Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan

Born in Chennai, a port town in southern India, Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan moved to England at age two, then briefly to Los Angeles before returning to England. He has had the rare pleasure of living in both Hull and Chelmsford, possibly the worst places in England according to popular opinion. 

Fortunately, reading offered solace, with scientific books giving way to the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and other fantasy works. At the same time, he came to enjoy writing historical fiction and poetry, with appalling hand writing (which hasn't changed since then). 

It was at the age of 15 that Literature really began to take off for him, thanks to teachers who possibly overstated his ability to read and write. He finished his first book, a science fiction called Strife, which was likened to an “LSD trip" by his mother. Simultaneously, Siddharth began to read more widely, too, including authors like Poe, Steinbeck, and the Gawain poet. 

At 17, he finally hit his stride (sort of) as he decided to study English at College. Lovecraft and Dunsany became staples of his literary diet, leading to a number of half-hearted imitations, but there was also 2014, a re-imagining of 1984 inspired by psychedelic dreams involving teachers and wind turbines. 

Tolkien outside of Pembroke College at Oxford

After school, he decided to take a year off and is currently teaching English in France, waiting to join Pembroke College at Oxford to study English Literature and Language. In his spare time, he continues to write short stories, novel stubs, and articles at his blog, Mint Tea and Turtlenecks. He practices the martial art of Kali-Eskrima, sings in the shower, and bamboozles people with his ridiculous name. You can follow him at the sites listed below.

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