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?