Hardev Matharoo
Hardev Matharoo is a young short-story writer based in London. His work attempts to express life as it is actually experienced, with a focus on character and the subjective over plot. His stories take a ‘slice of life’ approach, exploring themes such as love, happiness, friendship and the pursuit of meaning in one’s life.
Hardev began writing when he was about nineteen, on and off, in his own personal notebooks. It was after only a few months of doing this that he realised he wanted to devote himself to writing and began writing more frequently and become more organised in his efforts. ‘The Gold Rimmed Glasses’ is his first story to be published.
Q: What is the first book you remember reading or having read to you as a child?
A: I remember having We’re going on a bear hunt, read to me at a very young age but the first book I read myself all the way through was the first Percy Jackson book.
Q: Do you have a lucky writing talisman? If so, what is it?
A: Not really but I rarely write without having a little notepad beside me and my favourite fountain pen.
Q: Is there a book that you keep going back to, and if so, how many times have you read it?
A: I always go back to Chekhov’s stories, in particular ‘An Anonymous Story’ which is my favourite story of all time, one which I always read in one sitting. Otherwise, there are scenes from Tolstoy’s War and Peace which I have re-read many times, although I’ve only read the novel in its entirety once.
Q: What is the least interesting part of writing for you?
A: Sometimes editing can be really gruelling.
Q: If you could teleport yourself anywhere, real or fictional, where would it be and why?
A: Other than going back to visit my favourite authors, I think London in the sixties would be a pretty fun place to visit.
