means worries about who his dad is, how to make the right decisions, and how to obtain a pair of cricket shoes for school games. When a friend comes to him for help, to what extent will Vikki go to save him? His earnest promise sets Vikki on a course of events that will test and shape him to learn who he is and what he will be.

What were your first experiences with writing?

I loved writing stories for the kids in our extended family. I had a story on their birthdays and Holidays and would read it to them. Some of them were printed in weekend sections for kids in newspapers. Later, the collection of those stories was published as Reuben’s Adventures on Uncle Ram’s Farm.

In your opinion, what are the key ingredients for a good story or novel?

I would identify the following as key ingredients that have worked for me:

-  A compelling set of characters – who would lead me to tell a better story.

-  A personal and distinct narration style – avoid being one of the many voices.

-  An approachable moral dilemma – trust the readers to think without telling them what to think.

How long do you spend writing every day?

Once I have a story to write, I don’t start writing right away but think about it every day. I keep Post-it notes close by and jot down my thoughts, especially by my bedside. I take long walks and play the story development in my mind. Once I feel the urge and confidence, I begin writing. Sometimes an hour or 3-4 hours throughout the day. As I write, I often find that I have deviated entirely from what I had in mind, forcing me to pause and think again.

How long did you spend writing this novel?

I had no formal training or experience in writing a novel. I had been thinking about it for four months before I was ready to write it. It took me eight weeks to get the first draft without pausing to edit – I showed the barebone work to my family to see if there was indeed a story here. I was on fire after that and countless drafts and a rewrite of the ending took me another four months to complete.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what did you learn from writing it?

Organizing my thoughts and developing the patience to tell the story without jumping to the main elements. I learned a valuable lesson in that process – develop the characters and they would tell the story better themselves.

What did you find most helpful when writing your book?

Abstaining from reading other authors during the writing period allowed me to write in my own voice.

What writing advice would you offer to your younger self?

I was fortunate that I had a great family to jump to my cause and encourage me to keep going. My advice to myself is to invest time and go over at least 2-3 drafts before reaching out to others. That is what I am doing now with my next novels in the works.

Last Bench is available now in paperback.