EXCHANGING WORDS WITH VRUSHALI TELANG

AUTHOR’S BIO:

Prime Time Crime is Vrushali Telang’s 3rd novel. Previously she has published the hugely popular chick lit Can’t Die For Size Zero and rom-com He Loves Me Not . Due to the popularity of her debut novel (CDFSZ), she was invited to write a column for Marie Claire India called Big Girl in a Skinny World, which ran for over a year.

Apart from novels, Vrushali also has worked in Bollywood in the capacity of a screenwriter as well as research.  She has the credit of Associate Screenplay and Dialogues in the feature film My Birthday Song. Directed by Samir Soni,  starring Sanjay Suri, this risqué psychological thriller has been appreciated by veteran critics for its narrative.  

Because it was her first attempt at noir in Prime Time Crime, she did thorough research lending to an authentic recreation of Mumbai in 1999. This was the reason she was taken on board by director Ashim Alhuwalia for Research on Daddy, a bio-pic on underworld don Arun Gawli played by Arjun Rampal.

She was also an Associate Screenplay writer of #Untag, a web-series on VOOT (Viacom-18). Dealing with the camaraderie between a plus size girl and her gay best friend, #Untag was nominated for Best International Web Series at Web Fests in Toronto, Rio, South Florida and Miami.  

Vrushali Telang started her career as an entertainment reporter. After working with CNBC –TV18 and NDTV, she produced shows for MTV, before embarking on her childhood dream. It was that of creating stories.

She lives in Mumbai with one daughter, one husband and has no luck with house-help.

1. Who and what inspired you to write?

Children grow up listening to stories. In my case it was screenplays. My father would recount fascination screenplays of Hollywood films like The Great Escape, Magnificent Seven, Enter the Dragon and Snake In A Monkey’s shadow, Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window or House Of Wax. Secondly, family time meant eating and reading together. Aai would read Somerset Maughaum, Baba read Sidney Sheldon and I would be busy with Enid Blyton’s St.Claire series.

2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?

Very surprisingly my first two novels were a cakewalk in terms of getting a publishers. I thought I would face no problem with the 3rd.  However, all publishing houses rejected my manuscript. I was disheartened.

3.  How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?  

One day, on FB author Manjiri Prabhu (who I respect ), announced that her book was out with Bloomsbury and she thanked Suhail Mathur. I immediately messaged Suhail and what impressed me most was his promptness.

4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?

Suhail had a tough job as my novel had been rejected by practically all traditional publishers. And though self-publishing was my last option, I was keen on getting published traditionally. He got me not one, but two publishers – both brilliant houses to work with! Readify and VK!

Suhail has the fire in his belly and that’s what I love about work associates. No nonsense, professional and what I like best is he sticks to the point. No khaali peeli bakwas. I look forward to continuing with him.

5. How do you see literary success for yourself?

I am keen to get published internationally. (Suhail are you listening)

6. When can we expect your next book?

I am working on the first draft, so I guess by the end of the year?

7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?

Writing is hard work. Its fun but you really need to love it, to be a consistent writer. My advice is that keep your day job, or have another source of income. Let writing be something you love to do. Then watch the magic flow.

BOOK NAME: Prime Time Crime

PUBLISHER: Vishwakarma & Readify

BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:

An Intern Reporter

A Sophisticated Gangster

&

A Dirty Love Story

Within a month of joining City-News, Ritika an intern manages to get an exclusive TV interview with sophisticated elusive gangster A.T the recent crime sensation.

During the interview Ritika and A.T find themselves getting attracted to one another. Soon they share a torrid chemistry and find it difficult to stay away from each other.

Does A.T love Ritika, or is he using her as a pawn for a dangerous plot? Did he manipulate circumstances so that only she could get through to him?  

Does Ritika love A.T or is she playing along in order to get leads for investigative crime stories? Is she out to catapult her career from an unknown intern with a local network to being a ‘star’ reporter with a national news channel?

Set against the backdrop of Mumbai Underworld in 1999, PRIME TIME CRIME is a story about a relationship that is ruthless, passionate and manipulative. A story that stinks of lies, deceit and death.

Did they ever, even if it was for a moment, truly love each other? Are relationships as honest as we’d like them to be? In the unholy nexus of mafia and news media who can you trust?

With vibrant characters, razor sharp plot that moves at breakneck speed, PRIME TIME CRIME is an overpowering love story that will haunt you for long…

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BOOK REVIEW : TO HELL AND BACK

BOOK NAME: TO HELL AND BACK

AUTHOR: ANURAG ANAND

LITERARY AGENCY: THE BOOK BAKERS

PUBLISHER: READOMANIA

BLURB:

A mindless road-rage incident leaves a young and promising entrepreneur dead. Is it an accident or a cold-blooded murder, planned to absolute perfection?

Namrata, a young professional, is enveloped by all the quintessential elements of life in the fast lane a staling marriage, an extramarital affair and eyes full of dreams, until a fun evening turns into a chilling nightmare for her.

Renu, a girl living in a world marred by regressive customs and dated practices, has resigned to the patriarchal ways of her world, until they begin to cast their malicious shadows on her unborn child.

Their worlds, although separate, intersect each other in a single strike of tragedy that none could have imagined. It is then that this story begins and sends everyone’s life on a dizzy tailspin.

Will they be able to get back to their safe and secure lives?

MY REVIEW:

“To Hell And Back" by Anurag Anand is one of the most intriguing and enjoyable books that I have read. The blurb itself is enough to prompt one to turn the pages and the title and the cover do full justice to the book.

The book has been wonderfully divided into three parts and the author has very well managed to hold the mystery till the very end.  The book opens with a road accident and then takes you into a flashback. The author’s art of characterization is impressive and he has defined each character of the novel impeccably. The author has managed to brilliantly carry two stories together without confusing the readers and the many twists and turns keep the reader wanting to know what will happen next.

The language of the book is lucid and the ending is nail-biting. I recommend this book to all the die-hard fans of mystery books and to all those who are interested in being spellbound. The climax of the book is the highpoint of the book and my advice to readers is to not waste time in guessing as the author will prove you wrong at every turn.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anurag Anand is a prolific author with eleven published titles in the self-help, historical fiction and contemporary fiction genres. Two of his books, The Legend of Amrapali and The Quest for Nothing, have made it to the final shortlist in the past editions of the Crossword Book Awards. He is a contributing author for several notable publications and can also be found debating on leading national news channels. Anurag lives in Gurugram and is a senior management professional with a leading beverage MNC.

RATING: 5/5

ORDER THE BOOK FROM:  https://www.amazon.in/Hell-Back-Tragedies-Orchestrated-Fate/dp/9385854623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529229553&sr=8-1&keywords=to+hell+and+back+book

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EXCHANGING WORDS WITH ANURAG ANAND

AUTHOR’S BIO:

Anurag Anand is a prolific author with eleven published titles in the self-help, historical fiction and contemporary fiction genres. Two of his books, The Legend of Amrapali and The Quest for Nothing, have made it to the final shortlist in the past editions of the Crossword Book Awards. He is a contributing author for several notable publications and can also be found debating on leading national news channels. Anurag lives in Gurgaon and earns a living as a senior management professional with a leading beverage MNC.

1.     Who and what inspired you to write?

I have always had a penchant for the written word - from comic books and Enid Blyton in my early years, to the titles that adorn my bedside today. However, I had never given the vocation of writing a serious consideration. For me it was always something distant, something that I was only meant to consume. Something like a bar of soap which I use, but seldom think about producing.

Writing happened to me by accident. I was posted in Rajkot, Gujarat, in the initial days of my corporate career. It was a city I wasn’t familiar with. I had no friends there. The local cinema halls screened movies that I was yet to develop a taste for, and prohibition only added to the woes of a young and eager bachelor. I decided to use my time productively and the end result was my first book – Pillars of Success.

2.    What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?

I  was in no hurry while working on my first manuscript. I wasn’t even expecting my work to shape into an actual book one day. I was writing simply because I wanted to write. And this made the experience of writing an enjoyable one. It remained devoid of any mention worthy challenges.

Once the manuscript was ready, I shared it to some of my colleagues. This was purely out of the desire to obtain feedback on something that I was proud to have created. What I didn’t know then was that the process of ‘creation’ had only just begun. One of these colleagues happened to know a vernacular language publisher who was looking to expand into English writing. My manuscript landed at his desk at just the right time, and the rest, as they say, is history.

3.   How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?

The community of authors in India is a small one, and I had met Suhail at a couple of literary events even before The Book Bakers was born. He was toying with the idea of launching a literary agency back then, and that, I believe has culminated into The Book Bakers of today.

It’s a pity that in today’s times authors are expected to peddle their works to publishers, engage in commercial negotiations and finally market their books when they are eventually published. These expectations are quite a contrast to what an author should actually be doing. Writing!

The Book Bakers, with its array of services and offerings, allows authors to focus on their writing instead of the other peripheral aspects. The agency fulfils a very crucial need for budding as well as established authors, and it is no surprise then that The Book Bakers has managed to carve a niche for itself in such quick time.

4.  How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?

It was The Book Bakers that connected me with my current publishers, Readomania. Readomania is a relatively new publication house, and I was initially sceptical about signing up with them. However, on Suhail’s insistence I took the plunge, and I couldn’t have been happier. My publisher turned out to be just the marketing-savvy and progressive publication house that Suhail had described them to be.

Such personal involvement with each of their authors is the hallmark of The Book Bakers, and this is what sets them apart from others operating in the same space.

5.    How do you see literary success for yourself?

In terms of the number of Ferrari cars I manage to buy out of my royalties!

On a serious note, though, writing is my passion and I don’t measure it on a scale of success or failure. Yes, the feedback of my readers means the world to me and I look forward to hearing from them. But I also realize that just because one or more of them enjoy my work, it doesn’t make it a success. And neither does it become a failure if they don’t relish it as much.

6.   When can we expect your next book?

My next manuscript is ready and it is up to The Book Bakers to weave their magic now. I am hoping for the book to hit the stands within the next 6-8 months.

7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?

Writing is a lonely process and it doesn’t always lead to the kind of accolades or commercial success that you might have dreamt of. Hence, it is always advisable to calibrate the purpose behind your writing so as to not set yourself up for disappointments in the future. Setting realistic expectations allows you to focus on your writing and not get lost in a world of fantasies and imagination.   
  

            BOOK NAME: To Hell and Back

                 PUBLISHER: Readomania

BLURB:

A mindless road-rage incident leaves a young and promising entrepreneur dead. Is it an accident, or a cold-blooded murder, planned to absolute perfection?
Namrata, a young professional, is enveloped by all the quintessential elements of life in the fast lane a staling marriage, an extramarital affair and eyes full of dreams, until a fun evening turns into a chilling nightmare for her.
Renu, a girl living in a world marred by regressive customs and dated practices, has resigned to the patriarchal ways of her world, until they begin to cast their malicious shadows on her unborn child.
Their worlds, although separate, intersect each other in a single strike of tragedy that none could have imagined. It is then that this story begins and sends everyone’s life on a dizzy tailspin.
Will they be able to get back to their safe and secure lives?

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EXCHANGING WORDS WITH ADITYA NIGHHOT

AUTHOR’S BIO:

Aditya, aged 21 is a medical student, pursuing MBBS from one of the finest medical colleges of India. He is the bestselling author of the Romance-Thriller Novel ‘In the Blink of An Eye’ – now to re-release under Fingerprint Publishers. The book won the Best Romance Book of the Year Award and was the number one bestseller on Pustakmandi.com and amongst the top 50 bestselling novels on Amazon for a long time.

       Aditya’s debut novel U n Me…It’s Complicated!!! was originally written as a hobby with limited copies printed for friends, family, and a few close readers. But, the positive reviews he received encouraged him to write another novel. He is currently working on his next.

        He is also a screenwriter, a professional photographer, an avid reader and is fond of music. As a twenty-one-year-old student, he feels that he can connect to the emotions of the youth and tries to express the same through his books.

        Aditya enjoys interacting with his readers via his book and social media and always responds promptly. Connect with him on social media networks.

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/adityanighhot

Instagram: @adityanighhot

Website: www.adityanighhot.com

1. Who and what inspired you to write?

Writing a book was never in my mind. It was never a calculative call…it happened all of a sudden. One is often carried away emotionally when he values somebody more than himself…and that ‘somebody’ makes enough impact on him that he decides to pen down everything. A relationship makes you a better person!

2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?

Writing a book is always easy. The real challenge is finding a publisher who can give justice to the author’s efforts. With more than 13 rejections from traditional publishers (Which is very common when one is a debutant), I had almost given up but it was good sales and my readers’ support that helped me find a traditional publisher.

3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?  

Social media, these days, has become the boon to mankind. I came across The Book Bakers Literary agency via Facebook.

4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them?

Suhail Mathur and the team at The Book Bakers Literary Agency have been very supportive ever since my manuscript was accepted by them. They have made me establish myself as an author in this competitive world with all the literary guidance they have provided me with. Right from signing the contract to minute details of marketing, they have helped me in every aspect. The Book Bakers is an awesome platform for budding authors.

5. How do you see literary success for yourself?

Right at the top! My competition is with myself and not with anybody else. My next should always be better than my previous work…that’s something I believe in. I dream and wish to be the first ‘Aditya Nighhot’ than being the second ‘somebody’…that’s success for me!

6. When can we expect your next book?

In the Blink of an Eye shall re-release in a month’s time. Hopefully, my next shall release immediately after In the Blink of an Eye.

7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?

Keep all challenges at bay and write for yourself first. If you fail to get a publisher, don’t lose hope…even the best of the authors were rejected by almost every publisher.

BOOK NAME: In the Blink of an Eye

PUBLISHER: Fingerprint Publishers

BLURB:

Two brutal murders and the murderer is on a killing spree. Bloodshed is all over his mind and he spares almost no one. The police are on to their toes but can just expect for the worst outcome. Will they succeed in catching the murderer before he creates havoc in the city?

Inspired from real life incidents, the best romance book of the year award-winning novel is all about friendship, hatred, lust, justice and emphasizes on true love.

Alok is a nerd can be the best of friends. Rohit, although aimless in life is amongst the girls’ favourite. Aisha, the eye candy of the college is a perfect example of beauty with brains. Kriti is shy and reserved but could be the girl a guy would actually love to date. Neha can be a guy’s best friend or a worst nightmare.

      What if their predictable lives come down like a house of cards? Would they still stand upright? Would they fight back or get lost into a void of pain?

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