Hywel Richard Pinto, who has always been a big fan of mystery/suspense books, was born in Bombay and raised in Mumbai. A couple of story ideas and the encouragement of his wife, Christina, and family led him to write his first story, The Monday Murder, which was shortlisted in 2013 by DNA-Hachette as one of the Top 20 Manuscripts to watch out for. His subsequent masterpieces have received not just rave reviews from readers but also various accolades. His book, Sialkot: The Origins was declared as the First Runner-Up of Today Book Awards 2024. His book, ‘Monsters of Mithi’ has also been used as reference material for a P.G project for forecasting the future of the city. His two books, Monsters of Mithi and The Monday Murder, are under discussion with OTT players to adapt them into a web series/web movie. Hywel Richard Pinto has recently released his biggest blockbusters, called High Tide, published by TreeShade Books, which is set in his native Goa and tells a tale of corruption and a power struggle against a backdrop of missing treasure.
In an exclusive interview with Nitish Raj; Editor-in-Chief, Today Magazine the award-winning author talks about his latest release; High Tide.
Q.1 How are you feeling after releasing your latest novel, High Tide?
HRP: I am excited and relieved that the book is finally out. But like any author, I am nervous at this time. While the publishing team, editor, family, and friends always give their feedback and support, in the end, it matters what the ultimate reader thinks of the story. Until the first few reviews come in, there is always a feeling of anticipation.
Q.2 How will High Tide be different from your other novels for your readers, and what do you think is its USP?
HRP: Firstly, High Tide is set in Goa, where very few Indian novels are set. Secondly, most novels talk about the charming side of Goa, the amazing beaches, and swaying palm trees. While this paradise does exist, there also is a flipside to these sights, one that only the locals living in Goa know since they face this issue on a regular basis, which poses risks to the ecosystem and the very culture that has made Goa famous. My novel touches on these topics, intending to maybe make future tourists aware and mindful of protecting this ecosystem and the traditions.
Alternatively, while Goa has been used as a location in this story, the issues that all tourist places face are very common with those faced by Goa. I wanted to highlight that and make visitors to these places aware of these issues, and do their part to indulge in responsible travel.
Q.3 You have started your novel with a time reference going back 500 years. How does it help the readers to understand the context of the novel, or don’t you think it might confuse the readers?
HRP: My books always begin with a prologue that makes no sense at the beginning and starts to fall into place once you read the following chapters. The link between the past and the present is designed to keep the reader engaged by keeping them hooked as to how an event that happened decades ago has a bearing on something that is happening today in the storyline. And when they do get to that revelation, I hope that they sit back and say, ‘Yes, this finally makes sense.’
Q.4 Generally, a novel has a single prologue, but you have interestingly 4 prologue chapters in High Tide. What is the idea behind it, as this is a very rare concept in the Indian literary Landscape?
HRP: Well, what can I say, except that I like to break protocol!
But seriously, I had so many seemingly unconnected stories to put down that I needed to break them into prologues and not chapters to set the story in motion. While there is the decades-old story that opens the book (the original main Prologue), there is something happening a few months closer to the present time and still something happening a few weeks prior to the present time.
Q.5 Your novels always mention a secret organization in its plot, which is also there in High Tide. Is it a tried and tested formula of your writing plot, or is there any other nuance attached to it?
The secret organization mentioned adds an element of intrigue, action, and unpredictability. Each character has their own quirks and methods of working, making it a multi-dimensional story arc, and it also keeps the narrative at a fast pace, and the book, a page-turner.
Q.6 The whole story of High Tide is predominantly set in Goa. Hailing from Goa yourself, how much does it add realism and relatability for you in terms of storytelling?
HRP: It’s always great for an author to visit places and craft the story from the angle that the author would see. With the Goan landscape, I have, over the years, seen it develop from a lazy and idyllic state to one of unplanned and frenzied activity, with some privileged visitors acting like they own the place and the people. Added to this mix is the laid-back attitude of the locals that has given impetus to outsiders to start or take over local businesses, eroding the local fabric.
This is something I wanted to highlight in the story so that future visitors keep the sanctity of the region while adhering to local laws and customs. While most of the places mentioned in the story do exist, I have, for the sake of making the story interesting, taken some creative liberties while trying to stay loyal to the original location. But knowing the local way of life has certainly helped craft this story.
Q.7 Interestingly, High Tide has two epilogues also. What is the rationale behind it, and what is the concept of Chapter 0 in High Tide?
HRP: The Chapter 0 inspiration comes from the Avengers movies by Marvel, where there is an end credit (before the rolling credits) scene, and further an end of credit scene too (at the very end). I wanted to replicate the same kind of anticipation with my books, where the story can go in multiple directions for a sequel.
Q.8 Are we going to see a sequel to High Tide, and when?
HRP: In a way, High Tide is a sequel of sorts. We first saw a portion of the terror organization, Sialkot, in ‘The Monsters of Mithi’. Their back story was covered in the prequel called ‘Sialkot: The Origins’, while ‘High Tide’ again takes a couple of characters on their adventure. So, yes, there will be a follow-up story, dealing with the entire Sialkot team, soon!
