Why is this subject, “The Moving Type,” important in the world?
The subject of the book was a hyperbolic reflection of the current state of the world at the time of the pandemic. It held a mirror to the uncertainty, greed, pain, division, and unity that was felt all over, and through each of the four characters, we learn that extreme circumstances are the ultimate test of one’s character. In the middle of the real world’s selfless first line of defense workers and deadly oxygen tank scams, you either become the hero or the villain.
What is the pressing issue, right, and how are you addressing it?
With video and audio content readily available on every platform for every subject type, a growing concern becomes that reading book is confined to the four corners of a classroom and the four corners of every book by association be filled with text that is dictated by a syllabus during our most formative years. One of my fondest childhood memories used to be a trip to the local bookstore before a birthday – shoutout to Goosebumps – and even I find myself reading far less than I used to. I wanted to find a way to bring that love back. I tried to come up with a fresh and new perspective to storytelling – a community of writers from all over the world piecing together pieces of a puzzle.
I think the art of writing is dying because the average reader is getting sick of long-form content. People want quick, easy, punchy sentences that can be consumed on the go. The Moving Type was a way to marry the art of reading and writing to birth storytelling in a new and compelling way.
H2: [Expert name] Biography
What is your background in this subject?
Honestly, living through the pandemic while launching this book was all the inspiration I needed! What was meant to be an experimental new take on collaborative writing ended up becoming an almost cathartic experience for me, along with 122 people around the world. It was humbling to have launched the idea and have so many different types of people from all over, who would have otherwise probably never collaborated, forge a common bond and help build something so beautiful during such trying times.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
While I’m in the shower, mid-meal, commuting, or even at work (sorry, boss), my mind is constantly coming up with new ideas or rebuilding existing ones. Launching this book had been a pipedream almost a decade in the making. I thought up this idea back in college but acted on it during the pandemic when I wasn’t working and had way too much time on my hands. In a weird way, if it wasn’t for the pandemic, seeing my book in numerous bookstores might have never come true. Timing really is everything.
Fun fact: I have the rarest blood group in the world: AB-
What are your passions outside of your career?
Short-term passion: I’m recently married, and so trying to master being a better wife and chef. I’m also big on finding new experiences and hope to get my diver’s certificate soon. A long-term passion or goal of mine is building a social change empire, commerce with a cause.
Are there any social causes that you believe in and support?
Being from India, I’m naturally sensitive to education, hunger, and women’s health and safety issues. I was recently part of a book drive that supplied pre-loved books to schools in developing countries. Happy to share that all proceeds from The Moving Type are donated to charity!
What is next for you?
I’m passionate about a lot of different spaces and have recently gotten into the food and female health verticals. I hope to launch in the next few years. As for The Moving Type, we’re excited to throw our hat into the ring for a Guinness World Record.
The Moving Type
Tell me about your book.
Born in the middle of the pandemic, The Moving Type is one story, with each new chapter written by a new author. The first chapter, written by me, was posted to a website with a submission tab and a set of instructions regarding the length, general T&Cs, and the most important instruction of all: Do as you wish with the story, and if it makes the best creative fit, it becomes the next chapter, and so on. What started out with just me in my dining room in Dubai traveled far and wide with 122 writers from the UK, Australia, the US, India, the Middle East, and so much more to become the largest fictional writing collaboration in the world. Hence, the name: The Moving Type. The fictional, almost sci-fi premise follows four friends who find themselves caught in a pharmaceutical conspiracy in the midst of a global pandemic. As the four leads embark on their individual storylines, the reader can explore themes of horror, thriller, romance, and even humor, so there’s something in it for everyone.
Lending a unique voice, style, and point of view to each chapter was a point of contention in terms of how readers would respond, but one of the biggest compliments the book has received is that the writing manages to blend seamlessly from chapter to chapter making it a unique and surprisingly smooth read.
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Where can people buy the book?
You can get a copy of the book from Austin Macauley, the incredible publishing house, here: www.austinmacauley.ae Or directly via Amazon here: The Moving Type: Sharma, Devika: 9789948831297: Amazon.com: Books.
