Avi Datta - Intelligent, Transporting Time-Travel Story

Dr. Avi Datta is the author of the genre-bending sci-fi series, “The Time corrector.” The Winding is his first novel in the series. He doesn’t like to box his stories into one sub-genre. Instead, he challenges the core assumptions of causality and time are linear. Through that challenge he explorers themes like loss, love, politics, fantasy, art, friendship, racism, alternate realities, artificial intelligence and many more. He is a Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Illinois State University. He is an accomplished scholar in the areas of Radical Innovation, Management of Innovation, Technology Strategy, and Strategic Entrepreneurship. Outside his day job, he is a writer, an avid painter, a watch collector, and a coffee enthusiast who enjoys classic rock and western classical music. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, The Winding.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Winding is about.

It’s a story about an AI scientist—Vincent Abajian, who overcame severe odds surrounding poverty, bullying, and orphanhood to become a leading authority in Artificial Intelligence. Yet, deep down somewhere, he misses his childhood friend Akane Egami, who was engulfed in a time-turbulence.

He wishes to see her again, but the problem starts when his wish is granted. While he can unlock a superpower to bend reality, the costs are severe. It will become far more potent in the sequel.

What inspired you to write about someone who lost his closest friend to a random rift in space and time?

In 1994, I dreamed of speaking with a girl fluently in Japanese. But this dream seemed like a past life but set in the future. I ignored it and dived into the world of Calculus, Statistics, Quantum Mechanics. When I shut my eyes while listening to my favorite composers—from Chopin to Hans Zimmer, I can picture beautiful scenes of real places where I have never been and never seen on TV. They are almost always in Japan. (I don’t know what connection I have with that land). In 2020, the dream reappeared. And I began to write. That’s the best I can do to touch the fragments of an unlived life.

(the connection of Vincent with Japan becomes clearer in book 2)

Tell us more about Vincent. What makes him so unique?

Vincent is deeply emotional despite his genius, which very few people know. His character is a labyrinth of complexity. While Vincent’s character is unquestionably moral, I steer him away from fitting the from the ‘perfect protagonist by repeatedly exposing his dark side-- arrogance, lack of humility, and elitism.

What did you have the most fun with while writing The Winding?

In the book, Hulk is a dog modeled after my own dog—Bruce. They are both half shihtzu and half bichon. I named Bruce after Batman. And, of course, Hulk’s alter name is Bruce. So in a way, Hulk is a tribute to Bruce and my connection with him. I share my deepest fears with Bruce and Vincent does that with Hulk.

I had a lot of fun creating Anna’s character (Anastasia Calimaris). She has no filter and speaks whatever comes to her mind. Aside from some of his school classmates, Anna is one character Vincent is fully transparent.

I had a lot of fun describing how light reflects around Emika and Akane. My being an artist (https://avi-datta.com/about/#art) helped.

This is the first book in your Time Corrector Series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books tie in with this one?

It can be a standalone book, of course. But I am three drafts into the second installment. The Winding is narrated from Vincent’s POV. However, the second and the third books will have multiple POVs. Philip, Emika, and Akane all deserve their perspective as they are affected by the time turbulence.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I am a Professor of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation—that’s my day job. I have been painting since I was three years old. And I have synesthesia.

Interesting cover. Tell us more about how it came about.

The cover shows the non-linearity of time. We measure time through the earth’s rotation around its axis and its revolution around the sun. But the rest of the Universe doesn’t care. I once read that the future and the past are co-occurring in the Universe. If that is so, maybe what we see in the past could reflect a future that will probably happen. Or if the future changes, will the past transform. That’s why the reviewer at Kirkus (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/avi-datta/the-winding-1/) mentioned, “An engaging SF tale whose cause-effect plotline takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

If you could go back in time, where would you go, and what would you do?

Where? Japan. I have a special connection with that place. Through Vincent, I try to show it. It will become more evident in books two and three. I will try to find the connection between me and my dreams.

Your stories explore sometimes heavy themes such as loss, love, politics, and friendship - why do you take this approach?

Every human feels these universal themes. For the market purpose, Amazon categories the book in Sci-Romance or Fantasy Romance, but honestly, I wanted to show universal challenges. But even across those common themes, we all experience it differently. We all resolve these uniquely. And how we experience these shows who are beyond our accolades and achievements. These themes expose Vincent.

You have a strong background in innovation and technology - how does this influence your writing?

The book is full of obscure but seemingly technology—two-way memory/ consciousness transfer, a tech called Prose that translates thoughts to words.

I do an extensive search on USPTO and see what’s there. I want it to closely mimic reality, but not too closely. BMW is yet to make the model that Vincent drives.

You are also a watch collector - where does your fascination with time come from?

I have always loved mechanical watches. The first time I saw an open case back, I wondered how these gears and springs move in a circular motion, yet they depict time linearly. If I could miniaturize myself and enter the movement, would I be trapped into a time loop? The time and memory loops in this story and the subsequent sequels (that becomes evident in the later chapters) are an homage to the intricate art of watchmaking.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I need my double shot espresso before I start writing. It requires four bars of pre-infusion for 4-7 seconds, followed by 9 bars of extraction for 25-30 seconds. And I need my playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4fHPIYv9cGeUmpDpDAxCMc)

What are you working on right now?

The sequel to The Winding. It’s a little longer. I will also paint the portrait of the major characters—Vincent, Akane, Emika, and Philip. Maybe in book 3, the cover will have their pictures.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

There are numerous ways.

• They can write to me through https://avi-datta.com/contact/
• Join my mailing list at https://avi-datta.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avimanyu.datta/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/avimanyu_datta 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoravidatta