International publicity and spirituality don't automatically go together. But in the case of young Turkish author Serdar Ozkan, two novels old, they blend seamlessly.
“The Missing Rose”, his first novel, hit bestseller lists across the world and has been translated into 43 languages. In itself not an unprecedented feat, what makes it remarkable is the meditative thought that imbues the book — something of a rarity in the typical young successful author of today. But Ozkan is not into stereotypes. Material and spiritual pursuits for him represent two paths, and it is for the individual to choose which one to take. Excerpts from an e-mail interview with the author, whose second novel, “When Life Lights Up” published by Wisdom Tree, has been translated into 17 languages.
How did you become interested in the spiritual aspects of life?
Since a very young age, I always had a desire to understand myself, others, and what life is all about. All of us have this of course at some point in our life, usually in our earlier years. We all ask questions like, “Who am I?” “What am I doing here?” “What is my purpose?” “What is the purpose of life?” But then most of us give up, thinking that there are no answers to these questions, or that one can't arrive at them.
Then there is the rush of life, our work, emotions, society, etc. Perhaps what I did a little different is that I continued to ask those questions, and I set the primary goal of my life as to know myself and to know my Source. And now, as I continue this everlasting journey, I also write novels which are about those questions.
As a student of Business Administration and having lived in the U.S., did you experience a clash of interests with a market-driven society?
Clash only exists if you try to fight against it. I don't. It's like in the martial arts; the most effective way of dealing with the punch is not to punch back but welcome it and use its energy to defeat your opponent. And our opponent is inside of us, not on the outside. Also we must not search for ourselves and/or God only in the sky or in spirituality. He is in the sky and on the earth. He is in the spiritual, immaterial world, but He is also in the physical, material world.
Any special reason why the heroine of “The Missing Rose” belongs to Rio de Janeiro?
She could have been from anywhere, as in my books I focus on the universality of the human being. But I wanted the main character to cross an ocean to come to Istanbul, and also to live in a very beautiful city on the coast. Also, the way of extravagant life she used to live…
Sometimes one finds, as society progresses materially, people have little time left for the ‘empty spaces' — for the subjective reflections or the things that are not ‘slottable' in any particular category….
Surely, it is true. But we must accept that we are living in a different world now. The world is becoming more materialistic and more spiritual at the same time. Opposites are always in balance. As physicality increases, spirituality also increases. So we have to ask ourselves where we, individually, want to be. So I always try to refrain from generalisations, as…one has to look at each person individually to better understand reasons and factors behind this.
What impelled you to become a full-time writer, leaving the financial security of a field like business administration?
The great desire to express the stories within me, while acknowledging that to be able to express them in the best way, I must give all. My time, my intellect, my heart, my soul.
You have been compared to Paulo Coelho, Saint Exupery and others. Whoare the writers you like to read and who had an influence on you?
Yes, “The Missing Rose” is often compared and likened to “The Little Prince” and “The Alchemist”. Also “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach…
All these books emphasise the universal side of man. I believe it is this aspect which prompted book reviewers and readers to compare “The Missing Rose” with these books. I also believe it is for this reason that a first novel has enthused readers from so many cultures…
Nevertheless, every author and book is unique, and “The Missing Rose” has a very original story, so I believe these comparisons were made on the basis of what kind of book it is.
And some authors I like to read are Herman Hesse, Susanna Tamaro and Ken Grimwood…
But I also love to read books of Sufis like Rumi, Yunus Emre, Ibni Arabi… As well as William Blake and other writers of mysticism…
