Tell us a little about your book.
The series of The Rishis is based on the fact that humanity was the possessor of great knowledge and power in the past, and that was lost. I created a fictional story that tells how that happened and how it affects our world today.
The book dwells mainly in the mystical and magical side of that ancient knowledge/power, and in the struggle between opposing parties to possess it and use it.
Robert Delgado
These struggling groups are two Indian organizations: the Mantris and the Omas. The latter ones wish to restore the use of this knowledge to the people, as it was in times of old, but for that they will need the help of an unlikely group of men and women from around the world.
What gave you the idea for this particular story?
It was a kind of inspiration. The story came to me quite suddenly. Three years ago I stumbled upon an article about the discovery of Gonur Tepe, in Central Asia. I found it interesting, but that was all, I didn’t make much of it. Minutes later I went for a walk in the countryside. That’s when it happened: if felt a rush of ideas and information appearing in my mind, it was like making a download from the Internet, it took just seconds. It hit me suddenly, and so strongly that I had to rush back home and begin to write it down.
That was the beginning of The Rishis and the Book of Secrets, the first book of the sequence on The Rishis.
Do you read widely?
I’ve read a lot in the past, though not so much nowadays; but I haven’t read much fiction to be honest. I was a monk, so, for over thirty years, my interest was in the field of philosophy and spirituality. I began to read fiction only recently.
Who are your favorite authors?
In the field of fiction, my favorites so far are Tolkien, Rowling and Anthony Horowitz. My favorite non-fiction author is Vivekananda.
Who influenced you most?
In the world of fiction, J. R. R. Tolkien; but my perspective of life was affected mostly by Swami Vivekananda. Nevertheless, I am a deep thinker, and I have gradually developed my own line of thoughts.
What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?
I am enjoying enormously the writing of The Rishis, and I hope to transmit this joy to the readers.
Naturally, since the book is a mixture of fiction and reality, there is a lot of information in it. I also intend to bring the awareness that technology, society, and the greatest human values of all times, have always been subjected to ups and downs, throughout the ages. There is an ancient Sanskrit saying that goes “Ten thousand years of city, ten thousand years of forest.”
What scares you?
I don’t think there is something that truly scares me, although there are a few things about which I am careful, naturally – like dogs or being taken advantage of by others.
Where can we find you online?
If you want to see what I do or contact me, you can do it in my author webpage at robertdelgado.jimdo.com, Facebook and LinkedIn. If you want to buy my books, you can find them at Eternal Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell us about it.
Yes. The idea of the story is built around a real archaeological discovery, the city of Gonur Tepe, in the Black Desert area of Central Asia. There it was found sufficient evidence to show that the ancient knowledge of the Vedas, the Soma and even the Sanskrit language that India considers as its own are actually originated in Central Asia. So, the glory of India lies in the preservation of that knowledge but not in its creation.
Based on all this facts and on my vast experience of Indian culture – I studied it for over 30 years and even lived in India for about three years – I created a fictional story that takes us to a fantastical world of conflicts and struggles for power, freedom and knowledge.
When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
I never imagined myself as a writer until quite recently, just a few years ago. First I started writing non-fiction, particularly philosophy and spirituality, which was my main interest at that time. Then, about three years ago, a fictional story came to my mind in just a matter of seconds: it was a kind of inspiration. It hit me suddenly, and so strongly that I had to sit and write it down.
That was the beginning of The Rishis and the Book of Secrets, the first book of the sequence on The Rishis.
Have you ever written something that you’re afraid to let other people read? Why?
Not yet.
Why do you write the genre(s) you do?
First of all, because I really enjoy it; but also because fiction gives you the tremendous flexibility to put into an entertaining story everything that you conceive and want to convey, in a way that anyone can grasp.
What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?
The toughest part is what comes after writing. When you want your work to reach the people. I wish it could be easier and faster. I can write a book a year, but it’s nearly impossible to find a Publisher that can work with you at that speed.
How much is your protagonist like you? How different?
All my protagonists have a bit of me. At least they are part of my mental conceptions, if not of my personal life.
I think that every author is the aggregate of all the protagonists that appear in his or her book. If you can conceive them and create them, it’s because they are inside you, to some extent.
If you want me to give you names, then I have to take Robin White and Kiserian. There is more of me in them than in the others.
I’ve heard it said that writers are the sanest people on the planet because they get their daily stresses and problems out in a story. What are your thoughts on this? Is writing therapy?
Definitely. Every form of self-expression has a therapeutic effect, and writing, like any art, is no exception. When you write you learn to know yourself better. That brings enormous balance into your inner life.
What kind of research did you do for this type of story?
All sorts. I pay special interest to the accuracy of the information I give and the things I describe. Whenever my fictional story meets reality, I make research. I cannot offend my readers giving them something half-done.
Do writing violent or highly sexual scenes bother you? Why or why not?
I am not bothered by either, but there isn’t much sex in The Rishis. Those who read the book found the story so absorbing that they didn’t seem to miss the lack of it.
What about your book makes it special?
The story is original. As far as I know, no other author has ever written a fiction book on the Rishis, their arrival to the Indian subcontinent, and their modern presence amongst us today.
What are your thoughts on the future of books?
Books have existed always and will exist as long as the human race exists. It may adopt totally different formats in the future, and there may be even periods of darkness when they will diminish, but they will resurface again, as they always did.
What are your hobbies? Do you ever work them into a story?
I like nature. I love things like fishing or walking in wild areas. I frequently show my appreciation of nature in my writing. The scenery I chose for the development of my story is often natural or related to nature.
What are you passionate about?
The pursuit of truth and self-knowledge.
How do you want to be remembered?
As a free man. One who could be happy while making others happy. One who could be free, while giving others freedom; or at least, one who tried.
How does your childhood influence your writing?
A lot; I had a very happy childhood. I had good friends and grew near nature, fearless and free. My parents trusted me and I learned to trust others.
Everyone has a quirk; what’s yours?
I can’t stand falseness and selfishness. I avoid the person or the environment where those are present.
Tell us one thing about yourself that no one would guess by just meeting you.
I could tell two things, though there may be more:
I was an excellent football player in my adolescence and I had a real future there, but left at the age of fourteen because I didn’t like the interests connected with the game.
I was a monk for over 25 years.
Thank you Robert Delgado for participating in our interview and Welcome to Eternal Press.
