Sunday, March 26, 2017

Meet Madhav Mathur Author of Dvarca

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Indian literature has seen less number of books under the dystopian genre. Madhav Mathur's recent book Dvarca is able to get readers attention in short span. Let's meet Madhav and try to know about him and Dvarca.


Can you tell us about your education?
I’m an engineer, but I’ve done a lot of MOOCs. I try to keep learning new things formally and informally.
What were you like at school/college apart from studies?
I always had a submission or two for the school magazine, loved debating, quizzing, and participated in sports. I also wrote and acted in a number of plays in university. There were never enough hours in the day.
What are some day jobs you have held?
Banking, Management Consulting, Strategy Consulting
Which author inspire you the most?
I love reading and my favourite authors are Mikhail Bulgakov, Herman Hesse, Hemingway, Philip K Dick, Rabindranath Tagore, Albert Camus, and Solzhenitsyn.
When did you start writing?
I have been writing since I was a kid in school. I wrote a poem making fun of the principal and it made people laugh. I enjoyed that feeling and have been writing ever since.
When did you decide to become a writer?
It’s been a lifelong journey, as writing is something I have always done. I started taking it seriously in school, writing poems and articles for the magazine. I had a few publications in youth sections of newspapers before I went on to write plays, films and novels.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I hope to keep searching for truth and to share it with people in an entertaining way that makes them think and ask questions. I don’t want to sound like anyone else. I don’t want to say things that have been said before, or in ways that are worn.
How is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I usually write for a couple of hours in the morning before going to my day job. I edit the same work later in the evening. It’s a decent way to get a fresh perspective.
Can you tell us about your first book?
“Dvarca”, published by FingerPrint is my second book. Before this, Penguin published my novel – “The Diary of an Unreasonable Man”. Apart from novels I have written and directed numerous films, including two feature-length productions.
What genre are your books?
“Dvarca” is dystopian, speculative fiction. “The Diary of an Unreasonable Man” was a thriller.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Dvarca is the first of an admittedly ambitious trilogy. It is a satirical take on family life in a future totalitarian India. It takes readers into this frightening world and lets them see things through the lives of common people.
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Give us an insight into your main character(s)
There are three main characters in Dvarca. Through them I have tried to explore the ways in which we can challenge authoritarianism. Jyoti, a mother of two, is treated like cattle. She has very little control over her hours, and her body. Everything is monitored, curated and run by the State. She starts to question this regime and comes in contact with an underground movement plotting to overthrow the Government. Her compassion drives her choices and she faces great peril with courage.
Her husband, Gandharva, is a lowly bureaucrat who works at the Ministry of Finance and Salvation. He is obsessed with getting promoted and will do anything to advance his career. His fatal flaw is his curiosity, which leads him to uncover a sinister secret about Dvarca.
Their son, Nakul, is an outstanding student. He is patriotic, pious, and well on his way to becoming a great soldier. Something happens to him that changes his relationship with everyone around him.
Where did you get idea for this book?
My reasons for writing this book are related to a troubling childhood experience, that I think I share with most people of my generation. We were kids when the Babri Masjid was demolished. We were kids when the blasts shook Mumbai and riots took lives. These incidents left a mark on me and made me aware, for the first time, that friction or unresolved anger exists in society. Dvarca is a way to take these divisive elements, and project them into the future while imagining the worst. It is speculative fiction that hopes to find a peaceful way back from a horrible scenario. I made a short video to explain my motivations for writing Dvarca.

How much research did you do for this book?
There was a lot of research that went into creating Dvarca. My study still looks like a library hit by a hurricane. From foreign policy and international relations to scripture and its interpretations, I spent a lot of time reading and understanding more about the subjects I wanted to explore. The technology and science that exists in Dvarca also went through a rigorous process of discovery and investigation. I interviewed a significant number of people with views opposed to mine, to try and distil their arguments as best as I could, to debate them fairly through my work.
What was the most difficult thing about writing your latest book?
Dvarca was a difficult book to write, for three reasons- first there were many occasions when I would stop mid-sentence and wonder if I was crossing the line, entering dangerous and unchartered territory. This was echoed by some publishers who rejected my work, finding the content risky. Second, an entire world had to be created for this trilogy. It was not easy balancing character development, the story and world-building all at the same time. Thirdly, I gave myself the challenge of writing a story that did not answer violence with violence. Very often, books in the dystopian genre end up sticking-it-to-the-man with a bloody rebellion or uprising. My goal with the Dvarca trilogy is to bring change without becoming what you hate.
Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?
There are a couple of short videos that we created for my book. One that talks about my motivations, which I already mentioned above and another, on the Facebook page, that describes what the book is all about.
How was the response from reader about your book?
It’s been less than six months, but “Dvarca” has an average rating of 4.1 on GoodReads and almost a full 5 stars on Amazon.
What are you working on at the minute?
Dvarca is a trilogy and I am completing books 2 and 3 at the moment. I have also started on a deeply personal project on a different topic. I hope it too will see the light of day.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Writing a trilogy has given me the freedom to explore huge, far-reaching themes in a comprehensive way, while giving me the structure and discipline to make it happen. The Dvarca trilogy is like a world tour of fascism.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write only if you feel you have something new to say. Don’t write for a market, don’t write for ratings. Write if you have seen or experienced truth and would like to share it in a way that is fresh. Once you have this motivation, nothing should stop you. Also, read as much as you can, all the time. It is as important as breathing, eating and sleeping.
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Meet S. J. Lem - Author of The Waterfall Traveler

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Author S. J. Lem's debut book "The Waterfall Traveler" is touching market on April 19th, 2017. Let hear from her about her book.


Can you tell us about your education?
BA Digital Media Technology
What were you like at college apart from studies? 
Honestly, I was a bit of a workaholic. On top of going to school full-time (sometimes taking 18 credits or more), I also worked full-time. I had to pay for my education and housing myself, so I took it very seriously.
What are some day jobs you have held?
Currently I'm the Manager of Digital Design Direction for a large company that I've been with for the past thirteen years. But while in high school and college I held various jobs, from waiting tables to retail to freelance design. I also try to volunteer when time allows, and have done everything from volunteer gardening to dealing blackjack at a healthcare fundraiser.
Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?
I do try to read as often as I can (though with raising a baby, work, and writing, it's been difficult to read as much as I'd like to lately). My taste in books is rather varied, and there are way too many to list, but here's a few: True Grit by Charles Portis, Watership Down by Richard  Adams, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and 1984 by George Orwell. Now that I'm a mom, I've been revisiting many of my childhood favorites as well, including: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, The Serendipity Book Series by Stephen Cosgrove, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice  Sendak.
When did you start writing?
About four years ago I started writing as a hobby. Shortly after that, I joined a writing group with some incredibly kind folks who helped me learn how to improve. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to attempt a novel. After many rounds of revisions--and countless cups of coffee--I completed The Waterfall Traveler.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I'm not sure there was a specific moment when I had this thought. It was just something that felt natural to me, so I did it.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Ultimately, I would like people to read my book and enjoy it. Delivering a quality book for readers has always been one of my top goals. My other goal, and also a definition of success I think, is to do something that I love. I fell in love with writing and look forward to creating new worlds for many years to come.
Do you have a special time to write?
I have a 45-minute train commute to and from work each day, so I write rough drafts on my phone. I try to squeeze in time during my baby's nap to work on polishing those drafts.
What genre are your books?
Fantasy
Give us an insight into your main character.
Ri has spent most of her life caring for Samuel, so she is a very caring person. However, this has also isolated her to some degree, so while she is curious about the world beyond her village, she has not experienced it. In this story, she is swept away from her homeland and must confront not only dangers, but emotions that are unfamiliar to her as she grows close with her new companions. At times she sees things very black and white in terms of what's right and what's wrong, and at other times she makes impulsive decisions based solely on emotion. She is strong-willed and at times stubborn, and does tend to remain that way throughout the book. However, her understanding of the world, friendship, and love evolves throughout her adventure.
Where did you get the idea for this book?
The general idea just came to me, but it changed over time as I learned more about my characters, their past, their challenges, and the forces against them.
How much research did you do for this book?
A lot! Since this is my first novel, I read many books on all things related to the craft--from how to develop characters to how to write vivid fight scenes. I also wanted to write dimensional characters, with believable flaws and motives, so I also read a few psychology books. I like to have as much hands-on research as possible, and have taken classes that range from fencing, to hatchet throwing, to wilderness survival.
Who is your favorite character and why?
It's a toss-up between Carter and Mallory. Carter is a womanizing con artist, but he changes drastically overtime, and the reader learns that there is much more depth to him. I enjoyed writing him as he has some great, witty lines throughout the book. Mallory, on the other hand, is a madman with a vendetta against the gods. When Ri first meets him, he is an uncaring jerk obsessed with revenge. However, once his past is revealed it humanizes him, and he becomes almost a mentor to Ri. He has bone-chilling lines throughout the story.
What was the hardest thing about writing this book?
I think getting over self-doubt. Often I would write a scene, only to reread it and think it was terrible. But, I joined a critique group and the encouragement I received from other writers helped me get past this hurdle.
What are you working on at the moment?
In between marketing initiatives, I'm in the process of outlining the second book in the series.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don't doubt yourself and just write. Learn as much as you can from others by joining a critique group.
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Meet Prachi Garg Author of SuperCouples

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Prachi Garg with her high entrepreneur spirit looks at world, she finds many example worth quoting to. She brings "Super" flavour to her readers through wonderful real life stories. We interviewed her to know her writer side of story.


When did you decide to become a writer?
It  came as impromptu. Never planned to become one. I was working on my startup www.ghoomophiro.com, and it is when I thought to females sailing in same boat and decided to write Superwomen.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Writing isn’t my career, just an hobby.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
Totally depends on when I feel writing it.. I prefer to write, whenever I am travelling due to work.
Can you give us name of books you have written?
Superwomen and Supercouples are my major books available
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What genre are your books?
Nonfiction especially entrepreneurship
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Supercouples is the collection of journeys of couples who chose to be cofounders as well.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
Each couple in the book is the main character, as book is divided into 19 small chapters with each chapter covering the story of each startup and their cofounders.
Where did you get idea for this book?
Was always curious to know, what challenegs people face if they have to deal with same person 24*7. I mean both personally and professionally. This curiosity led me write supercouples
How much research did you do for this book?
Lot of research to find the list of couples and their related startup 
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Finding these unique supercouples, reaching out to them and not miss doing justice to their stories.
Release date.
Already in market since 1 month.
What are you working on at the minute?
Supersiblings – It is about the siblings who took the plunge to start something together. How did they cope up with dual relationship, what were the responses of their spouses to this stint.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Superwomen, Supercouples, Supersiblings are part of series only!!, and describe entrepreneurship challenges at different levels
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Never get disheartened with rejections.. Always take publisher/editor feedback seriously and incorporate them in your manuscripts.
Links for your book readers
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Saturday, March 25, 2017

Meet Saurabh Sharma - Author of Teenage Diaries

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Let's meet Saurabh Sharma, author of "Teenage Diaries the Days That Were". Reader can check his book review that we published last week here: Review Link


Please tell us about your studies and your educational background?
Post my schooling in Baroda, I did my engineering from NIT, Allahabad and MBA from Narsee Monjee
Tell us about your teenage?
Well, in school I was exactly like the character in my first novel – A studious nerd till I was in 10th and a spoilt brat in 11th. A few turn of events saved me from going astray.
Can you tell us about your professional background?
I have been sales manager in companies like L’oreal, Idea and Coke. I’m currently an associate director in Flipkart
Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors? Which author inspire you the most?
I don’t read as much as I would like to, but I still average around 20 books a year. I was immensely inspired in college, like many others, by The Fountainhead. More recently, Colleen Hoover’s style of writing has inspired me a lot! 
When did you start writing? 
Being part of a Rock band in college, I used to contribute in writing songs, but I realised soon that that was not my true calling. Back in 2011, I happened to write a story (the 3rd chapter of my novel), which got overwhelming response from my friends on Facebook. That inspired me to write a novel. It took me almost 5 years to finish it though.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Writing for me is a therapeutic passion. I want my writing to make people smile, maybe laugh, contemplate and realize the importance of relationships. Though I’m definitely not in for money, I want to be a famous name in literary world.  Though it might sound too materialistic, it’s actually not. Pursuit to fame can easily be misconstrued as a selfish one, but the truth is that fame will only lead to a wider reach, which will make more readers pick up my book. The only thing that can motivate a writer to better his skills is feedback from his readers and I want to be famous to make my novel reach millions of readers. 
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
Well I’m a fitness enthusiast as well as a sportsperson. I wake up at 6, head to gym, leave for my office at 9 30, come back at 7 and start writing at 8. There are times when I write 2 words in those 2 hours and there are times when I write 2000, but I make sure I write daily. I pick up a book at 10 and sleep by 11. 
What genre are your books?
I believe I am not a writer but a storyteller. My current book and the books to come will be stories of people around us. Seasoned with a dash of humor, my books will try to depict how our every-day conflicts shape us and how people like us overcome them. 
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Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
As the title suggests, Teenage diaries – from the perspective of a typical middle-class Indian teenage boy - describes the trivial (which we then thought were significant) challenges that an Indian teenager from a small town faces. Everyone goes through a transformational phase in their lives – time timing of which depends on when we met our catalyst. The protagonist here meets his transformational catalyst when he enters higher secondary, which changes him completely. This is the story of his transformation, his mistakes and his liberation.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
The novel is a story seen from the eyes of Ghanshyam – a typical middle class nerd (yes, he is a poet too), clumsy around girls and easily bullied by guys. His best friend is Vikram who, quite contrary to Ghanshyam, is an optimist. Ghanshyam is in love with Aneya – the hottest yet coolest girl of the school. Armaan – the ultra-rich suave kid, who joins the school in higher secondary becomes friends with Ghanshyam and Vikram and their lives completely change post that. This is the story of Ghanshyam, Vikram, Armaan And Aneya.
Where did you get idea for this book?
It is inspired by true events that happened around me when I was in school
How much research did you do for this book?
Not much. It was more of trying to remember the events.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why? (If applicable)
My favorite character is Armaan. He is insanely handsome and filthy rich, but he is not judgemental. More importantly, he can do anything for the sake of friendship and loves living life on the edge. I would want to have an Armaan in my life.
What was the toughest thing about writing your latest book?
This being my debut novel, I had no idea when to stop. I just loved writing about the characters that I had grown so fond of. When I finished the novel was a 1.2 lakh words (530 pages novel). The hardest thing was trimming it down to 75k words. Editing out events that I had so painstakingly written, hurt like parts of my body were being removed. Those 2 months were tough and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without my wife. I still remember us sitting next to each other in coffee shops after our daily jobs, trying to edit out what we thought was least pertinent to the story. 
Do you have a trailer or do you intend to create one for your own book?

Release date. 
The book was launched on 16th December, 2016
Can you tell us the response you are getting from readers?
The initial response has been overwhelming. It has got 65 reviews on amazon and it is trending at 4.8 stars. It has been able to reach the audience as we have gone for our first reprint. Being able to print more copies now that we are confident of its impact, we have been able to reduce the price of the book to ensure it can reach more readers.
What are you working on at the minute?
I am working on the sequel. Most of those who have read the novel want to know what happens next and are waiting for a sequel.
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
I guess a book series is tough to write, but if successfully executed can make the characters immortal in the minds of the readers. That’s the plan.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Firstly, do not let the story decide the end. Let the end decide the story.
Secondly, write daily. Even if you write shit one day, next day, write again.
Thirdly, there might be times when self-doubt will obscure your sensibilities. Share your first couple of chapters with someone who has not read them before. If they don't like them, you know you have to re-work on them and if they do, you will get motivation to write the next few chapters. Keep such 20 friends ready :)
And finally, re-write as many times as you can. Every time you revisit a sentence or a paragraph, you will be in a different state of mind than you were when you visited it last. That will bring in a fresh perspective and will help make it better.
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Book Discussion with Sanchit Author of The Tree with a Thousand Apples

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Can you brief us about yourself? Your background, personality and your writing journey?
I was born and brought up in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. As is the case with most of us, I became an engineer and a management professional soon after and worked for 7 yrs in the corporate world. I worked as a brand manager with ITC, Mahindra, Star India and Pernod Ricard.
Along with it, however, I have always been a writer. I was the editor of my college magazine, worked as a copywriter, wrote several short stories that got published in esteemed journals and magazines, became a radio host and worked as executive producer for television. Today, I am a full time author and screenwriter while ‘The Tree with a Thousand Apples’ is my first book. My first film, a romantic comedy titled Behen Hogi Teri, is scheduled for release in May 2017.

Is "the tree with a thousand apple" you debut work?
I have been a published short story writer. My stories have been published in several magazines and journals like Muse India, Contemporary Literary Review India, Indian Ruminations, The Orange Flame Literary Review and Qpeka. At Tata Lit Live My Story contest, I won the 3rd prize in 2012.

Can you tell your journey through your book? How did you get the idea for the book? When did you actually start writing this book?
If you ask me why I wrote this book, the answer in one word would be- Empathy. I lived in Kashmir in 2009 and saw a 12 year old Kashmiri Muslim boy sit beside a 20 year old Indian Army soldier sipping cups of Kahwa together. My very good friend and roommate in college was a Kashmiri Pandit. I have heard stories from all of them, and I could see that they were all right in their own world, yet their viewpoints were so apart each other’s. I just wanted to tell their story as honestly as I could. I wrote the book in 2013.
The subject matter reminds us of The Kite runner based out of Afghanistan. Such a book is rarity in the Indian fiction market and quite a brave book to write. Can you tell us your views on it?
A lyrical narration, raw characters and stark realism, The Tree with a Thousand Apples highlights the perspectives of four different points of view – young directionless militants, Kashmiri Pandits exiled from their homes, duty-bound army officers and innocent civilians rendered as collateral damage. It unravels the right vs right conflict that exists in the region, and the ignorant apathy which the citizens outside this jannat live with. A story of cultures, belongingness, revenge and atonement, it revolves around the lives of three children and their friendship that battles the sides fate forces them to choose, and not of the land they live in. The question it asks is simple but not an easy one to answer: Is the only way to pay for our sins to commit another?
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Do you have a trailer of the book? Would you like to share it with us?
Yes, I have a trailer and the link as per below. It has got around 60K views on FB and 13K views on YouTube

The novel depicts the coming of age of three young children and how the turbulent situation in Kashmir impacts their lives. What made you choose children as the main characters of your book?
Children don’t have a prejudice for the right and wrong. They don’t live amid barriers of caste, religion or borders that we have created for ourselves. In spite of the world asking them to choose sides and make judgements, our children in the book know only how to love each other. You can say I have been inspired by Scout and Jem from ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’. What one learns and does in their childhood is innocent, driven not by worldly hate but only compassion for everyone around us.
You have called Kashmir as a “paradise turned battleground” as the friendship of the three characters struggles later. What do you have to say about the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley or your view on ‘Kashmiri Muslims’?
You see when we call Kashmir a paradise, I don’t think it is about the lakes or snow capped mountains. I think it has always been about this extraordinary communal harmony called Kashmiriyat that existed between Hindu Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims for thousands of years, something which the bond of friendship between Deewan’s and Safeena’s families represents in the book. Today, it is not that piece of land which is a battleground, that is immaterial, it is their friendship which is.
Walls will always divide and separate areas will always mean the same, be it in Kashmir or any other part of India. I am of a strong belief that Kashmiriyat can and will return to the valley. People who have not been to Kashmir and only heard/read about it through social media may find it strange to know that Kashmiris (both Pandits and Muslims) are in fact one of the most coy, polite and good natured human beings. The local Kashmiri doesn’t want to pick up the gun and kill their Kashmiri Pandit friends who may return to the valley, just like Bilal doesn’t want to when Deewan comes back. Does Deewan fear Bilal when he returns twenty years later? Yes he does, it is natural to. Both Bilal and Deewan are right from their own point of views, yet what happens when they come together, is what the book tells us.
What motivates you to write? And what are you working on next?
I don’t think just motivation is enough for a writer. It needs to be desperation, for the story to burst out of you and bleed on paper. Next, I am working on two projects. One is on quarter life crisis in a man’s constant struggle between passion and profession, while the other is a tale of magical realism in a fictional town.
Readers usually expect author as big time reader. Under which reader category you put yourself. Avid Reader, Normal Reader or Casual Reader? Tell us more about your reading habit.
I am a normal reader. I don’t look at reading at more and more books, but each book I read, I like to go into its depths to understand the themes, metaphors, the subject matter and the writer’s craft.
How deep you plan when you write? Do you plan everything or keep it upto your mood and imagination at time of writing? Do you keep changing roadmap of the characters of your story?
Both. There are two types of writers- The Gardeners, who keep plodding their way into the story step by step, and Architects, who make a blueprint of the whole story before plunging themselves in. I work both ways. While I do have a blueprint ready before I begin, I plod and delve word by word as I begin to write. Characters take shape as I get to know them better, even if the key plot points are already there in my mind. The key thing is to know what your themes are, and remain honest to them.
If god gives you chance to pick one of the literary work of any person on the earth as your own work, which one would you pick? Why?
I would have to pick two the list- ‘Train to Pakistan’ by Khushwant Singh and ‘A Farewell to Arms’ by Ernest Hemingway.
Do you have a mentor? What is the best advice you have got from your mentor?
No not really a mentor, but the best advice I have got is to know why you write and think long-term.
Can you tell something to our aspiring authors which will boost their confidence?
Be true, be honest to your view of the world and have the courage to stand for it. Do it because the fire inside you will not let you live unless you do. That’s the only good fight there is.
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Meeting With Chandana Roy - Author of "A Good Girl"

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It is always pleasure to connect with an author. "A Good Girl" by Chandana Roy has captured lot of traction in female-centric genre. Let try to understand Chandana's journey through "A Good Girl".


Can you brief us about your educational and professional background?
I graduated from Sophia College, Ajmer and went on to earn my Master’s degree in Zoology from Government College, Ajmer (affiliated to Rajasthan University, Jaipur).
I worked as a part-time lecturer while still a student. Within months of completing my post-graduation, I was appointed as a lecturer by Rajasthan University. I have also taught in Loreto Convent, Delhi. Before writing my novel A Good Girl, I had been teaching biology for over twenty years to the undergraduate students of Troy University (Alabama) at their Sharjah campus.
Apart from studies, what activities were you associated with during school and college?
I was an all-rounder – apart from being the topper in school and college, I actively participated in all the programs and contests related to debates, music, dance, art and writing. Sports was a notable exception – I was never too athletic and I regret that very much.
Please tell us about your passion for books.
I am an avid reader – my father subscribed all the magazines and bought all the latest books available in three languages – Hindi, English and Bengali, so the love for books was inculcated at a very early age. My favorite authors are Rabindranath Tagore, Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Shankar, Ashapoorna Devi (among Bengali authors). Shivani, Amrita Pritam, Malati Joshi, Mridula Garg, Dharamvir Bharati, Mahadevi Varma, Mannu Bhandari, Munshi Premchand (among Hindi writers). Jane Austen, PG Wodehouse, James Hadley Chase, Somerset Maugham, Leon Uris, Arthur Hailey, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, Arundhati Roy, Anita Desai, Rohinton Mistry, Jhumpa Lahiri, Vikram Seth, Khushwant Singh, Amit Chaudhary, Victoria Holt, Aldous Huxley, Charles Darwin, Nevil Shute, Irwing Wallace, Liane Moriarty… the list goes on…(Among English authors). 
When did you start writing?
I have been writing and getting published ever since I was a little girl. My articles and poems were published in in the children's section of the local newspapers and magazines. A poem written when I was in the 6th standard won me the first prize at a poetry contest run by BBC London's Hindi Service.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I have always been a writer, but writing was mainly a hobby because the pursuit of science came in the way of any writing ambitions I might have harbored at the time. But there came a point when I decided that I had done enough of college teaching and freelance writing, and it was time to give up those jobs to be able to write the novel that was brewing inside me for a long time and was clamoring to get out.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Nothing much except that my book reaches more and more readers.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I live in the UAE with my businessman husband – my only son lives in Virginia with his wife. I wake up early, post a few tweets on Twitter and then head for the kitchen. I am not too fond of cooking, but I do it dutifully and with a lot of dedication nevertheless because I believe in eating homecooked healthy food. I work in the kitchen till 11 a.m. and then switch on my laptop. Somedays, there are too many fan mails and messages to answer, but I still manage to write for about 3-4 hours every day. My main distractions are my other two hobbies – I am heavily into photography and singing, and at times, I tend to spend all my time photoshopping or recording a song instead of writing.
Is this your debut work? If not so, what have you written?
I have written hundreds of published articles. Before writing my first novel, I had been writing regular columns and articles for several UAE magazines and newspapers (including Gulf News and Khaleej Times) for many years.
I have also written many poems but have not yet tried to get them published. I started a couple of blogs but am not able to post much, time being the main constraint.
What genre are your books?
A Good Girl is not your average boy-meets-girl love story, so it’s not a romance novel.  Nor is it a classic, although Amazon, India has categorized it as Classic Fiction. You can call it Contemporary Indian Fiction.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
Set in India and America, A Good Girl is the story of a beautiful young woman haunted by her scandalous past and caught up in a struggle to reinvent herself after her whole life is turned upside down by one bad choice she had made as a naive teenager.
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
My protagonist Ellora Chatterjee a beautiful young woman – she is the quintessential good girl whose happiness revolves around making others happy and who wilts with guilt every time she displeases or disobeys her elders. She falls in love with a famous cricketer and pays a heavy price for it. The news of her romantic involvement with the debutant batsman makes national headlines. Overnight, sweet and shy Ellora turns into a sexy poster girl chased by the college hooligans, shunned by her prudish classmates and condemned by the parochial population of her small town.
Now in her early thirties, Ellora is once again facing a tough choice that will scandalize her community. Is she bold enough to follow her wayward heart all over again?  Will she take charge of her own happiness or will she spend the rest of her life trying to make others happy?
Where did you get idea for this book?
The idea came not from just one, but several sources. In my more than two decades of teaching career, I have come across many young women whose lives have been in shambles because of a love affair or misplaced trust. Let us say A Good Girl was inspired by a very pretty teenager who was caught in the car with her boyfriend and was sent packing to her ancestral village in Pakistan by her irate parents. Another student of mine was swiftly rusticated by the college authorities after she was caught with her boyfriend in the washroom by the security guard. I never saw those girls in college again, but I have always wondered how their lives must have been influenced by that single error of judgment. My small town had its share of scandals. A junior got expelled from college for writing a love letter in blood to the then heartthrob Rajesh Khanna. Nowadays, when you watch these MMS scandals on the news channels, you cannot help wondering what price those naïve but precocious teenagers must be paying for giving in to their hormonal urges and trusting boyfriends who are actually devious and dangerous scoundrels.
How much research did you do for this book?
A Good Girl is not period novel, nor is it based on any real-life character, so like any other work of fiction, it mainly required imagination rather than heavy research to write it. However, before writing about any plant or any setting, I had to do some research to make sure that those trees were found in those settings and were abloom in that particular month.
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Jai Sehgal - the handsome surgeon who's single but not ready to mingle. Tall and fair, he has the assured, yet laidback air of someone who knows he is good looking but is not overtly concerned about it. Many of my female readers have confessed to have fallen in love with him. 
Who is your least favorite character and why? (If applicable)
None. All my characters are my babies and I love them all – some I love slightly more, but that doesn’t mean I love anyone any less.
What was the most difficult part about writing your latest book?
I am still trying to write my next novel, but the time management is the main problem. Ever since my novel got published and became a bestseller, I have been spending a major part of my time in answering mails, promoting my novel, attending various literature festivals and book fairs, speaking at the literary events where I am invited as a guest speaker. All these activities leave me with very little time for writing my next book.  It’s a great dilemma - trying to divide your time between the fruits of your earlier work and tending the new sapling, not yet born but demanding all your attention.
Can you tell us response you get from reader for "A Good Girl"?
I don’t have the latest figures, but A Good girl has probably sold more than 10,000 copies by now. It has consistently been among the top 100 classic fictions on Amazon, India, it’s current rating being 4.5 on Amazon and 4.2 on Goodreads.
What are you working on at the minute?
It is too early to divulge the subject. 
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Not thought about it.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
  1. You must read a lot. Reading good books is like attending writing workshops. You imbibe so much just by paying attention to the writing style, words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters. 
  2. You must write a lot. Reread every passage after a reasonable gap – you will find so many flaws. Then rewrite. Rewrite till you get the rhythm and the grammar correct, till your sentences start making sense – till your writing starts sparkling. However, do remember Hemingway’s advice: “Prose is architecture, not interior decoration.”
  3. You must edit and format your work before you submit it to an agent or publisher. Manuscripts that are not properly formatted and are full of glaring error are asking to be rejected.
  4. Be mentally prepared for a long and arduous struggle before you get published.
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Meet Amisha Sethi Author of It Doesn't Hurt To Be Nice

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Our regular readers must have read our review of "It doesn't hurt to be nice" by Amisha Sethi. Today we got chance to bring forwards Amisha's journey through her first book.


So Amisha, we heard you are a marketing honcho? Can you tell us about your professional background?
I am an Executive Scholar in Marketing and Sales from Kellogg School of Management, MBA in Marketing and a science graduate.
I have worked as National Marketing Manager at Airtel, Director of Brand Marketing Asia pacific at BlackBerry, Chief Commercial Office at AirAsia, and recently I am Vice President Global Marketing at Frrole Inc.
Apart from studies, what did you enjoyed during your school and college?
I was a lot into choreography, theater and all kinds of stage performances
Can you tell us what kind of books you like the most?
My all time favourite text is Yoga Vashishta, I love reading his teachings available in the ancient scriptures. Also, I am a huge fan of Upanishads.
When did you start writing?
I started to write 'It doesn't hurt to be nice' in the year 2013.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I was in Chennai working and at the same time was doing my own research in ancient scriptures. My own moment of glory inspired me write my first book.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I want to write books that have a larger purpose, the purpose is to spread love, niceness, and kindness around.
Do you have a special time to write, or how is your day structured to accommodate your writing?
I am a spontaneous writer and write when I feel like or when I want to pour my thoughts in some form.
Is this your debut work?
'It doesn't hurt to be nice' is indeed my debut book.
Can you describe your current book in few lines? What’s it about?
It is a book about a young girl who goes through various experiences in her life to realize the ultimate purpose which is to be a good human being with each passing day. It is an amalgam of fun, emotions, real life experiences and also certain life learnings in a light reading format.
Click here to get a change to win free copy
Give us an insight into your main character(s)
The main Character is "Kiara", she is a thirty something girl who has achieved a lot in her life but she is set to find the deeper and finer nuances of life and ultimately the most important thing which is the purpose of living this life that she is living.
Where did you get idea for this book?
My own experiences, research in ancient texts and my desire to take my learning to as many people as I can.
How much research did you do for this book?
Quite a bit for approx 2 to 3 years in all kinds of ancient scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads, Buddhist scripts, Kamasutra etc.
Who is your favourite character in your book and why?
Kiara is my favourite character, she is kind and fearless, and knows the importance of loving unconditionally.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Finding a good publisher who understands your purpose of writing the book and I am extremely happy that I found one.
Can we see trailer of your book?


Can you tell us how well you book excepted by market?
It has done extremely well and is a best seller.
What are you working on at the minute?
I am working on a book which is on "Loving unconditionally"
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
Well, I do have few thoughts on a science fiction. Let us see!!
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Be spontaneous and do feel while you write. Also if at all your writing can influence someone positively then that might be a brighter goal then sell through numbers.
Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
Well, I would say whoever is reading this interview, love unconditionally (it is a rare ability), be kind and have a purpose to your living.
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