Thursday, March 23, 2017

Meet Mayank Sharma - Author of The Princess of a Whorehouse

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Let's meet Mr. Mayank Sharma, author of "The Princess of a Whorehouse" novella. 


Can you brief our readers about you?
I am a computer science engineering graduate with post-graduation in business management. I am working with a leading technology multinational based in the Delhi national capital region. 
What were you like at school/college apart from studies?
Apart from studies, I was quite fascinated by science fiction books, encyclopaedias, and movies. I am also passionate about sketching portraits, painting and making sculptures since childhood. 
Your favorite authors?
I am a big fan of Paulo Coelho and Amartya Sen! 
When did you start writing?
While working as a software professional, I began writing white papers and articles on technology and processes for various journals, tech forums, and conferences. 
When did you decide to become a writer?
My journey as a writer expedited in 2014, when one of my articles was featured in Better Software magazine published in Florida, USA. I always felt that something was missing in the excursion until I discovered the immense passion to write on matters that often make my heart sink. In due course, writing became my greatest passion when I observed how it can trigger the winds of change. It was a turning point when a left-brained professional with over twenty years of global experience from leading multinational companies began to transform into a right-brained writer with empathy.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
My ambition is to write stories that my audience enjoy reading without stumbling upon the dilemma of putting them down.
How is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
After hectic working week days, I desperately look forward to a rejuvenating weekend, when I spend time in my writing corner.

What genre are your books?
My debut novella, The Princess of a Whorehouse is based on a coming-of-age genre. It is the tale of a young girl's life journey from childhood to adulthood, through one of the most ruthless realms of society. I believe India, being a young nation, is home to one of the largest populations of youngsters. There are several riddles with regard to advancement versus cultural taboos that often baffle the youth. That’s why, I identified this genre to narrate the journey of a young girl, who grows up as a strong and independent girl despite being trapped in a milieu that society considers as a swamp.
Get a chance to win a copy of this book
https://goo.gl/A61ltS
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
The Princess of a Whorehouse is a poignant tale of a young girl’s coming of age in one of the most ruthless realms of society in which several naïve women and their blameless children are deprived of liberty and freedom to make life choices.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
The story is about out of the ordinary choices of an ordinary girl and her widowed mother, who battle against all the odds. Aparajita, the protagonist, who can be compared to a princess in an abstract sense due to the sanctity of her inner strengths and perseverance. She is as tenacious as a princess in achieving her ambitions by challenging the status quo of society despite being raised in a milieu that is looked upon as a swamp. On the other hand, Ramya is an uneducated mother, who accepts her fate when she is left with no choice. However, she emerges as a strong mother as she wants a good future for her daughter. With Raj’s support, she leaves no stone unturned to escape the swamp in order to give a better life to her daughter. Not all men who visit a whorehouse have the same purpose of visiting that place. Raj is one of those responsible social workers, who respects women’s dignity, beyond corporeal aspects. He is a concerned citizen, who teaches underprivileged children as he believes that education is the best weapon to battle against the inequality. He is an ideal father, who supports the fact that daughters should grow up as independent individuals by chasing their ambitions.
Where did you get idea for this book?
“Irrational social inequalities make economic growth an undeveloped agenda and literacy an unfinished mission.”
One’s heart sinks on hearing the heinous incidents of crimes against women. The wrongdoing of blaming women when they become victims of grim circumstances exists primarily due to gender inequality. The millions of naïve women and girls, like the protagonists in my story are agonized when they become victims of forced prostitution, especially in a nation where adultery is illegal. A million-year-old social stigma further glooms their future. I came across a heart-breaking experience of the daughter of a former sex worker. When she was young, her mother was trafficked to Mumbai’s red light district. In a Facebook post, she shared her journey of becoming a theatre artist in Mumbai. She candidly talked about discrimination and hardships she faced throughout her journey. Her determination and courage inspired me to pen down this story.
What was the most difficult thing about writing your latest book?
Encountering a writer's block was inevitable for an aspiring writer like me, especially when I wrote my debut novel with female protagonists. Indeed, it was a mammoth challenge for me. There were several occasions when I could not visualize feelings of a woman in a very hostile situation. I wore hats of similar individuals, who resembled closely to my characters. Subsequently, I empathized with their circumstances besides capturing their distinct characteristics, expressions of ages, dialects, and so on.
Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

When was your book released?
23 October 2016
 What are you working on at the minute?
Here is an excerpt from the prologue of my upcoming novel - “I thought the depths of ocean and the outer reaches of space were only two uncharted territories until I discovered the furthest depths of my soul.” I hope you got some idea! Stay tuned for more...
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Success gives a moment to cherish, whilst non-success gives a reason to gauge. Success often follows perseverant efforts taken after non-success. Keep writing from your heart!
Links for your book readers
Get a chance to win a copy of this book
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Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Meet Vinita Bakshi Author of 31 Miles

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Vinita is an alumnus of Delhi School of Economics, an author, and a social entrepreneur. She has founded a nonprofit organization- Aambra Foundation, with a vision towards women empowerment. She organizes, She Speaks, a triannual seminar series dealing with the issues faced by the contemporary South Asian women. She is also the Founder of AAMBROTSAVE, a cultural festival which brings to the fore literature, visual and performing arts, crafts, cuisines, weaves and traditions of India.

Vinita has a passion for literature. She writes fiction and non-fiction, bilingually. She has recently released her debut work of fiction, 31 Miles with Rupa. The book was released by Nandana Sen in JLF17. The book has been widely covered and reviewed by national and international media, senior journalists, and cinema personalities such as, writer-director Imtiaz Ali, ITV New York, Huffington Post, DD National, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Pioneer, The Statesman, The Tribune, The Asian Age, The Millennium Post, The News Now, The Different Truths, Savvy and many big and small newspapers and publications. She has been a panelist at Jaipur Literature Festival, World Book Fair and Delhi Literature Festival and many prestigious forums. She has written lifestyles columns and published papers on feminism.

She will soon be publishing her debut Hindi novel, Bindu ka Dayra on a women-centric theme. She has been invited to contribute towards the soon to be launched women’s portal of Indian Express. She is currently the Director of National Institute of Jewellery (DSIIDC), a Govt. of Delhi Undertaking. 

Participate in contest to get a chance to win 31 Miles

So Vinita can you tell us about your book 31 Miles?
31 Miles is a layered journey of a traditionalist woman Mansa. In our popular imagination, the word magic is usually associated with the lives of younger urban women who by virtue of living in a globalized and relatively more liberal South Asia, can afford to enjoy higher levels of freedom, and bend if not break convention. 
31 Miles provides a riveting and candid commentary on the dynamics of a rapidly modernizing urban Indian society and the aspirations of its members – women, men, the young and the old. As you join Mansa, I invite you to read between the lines, to discover a world seeped in tradition, mysticism, and ritual which blends, albeit not always seamlessly, with rationality and westernization.
Can you tell us about the main character of your story?
Well, main character is obviously Manasa. Her story is one of self-discovery, of the intellectual, physical and metaphysical spheres, and how their cross-section changes the life of the protagonist forever. 
Where did you get idea for 31 Miles?
I have experience working for women’s rights and empowerment, which has brought me into contact with hundreds of individuals who aspire to emancipate themselves economically and socially using channels of education, awareness and work ethic. The protagonist of 31 Miles - Mansa has been conceived as a unification of these experiences.
How was the response from readers and critics?
The book has received very good response from international journalists, senior media personalities, filmmakers and people from different domains. The book is being rated 4.3 / 5 on Amazon and 3.93 / 5 on GoodReads.
Links for Readers
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How to have a Nightmare and Write a Book: An interview with Vadhan

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It is really surprising to know that a nightmare pushed a 12 year old into writing. Vadhan, author of Agniputr, started writing book when he was twelve year old, looking at number of years spent behind shows brilliance of the book. Let's see what Vadhan has to say about it.


Can you tell us about your professional background?
"I am a lawyer by qualification and practice. I like to call myself a lawyer who doesn’t go to court. I know, right? like a sun that doesn’t rise, a duck that doesn’t take to water! What can I say? 
Really? Then what you do for living?
I advise and assist large corporations to manage their compliance programs across a variety of legal topics and across countries in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and of course, India. I was a practising lawyer for ten years. I moved into corporate law as Head-Legal, Vice President Legal and finally as Managing Director of a Legal Consulting company. The most amazing job I ever did was to start writing.
Can you describe your childhood & teenage in one word? Why?
Restless. I was very restless. Anything conventional tends to bore me. I hated homework at school and exams. Boring. Same old, same old! I loved 11th and 12th classes in school. I loved everything about law college. Law was interesting. The human mind had documented all the things that could go wrong and set up societal rules of good behaviour that helped stem the rot. And then, finding loopholes in those rules, not to break them but to bend them, is cheer brilliance. It is like wizards learning magic to live outside a common muggle world.
Tell us about the authors that you love to read.
I cannot possibly list out all the authors I’ve read. Let me select a few for you. Amongst contemporary Indian authors, I’ve read Amish’s Shiva Trilogy, I’ve read a number of Ashwin Sanghi’s books, I think his research is fabulous. I’ve read Amitav Ghosh, Shashi Tharoor, Devdutt Patnaik and many more. Amongst international authors, I absolutely adore P. G. Wodehouse, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dame Agatha Christie, Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, etc. I am fantasy fan so J.R.R. Tolkien, R.R. Martin, J.K. Rowling, Jim Butcher, Russel Kirkpatrick, etc. I can go on you know, genre-wise!
When did you decide to become a writer?
I always was a writer. I wanted to get published just a few years ago. It was a struggle initially. It’s thanks to my literary agent that my book was published by Bloomsbury. Full kudos to his high-energy levels. Ideas are floating in my mind all the time. Anything can trigger an idea. There are several first three chapters on a variety of topics on my laptop. Some stories are like wild fire. Can’t stop writing until I finish. Others are slow burners. Need to think a lot to take them forward.
When did you start writing?
I first attempted a book at age 12. I called it Agniputr. I finished it just a couple of years ago. It was published in September 2016 by Bloomsbury India and launched under the auspices of Mr. Ashwin Sanghi. It is reviewed in most major English newspapers, literary magazines and has rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.
My first completed book is Shatru, Book 1 of the Kronikles Series which was selected as the Editors Pick of the year 2015 by the Free Press.
I used to write a lot of poetry when I was young.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Recently, one of my readers posted on Goodreads about my latest book, Agniputr, that it was like reading Dan Brown. I was floored. One day, I’d like readers of other authors to say ‘it was like reading Vadhan’. That is the ultimate kick. I don’t intend to come across as boastful by making that statement. I must work really hard to come up with something extraordinary to earn that honour from my readers. The other ambition I have is to take Indian writings/ authors to the world theatre. It’s not too difficult. We just need to learn to ‘write right’.
How do you manage to get time for writing from your professional schedule?
I write at the oddest hours. Believe me if I set 11.00 am to 12.00 pm, for e.g., as the one hour to write, my mind will make me do everything but write. My mind’s a monkey. I write at the most extraordinary times. Once I was waiting to board a plane in Mumbai airport and almost forgot to board it because I was so immersed in writing. They said they even called out my name. A business colleague alerted me to the imminent danger of being marooned.
As you mentioned your book Shatru already published in 2015. Can you brief us about that book?
My First book, Shatru, is part one of the Kronikles Series. Kronikles is a pureplay fantasy based on Indian mythological characters and stories. It is about the end of Kaliyuga and how a bunch of Demi-Gods and their allies are trying to stop the end of the last age by protecting it against a supreme evil that appears at the onset of the end of days.
This is your second fantasy thriller. Any specific reason for your liking to this genre?
Indian mythological figures have been ridiculed in the past. I saw a regional movie once where Lord Yama doesn’t know what ice cream is. People have been fed with doses of nonsensical data about Indian Demi-Gods. So, with Kronikles I’ve given a little twist to the tale while at the same time I’ve tried to retain the seriousness and magnitude of the mythological characters. The Demi-Gods in the Kronikles are very different from the Demi-Gods you would have read about or seen in movies. There is an explanation for everything, a reasoning behind even how they appear and disappear at will.
Agniputr is what they call an urban-fantasy. A lot of my readers have described it as a multi-genre book.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Agniputr is the story of a lawyer and a quantum scientist who, through a set of circumstances, find themselves fighting a potent energy that will destroy the world. They face-off against a powerful politician who wants to harness the energy for his own reasons. The only way to save the world is to decipher an ancient Vedic phrase using futuristic science. As the energy gets ready to break free of its shackles and the politician is set to kill them to harness it, the couple are running out of time and options. Will the energy destroy the world as we know it, will the politician harness the energy or are the couple caught in an even deadlier game?
Agniputr has reviews in national dailies like the Hindu, The New Indian Express, Deccan Chronicle, Asian Age, Deccan Herald and in Literary magazines like New Asian Writing, Writersmelon.com and Sakal times. Goodreads rates the book at 4/5 stars. I am so flattered and humbled by the response for the book.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
Every character has something important to offer in Agniputr. Be it a two-page character like Pichi Rathaya who is blind to our world but whose ability to see things will take him elsewhere or Sathyanarayana, the scientist whose curiosity gets the better of him. All the characters have shades of grey, whether it be Raghu, the lawyer whose meaningless life takes on the ultimate meaning or Sheila the scientist who, through unbelievable events, sticks to her simple and straightforward principles. Be it Govind the powerful politician who wants to control extraordinary power and is willing to sacrifice everything to attain it or the Tantrik, who like a puppeteer, steers everyone to do his bidding till he is challenged by Raghu and Sheila. Every character has flaws. None of them are entirely right or wrong. Yet, their choices and the stand they take against a thing far more powerful than all of them prove their worth.
Where did you get the idea for this book?
I had these recurring nightmares as a child. Agniputr is based on one of the nightmares. I started to write the book when I was twelve just so I could get the nightmares out of my system. I did not know how to finish the book then. I did now. I am very happy with the way it’s come out.
How much research did you do for this book?
I had to find a Vedic verse that fitted into my story. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. To understand the verse, I had to translate many, many verses over a period of time. I found ‘the one’ I wanted in the Yajurveda.
I had to do quite a bit of research on quantum physics. I am no science student. I am a commerce student. I did law! But for some reason I am fascinated by Quantum Physics. I had to get hold of theories that fitted with my story and the Vedic verse. Several earlier theories have since been rejected by latter day scientists. I had not only to understand the theories but also be able to present them so my readers did not lose interest. In other words, no hyperbole! People love Agniputr. The reviews are to die for.
There is a bit of law in Agniputr between the Vedas and science and fantasy. It deals with a legal battle for ancestral property. So, I had to brush up on my inheritance laws for that bit.
You give emphasis on characters, any specific reason?
There are some authors who think the story is everything. I don’t agree. I’ll prove my point. 1) Who wrote Sherlock Holmes? 2) Who created Hercule Poirot? 3) Who created Jason Bourne? 4) Who created Jack Reacher? These are all characters. Alright, (A) who wrote the classic, The Lost World? Can anyone tell me? It was a very famous author. If you’re able to answer questions 1 to 4 without googling and are unable to answer question (A) without googling, you’ll understand the importance of characters.
So can you tell us your favourite character from Agniputr?
The character I most enjoyed creating in Agniputr was Pichi Rathaya. He comes for hardly two pages in the book but he plays a defining role. I immensely enjoyed creating all the characters in the book. Truly, they were fun to work with.
And your least favourite character?
You can ask a teacher who his or her least favorite pupil is. You’ll get an answer. You cannot ask that of a parent.
What was the most difficult thing about writing your latest book?
Bringing out the laughter. Humor is serious business. Ask Walt Disney! It’s not easy to make people laugh. It’s not like a soggy heart break story. There are some really funny moments in Agniputr. Like when Govind and Poti meet or when Raghu and Sheila are teasing each other. The readers have mentioned the humor quotient positively in their reviews. I am glad they liked it.
Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book? (* please provide a link to trailer if you have one)

When was your book released?
The book was launched on 4th September and is available now in your favourite book stores and on Amazon.in
Can you tell us about how book is doing and how well it is accepted by audience?
Around 2000 books have been sold overall till date. The book is rated in Goodreads at 4/5 stars and in amazon as 4.5/5 stars.
What are you working on right now?
The manuscript of book 2 of Kronikles is doing the rounds with publishers currently. I’ve completed around 85% of Kronikles book 3. I’ve completed the initial draft of a legal/ action thriller based on spurious medical drugs. I am working on the editing part right now.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Pen down ideas. Ideas are important. Don’t worry about rejections. Keep writing. You will get your groove. The key question you want to ask yourself is, would you like to read the book you’ve written if someone else had written it? If the honest answer is yes, then you need no other assurance from anyone. You’ve reached your destination.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
A quote from The Hindu “Vadhan’s narrative aptly provides thrill a minute at the same time keeping the suspense factor intact.”
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Meeting With Anuja Chandramouli - the Master of Mythology Genre

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Anuja Chandramouli is a bestselling Indian author and New Age Indian Classicist. Her highly acclaimed debut novel, Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince, was named by Amazon India as one of the top 5 books in the Indian Writing category for the year 2013. Kamadeva: The God of Desire, Shakti: The Divine Feminine and Yama’s Lieutenant are her other bestsellers.

Her articles, short stories and book reviews have appeared in various publications like Femina, Women’s Era, Lonely Planet, The Hindu and The New Indian Express. An accomplished orator, she regularly conducts Story Telling sessions and workshops on Creative Writing, Empowerment and Mythology in schools, colleges and various other platforms. 

This happily married, mother of two little girls, lives in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. She is a student of classical dance. Currently, she is hard at work on her new book with her two trusty aides – caffeine and yoga.


To what extent you think current trend of mythological or historical novels have helped you? Did that help you just to the point of inspiration or it helped little with publisher approval?
When my first book Arjuna, was released in 2013, I did not realize that the Mythology wave had gathered so much momentum and was a red hot genre. At the time, the big names were Ashok Banker, Ashwin Sanghi and Devdutt Pattanaik. Anand Neelakantan and Amish Tripathi had arrived on the scene a year ago and there was no looking back after that. Grateful to them all for giving my Arjuna that little which saw it become one of the top 5 sellers in Indian writing for 2013
Would you like to tell us your experience / initial response of publishers when you approached them with Arjuna?
It was quite disheartening actually. I got so many rejections that I lost track and every single one was as painful as the one before. Fortunately, Arjuna was accepted and that made it all entirely worthwhile. It is good to know that hard work and persistence pays off!
Would you like to narrate some interesting things that might have happen during your publishers’ meeting or book promotions?
As a hardened introvert I seldom get out and really meet people. But thanks to my writing, I get to meet a whole lot of interesting folks from various walks of life and they have such wonderful stories to share. For instance, I met Ashwin Sanghi, Anand Neelakantan and Arshia Sattar (who was moderating) at the Odisha Lit Fest where we were on a panel together. This was my first time at a lit fest and I was so scared and nervous it wasn’t funny. All three of them were really sweet and made me feel thoroughly comfortable which made the experience an amazing and memorable one.
One runs into a whole lot of characters – celebs, politicians, activists, news makers etc. I would love to share my experiences but I have to save it for my memoir.
Do you plan every character and their role in your story before you put them? Do you write a story with perfect ending in mind?
Not really. I prefer to go with the flow and watch the characters take shape along with the story. It makes the writing process a lot of fun because I never know what to expect from my characters. They are full of surprises!
One should not ask mother which child she likes the most, but given a chance which one is you considered as your best work till now? Why?
Tough question! Arjuna is a personal favourite and the great love of my life. Kamadeva is one helluva guy and I have a massive soft corner for him. Shakti, in all honestly represents my best writing and I am proud of it. Yama’s Lieutenant is very dear to me, because it is me at my most creative. The feedback from the readers has been incredible and I am happy to let them know that the sequel will be out soon.
Can you tell something to our aspiring authors that can boost their confidence?
I would tell aspiring authors to never ever give up, no matter how difficult things get. Keep reading and keep writing. It is as simple as that! Good luck!
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Rapid-fire Round of QnA with Justin Roberts Author of Policewoman

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Lets have a round of rapid fire round of question and answer with Justin W. M. Roberts. His action thriller Policewoman on drug mafia has already got traction from many readers.


Your educational Background?
Bachelor's degree PPP(politics, philosophy, psychology) Hull university UK
What were you like at school/college apart from studies?
At school and college played rugby and squash. Represented Hull university in both sports. Love cross-country running and hiking.
What are some day jobs you have held?
Waiter, bar tender, teacher, farmer, sales rep
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors? Which author inspire you the most?
Prolific reader. Favourite living authors Martin Amis, Salman Rushdie, Tom Robbins, Gore Vidal. Love the classics too especially Russian writers.
When did you start writing?
Started writing fiction at prep school.
When did you decide to become a writer?
Decided to write policewoman in 2012.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Ambition with current project is to see Policewoman made into a film.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
Write best late at night.
What genre are your books?
I would categorise Policewoman as action/thriller.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Policewoman is the story of an international drug cartel and its defeat.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
Main characters are Sarah and Michael. Sarah works for anti-terrorist unit Densus88. She is intelligent, tough, and beautiful. Micheal is British SAS, rugged, manly, but sensitive and modest.
Where did you get idea for this book?
Drugs are/will be a problem in the future
How much research did you do for this book?
Lots of research especially into police and military operations.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Michael because he is the epitome of what a good soldier should be but also has sense of humour and a mischievous side.
Who is your least favorite character and why?
Niall, an absolute psychopath
What was the toughest thing about writing your latest book?
  • Deciding to write it in present tense
  • Finding a balance so that the book would appeal to both western and Asian audiences.
Release date.
October 2016
How well your book is doing in market?
Sales are picking up and reviews have been excellent.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Possible sequel to Policewoman or a children's adventure book that wouldn't require so much research.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Be disciplined. Try to write something everyday.
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Mike Dickenson Author of Satire IQ84

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"A virus has struck America and anyone with an IQ over 84 is in danger. People's heads are exploding. The country is on lockdown. Everything is about to change." Sounds interesting right? We have with us Mike Dickenson who has written interesting satire IQ84. This line is taken from his book blurb.


When did you start writing? 
I started writing when I was six years old and had my first book written by the time I was nine. Since then I have written almost ten full length books, though only two are published.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I decided to become a professional writer when I came home after a two year long hitchhiking trip through Latin America. I had so many stories inside of me, and after seeing so many problems along my journey, well, it cemented my beliefs that stories can change the world for the better.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
That age old cliche of "if I can make a difference with one person then it was worth it" is true, though I will admit I can get caught up in the ego, and if my mind doesn't see that I'm not selling thousands of books then I am not a "success." But success is something that has been fabricated by modern society. Truly, my ambitions are to create the best works of fiction that I am capable for the purpose of generating positive change in the world.
Is this your debut work? If not so, what have you written? 
This is my second book to be published.
What genre are your books?
Both of my books fall into different genres and are very different. The Dreamer's Lotus would be considered Young Adult and tackles larger concepts of Man's role in the natural world (with a mix of fantasy and philosophy) while IQ84 is a satirical piece. IQ84 was very easy for me to write, though I came up with the concept almost 8 years ago. It is also one of the best things I have written (in my opinion) as I really enjoy the engagement of humor writing. I used to be a stand-up comedian, so writing humor comes naturally for me.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
IQ84 is a political satire about life in America on the verge of absolute chaos. A virus sweeps through the country and kills everyone with an IQ over 84 (their heads explode). Luckily, all of our politicians are still alive and very eager to protect the heads of all the dying voters. 
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
One thing that made this novel so fun to write was the wide range of active characters. The President of the United States plays a crucial (albeit idiotic role) though the main character is a man by the name of David Dingle. David is an ordinary American with a government job and a fantastic phone that doesn't understand why his head hasn't blown up or why he's the subject of a nation-wide man hunt.
Where did you get idea for this book?
Despite this book having so many similarities with the movie "Idiocracy," IQ84 actually was derived from the book The Stand by Stephen King. I've always been interested in post-apocolyptic concepts, especially in the vein of satire which I believe to be the one of the most potent forces for social change.
How much research did you do for this book?
35 years of living in America.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why? (If applicable)
Either President Benjamin Alan (because he's such an arrogant idiot, though very loveable at the same time) or Special Agent Jon Boring who must capture David Dingle. Jon Boring does everything possible not to live up to his last name, so he is a character that is extremely outlandish and brave to a hilarious fault.
What was the toughest thing about writing your latest book?
That's a good question. This book just kind of flowed for me. I can't really think of anything that made it unenjoyable.
Release date. 
The book will be released on March 14th, 2017
What are you working on at the minute?
Right now I'm working on the sequel to The Dreamer's Lotus which will be titled The Great City. It is a dystopian novel about the concept of Awakening to our fullest potential while simultaneously facing our own madness.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
It's been a difficult ride for me, basically because the first book was originally intended as a single piece, but I later decided to break it into pieces, which has created a tremendous amount of reworking. Still, it is something that I enjoy and I believe that my writing (and the story) has become stronger because of it.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write for yourself and no one else. Unless you want to make money. Then figure out a way to do both. 
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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Meet Vikrmn - Record holder for his Debut Book

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Author for this session is none another than Chartered Accountant Vikrmn, who holds records in the Limca Book of Records for his debut novel. We got chance to review his second novel "Guru with Guitar" few months back. 


So Vikrmn tell us. Do you like to read? Can you tell us your favourite book?
I don’t have patience to sit and read, so haven’t read any novel but one, The Alchemist, reason being it was like a small pocket book. I haven’t read but listened to a few audio books like: The Google Story, i Steve and The Bill Gates Way.
When did you start writing?
In my school days I used to write my own quotes which never got published in magazine or even on blackboard reason being these were silly and immature as told by teachers. During college days I started contributing articles on accounting for CA magazine followed by general articles for a leading newspaper in 2004.
When did you decide to become a writer?
Becoming a writer was nothing less than a story. In 2007, the biggest failure of my life happened; I had failed in CA final exams, that too in my favorite subject. Life gave options, either to crib or create, I chose later. I authored a book on the same subject before clearing CA exams.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Honestly, I have nothing big but a very very small dream and that is, I Just want be a small, million, no no, a small billion dollar author. That’s it.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I am an owl, I write an hour or two before sleeping, though not daily.
Is this your debut work? If not so, what have you written?
No, my first book was an academic one, titled, “MICS Unleashed” (2007). My second book was a novel titled “10 Alone” (2013), third one was also a novel, “Guru with Guitar” (2015). Fourth one was self-help book “10 Golden Steps of Life”. I have few blogs where I write for international financial and reporting standards and life changing quotes.
What genre are your books?
Fiction and Living Dreams.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Everyone has a purpose of life, few realize, few don’t. GWG is about finding the purpose of your life and then living it. More than that it’s a unique love story whereby the love makes the protagonist live the dream of life.
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Give us an insight into your main character(s)
Viktor and Kimberly are the main characters of this novel. Viktor is a US based financial professional of Indian origin. He was rich, smart, intelligent, witty and emotional too, but still was lost in finding the purpose of his life. In spite of his great job and hefty pay package, he didn't feel the sense of contentment. Then he met Kim, his lady luck. She helped him realize his dream life, sparking a love story. Despite his failure in pursuit of his dream, Kim stood by him…till she decided to move on. Viktor is heart-broken, lost again, and struggles to balance his aspirations and office life. This story is his journey through life-changing experiences in India and USA – ranging from writing his first book to becoming a coach for cancer patients, and then a motivational speaker, to finally becoming the Guru with Guitar. There are 11 heart touching songs, 8 lovely poems and 111 life-changing quotes scripted by the author.
Where did you get idea for this book?
The moment I gave a serious thought to my question, “What is the purpose of my life,” then I started writing about it and converted it into a fictional story.
How much research did you do for this book?
A lot, as I always do for my books.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Kim, she is calm, composed and cute; not different from other girls but unique in her own way, the swag of her simplicity; might be the girl I am searching for. She has no bigger dreams, she lives on the go. May be the purpose of her life was to make Viktor find the purpose of his life.
Who is your least favorite character and why?
Viktor, the protagonist, sounds strange but yes, he is my least favourite but un-ignorable character. The reason being, he is the most educated one but at the same time is the most confused person as well. He knows everything but doesn’t know how to express himself. He doesn’t know what he wants from life which Kim tells him in a few meetings. He does unique things, wants to make great moments for others but gets hurt due to his own expectations from others. He is never satisfied with himself and sets bigger challenges for himself. He doesn’t know the difference between being alone and being lonely. He writes great quotes but hardly applies any, unless until pushed. BUT, I like one thing in him; he tries to improve, to become a better version of himself and finally lives the purpose of his life.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Writing, about the place you never visited and situations which you have never been into, is a biggest challenge.
Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book? 

When was you book released?
15 Oct 2015
You book is in market for more than a year now. Can you tell us how well you book received by audience?
Sales of my book was pretty good. Approx 8 copies daily till March 2016 were sold. Amazon ratings are 10A – 4.25, GWG – 3.33, 10GSL – 4
What are you working on at the minute?
A book on office life.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Yes, Wrote “2 Alone”, sequel of “10 Alone”
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write uniquely, create your own style that people would remember you with that style. Ensure your book has a takeaway that readers can connect to.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
I am a lyricist and song-writer as well.
Links for your book readers
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