Today we talk about THE RAJKUMAR TRILOGY, a book by A. J. BENEDICT published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author A. J. BENEDICT to get to know him better, what brought him to the writing of his book THE RAJKUMAR TRILOGY, as well as the characteristics the audience should have to appreciate his book.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- What brought you to the writing of your book?
I was born in a culture where storytelling played a big part of entertainment; education, moral advice, and aspects of world philosophy. This was before television became the medium of entertainment for the masses worldwide. We had access to local and international radio stations that exposed us to music, news and cultural events from different countries around the globe. In the West Indies, besides the radio and cinema our local entertainment was restricted to radio that broadcasted local music and storytelling. We also had storytelling sessions at school at the intermediate level every Thursday afternoons. I was an eager participant in the storytelling sessions at school and later at university, I took a year-long study in the Oral Traditions which awakened my cravings for storytelling. I began performing at public venues like schools, universities, museums and cultural events. All of these events took place under the aspects of Oral Traditions until my writing professor suggested that I was ready to do some writing that had more meaning to me than an experiment in fiction. The Rajkumar Trilogy is based on folklore about an individual who actually roamed the streets of Trinidad and lived a life many find hard to believe. I was always interested in the supernatural; the occult and tales of superstition from our local perspectives. Putting the story of Rajkumar in writing allowed me to elucidate more indepth material about the mysterious miscreant; his motives, lifestyle and ultimately his disappearance from this phenomenal world as we know it.
- What characteristics your audience should have to appreciate your book?
I would say that those who have had a profound background in a traditional religious environment that can explain the language and lifestyles of the mystical societies, have explored other cultures, religions and non-ordinary beliefs. In other words, the audience of those who are described as “seekers”, who move towards mystical potential without the presence of dogma and strict authority towards a loose but dedicated quest for self-realization and a confirmation of the unknown that leads to the knowing.
- What messages did you want to convey with your book?
That all of us sentient beings are capable of acts that are benevolent; altruistic, compassionate and godly. While on the other side, there are those who revel in bloodshed; mayhem, destruction, suffering of others and outright murder of individuals or groups of people. The message I believe that most of us sentient beings are not alone. We may feel alone, isolated with no real support but in a real search, we eventually hookup with other sentient beings who are traveling the same road for the same reasons. This brings me to agree with an old quote that refers to the ancient law of similarity which states that “like attracts like.” As opposed to the writing of Schopenhauer who claims that opposites attract each other. That idea maybe sound in the mechanical world but in the world of mysticism and spirituality the adage, like attracts like is the underlying force that dictates our places with others of similar tendencies.
- How did it feel to see your book published?
When I was much younger, as a lad of thirteen or twelve years of age I didn’t know how to swim as no one ever taught me. My friends and I would go to the beach for a dip every so often, during our school holidays. The boys who were strong swimmers would head out to the deeper waters while I and a few others lagged behind in waist deep shallow waters near the shoreline. I had tried venturing in deeper waters but I was afraid of the water and clumsy as a non swimmer. But, after a while, a few of the able swimmers coaxed me to venture out to the deeper waters with them as unofficial coaches and guides. I actually took up the challenge and ventured out with their support. Much to my surprise, I made it to a metal structure far away from the shoreline and eventually swam back to the beach on my own. I was elated, proud of myself, excited and happy that I actually was able to swim in deeper waters. The same feelings occurred when I taught myself how to ride a bicycle with no one to assist or instruct me. Now, so many years later, the publishing of my book takes me back to my youth realizing that I suddenly became a swimmer and a bicycle rider. I am elated; excited, a little giddy headed, tipsy and at times not believing that I actually swam in deeper waters and pleasantly surprised that I have actually completed the goal of having my book published. It’s a joyous, incredible feeling of awe.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
I’m actually slowly collecting new material for a new writing project that again deals with the commonality of the supernatural in different parts of the world that seems to have a common phenomenon but under a different name or belief. That would go along with some superstition that also has a common belief in another foreign country or state. The basic tie that binds would be based on the existence of native cultural beliefs and the imposition of western culture and religion on those indigenous groups of people who have had direct contact with the purveyors of western colonial attitudes, using imperialism and hegemony as tools of conquest and subjugation.
Europe Books thanks the author A. J. BENEDICT once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book THE RAJKUMAR TRILOGY. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my readers, may this book capture your curiosity and provide you with food for thought you could take inspiration from in your everyday life.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your Editor!