Interview with Dheepa Maturi, Author of 108

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write 108: an Eco-Thriller?

To me, it seemed that there were so many despairing stories about climate change in the world, not only in the news but also in fiction. I began to worry and wonder: What if these stories are making us despair? What if they’re making us give up and think that nothing can be done? I wanted to put a more hopeful story into the world, showing that, as individuals, we have power and agency, and as a collective, we can have a tremendous impact.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of 108: an Eco-Thriller, what would they be?

Oh, I definitely have a playlist for my book! I find these songs to be upbeat and uplifting, many with earthy and acoustic notes from guitars, banjos, and even whistles. This playlist tracks the arc of 108′s plot and makes me imagine a woman finding her personal power.

1. Bloom by Paper Kites
2. Send Me on My Way by Rusted Root
3. Follow the Sun by Xavier Rudd
4. Woodland by Paper Kites
5. It’s Amazing by Jem
6. Solar Power by Lorde
7. Unpack Your Heart by Phillip Phillips

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I tend to enjoy literary novels, particularly those of Barbara Kingsolver and Ann Patchett. In fact, most of my writing has been in that sphere, in the form of poetry, short fiction, and essays published in literary journals. It was actually a bit of a surprise that my first novel emerged as a thriller, but I truly loved writing it—especially the excitement of puzzling out what would happen next.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Way too many, but here’s an abbreviated list!

1. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
2. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
3. Latitudes of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup
4. Reclaiming the Wild Soul by Mary Reynolds Thompson
5. Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
6. 44 Poems on Being with Each Other by Pádraig Ó Tuama

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

At the midpoint of the story, absolutely nothing is going the protagonist’s way. She’s trapped, unable to escape, and feels as though she’s been moved and manipulated by others throughout her life. In that moment, she experiences a moment of lucidity, discovering that she can draw deeply from a well of insight, strength, and power. It felt wonderful to write a scene in which the protagonist feels her way toward those realizations and then taps into that power. To me, the scene exemplified how much our personal journey is internal in nature.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I’m not sure that it’s particularly quirky, but it’s definitely part of my writing routine. I have a large magnet board in front of me in my writing space, full of quotations, graphics, and photographs. I like to select and concentrate on just one or two before a writing session, depending on what I need on that particular day. Sometimes I need motivation, sometimes inspiration, and sometimes I just need a good laugh!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“Be truthful, gentle, and fearless,” attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, is always top of mind for me when I write, particularly when I write about ecology and the environment. When I first began my writing journey, I was incredibly worried about offending, that my words wouldn’t be received well, and that people would turn away from what I was saying. I’ve slowly learned that only one thing matters: that I put my truth into the world, phrased compassionately. I’m far from fearless, but I’ve come to understand that I can act despite those fears.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I’d like the book to be a reminder that total climate catastrophe is not a foregone conclusion. Though it’s a critical time, we do have time. Not only that, we have the resources, technology, and ingenuity to reverse the climate crisis. What’s missing is willingness. It’s my hope that that will become a larger part of the cultural conversation, not just the language of despair.