The Need for Mystery Fiction Novels to be Given Their Due Respect: Guest Post by Manjiri Prabhu

Manjiri Prabhu: The Need for Mystery Fiction Novels to be Given Their Due Respect
 
Time and again I have heard this comment about a mystery novel – 

“Not great literature but a crackling story….”

“No profound philosophy but a super book….” 

Such comments rankle, but they stem from a stereotypical basic classification of literary and mainstream and good and bad literature, but which to my mind evokes debate at best. 

I won’t go into definitions and arguments (which would change with changing times anyway) but will base my points on my own fiction writing of more than 30 years and my own experiences with readers. 

I have written novels in a variety of genres from mystery, children’s fiction, science fiction to research-based non-fiction and covered many themes and topics. I consider writing mystery fiction the most skillful. Writing Mystery fiction to me is an art - a complete art form which can be distinguished by the virtue of two features –content and craft. 

Without going into the structure of a mystery novel, content wise, mystery fiction can touch upon almost all emotions, stages and elements of life and can encompass other genres within itself. It can comment on socio-political, cultural, religious, and emotional issues, and offer deep insights into the psyche of human beings – all under the guise of beautiful prose and an entertaining mystery story. As such, I feel it fulfils the definition of a classically ‘complete’ novel, in its role and purpose. 

Writing a mystery novel requires a certain command over the craft. Not only in engaging the reader actively in the whodunnit guessing game, but in the manner in which the novel unfolds, the setting, the pace, the plot etc. One of the main yardsticks of a successful mystery novel is the art of holding the reader in surprise, right till the finale. As such, this essential characteristic of mystery fiction which rates the success of the novel, is deeply embedded in the ability of the writer, in effectively deceiving the reader. The writer may employ literary techniques, can create complex yet believable plots and characters, but the ultimate crucifying end-goal is the victory of the writer over the reader. 

I am listing just a few objectives of good, quality fiction here - 

1.      Touches hearts

2.      Helps you reflect

3.      Triggers thoughts, sentiments, memories
4.      Introduces you to something different and unique
5.      Is written in apt and good prose
6.      Stays in your memory long after the book is over. 
7.      A story that has something more to offer than reality and its issues. 
8.      Which creates a profound emotional reality for the reader
9.      Enhances the pleasure of reading

I believe that good mystery fiction has the capacity to do all of this and more. I will cite just two examples to illustrate what I mean. 

My first novel A Symphony of Hearts written in 1994 was romantic suspense. Almost 20 years later, I got an earnest mail from a reader asking me if I had a copy of the novel, because she simply had to read a paragraph from the book every day as a form of ritual and no matter which page of the book she opened, she got guidance for the day. But now her sister seemed to have misplaced the copy, and she desperately wanted another copy of the book, which was now out of print. I obliged her with a pdf copy of the book, feeling deeply grateful for her email. She made me feel that my writing is worthwhile and crucial to her well-being.

When The Cosmic Clues was published in the US, I got several e-mails from readers across the world. The novel was about a lady detective from Pune, who solved different cases with the help of Indian Vedic Astrology. One day, a particular lady from Lucknow telephoned me and spoke to me at length about how the novel had helped her come out of deep depression, was changing her life, and had given her hope. After that, for a year, she continued to connect with me and to share her experiences and progress in life.
These are just two examples of the many that made me reflect on the role of books and the depth of words on paper. And I am sure, mystery fiction writers across the world have their own heart-warming tales to share. 

When your written words and your world of fiction have the capacity to touch a core, impact, and change lives and help people, those words and that ‘world’ deserve to be taken seriously. In such a capacity, mystery fiction with its multiple, 360 degrees purpose and function can certainly fall in the category of ‘good literature’. 

Now, with my latest destination thriller series, my mystery fiction has taken on the role of cultural diplomats. These novels use chosen cities and countries like characters, not merely as a backdrop but with clues, trails, and mysteries embedded into the fabric of that country. The Trail of Four which takes place in Austria, Voice of the Runes in Sweden, and Legend of the Snow Queen in Germany – propagate the themes of Peace and Harmony, thus promoting ideas of democratic values, expression of thought, and feelings of co-existence. As such these well-researched novels try to bridge the gap between the culture of another country and the composite culture of India and in the process, the novels help create an experience of shared cultures and an emotion of rising brotherhood and sisterhood. 

For me, mystery fiction in its varied roles, demands to be taken seriously. And I think we should grant it that respect. I strongly believe that the tag and the popularity of a genre should not go against the judging of its quality fiction. Labelling the mystery genre as ‘frivolous’, ‘un-serious’, or ‘un-great’ subverts the requisites of quality fiction. A book is either good or bad literature. Equating good with serious and ‘un-serious’ as popular and hence ‘un-good’ without considering the merits of the individual work, is unfair and fallacious. Good fiction should rise above genres. When a work of fiction is evaluated at its own literary merit, mystery fiction would automatically be awarded its deserved credit and place in the world.

***

 

Dr. Manjiri Prabhu is an award-winning international author of 19 books, mystery and thriller writer, a Short-Film-Maker and the Curator & Founder/Director of two international festivals Pune International Literary Festival and International Festival of Spiritual India (for Humanity  & Wisdom). Her latest novel is LEGEND OF THE SNOW QUEEN, a Re Parkar Destination Thriller based in Germany.

YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkJZhGe9OZyuTYkLRLic7w 

Award-winning international Author, a Short-Film-Maker and the Curator & Founder/Director of two international festivals

Website : www.manjiriprabhu.in

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/prabhumanjiri

Twitter : https://twitter.com/manjiriprabhu

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Mysteries - The Enigma and the Intrigue: Pune International Literary Festival

Please join Manjiri Prabhu, James Ziskin, Liz Nugent, and Me on December 21 for a panel on: Mysteries - The Enigma and the Intrigue. Check the time for your timezone... Pune International Literary Festival.  

10:45 am EST

7:45 am PST

9:15 p.m. IST

How to join:

PILF2020 Facebook Page

PILF YouTube Channel

PILF Website 

PILF LInkedIn Page

Why I Write What I Write: Guest Post by Manjiri Prabhu

Today I welcome Manjiri Prabhu. Dr. Manjiri Prabhu is an award-winning Writer/ Novelist of mystery fiction, an independent short-filmmaker,  and also the Founder/ Director of two Festivals. She has directed over 200 children’s TV programmes,  more than 50 short fiction and travel films and has authored 15 books. Her latest mystery is Voice of the Runes.

Manjiri Prabhu:
Why I Write What I Write

When the stream skips by 

and the peaks seem shy, 

When twilight drapes 

the golden landscapes, 

The words and the verse 

light a path to the Universe… 

That’s when I take flight, 

That is why I write…. 

It was really early on in life when I discovered that I had a direct connection with the Universe’s creative energy. It was a unique relationship with the Universe, which revealed to me in a swoop that I had a job to do – I had to write. I was a writer at age seven and I have been a writer all my life.

But here is a simple answer to the question – Why do I write?

Because I can’t help writing! 

And why do I write what I write?

Because the mystery genre has found me and stayed with me and sought its expression through me. And I enjoy being the chosen one to represent this genre and discover newer ways to explore and experiment with the mystery, suspense and thriller format.

I write because I am self-absorbed, even self-obsessed, a universal entity in connect with the Universe. Because I am selfish and in deep love with what my imagination conspires, and love the spring of ‘surprise’ and because I connect more with fiction than reality. Fiction is my world, my characters are my companions and my ordained role is to narrate a story that would entertain, engross, engage and educate – in that specific order.

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” 

This quote by Benjamin Franklin features prominently on my website and has dominated my world of creation.

15 books to date, hopefully more to come…..what am I really proud of in this journey?

I write because I don’t feel the need to prove anything to anyone. I do not wish to prove that I am a woman in a man’s world. I do not wish to prove that I am better than another man or another woman or for that matter another writer. I don’t wish to prove anything.

And that is why I write what I write - Pure creative energy that stems from a prosperous source. Still. Non-turbulent. Undisturbed and happy. Stories that uncoil from an unadulterated love of the art, adventures and plots that my inventive energy attracts. I write because I think like a human being, not like a woman but like a person without gender. Being labeled as ‘Desi Agatha Christie’ and then compared to Dan Brown, is proof of this state of my mind and my writing.

I write not to deliberately break any glass ceilings, because I have encountered none in my life and believe in none. And yet I have broken moulds, opened paths to others by being the first Indian woman to write mysteries, suspense, and destination thrillers in main stream Indian fiction. My characters are strong, fierce, wise and empowered and in the journey of the book, become even more so - Inspiring and aspirational characters which lead you through life in the most amazing manner possible. I write because imagination is my focal point where ideas germinate, flourish and become reality.

I have given myself full freedom and permission to write what I wish, without the pressure of clichéd expectations and societal stereotypes, the pressure of womanhood and the sense of responsibility frequently and inevitably thrust on women writers, without being answerable to mental conditioning of decades, or entrapped into pleasing the dictates of sexist inhibitions.….Perhaps I have risked an emotional bonding with some readers by not adhering to the ready template of women’s fiction. My fiction stems from my need to be me, carefree and adventurous. And in that sense, I have remained true to myself and my creative energy.

Whether it is my destination mystery/thriller series with Re Parkar, or the Astro-Detective series with Sonia Samarth, both trend-setters and unique concepts in India or the dystopian Super-Dome Chronicles – another less-explored genre in India – I have always been different in the study of subjects. Perhaps it has more to do with what I wish to read and cannot find out there or simply that I am ahead of my times. Whatever it is, the bottom line is that I write what pleases me and what I please. Fortunately for me I have found support from many Publishers who were kind enough to help me find space in the world of publishing.

I realized early on that I am trying to play God, not a Saint. Trying to be a Creator, not a Reformer. I look at change as that which moves from one emotion to another emotion, from one moment to another moment like a slow delicious stirring of thought. An unconscious shedding of set notions, like the erosion of the soil or the melting of metal in heat. And I think mystery fiction has the capacity to do this, in its ability to encompass myriad issues within its genre. In the guise of a good plot, can hide the streams of political ideologies, socio-psychological upheavals, relationship and societal issues and you-name-it, thus initiating rather unobtrusively and intelligently, a pleasant excitement in the reader. I find this rather challenging, fascinating and inspiring – the subtle art of deception stirring a sense of contentment.

Mystery fiction to me is also Motivational Fiction. Where else would you learn that no matter what life throws at you – conflict, hassles, ups and downs – in the end, all is well. It redefines courage and encourages optimism and independent thinking. It demotes the evil in beings and uplifts compassion, love and what is good in humans. Mystery fiction tickles interest, perks the reader’s brain, inspires him or her to prod on against adversities, and offers hope as an eternal serving.

However, at no point in this writing journey, do I wish to take full credit for what I have written. Artists, I believe, are mere channels for the creative energy to flow through them. What you create is a gift from the Muse, from the Universe and you are an instrument in the process. Albeit an important instrument. But neither can you separate the creator from the created. Thank God for that!

When I am at the age to look back and question my choices, I hope that I can respond with candour and honesty, that the work I put out in the world, was the true expression of my beliefs and acts. That it was a genuine effort to fulfill the role assigned to me. That I did justice to the task undertaken – the task to entertain, engross, engage and educate through the art of telling stories that stimulated imagination and thought and created magic, memories and motivation. And in the process allowed myself the pleasure of being entertained! I hope that when I look back, I feel a complete sense of accomplishment and pride.