Seven Doors to Salvation: A Tale of Darkness and Light

About the Author

Jaskaran Chahal was born in the city of Mississauga, Canada, and raised in the city of Brampton. As a teenager, he started to develop an interest in writing from taking high school courses related to history, law, politics, religion, and philosophy.

Jaskaran graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and socio-legal studies, with minors in history and sociology. Since then, he’s also attained a Bachelor of Education degree and a Master of Education degree from York University.

In 2021, Jaskaran finished writing his debut novel, Seven Doors to Salvation: A Tale of Darkness and Light. It’s a story about staying hopeful whenever the weight of the world is pushing you down.

Jaskaran’s interests outside of reading and writing include cinema, hip-hop, gaming, and fitness!

Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?

Out of all the possible topics that I could’ve explored for my very first novel, I chose something that is genuinely important but often ignored, denied, and stigmatized in different parts of the world: mental health. Conversations about mental health are typically quiet and it’s a subject that still fails to receive the proper attention it deserves. It’s the foundation for this story and something that I’ve personally struggled to maintain as I’ve grown older.

My novel is essentially a self-help book under the veil of a fictional story. The character of Danny represents all of us who have struggled to uplift ourselves throughout our darkest moments in life. The setting of the Greater Toronto Area can be replaced with any location in the world that’s relatable to you. Each unique chapter not only builds upon Danny’s journey but is meant to get you thinking about your own situation and where your mental state stands. There are many pieces of advice and thoughtful lessons sprinkled throughout this story that are intended to promote a healthy mind, which you can apply to your life and use to improve your outlook.

Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?

I truly believe that people from every age group would be interested my novel’s core message of staying hopeful whenever the weight of the world is pushing you down, especially now more than ever because of the ongoing pandemic. If this novel can become an outlet to help spread my message of optimism to a larger audience, readers may realize that the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than it appears. Stories can contain the power to heal our internal wounds and provide therapy when it’s most needed. If this story can change even one person’s mindset by motivating them to remain positive throughout all the negativity that constantly surrounds us, then I’ll have done my job.

Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?

My favourite story since childhood has been The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s simply an epic adventure with relatable and heroic characters, throughout one of the most detailed worlds ever created in the realm of fantasy. There are so many moments that parallel real life, as well as many themes to connect with including love, courage, sacrifice, hope, and friendship.

Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?

If you’re thinking about writing a book yourself, or even a small article about anything in the world, the best piece of advice I can give you is to simply start it! Don’t overthink it, don’t question your ability as a writer, and don’t worry about people who might criticize it. Don’t compare yourself to any notable or extremely successful authors either.

Focus on yourself, stay in your own lane, and tell your own story. Start by writing just one sentence. It sounds simple and easy but trust me, once that’s done, the rest will eventually follow. Remember that no one else is going to start it for you. You have unique ideas in your mind that no one else can replicate. That’s why it specifically has to be you who begins your own journey by writing that very first sentence.

It doesn’t hurt to experiment, so I encourage you to write a sentence this very moment. Feel free to get out your laptop, phone, tablet, pen, or pencil and give it a shot. Don’t stress about editing it or including sophisticated words to get your point across. As long as your writing is genuine and it comes from your heart, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

Maybe you want to elaborate on how you’re feeling right now, your anticipation for an upcoming event, the latest political news, or even why you disagree with anything I’ve said so far. Whatever it is, you’ll feel a sense of satisfaction from your imaginative ideas being recorded in writing, which you can then further improve upon in the future.

It’s extremely easy to procrastinate and make an excuse of not having enough spare time or the means to begin. All you need to do is isolate some thoughts swirling around in your head and use your fingers to bring them to life.

Anything is possible if you truly believe in yourself and you know what you’re capable of. Take my word for it, try it, and see for yourself. With determination, your one sentence can easily become a few sentences, which can then expand into detailed paragraphs, pages, and chapters.

Keep going until you find your flow and once you do, you’ll become unstoppable. Then one day when you look back at all the progress you’ve made, you’ll feel grateful that you seized the opportunity to tell your story after writing your first sentence. It’s at that moment when your mind will finally realize the benefits blooming from your creativity far outweighed the initial risks.

Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?

To find out more about me, read some of my previous work, or simply say hello, you may visit my blog site at the following address:

https://jazzywritesblog.com/