In 2015, I embarked on the writing journey of "The Boy Scouts" at our family house in Goa, India. Filled with enthusiasm and a burning desire to share my story, I dedicated every Sunday for two years to crafting the narrative. Drawing heavily from my childhood memories of camping, scouting, and school life in 1980s Goa, my initial intention was to write a short story about a group of scouts embarking on their annual scouting trip, only to find themselves caught up in an exhilarating adventure.
However, as I delved into the writing process, the ideas flowed effortlessly, one after another. Over the course of just over two years, the plot thickened, and the story took root like a steadfast tree. It became intricately detailed, expanding beyond the confines of a single book.
On September 2nd, 2016, I completed the first draft, and the moment was bittersweet, unlike finishing a film script. A novel becomes a part of your life, its world and characters living within you. From start to finish, it was a labor of love, though I wasn't fully prepared for the emotional impact it would have.
Eventually, I decided to title the book "Chino and the Boy Scouts," paying homage to one of my closest friends from film school. As time passed, life took its toll, and I found myself needing a break from everything and everyone. On March 8th, 2018, while at Dubai International Airport, contemplating my next move in order to complete my book and find inspiration, a memory from my time working at a call center in England resurfaced. Each time I connected with someone from Scotland, they exuded friendliness. Following a spontaneous impulse, I purchased a plane ticket to Glasgow and secured a modest flat, allowing me to devote all my time, attention, and resources to what truly mattered to me: writing my book.
During my stay in Scotland, I was fortunate to encounter a kind-hearted man named Steven Laurie, who offered me a job at the local supermarket. Our conversations frequently revolved around my book, and he introduced me to philosophers and great authors I had never encountered before. This exposure expanded my literary horizons in ways I could never have imagined.
In a way, it made me feel invisible. However, I must say, "under his tree of wisdom, I got a lot more than shade." Steven introduced me to someone called Sean Thomson, who said to me, "Are you the guy writing a book?" It turned out that he was also in the process of writing his own novel, and he offered to help.
For the first time in a long time, I felt the sun finally shining on me. God works in mysterious ways. At that moment, I knew life had a purpose in directing me to Scotland and that I would make it into that small percentage of people who can call themselves "authors." I am proud to say I have finally finished my first book. It's the biggest accomplishment of my life, and I am delighted to have it published by BrownDog Books. It took five long years of drafting and redrafting while working, trying to come to grips with the intricacies of the English language and coming to live in a new country, but I have finally made it.
I hope you have a chance to read my book. I promise you, it will be an adventure you will remember. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey and to all of you who have purchased a copy of my book. It means the world to me.
“When not writing you can find me walking in the woods of Scotland, meeting my characters”.
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