Shon Mehta

Which element of your world, Jivavarta, did you develop first—the geography, the society, or something else?   My first novel is about a low-born prince named Tasvak , so I needed a religious society where people are treated according to their birth. I created the religious social hierarchy first, followed by the geographical regions and their distinct social structures. How much of Jivavarta’s deep history and lore did you create versus what ended up on the page? Were there any myths or histories you invented that only you know? About fifty percent of the lore is written but not included in the book. The rest remains in my notes and imagination. Which was the most challenging book to write, and why?   The most challenging was  Lair of the Monster . There were too many subplots happening simultaneously and many characters to manage. I had to ensure everything came together cohesively at the end, with no loose ends. I like to provide complete closure. What was the hardest ...

At what point did you decide to be an author/Philosopher?  At a young age. I have been writing since my childhood -- I kept a notebook where I wrote down my poems, thoughts, and anything that came to my mind. I have always been drawn to philosophy, but becoming an author came first. Those childhood notebooks grew into fiction, and fiction evolved into stories about human nature. Over time, I began to notice recurring philosophical patterns. Those patterns eventually crystallized into the Jivavarta Framework, which later led to the Treatise. Is it true that you were a column editor at age 14? Yes, though it happened quite organically, more out of necessity than design. During a summer vacation, I was helping my father at the daily newspaper where he was chief editor. In newspaper publishing, after arranging all the regular articles and advertisements, there would sometimes be empty spaces left on a page—known as  spot columns —that needed to be filled quickly with a poem, shor...