Jaipur: In an honest confession, reticent author Cyrus Mistry admits a writer either has to take up odd jobs or should have the backing of a guardian angel to run his household, as writing is a creative pursuit and isn't a high-paying job in India.
"In India, they don't pay very much for books. What they pay is enough to live on for two-three months. And it is not that you will get more money because your book is doing really well. But, if you are a best-selling author, things might be different. But to be frank, I don't know much about how this industry works," Mistry told IANS Sunday in the course of an interview.
"Either one has a guardian angel to take care of daily needs, or one has to take up odd jobs to sustain and that is not healthy for writing, unlike the West where they pay you well," he added, saying to get his home going, he is working with an advertising firm.
The author has moved from Mumbai for health reasons, to Kodaikanal where he has been quietly writing far away from the media glare.
Though Mistry defends his move for solitude by saying he hasn't been approached for many interviews before, at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival he has a genuine reason to open up to the media.
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