EXCHANGING WORDS WITH TANUSHREE & AJOY PODDER

AUTHORS’ BIO:

TANUSHREE - After eight years in the corporate sector, Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. Her yen for adventure has seen her traipsing around the world. She has written six successful novels, a dozen best-selling nonfiction titles and over five hundred travel tales. Her last book was A closetful of skeletons.

AJOY – Ajoy Podder is a retired Army Officer who has travelled all over India and has been posted to offbeat places around the country. A qualified mountaineer, he has undertaken several mountaineering and bicycle, as well as trekking expeditions in the mountains and valleys all across the Himalayas. Reading, writing and photography are his passions.

1. Who and what inspired you to write?

TANUSHREE - Right from my childhood, I have enjoyed the process of telling stories. As I grew up, the urge to write them down became more compelling and I began writing. It was my mother, a post graduate in literature, who inspired me to continue writing, and so I continued writing even while working as an HR professional. Later, I quit my job to concentrate on writing.

AJOY –  My writing journey began with a fountain pen and the turquoise blue ink gifted to me on my birthday. It inspired me to start a diary from the age of ten and the journey continued through my life.  As an army officer, I continued to record my thoughts and experiences. Frankly, it was my wife, who inspired me to write the book.

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

TANUSHREE – Writing has never presented any challenge because I love writing. Also, I didn’t have to face any difficulty in getting my books published. Perhaps, it was sheer luck or a case of being at the right place at the right time.

AJOY – Co-authoring a book was a natural progression.  Since Tanushree has several books to her credit, we didn’t face any challenge while getting The Feronia Files published.

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

It was recommended by a friend.

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

Suhail Mathur is a very warm and enterprising young man. Since I am quite a prolific writer, I lack the time to scout around for publishers. The Book Bakers were an immense help in carrying out the job of placing the manuscript with Readomania. We have enjoyed the process of working with him.

5. How do you see literary success for yourself?

One does not necessarily think of success when one is writing a book. We see ourselves writing many more books, which will delight the readers and that would define our success.

6. When can we expect your next book?

Tanushree -Very soon, I guess. I have three more books lined up for the next year.

Ajoy – At the moment, we are busy with the outline of our next book and hope to start working on it, soon.

7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?

Writing is a serious business. There are no shortcuts in writing and one should be prepared to work very hard. Since, it is a very competitive field, there are bound to be disappointments. One has to accept the fact that there will be rejections. It is very important not to allow setbacks to dishearten you.

BOOK NAME: THE FERONIA FILES

PUBLISHER: READOMANIA

BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB:

Can nature be controlled?

Man has been trying to control the weather since the day we swapped our spears for shotguns. From worshipping the rain gods to making the clouds do our bidding, we have come a long way although the transition has not been an easy one. Extensive research on geo-engineering and weather modification experiments undertaken by many countries are a proof of man's obsession with 'control'. He, who controls weather, controls the world. It is the Ultimate Frontier.

In the recent decade, weather modification, aka weather modding, has generated immense interest amongst the scientific community. Scientists, intelligence agencies and defense authorities, world over, are trying to master the technique.

Scientists and researchers agree that weather modification is the ultimate weapon that has the ability to destroy the world. Owning weather could empower a country beyond imagination. Climatic manipulations could enable derailing of economies and destabilisation of countries. There is evidence to suggest that both Russia and USA are involved in a covert race to exploit the power of cyclones and seismic activity. In 1993, USA set up a High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a research facility near Gakona, Alaska, with the objective of gaining supremacy in the field of weather modification.

HAARP was believed to have caused earthquakes, droughts, storms, floods and diseases in various parts of the world. Some nations blamed HAARP for conducting covert experiments in weather modification, which was harming their countries. After worldwide outrage against the project and the mounting costs, US finally ordered its closure in 2013.

Our story begins with the closure of HAARP.

CIA, during their investigation to trace some missing HAARP scientists, learns that two ex HAARP scientists have travelled to India under false passports in 2014. They share the information with R&AW. A highly suspicious picture emerges when the dots are connected.  

An army expedition is sent on a secret mission. Their objective is to retrieve the gadget planted by the HAARP scientists on Mount Nun in the Himalayan Mountains.

Investigations reveal that a group of ex-HAARP scientists have formed a syndicate known as the Thor Syndicate. The syndicate functioning under the aegis of Feronia Foundation has been conducting trials and experiments on weather modification in several countries including India.

The race for controlling the weather has begun in earnest.

The Feronia Files is a thriller that takes the readers on a roller coaster ride through Moscow, Islamabad, Australia, New York and India. The gripping plot gallops at a breakneck pace, taking the readers through a series of heart stopping action, deceit, death and intrigue.  

A seamless synthesis of fact and fiction, The Feronia Files is a path breaker on all counts.