AUTHOR'S BIO :
A lady born with a flair of natural narration has many feathers in her multiple hats that she wears with great ease.She started as a poet and apart from getting published , her poems got broadcast on AIR and also got published in American Poetry anthology. Having joined Indian Army as a first girl from Allahabad in 1993 ,was also the first lady officer to be posted in counter insurgency in 1998 . She provided logistics support to the fighting arms during Kargil War and during Op PARAKARAM. Besides being a dedicated Army officer ,she occasionally switched between her guns and pens .She had become the student editor of a military magazine in her Army Officers Training Academy and continued to write military articles in various army journals . She hung her boots after 14 years of military life and went on to gain some new experience.
She walked beauty pageant ramps and won Tanishq Big Memsaab 2008 and Gladrags Mrs India 2009 winning the “Most Vivacious” award , thus creating history in its own unique way . She returned to her base after the grand show and now took writing as a full time hobby .Her debut book is “The Pink Scarecrow” published by Leadstart Publishers.
A motivational speaker and a trainer by passion she conducts lectures across the country .
1. Who and what inspired you to write ?
Ok so when I won the Tanishq and Gladrags Beauty pageants , everyone in my fauji circle was so curious to know the details . I realised I couldn’t just tell them in one or two sentences .. I needed chapters to tell so I thought of bringing my fauji life’s 180 degree opposite life experience in a book .
2. What challenges did you face while writing and getting published?
Firstly it took me 10 years to write this book as in between I had suffered writer's block and couldn’t think of a great conclusion . After finishing I sent my submission to all the big publishing houses but got no response. Few responded appreciating the idea but due to onset of covid , they couldn’t take it .
3. How did you come to know about the literary agency The Book Bakers ?
I had noticed some big publishing houses announcing that they do not accept
unsolicited submissions and they only accept from literary agencies. I googled and found The Book Bakers and I sent them my submission .
4. How did The Book Bakers help you and what would you like to say about them ?
The personal touch and guidance given by Mr. Suhail Mathur has helped me a lot in
understanding the nuances of getting the right publisher . His presence in every step and even his nudging has helped me gain visibility in the author fraternity . It’s a big help !
5. How do you see literary success for yourself ?
Obviously name and fame and lots of applause. Jokes apart, I feel this field is th
most intellectual method of self evolution . The taste of it makes me more and more grounded when my readers appreciate my hard work . Yes writing is simply hard work and I strongly believe that hard work is equal to gratification that leads towards success of our minds .
6. When can we expect your next book ?
This one is my third book and my fourth book will hit the stands in early 2023 . It’s already with a publisher .
7. Any message or tips for aspiring authors?
Keep writing. It’s the best way to de-stress. But do read all genres as well to broaden
your horizons. Writing and reading helps churning your brain with new ideas unlike watching movies on Netflix!
BOOK NAME : OLIVE GREEN TO BEAUTY QUEEN
PUBLISHER : SRISHTI PUBLISHERS
BOOK SYNOPSIS/BLURB :
Lt Col Ankita Srivastava created history and multiple footprints in the tough male dominated domain spending her prime fourteen years by proving to the nation that she was not a woman but a soldier.
When in spite of fighting tooth and nail even with the help of Indian Judiciary, she couldn’t get extension of service and retires prematurely at the age of 38; she finds herself lost. She didn’t know how to behave like a whole packaged woman!
And then she embarks on a very intriguing journey that was first a state level and then a national level Beauty pageant which she involuntarily undertakes only when she gives a challenge to the organizers that they have to teach her how to be a woman!
At the national beauty pageant in Mumbai amidst all the very prepared and utter womanly contestants, Ankita with only two poses- saavdhaan and vishraam known to her, struggles hard to unlearn the toughness of her exterior and to embrace feminine softness. Finale of the contest makes her believe she was about to finally acquire back her lost femininity when she daintily walks in that royal blue saree with makeup and stilettoes on the beauty
pageant ramp.But as she thought she would be given a certificate of being a woman in all possible spheres; a
situation that arose during the ongoing beauty pageant demanded high degree of military courage, discipline and toughness to save mankind.The lehenga clad, high heeled, makeup faced Ankita though outwardly looked utter feminine, her inner strength passed from her mind to her limbs. She with the Police Motorola
communication set in hand, managed to navigate to the most vulnerable point which was to be manned till the police assistance came as the news of terrorists being accepted by enemy country as their residents had got out and there was inputs from the intelligence bureau that there could be more terrorists hiding in Mumbai and there were plans to launch attack at public events this time.
The external femininity faded as she took position in that pitch-dark area and resorted to military tactics. Doing a ghost walk to recce the area for any suspicious movements which she did spot with her eyes that were trained to see through the dark hour! With no options she utilizes her military skills to her fullest to delay and deter the suspected terrorist activity till the police reinforcements arrives and neutralizes the operations.Her post Army stint that started as learning the womanly traits at the beauty pageant, however
ended up by bringing out her toughness in the end. She wonders if she had lost on the eligibility of getting certified for being a true-blue woman. She stealthily walks to the stage and joins the gang of contestants when every round was over.
The awards were being announced and she is taken aback when the anchor announces her name as a sub award winner of “Most Vivacious woman”!
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