Premium Writer
Amarpreet Basi is a rare breed of writer with experience in finance and IT as well as the humanities.
Though he always enjoyed writing as a child, he temporarily abandoned those ambitions to work in more technical fields. However, his passion for writing was rekindled by a chance encounter with Richard Yates’ novel Revolutionary Road.
One of Amarpreet's short stories was included in an anthology called Never Wicked. It was put together as a charity project for The Mayhew Organisation, an animal rescue service. All of the stories had an animal theme, and Amarpreet's was called 'Rat Love'. The compilation book has since been published on Amazon.
Amarpreet has since earned a master’s degree in Creative Writing from City College and is working on a novel. His writing has been praised as "delicately rich," and he puts his fine prose to work for his StoryTerrace projects as well. Amarpreet resides in London with his partner Sonia and two cats Max and Emi.
Amarpreet at his first home in Leamington Spa
ST: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?
When I was a boy. I can’t pinpoint it to a single moment of realisation. Back then I wanted to be so many things. Musician and film director were among my ambitions. Creativity was obviously the overarching theme of these hopes.
ST: Why do you enjoy writing for StoryTerrace?
StoryTerrace editors are friendly, accessible and supportive. As a writer, nothing is imposed upon you — you are afforded the trust and mental space to create the book you feel best represents the client.
ST: If you were writing a StoryTerrace book of your life, what would be the title and why?
Cape Hill. It’s the name of a high street in Birmingham where my parents owned a grocery store. That store is where I lived for much of my childhood and teenage years. It was a ramshackle building in a rundown part of town. I used to enjoy losing myself in its vastness — from the dusty wine cellar to the pigeon-haunted attic. It was fun to pretend all these spaces were corners of an enormous cosmos — they were the grand backdrops to the silly comic-book dramas I played out with my action figures.
ST: Describe StoryTerrace in 3 words.
Intimate, supportive, exciting.
ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Living somewhere cosy and peaceful with my family.
ST: What trait do you admire most in others?
Equanimity.
ST: Who are your favourite writers?
Richard Yates, Yukio Mishima, Cormac McCarthy, Irvine Welsh, Eckhart Tolle, Yuval Hurari and Camille Paglia. I’m sure there’s more that I’ve forgotten about at the moment.
ST: If you could have been born in any time or place, what would you choose?
Japan. Not sure what era I’d choose: It’s a toss-up between the modern day or the Edo period. The country fascinates me. I’ve been there twice and I’m constantly reading up about its history. I’m also trying to learn the language, albeit very slowly.
ST: What is your motto?
The Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Amarpreet visiting a tranquil temple in Kyoto in 2017
The Lightning Round!
ST: Salty or sweet?
Sweet.
ST: Truth or dare?
Daring to tell the truth.
ST: Paperback or e-reader?
Both are fine.
ST: Summer or winter?
Autumn.
ST: City or country?
Country with easy and quick access to the city.
If you’re interested in having a creative writer like Amarpreet write your life story, contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter to learn more about the process today.
