Jeffrey Archer talks about why women can't let go of him, his hot selling books, and his favourite Indian writer, R K Narayan

THE 'storyteller' seems to be in a sunny mood. Perhaps it's the yellow T-shirt that's brightened up his famously moody temper. Perhaps he has been coached on day two of his interaction with the media to be more subtle. Whatever be the case, Jeffrey Archer is at his best British behaviour. He is touring India to launch his latest book Paths of Glory, as part of the Landmark Jeffrey Archer Tour.

He greets you with a handshake, shows you the seat and then politely excuses himself to call his wife Mary. "I haven't spoken to her for the last three days," he says, calculating the time difference before dialing. "Hi darling..." he trails off into the cellphone and another room, closing the door behind him.

Page turner and how
He emerges soon enough and the conversation rolls. "Writing about a real person as opposed to
letting my imagination go, was a challenge. One had to keep within the realms of credibility. But at the same time, one wants a book where people continue to turn the pages. That combination of wanting to keep to the facts of George Mallory (the mountaineer protagonist) and wanting to keep you entertained was quite a challenge," says Archer, the lines on his forehead creasing.

Surely, the protagonist would have had boring patches in his life. To this Archer, replies, "Even President Barack Obama, not now, but before he became President, would have had periods of time which were thoroughly boring. So there were long stretches when nothing happened to Mallory too. But if you encapsulate the achievements, they are amazing."

Ups and downs
Jeffrey's own life has been a rollercoaster ride, his political career marred with controversies, one of which also led to a jail term of four years for perjury. Archer was, however, let off on parole after serving two years. On plans of penning an autobiography, he smiles, "No autobiography for me please. I am a fiction writer. I enjoy that immensely."

And does the prisoner number FF 8282 still give him the shivers? He brushes it off saying that he feels he is privileged to live this life and doesn't get nightmares of his prison stay.

Archer has a history of bouncing back. In 1974, Archer was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Two years later, his first novel Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less released to instant success. After his prison term, he came out to taste success again as a writer.