AUTHOR’S BIO :
Biswajit is a prolific humorist and author of hundreds of bestsellers – all in his dreams. In reality this is his debut book.
His satirical ramblings, poetry and travel-writing have been published accidentally in several literary journals, periodicals and websites. For a living, Biswajit serves in a senior position in a leading Public Sector steel unit.
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
My inspiration comes from the famous Charlie Chaplin quote “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot”. If you look at the way people behave in a given everyday situation from a distance, you are in a better position to catch the comic elements and the absurdity. Since most of the stories in my book are narrated in the first person, the self-distancing element becomes important - stepping back from an experience to examine it as distinct from the self. Catching the fun in the daily happenings from a distance - that’s the idea that permeates through the book.
I also admire and draw inspiration from masters of the humour and satire genre like Jerome K Jerome, P G Wodehouse, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell and Mark Twain. I am also a great fan of Hindi satirists like Harishankar Parsai and Sharad Joshi for their delightful wit and sharp observations on social issues.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
While writing, the most challenging part for me was to pick-up the humorous elements from situations we are much too familiar with and hence likely to miss. The stories in the book revolve around day-to-day happenings and we are an invariable part of such settings ourselves. So it becomes really difficult to look objectively at things and then identify and extract the fun, the incongruities and the absurdities in the situations.
Getting published is a different ball game altogether. Most of the publication houses are too slow to react to your manuscript and appear as sheer black-holes that simply gobble things up. I am fortunate to have stumbled upon The Book Bakers literary agency and things began moving after that.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?
While searching for literary agencies on the internet.
4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them ?
The number one USP of THE BOOK BAKERS is the speed with which they respond and take your manuscript forward, so that the author does not feel forsaken by the world. The agency keeps the author posted at every step and lands you the best possible publishing deal. They also offer a much needed helping hand for services like attractive cover designs and book marketing too. With their relentless efforts they have earned genuine trust of the writer community. It’s because of THE BOOK BAKERS that my book has seen the light of the day and I would advice aspiring authors to get in touch with them.
5. How supportive is your publisher of your work?
Locksley Hall Publishing (LHP) has been quite supportive for debut authors like me. Book marketing has always been a real pain-point for the authors. LHP is making real efforts to market their publications through various on-line and off-line modes including facilitating their authors to participate and represent in various literary festivals.
6. How do you see literary success for yourself?
It’s easy and convenient to equate literary success with bumper book sales. For me, it also means striking a chord with discerning readers, even if they are moderate in number, and elicit meaningful responses. Words of appreciation please me but constructive criticism inspires me to improve my writing.
7. When can we expect your next book?
I can’t give a time-line as yet except that my next one will be in the nature of more HAPPIMESS.
8. How has your experience been working with Locksley Hall Publishing ?
It has been a really smooth experience working with LHP without any hiccups. They are real professionals and that reflects in their smooth approach right from the time of manuscript submission to the final book printing. I would like to especially mention about the paper and print quality of their books which is top class and a delight to hold in the hands.
9. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
If you want to write non-fiction, write what you know and if it is fiction, write what you don’t know. Don’t give up on an idea easily that has struck you. Don’t feel disheartened either if you have to wipe the slate clean and begin afresh. Try reaching a point where the ideas and the language flow naturally and more freely – it may be some pages of hard labour before that actually happens. Patience with your craft is a must and like slow cooking, it will give you the best taste and results.
BOOK NAME : HAPPIMESS
PUBLISHER : LOCKSLEY HALL PUBLISHING
HAPPIMESS is a collection of naughty stories that make us laugh while constantly poking fun at social peculiarities. Narrated mostly in the first person, the stories center around everyday situations that get oddly tangled up.
Once frantic efforts are made to wriggle out, things only get more messy. Flippant and irreverent, the net of satire is cast wide, spanning conspiring home-appliances, outlandish diseases, nosy insurance agents, diehard hagglers, a botched farewell speech and the like.
It is the constant undercurrent of funny disorderliness that serves to spice-up and unite the stories.
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Very inspiring.
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