AUTHOR'S BIO :
Vivek - a full time banker in his economic life - is a biking enthusiast and an adventurer. He has a commendable record of extreme sports including sky diving, para-gliding, bungee jumps, scuba diving, and many more.
He has lived his life in Goa, closely watching it transform from a forlorn hippie haven of the 80s into a commercial tourist paradise of the present.
Drawing from his vast experiences, he now presents his first novel titled ‘The Secret of the Stolen Idols’ - a fictionalized account of real historical events and characters from Goa, moulded into a fine tale.
1. Who and what inspired you to write?
Well, I have always loved a well spoken or written sentence and have been quite a raconteur all my life. I have spent a considerable time of my school days standing on the bench amidst of teasing friends, with my hands taut upwards for being just too damn talkative.
I guess when people got exhausted of listening to me and my tales I decided to pick a pen instead.
As a specific temporal moment though, it has to be when I read Paul William Roberts’ The Empire of the Soul exactly halfway. Something snapped within me and I started scribbling my own thoughts. That book has influenced me and my thoughts more than any other, and had also got me to write.
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
The usual challenges and a few more. A new author or writer invariably faces several challenges like: what to write, when and how to do so, how to get a publisher, is the writing any good, how to publicize it, and the like.
In my case, all these challenges were augmented by the facts that I run a very busy schedule tied between an exacting job, and my desire to give time to my family and other hobbies of mine such as extreme sports, fitness and biking.
And this was at the start of the journey. Upon completion of the book getting a publisher was the most daunting task. My draft was first completed in 2018 and it took a year to get the right literary agent for my profile and story.
If it wasn’t for Suhail Mathur - my agent and now dear friend - I fear my manuscript would still have been just that – a manuscript.
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency THE BOOK BAKERS?
Through facebook, and I am glad I did.
4. How did THE BOOK BAKERS help you and what would you like to say about them ?
I fondly remember Suhail’s terse message on my messenger “Call me at 8 PM tonight’ on 30th march 2019.
Things changed from that moment for me. I have entrusted every aspect of the publishing work to Suhail from editing the manuscript, scouting for and finalizing a publisher, cover and trailer design and now the on-going marketing exercise.
The TBB is an excellent group of professionals that accepts only good manuscripts; but once accepted they treat it like their own work. TBB has been extremely supportive at every step and I shall ever cherish my association with them.
5. How supportive is your publisher of your work?
The publisher (LHP) is very supportive. They have allowed us to design the cover, giving valuable feedback in the process, and permitted changes to it all through till finalization of the book and cover at our end. They are prompt in responses on email and are generally supportive to new authors.
They have also gone an extra mile in my own marketing efforts by sharing cover release and trailers on their social media handles – which is great since their followers are people who read their books.
6. How do you see literary success for yourself?
I have a rather vivid imagination and can see myself as anyone I desire howsoever successful, at any time, at any place.
But I do really feel that I will get good success in my literary endeavours given that my first book is receiving a good response so far thanks to the whole team work.
7. When can we expect your next book?
Fall of 2022. The work is halfway through and will be completed in the timeframe. My issue is that I love packing a book with information and knowledge. I feel that when a book is completed the story and characters slip away in time from the reader’s minds – but what does remain is the knowledge gained by living the lives of the characters therein.
That’s why I take time in my books.
8. How has your experience being working with Locksley Hall Publishing ?
It’s been great as I said before. They have been very supporting of my efforts, they have been forthwith in cooperation at every stage including marketing of the book.
I couldn’t have asked for a better deal for my first novel.
9. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
Only one – start writing and don’t look back..
BOOK NAME : THE SECRET OF THE STOLEN IDOLS
PUBLISHER : LOCKSLEY HALL PUBLISHING
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB :
Gururaj, the last of Goan priests sworn to the worship of Betaal, finds his life churning up abruptly when his ancestral temple's long stolen idols hit the local markets.
He faces a challenging inner turmoil, reliving memories of a dreaded childhood night, when he witnessed the temple’s gruesome robbery by dreaded gangsters of the day.
Setting his fears aside, he leaps into the high stakes chase for the idols for it is on his success alone that the continuation of the age old Goan traditions of Betaal lie. Gururaj soon finds out that he is not alone in the chase and all characters involved in the original heist are drawn in to face each other once again.
Will Gururaj be able to save the ancient traditions? Will he find out who stole the idols? Would his secretive benefactor save him as before? Find out as you read through this fast paced tale.
The Secret of the Stolen Idols - a story based on real life historical events – is a fictionalized account of the last of Betaal worshippers in Goa. The book is a tightly woven suspense with a myriad of intriguing characters, fascinating sets, and well researched instructive chapters. Piece by piece - much like the stolen idols - the story unravels itself continuously till the very end.
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