<p>Popular British novelist Jeffrey Archer, who has earned a legion of fan with his edge-of-the-seat thrillers, has said that it took several rejections for him to find out his "god-gifted ability to tell stories".</p>.<p>The author, during a virtual conversation with Barry O' Brien on Thursday at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, stated that he has always "felt a strong connection with India", where his books have found many takers over the years.</p>.<p>"There are multiple connections between your great country and ours. Indian authors write so well. I can name R K Narayanan, who wrote short stories. He was a magnificent writer," Archer, a former parliamentarian in the UK, noted.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-cityscape/fiction-a-hit-on-mobile-libraries-1179797.html" target="_blank">Fiction a hit on mobile libraries</a></strong></p>.<p>Calling himself a "failed politician", the author said, "I wanted to be the prime minister, and have a political life, but nothing worked in my favour. I faced bankruptcy. My manuscripts were rejected on occasions. But then I found out that I have a god-gifted ability to tell stories."</p>.<p>A cricket aficionado, Archer maintained that V V S Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar are some of his favourite players.</p>.<p>Asked to compare between Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, he quipped, "You cannot compare the two. They were greatest of their generations."</p>.<p>The master storyteller, whose latest <em>Next in Line</em> makes for a gripping read, said that he is in the process of writing his next book.</p>.<p>"I took time out today only to catch up with my friends in Kolkata," added the 82-year-old author, best known for his novels <em>Kane and Abel</em> and <em>Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.</em></p>
<p>Popular British novelist Jeffrey Archer, who has earned a legion of fan with his edge-of-the-seat thrillers, has said that it took several rejections for him to find out his "god-gifted ability to tell stories".</p>.<p>The author, during a virtual conversation with Barry O' Brien on Thursday at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, stated that he has always "felt a strong connection with India", where his books have found many takers over the years.</p>.<p>"There are multiple connections between your great country and ours. Indian authors write so well. I can name R K Narayanan, who wrote short stories. He was a magnificent writer," Archer, a former parliamentarian in the UK, noted.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-cityscape/fiction-a-hit-on-mobile-libraries-1179797.html" target="_blank">Fiction a hit on mobile libraries</a></strong></p>.<p>Calling himself a "failed politician", the author said, "I wanted to be the prime minister, and have a political life, but nothing worked in my favour. I faced bankruptcy. My manuscripts were rejected on occasions. But then I found out that I have a god-gifted ability to tell stories."</p>.<p>A cricket aficionado, Archer maintained that V V S Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar are some of his favourite players.</p>.<p>Asked to compare between Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, he quipped, "You cannot compare the two. They were greatest of their generations."</p>.<p>The master storyteller, whose latest <em>Next in Line</em> makes for a gripping read, said that he is in the process of writing his next book.</p>.<p>"I took time out today only to catch up with my friends in Kolkata," added the 82-year-old author, best known for his novels <em>Kane and Abel</em> and <em>Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.</em></p>