By Dhanuka Dickwella

Joshi is not just a writer but also many other things. An editor, translator, public speaker, novelist, amateur cook, freelance journalist are some of his other roles in life. He is not new to writing. His career started at very early stages in life and went on to win awards at city, state, national, and worldwide writing competitions. A graduate of ACJ Chennai and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, Vikas’s work has been published in  leading Indian publications like The Caravan, Hindustan Times, The Wire, The Hindu, DNA, and Sakal Times.

1.Can you provide a brief overview of “My Name Is Cinnamon”? What inspired you to write this book? 

Both a captivating chronicle and an endeavor of remarkable depth and ambition, My Name Is Cinnamon provides a richly textured narrative of a boy trying to find his roots and place in the world. On each part of his journey, he encounters new people, new cuisines, and new adventures as he learns a lot about himself and the world around him. 

While being a lighthearted and heartwarming read, the book also covers some difficult themes that are rarely explored in children’s and young adult literature. It is a deeply moving testament to the unceasing desire to know oneself, the unrelenting pull of familial bonds, and the power of hope, sacrifice, and love.

With his perceptive observations, vivid descriptions, and authentic voice, the author, Vikas Prakash Joshi, weaves an immersive plot with fully realized environments and characters that are sure to stay with you for a long time. Above all, My Name Is Cinnamon is about finding your people and accepting who you are.

As far as what inspired me, I did not need inspiration as it was always my dream to write a book. 

2. What motivated you to select the young adult genre but not adult fiction?

Young Adult  fiction is something India needs, as it is an underserved area.  

3. The title “My Name Is Cinnamon” is intriguing. Could you explain its significance and how it relates to the story? 

Cinnamon is related to the main character. It is his favorite flavor.  Why it is significant, you have to read the book to know! 

4. The description mentions that “My Name Is Cinnamon” is both a captivating chronicle and an endeavor of remarkable depth. Can you elaborate on the specific aspects of the narrative that contribute to its depth?

It is an attempt to marry two distinct things: to tell a story that is simple, lucid, and child-friendly and at the same time, to delve into challenging and complex topics, that are rarely discussed or talked about. It is meant to entertain and educate at the same time. believe we must avoid being preachy but at the same time, we must also emphasize the values we would like to advocate in the world around us.  

How did you go about creating and developing the characters in your book, particularly the protagonist, Cinnamon? Are any of the characters based on real people or experiences? 

Cinnamon is a character in my mind, and as you write the character speaks to you, as any author has discovered while writing his or her book. Yes, the characters are based on a composite of the real people who I know and of course, my imagination. I did not “create” Cinnamon, he already existed. 

5. The role played by the theme, the voice, the age of the protagonist as well as the vocabulary in a young adult book differs from adult fiction.  How do you balance between being careful and creative?

My first draft is all about being creative, subsequent drafts are about being careful and then at the end fusing the two. 

6. The dramatization of emotions plays a key role. How do you draw the line where you do not make it too emotional for inexperienced youngsters to feel hopeless about life but enough for them to recognize the emotions while navigating the journey of life?

I believe that we must not hesitate to discuss or touch upon the difficult or unpleasant aspects, because we all have to deal with ups and downs in life. How to deal with the challenges, is a key part of emotional maturity. But at the same time, we must show that there are various ways to deal with it, instead of simply bottling it up/suppressing one’s emotions.  So you should show the issues, but at the same time bring out a healthy way of dealing with it. 

7. The description notes that the book covers some difficult themes rarely explored in children’s and young adult literature. Can you provide insights into these themes and why you chose to incorporate them into the story?

Two themes: one is adoption, and the other is a rare disease. As far as why did I choose them, 

8. What was your writing process like for this book? Do you follow a specific routine or have any rituals when writing? Were there any challenges or surprises you encountered during the writing process?

I try to write every day, though have missed it for some time now, as I am busy marketing the first book. But now I want to focus and write my second book. I believe one must try to write and have a routine, and not depend on motivation or inspiration. I do not have a ritual per se. On the contrary, I can write pretty much anywhere—from a bus stand to a railway station, from a simple budget hotel to a five-star, or at home. I would advise other people: don’t depend on motivation or inspiration, fix a time and do it. Inspiration comes to you when you are at the table. 

09. The protagonist embarks on a journey to find his roots and place in the world. How does this journey of self-discovery shape the character, and what messages do you intend to convey through this exploration? 

This journey is about exploring his identity as a person and coming to terms that he is indeed a person, with an identity of his own, as an adopted person, nothing to be ashamed of. It is about finding your voice and your place under the sun—this is what this book is about (among other aspects). 

10.  The book is described as both light-hearted and heart-warming while addressing difficult themes. How did you strike a balance between these contrasting elements, and why was it important for you to do so? What kind of emotional or intellectual response do you hope readers will have after finishing your book? Are there specific elements or scenes that you think will resonate strongly with readers?

It is difficult to strike a balance, and one has to be very careful. It is walking a tightrope, but when you accomplish it, you feel proud. I want readers to feel that these are characters that you care about, that these are people who matter, and this is a book that will stay with them. I want people to not just read but also to reflect upon it.

As far as specific scenes are concerned, I believe there are several but I do not want to prejudice the readers. Let them decide what are the scenes that 

11. You give a vivid picture of the very diverse character of India. Just reading page 135 is sufficient to describe that. How important is such knowledge in storytelling?

It is very important in storytelling as it enables you to add depth and authenticity to your story. 

12. The narrative is said to highlight the power of hope, sacrifice, and love. Can you share instances from the book where these elements are particularly poignant or influential?

You will have to read the book for that ☺ 

13. The author is praised for perceptive observations and an authentic voice. How did you develop this authentic voice, and were there specific observations or experiences that inspired the narrative?

I would say when you write regularly and read widely, you slowly develop your voice. It’s not something I put any pressure on myself. I do not try to develop it, on the contrary, it comes on its own. 

Yes, a specific observation did inspire it. I read a story about a Chinese boy being adopted by an American family, and their search for his birth parents. This book was inspired by reading an article in a newspaper. My journey in the book started after that. 

14. The world has changed from what it used to be. Young adults especially are happier or used to using screens, not books. There are also a lot of creations targeting this age category on the screens. How challenging do you think the Digitization of literature is for a traditional writer?

Well, I don’t think it’s a big issue. Frankly, stories are what make us human and we are all stories. The stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell other people. I don’t think technological changes are a big issue. We will always tell each other stories, and that won’t change. Technological changes happen with every decade. 

15. Can you share any details about your upcoming projects or works in progress?

I am working on a Young Adult  nonfiction book, and also on a children’s book, which I am very excited about. It is a children’s thriller.