Always remember, first people will make fun of your works, and when you become something to this world, they will follow your creations. And, you will become the trend!

Salman Aziz – 1 July 2022

The Back Flap

In the second volume of Bold and Bitter Statements, Salman Aziz has described his analytical views about life. All his stated rational thoughts, he has collected from the extreme reality. As in the past, he has also used some metaphorical images here to emphasize his statements.

About the book

What is the book about?

Thank you so much The Indie View for featuring me in this interview. I am truly feeling blessed!

My book, it is actually a philosophical book where I have stated my thoughts about life, nature, humans, and the human mind. For strengthening my verses, I have used symbolic images of nature as I did in volume 1. Because I’ve found that nature always has its own stories to tell and those are correlated to humans and different circumstances. Sometimes these symbolic images explain the meaning in a metaphorical way. But people must have the mind to perceive it. This is the reason why Bold and Bitter Statements and its volumes are entirely different from other books.

When did you start writing the book?

The book was heretofore written. In fact, all the volumes are already completed.

Initially, I wanted to make the Bold and Bitter Statements stand-alone where the book will only contain my all statements. Suddenly, an idea came into my brain that I should chunk my statements into volumes! Then another idea came about adding symbolic images that can express the whole meaning of my context. In 2021, finally, I compiled my statements and images together as a book, and the Bold and Bitter Statements is born with its multiple volumes.

How long did it take you to write it?

Though the writing part didn’t take long to write but collecting the metaphorical images did! From 2021 to 2022, I collected images from different places. It was a kinda risky task for me. Because for capturing some images I went to the woods all alone, there I could get attacked by wild animals. Sometimes I captured images on the road and in crowded places. While taking the pictures, I felt like people are thinking of me as a crazy guy. But it was an oddly great experience for me. Believe it or not, it has also built a strong mind to take on any kind of bold task to do!

Where did you get the idea from?

Humans are the best element of my writing. Because I always experiment with the human mind. For Bold and Bitter Statements: Volume 2, I have learned so many things about human life and emotions. Sometimes, I took the help of deep thinking and imagination to feel those emotions and other’s life. From this knowledge, I was able to write bitter truths through my statements.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes! The book is not only a philosophical book with metaphorical images, but it is also a color-themed book. Each volume has its own individual topic that has represented through mainly symbolism of color. Volume 1 was mostly focused on Blue color. The color Blue symbolizes peace, tranquility, cold, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, depression, and suppressant.

But when I was selecting my verses for volume 2, I was kinda freaked out. Because I couldn’t decide which color should I focus on! Then according to my statements, I found that those actually represent the colors, Black and White.

Black represents power, sophistication, formality, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, sadness, remorse, anger, anonymity, underground, mourning, death, austerity, and detachment whereas White represents reverence, purity, birth, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, and good.

Also, I faced little trouble ornamenting my words. To make my words more striking, I had to choose something different and relevant words.

I think it is very important for authors to adorn their literary works. It makes a good presentation of their taste.

What came easily?

Some of the statements about life came so easily. Because for writing those things that I have been gone through already, I have written those quite smoothly. And, the deep thinking! People often tell me this deep thinking is the reason behind my MDD (Major Depressive Disorder). Because this deep research has made me a complex person. It hurts, but it is a blessing at the same time!

How many people have the ability to think deeply! I think, only the thinkers and researchers have this power!

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The book is based on reality where I have put on the actuality of everything! But sometimes I have taken the help of an allegorical image to explain my thoughts. Like, in one statement I have mentioned earthworms to compare with human strength. People often refer to the earthworm as vulnerable. Though it is weak but strong enough to fight back.

I know, sometimes my statements are comparatively complex to understand. Because it is parallelly mixed with actual and notional knowledge.

Do you have a target reader for this book?

The book has been made for mature readers. If a person has not reached enough maturity, the person cannot understand my single statement while reading. Though the maturity level is not confined to age. On the back cover of the book, I have written an epilogue.

“Bitter words are very unbearable.

Because there is truth in those words, the intensity of which people cannot tolerate. And the person who can retain the strength of those words is always on the side of truth. The spirit remains steadfast in a thousand storms.

Socrates chose death by “hemlock” poison instead of standing for lies. Because he knew, nothing could ever cover the luminosity of truth!

That day they did not crucify God’s messenger Jesus Christ for preaching the truth. It was me who had been hung alive on the cross on that day.

Whenever a thin piece of paper stabs me like a sharp knife, my body bleeds. But my soul resurrects each time by the bold and bitter truth written on paper.”

From this only knowledgeable people will understand what I have tried to explain. But for others, it is like garbage.

How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?

Breathtaking experiences I have gathered while writing the book! Writing philosophical things is not relatively easy! Because the person must have knowledge about things. The person must have the ability to define positivity, negativity, and neutral effects of things.

That’s why my books are different from others as well as their own. 2nd volume of Bold and Bitter Statements is part of my own life and also my family’s lives. I have written what I have seen and felt from my perceptions about actuality.

What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?

Enormous stuff I have learned during my writing life. The world is a learning place where a person can learn many things in a single moment. And, this knowledge helps the person to grow the mind bigger and bigger.

When I started to write, people often tell me that I am not the right fit for the literary world. Still, I am going ahead through lots of obstacles! Sometimes they try to break the soul by comparing with someone or something else. Sometimes they create a situation that makes a feeling of vulnerability.

None will help a person to find the inner strength and knack. The person must find it all alone. When the person finds the capability of doing anything, nothing can stop the person.

“Never follow the trends!” If a person begins to follow others’ rules, the person can never create a signature mark in this world. I have also done that while making the first-ever symbolic cult horror experimental short film “Lost in the Black Hole” in Bangladesh. And, I have also gotten the result of my hard work by getting multiple awards from different reputed international film festivals. Always remember, first people will make fun of your works, and when you become something to this world, they will follow your creations. And, you will become the trend!

As I always say, “all the time try to create something new and different from others and be memorable for the works by all till the world ends. That should be the key mantra of a person!”

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Bold and Bitter Statements: Volume 2 from Amazon US or Amazon UK.