RICHARD WATKINS
Richard Watkins
Books
RICHARD WATKINS
Lokesh (Loki) Babu was born in South India, moved to Sydney in year 2000. As the eldest son of a traditional Indian family, his life was scripted for him, and he was expected to follow the values and needs of the family.Â
However, he defied expectations, began his own journey, and has embraced the best of eastern and western cultures.Â
Before he completed ‘The True Self’, Lokesh faced many challenges in his life, including inequality, separation, the death of loved ones, illness, near bankruptcy, suicide, and self-harm. He witnessed his mother and father’s death, with patience and silence, he observed the thin line between life and death. It was a constant reminder for him to appreciate this precious life, and not to waste it on petty, egotistical selfishness.Â
For Loki, it feels like a natural extension of his journey of self-enquiry. The knowledge he gained through his research into ancient teachings, which form the basis of The True Self, has helped him to overcome life’s adversities and find joy within.
Q. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW AUTHORS THAT YOU WISHED YOU HAD RECEIVED YOURSELF WHEN YOU STARTED?
A.Progress over perfection. Turn your thoughts into writing, every day, like not missing a meal.
Q. DO YOU VIEW YOUR WRITING AS A KIND OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?
A. Absolutely, writing connects my mind body and soul. It is an intimate, authentic and passionate affair with my true self.
Q. WHEN YOU READ YOUR BOOK REVIEWS HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE BAD ONES?
A. First, I thank the individual for taking time to give a review. Good, bad or ugly is all about individual perception versus perspective.
Q. HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU DO GET A GOOD REVIEW?
A. A heartfelt connection with the reader to my personal message and life journey.
Q. HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDER WRITING UNDER A PSEUDONYM?
A. No, I don’t want to hide or pretend in life.
Q. ARE YOU TRYING TO HAVE EACH BOOK STAND ON ITS OWN OR ARE YOU TRYING TO BUILD A BODY OF WORK WITH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EACH BOOK?
A. Always a connection, never stand alone. Everything I create is connected as oneness.
Q. DO YOU WRITE EVERY DAY? HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO YOU WRITE?
A. Every day, either I am writing or taking notes on a journal. Minimum 30 to 60 minutes.
Q. HOW MUCH OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE DO YOU INCORPORATE INTO YOUR WRITING OR DO YOU MAKE UP EVERYTHING?
A. Everything is nonfiction and truth from my own personal life experiences. I have many beautiful life stories and experiences to share, so never need to make up anything.
Q. HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR READERS? DO YOU OFFER THEM A FREE BOOK? DO YOU OFFER THEM A NEWSLETTER?
A. I am on majority social media platforms sharing content every day.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AUTHOR? CAN YOU TELL US WHY? EVERYTHING?
A. Kahlil Gibran, his work about life in his book, The prophet.
Q. HOW LONG DO YOU RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR NEXT BOOK?
A. Months and years, research never stops. I am curious like a kid, always learning and researching.
Q. WHAT ARE THE ETHICS OF WRITING ABOUT HISTORICAL FIGURES?
A. Taking those times into context and not judging them based on today’s morals and values. There is always good we can see in every historical figure.Â
Q. WOULD YOU GO BACK AND REWRITE ANY OF YOUR BOOKS? WHY?
A. If it helps audience, for sure.
Q. IF YOU COULD GIVE UP ONE THING TO BECOME A BETTER WRITER WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
A. I don’t need to become a better writer, and I don’t need to give up anything. I am in full content.
Q. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. ARE YOU MARRIED? HAVE CHILDREN/GRANDCHILDREN? IS THERE A SPECIAL DOG/CAT/BIRD IN YOUR LIFE?
A. I am in a relationship and have a 15-year-old daughter from my previous relationship.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A DAY JOB OR ARE YOU A FULL-TIME WRITER?
A. I have a day job working in finance industry, I am an engineer by qualifications.
Q. ANY HOBBIES? DO THEY HELP YOU IN YOUR WRITING?
A. Walks in nature, running,
Watching ancient history movies, and other non-commercial movies.
A. DID YOU JUST KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER OR DID YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO START WRITING?
A. Everything happened spontaneously, without trying to be a writer or wanting to become a writer.
Q. WHAT IS CURRENTLY LACKING IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION TODAY IN YOUR COUNTRY?
A. Good old traditional values, family relationships and the importance of family.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?
A. No.
Q. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLES FOR YOUR BOOKS?
A. Real life seeking
Q. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE FAVORITE TYPES OF MUSIC? DO THEY HELP YOU WITH YOUR WRITING?
A. No music, it is an unnecessary distraction,  just nature and natural sounds.
Q. WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING SPACE LOOK LIKE?
A. Multiple projects on my laptop, always working on one thing or another
Q. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART FOR YOU WHEN IT COMES TO WRITING?
A. Explaining my mother’s death
Q. WHAT DOES YOUR FAMILY THINK ABOUT YOUR WRITING?
A. They don’t care and not interested, as they think it is useless as it doesn’t bring lots of money.
Q. IF YOU COULD PICK ONE OF YOUR BOOKS TO BECOME A MOVIE BLOCKBUSTER, WHICH BOOK WOULD THAT BE AND WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY THE CHARACTERS?
A. Not there yet
Q. WHEN WRITING DO YOU TRY TO GIVE YOUR READERS WHAT THEY WANT OR DO YOU GO FOR ORIGINALITY?
A. Original, not interested in pleasing
Q. AS A WRITER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AS YOUR MASCOT/AVATAR/SPIRIT ANIMAL? WHY?
A. Elephant.
Q. HOW DO YOU MARKET YOUR BOOKS? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WAY? WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE WAY?
A. Not good at marketing, as I don’t sell my soul.
Q. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN AUTHOR OR A WRITER FIRST? WHY?
A. Neither.
Q. WHO DO YOU TRUST TO GIVE YOU OBJECTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM OF YOUR WRITING?
A. Feedback from anyone or reviews
Q. HOW LONG, ON AVERAGE, DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A BOOK?
A. 2-3 years.
Q. DO YOU OUTLINE YOUR BOOK BEFORE WRITING IT OR DO YOU JUST PLOT ALONG AND HOPE FOR THE BEST?
A. I have a structure, and normally build on the skeleton
Q. HAVE YOU EVER GOOGLE YOURSELF? IF SO, WHAT DID YOU FIND THAT SURPRISED YOU?
A. Yes, Nothing surprising, as I am on social media.
Q. WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR BOOK DO YOU WRITE FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF YOUR YOUTH, MIDDLE AGE OR GOLDEN YEARS IN MIND?
A. All the time.
Q. HAVE YOU PUBLISHED IN A TRADITIONAL WAY, OR SELF-PUBLISHED OR BOTH? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS METHOD?
A. Both – More went with timeline                              Â
Q. DOES WRITING EXHAUST YOU OR ENERGIZE YOU? HOW?
A. Always energise me, as I don’t stress on the outcome
Q. WHAT WAS THE FIRST BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?
A. Can’t think of a book
Q. DO YOU HAVE OTHER WRITERS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG YOUR WAY? HOW?
A. Reinvest in marketing
Q. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR FIRST BOOK ADVANCE MONEY?
A. Since I haven’t gotten an advance on anything yet, nothing. What money I have earned, which has been little, has been flipped and used on bills.
Q. WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SELF-PUBLISHING TO NEW AUTHORS? WHY?
A. Yes, the freedom
Q. WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING YOU HAVE FOUND WHEN WRITING CHARACTERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
A. Telling the truth these days can be taken badly.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON PROFANITY IN BOOKS TODAY? IS IT OK TO USE? WHY?
A. People use for sensationalism or attention. I personally don’t use or prefer profanity.
Q. ARE YOUR CHARACTERS ‘REAL’ OR DO THEY COME OUT OF YOUR IMAGINATION OR DO YOU BASE THEM ON SOMEONE YOU KNOW?
A. They are always real.
Q. WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
A. 2015.
Q. TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
A. In The True Self, Lokesh (Loki) Babu invites you on a timeless journey, merging ancient wisdom to modern philosophy from across history and the world. Through an honest and intimate narrative, Loki shares his personal spiritual transformation, offering universal insights to help cut through the noise of our hyperconnected world.
As you navigate the challenges of digitalisation and the relentless pursuit of validation, The True Self empowers you to unlock the boundless joy and peace within by uncovering your true purpose, identity, faith, and existence.
Prepare to be captivated, enlightened, and forever changed, through this powerful journey of finding clarity over confusion, unveiling mysteries of human spirit and experience the beauty of life.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR WRITING KRYPTONITE?
A. My own self
Q. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTERS?
A. Real life.
Q. WHAT DID YOU EDIT OUT OF YOUR LATEST NOVEL? A SCENE? A CHARACTER? A SUBPLOT? WHY?
A. By connecting with the story
Q. AN AUTHOR'S PATH IS NEVER EASY. WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING?
A. By connecting with the story
Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY WRITING RITUALS YOU DO BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER YOU WRITE?
A. I write between 3 and 6 am.
Q. DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR CHARACTERS? THAT IS, DO YOURSELF SEE YOURSELF IN THE CHARACTER OR THEY SHARE SOME OF YOUR TRAITS?Title Goes Here
A. Yes.
Q. 53. ARE THERE SPECIAL WAYS YOU LIKE TO GET RID OF YOUR VILLANS? POISON, GUN? PISTOL?
A. No.
