Author Spotlight

Naveen Sridhar

My books include A Complete Guide to Ventriloquism, which details the principles, practice, and performance for entertainment, and serves as a sourcebook for the novice and the advanced artist. Candlelight in a Storm, a deeply personal memoir of German women during wartime and in divided Germany, stands as both history and tribute. Starlight in the Dawn is the story of the earliest known literary figure in history, a princess and priestess in ancient Mesopotamia. She was renowned for centuries. The story is based on her own words, as recorded in her prayers and hymns. In A Hittite and a Shaman, an outbreak of war between the Egyptians and the Hittites is imminent. Queen Nefertari of Pharaoh Ramses II resolves to preserve peace. It is the untold story behind the first Peace Treaty between ancient powers. A copy of the treaty is displayed at the US Headquarters in NYC. Lastly, Vinoda’s Vengeance, talented actress Vinoda in 143 BCE gains the attention of Menander, the king of an Indo-Greek kingdom, and his family, after they see her performance in the lead role of Sophocles’ play Antigone. Vinoda must face a course of action she never saw coming.

My biography and the novels, are not simply set against a historical backdrop for effect. They deal with real characters and events relevant to the story. The novels deal with ancient history; only the biography deals with the recent past. They also dwell on milestones, such as the first literary figure or the first peace treaty. Each novel works across multiple cultures. Recently, there has been much talk of a "clash of cultures." Such clashes have occurred in the past, with one culture dominating and even erasing another. But there has also been a confluence of mature cultures. From my school days, I remember the merging of Greek and Indian cultures, which led to the conversion of King Minander, a Greek, to Buddhism, as documented in the well-known work Milinda Panha. I set Vinoda's Vengeance in that period, with a different theme, to illustrate the positive side of such contact and its relation to the questions we raise even today.

My next work (waiting to be seated) is a story set in Ancient Rome. The exciting part is its relevance to modern times, both in periods of relative peace and prosperity and in the face of the erratic whims of world leaders, trade barriers, and the consequences for ordinary people (remember Candlelight in a Storm). As in other novels, two cultures are involved.

We must value reading as a form of educational entertainment. All epic stories from the past offer us illustrious examples. Turning to the distant past, oral storytelling was the only way to reach the illiterate world and to educate, upholding the principles embodied in the deeds of gods and heroes. This is indeed age-old and nothing new, but it has been out of focus as education and entertainment have become separate fields. Later, with widespread literacy, reading largely replaced listening. Now that both venues are available, complemented by TV, the importance of education through entertainment ought to return to the fore, alongside stories and fiction for their own sake and for impact. I believe culture progresses primarily through exposure to other cultures. Despite fears of a "clash of cultures," in the modern world, with ever more contacts and intermingling due to digitalization, the internet, immigration, and tourism, a "globalization of culture" is steadily advancing. This is the time to welcome and hail the traditional open-mindedness of ancient times, before the advent of intolerance.

The US Review of Books is my most trusted counselor. Ever since my publisher for Candlelight in a Storm asked them to provide an evaluation, I have turned to the US Review for editorial reviews of my subsequent books. The highly regarded reviews give me the support I need before going to press.

About the Author: Born in India and migrating to Germany, Naveen Sridhar has lived a life spanning cultures—an experience that inspires his writing. With a Ph.D. in chemistry, he spent his career as a research scientist in German industry. Pursuing his interest in archaeology, he joined a team excavating in Israel, near the spot between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Fluent in eight languages, he was a performing artist. He authored A Complete Guide to Ventriloquism. Next, Candlelight in a Storm, a personal memoir of his late wife’s life in wartime and divided Germany, stands as both history and tribute. His biography and novels—Candlelight in a Storm, Starlight in the Dawn, A Hittite and a Shaman, and Vinoda’s Vengeance—combine meticulous research with a love of storytelling. Living in Munich, Naveen writes to illuminate the human spirit across time. His guiding belief: History is not only about kings and battles but also about those who might otherwise be forgotten.