Title: SceaduAuthor: Prashant Pinge
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Publication date: November 10th 2014
Pages: 246 (ebook)
Book trailer: YouTube
Purchase link: Amazon
Book links: Website | Facebook
All this while, Matilda's shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.
Nine year old Matilda ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And disappears. Her brother and cousins are force to suspend their hostilities and pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that foretells the doom of the world they left behind.
With the stakes suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in time thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?
Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.
Author interview
Q: What inspired you to write Sceadu?
A: I have always been fascinated
by shadows, those supposedly docile grey shapes that are always by our side.
But what if they held a land replete with dangerous creatures waiting to
find a way into our world? This question inspired me to write Sceadu.
Q: How would you describe Sceadu in three words?
A: Thrilling.
Believable. Fantasy.
Q: If you had to choose between your
current job and being a professional writer what would you choose?
A: Writing is
my passion. So I would choose to be a professional writer in a heartbeat.
Q: Are any of the characters inspired
on people you know or are they all creation of your mind?
A: The protagonists
in Sceadu have been inspired by people I know. The other characters have been
drawn from my imagination.
Q: Can you tell us three random facts
about yourself?
A: A dream plunged
me into the world of writing.
My book,
Raja & the Giant Donut, was shortlisted for the Economist Crossword Book
Awards in the Children’s Writing category in 2011.
I have
written and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression.
Q: Which scene in the book was
most fun to write?
A: I
really enjoyed writing the scene where Robert has a fight with his cousins.
Q: How would you describe your
main character(s) in five words?
A: Gutsy.
Loyal. Idiosyncratic. Adventurous. Bright.
Q: Why should everybody read Sceadu?
A: They
absolutely must if they want to unlock the secrets of the shadow.
Q: What is your favorite
dessert?
A: I
have a raging sweet tooth. But if I had to choose one, it would be date
pancakes with vanilla ice cream.
Q: If you could tell all your readers something
what would it be?
A: Just read Sceadu. You will never take your shadow for granted
again.
Excerpt
Matilda sat at her old wooden desk, staring into the thick yellowed pages of a book under a dull moth ridden beam cast by the night lamp. But every time she blinked, it seemed as if the words had played a round of musical chairs. And the moths, fluttering through the words at times and hovering over them at others, did not make things any easier.
Matilda was about to turn the page when there was a tug at her feet. It was a very gentle one, almost imperceptible. Surprised, she glanced down, but there was nothing. Perhaps it's just my imagination, she thought. She was about to shake her thick dark brown curls out of her face when she felt it again.
Matilda pushed her head down and looked into the dark void with furrowed brow. Her skinny legs stared back. But before she could decide on whether she had actually felt anything, there was another tug, an unmistakable one this time. And another one. The truth suddenly dawned upon Matilda. It was her shadow, trying to drag her into itself.
Matilda jerked back the chair kicking hard at her shadow. But it snapped back, pulling at her even more viciously. She stomped upon it repeatedly. But the dark grey shape began jabbing at her feet and ankles. Matilda pushed herself up and made a frantic attempt to run. But her legs refused to move, and she almost toppled forward.
All this while, Matilda's shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.
Author bio
Prashant Pinge was born and brought up in the picturesque neighborhood of Shivaji Park in the bustling city of Mumbai in India.
A quiet and diligent student throughout his schooling and college years, Prashant proceeded to pursue electrical engineering at Purdue University in the United States. Over the next decade, he accumulated three more degrees, a master of science in management from Lancaster University, a post graduate program in management from Indian School of Business, and a post MBA master in international management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Apart from enjoying the company of books, Prashant had always had an imaginative bent of mind. But writing only happened in the fall of 2003, when a remarkably intriguing dream interrupted an uncharacteristically deep spell of slumber, compelling him to stagger to his desk and pen down the idea. That book is still a few years away from being written. Prashant, however, continues to work from his cauldron of creativity and churn out critically acclaimed works of fiction.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Prashant is Managing Partner in his marketing and branding firm, Media Panther. In his spare time, Prashant enjoys collecting old coins, reading fiction, travelling to exotic destination, watching movies, and listening to music. He recently wrote and produced a short film titled Freedom of Expression. Prashant is also keenly interested in the subjects of psychology, mythology and ancient history.
Prashant lives with his wife and son in Mumbai.
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