The Lounge Chair Interview: 10 Questions with Shashi Warrier

Let’s get down to brass tacks. Why do you write?

It runs in the family. Four uncles were writers and poets, and my father translated a few books from Malayalam to English. I started late, at the age of 35, and wished I’d got to it earlier.

Tell us about your most recent book or writing project. What were you trying to say or achieve with it?

I’m currently working on Swami, a novel about an alcoholic but committed journalist investigating the possible misdeeds of a godman based in southern India. The investigation leads him in unexpected directions, and changes his life.

My last published book is The Girl Who Didn’t Give Up, which was released earlier this year by Westland, and is about paedophile rings in Goa and the influence they have.