CHRISTINE MACHADO
NT BUZZ
After his tryst with mystery two years ago, Mario Coelho is back with a new book of short stories, this time venturing into the supernatural. Titled ‘The Twisted Child: Tales of the Unexpected’, the collection has 12 stories. “Most of them are a little dark but not so scary that people wouldn’t want to read them. And all of them have a twist,” says Coelho.
Some stories were inspired by experiences shared with him by others. “I took those experiences and crafted stories that are completely different,” he says, adding that he usually starts a story with the title in mind. He notes that while Goa has many talented writers, he is among the few who have explored mystery and the supernatural, a fact that makes him “very happy and proud.”
Primarily a children’s writer, Coelho is grateful to those who have supported him, especially psychotherapist Clifford De Silva. “Without his encouragement, I would probably have given up because it’s an extremely frustrating journey to get published,” he says. Publisher Frederick Noronha of Goa 1556, who is publishing his new book, is another supporter. “He made me edit the book three or four times to ensure it was perfect,” says Coelho. Fellow writers have also supported him.
‘The Twisted Child: Tales of the Unexpected’ is expected to launch in the first week of February, with a few book readings planned. Besides this, Coelho is set to release ‘The Smiling Bones: Tales of a Darker Night’ in about three months. He is also working with HarperCollins on a children’s book due in April and hopes to rework and republish his earlier title, ‘Moonlight and Shadow: Unsettling Tales’.
“I have been writing non-stop,” Coelho says. “I have a lot of original stories for children, which will be published sooner
or later.”
