The author talks about her romance novel "Karan"

Why are you characters Indians?

There was no special reason for that. I have just always liked the names of my protagonists so well. And I thought when they are given an Indian name right at the beginning still being rather shapeless protagonists, they cannot be German or Japanese. But now, when I think a little bit more about it: not all of my characters are Indian. Even the "Indians" themselves are not. Actually Karan, for example, is a more of a little English snob. Western to his very core. He loves his world in England (this is where he is born, you see), he doesn’t know the real India. Jonathan and Clara are English as well. And Dev himself is the son of a British woman and an Indian travel guide.

How much of the book is settled in India or refers to the Indian culture?

Essentially Indian culture can be felt throughout the whole novel. You can find a hint here and there, e.g. the different food, the warmth of the country in stark contrast to the coolness of England, the religious influences and the close human relationships, the laughter etc. I can not tell you precisely in this and that scene is India, because you can feel it everywhere, in Tara, in Dev, in Karan’s family. India and England are always present.

How much of the book is settled in India? From a local point of view India can be found in the second half of the book. Dev and Karan travel to Amritsar and spend some time in Delhi, too. I didn’t only describe some sights like Chandni Chowk, the Golden Temple or the mosque Jama Masjid but also Indian life itself: the cows in the middle of the streets, the mobile restaurants, the ambience, the air, the colours, the colourful clothes like saris and so on.

How did your trips to London and India inspire you concerning the book and during the writing process itself?

I would say that my stays inspired me 100%. England is so marvellously snobbish and so very friendly and helpful at the same time and then again so immensely different. And India is like a fairy tale like in the Arabian Nights anyway. I read once that you will get a culture shock when travelling to India. But I have never experienced it like this. By contrast, I always got a shock, when I returned to Germany. No cow passing me, no laughing chai seller – everything is just so much different and cooler. But that doesn’t only refer to Germany. Even when I landed in Istanbul for a stopover, I recognized this stark contrast. I think this feeling is very difficult to explain. You have to experience it to understand it.

I think it was important that I really had a look at the temples and cities that I describe in “Karan”. When I write, I see all the locations and the walls of the different temples in front of me. Of course, I hope that the readers in their minds as well can see the small towers, the cupolas and the blue clouds. Okay, I have to admit that in volume one of the Karan saga my favourite city of London is somewhat neglected. But I can say by now that in the sequel of the series (title: DEV) London will be given much more importance. The readers will even get sort of a short city tour.

Which persons did inspire you when inventing the characters?

 
Although all of my characters are fictitious, I have used different properties of my environment so that my protagonists appear as warm, living and real people. But, basically, you can find me (features of Dev) and my best friend (features of Karan) in my book. In addition to that I have also used some of the events of my personal life like the back problems of my husband, the death of my mother, difficulties at looking for a job, when you have the know how but not the certificates etc.

Are there connections to Karan Johar or Shahrukh Khan?

 
No. Or yes, yes, you could say that. SRK is not relevant for my novel. But Karan Johar has been one of the triggers, why I have summarized my book. I call it “summarize”, because my book is kind of a summary of many short stories. I had already written quite a few stories just for my personal usage. And one day I put a better part of these stories together, which is where Karan Johar gets into this or why he became one of the triggers: About two years ago on the web site of Mahiram I saw a picture of Karan Johar, who was still kind of “unknown” at the time and only seldom appeared in public. Under this picture, like under any of the other pictures as well, you could post a comment. Unfortunately some narrow-minded, malicious persons mistook the term liberty of speech with rude insulting. Therefore half of the world could read stupid, anti-homosexual jokes. I was upset and injured and began thinking. KJ did never have an outing, so how will someone know, what kind his sexual orientation is? And if he is indeed gay, who will have to know except himself and his boyfriend? And why, dammit, do you have to say or write vicious things just because someone may be different from yourself? For me personally the existence of homosexuality is normal and absolutely not strange. I am a very big fan of Thomas Herrmanns (comedian), Hella von Sinnen, Rosenstolz etc. All of them are great human beings and valuable members of the so-called valued society. I would never think of insulting one of these amazing entertainers only because he/she has a different sexual orientation. Well, and as a sexual orientation is nothing „bad“ at all, I was so very shocked about these rude remarks about KJo. And this is exactly why - as a small rebellion and also as a kind of apology from my side – I gave my book the name of Karan. Also, because I like the Indian epic “Ramayan”. I named Dev’s son, for example, like the third prince of the Pandavas. Arjun, a dashing youngster with an arrow.

Would you like to see your book turned into a film?

 
You mean like Brokeback Mountain? Hmm, why not. Although I think this will be quite difficult, since my protagonists are often brought to life by means of an omnipresent narrator explaining their thoughts for the reader. Moreover I think that every reader visualises the hero his or her own way. When suddenly confronted with a certain face, this could be totally different to the one imagined. But like I said, I really think that it would be nice to make a film based on the book Karan. But I would prefer unknown actors playing the roles. After all, Dev was an unknown actor himself and got the chance to find himself in Karan’s theatre. And of course I would only agree, if I could have a voice in selecting the actors :-)

What is the reason behind your idea of donating some of the sales revenues to Aids foundations?
 
It is simply because I consider such foundations as good and important. Just think about the fact that there are approximately 40.000 persons in Germany at the moment who suffer from the virus, although especially the Europeans are informed in general. Even if there is some medicine now thanks to research making the life of the persons concerned a little bit more bearable, we are far from defeating this disease. You need only think of the far too high number of people who relapse after an initial improvement of their health, for example get drug-resistant. Help is important. Research is important. And this is why I donate.

 
Would you also donate part of the revenues to Indian Aids foundations? SRK is very dedicated regarding this kind of social cause...

 
Well, I think it is great that SRK is dedicated to things like this, but it does not have anything to do with me - what he does, how, where and when. Although I really admire every artist who pleads for causes like tolerance and all kinds of social foundations, I don’t have to donate money to organisations which are also supported by SRK. Of course, I would not have a problem to support Indian Aids foundations as well, but since my Karan is still pretty new and I haven’t earned millions yet (and probably never will), I simply take the shortest way. At the moment this is the German “Aidshilfe“. Maybe I am also kind of influenced, because I have always supported this institution. At every concert of the band Rosenstolz, for example, money is collected that is given to the German Aidshilfe as well. I know this institution since many years and feel quite at home at it.

How easy or difficult was it to find a publisher willing to deal with the topic of "homosexuality"?

 
Basically, it is difficult to find a publisher. And it is even more difficult to find a good and open-minded publisher. On top of that, writing about a topic, which in the eyes of pope Benedikt does not even exist, does not really improve the situation. But I must say that I was very surprised by the open-minded reactions of some of the publishing houses I contacted. Initially, I planned to give my manuscript to three big and three small publishing houses, which don’t launch copious amounts of books. The big surprise was that especially the small publishing houses were very friendly, tolerant and even willing to accept a so-called “Verlagsvertrag” (publisher’s contract).

I chose my current publisher, because he provided me with every freedom possible. He supports me not only with all of his know how and very generous adaptation to all my wishes, he also hardly claims any rights. Like a real partner so to say.

How long did it take from planning the book and writing it until the final search for a publisher?
 
Approximately two years. Like I said before, it wasn’t actually planned. For the Karan saga (the sequel is supposed to be released in 2008) I put together several stories, which I had already written. The editing – I had to rewrite many details like names, locations etc. - took about six months. Then I gave the script to some test readers, got their criticism and rewrote again. I even changed little things until one week before the actual printing. In comparison, the search for the publisher was pretty short: 2 months.

Which difficulties did you have to face during the single steps?

 
The biggest and almost only difficulty was my cover. I definitely didn’t want one of the common covers, which most of the time show men with naked breasts and six packs. I didn’t want a niche but a neutral or objective picture inviting to read and dream. I wanted that Karan was not only read by the homosexual community but also that every heterosexual could recognize Karan for what he is: a romance between two human beings. Therefore, only a neutral picture was sensible. Since many important dialogues in Karan take place at the banks of the Thames, I had a very clear picture in my mind: I wanted two embracing men sitting on a bench in front of Tower Bridge. It was supposed to be beautiful, neutral and, above all, warm and full of joy. Unfortunately I am absolutely untalented as far as drawing is concerned so that I would never have achieved this cover without my friends Sigi Böhmer and Nena Fraile. Even now I am still glad that these two artists - and this is what they are for me considering that they have applied magic! – didn’t strangle me. For weeks they drew, took fotos, painted – and I had always something to criticise. But in the end they really swept me off my feet!