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…