On Writing: Interview with T F Carthick

Today on 'On writing' we have T F Carthick,  a Bangalore based author, armed with Engineering  and MBA degress from India’s premier institutes IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad. He currently works as an Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Consultant at one of the world’s leading Consulting Firms. 

Welcome to 'On Writing' Carthick!

Follow T. F Carthick:  Facebook Page  || Twitter @TF_Carthick || Website

Was becoming an author always your dream or was it a particular event or incident that gave birth to the author in you?

I was always creating stories within my mind since childhood. But I always thought they were day dreams about my future. I guess around the time I realized my future is going to be nothing of that sort, I decided to at least write them as stories.

What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?

I am not very systematic in this. I tried to be. But once office work gets stressful, it is not possible to set a time for writing and stick to it. I just write when I get time and am in the creative mood.

What is different about ‘Carthick’s Unfairy Tales’?

The fairy tales we know are very superficial and just graze the surface. We never get to know the inside story, the people, their thoughts, the minor characters. So I tried to take each story and see from an unique point of view and bring out a different perspective to the same old stories. All the seven stories in one way or the other talk of the unfairness of life. What is unique as against other retellings are I have tried to twist them without really changing the events in the story as such.

Which is your favorite story in the book and why?

My favorite story is “The Hunger Diaries”. I have done something different here. In Book Thief, the author tries to write a story as written by death as the narrator. Here I have attempted a similar idea which is something new and I am very excited about it.

Which do you prefer as a reader? EBook or Paperback?

Paperback of course. But e-books are convenient for travel, commutes and social occasions.

How long did it take to finish writing ‘Carthick’s Unfairy Tales’?

The idea came back in 2013. But these specific stories I started work in March this year and completed by October. From then, editing and book production have been going on.

Who are the target readers of your book?

This is a bit difficult. Fairy tales are something that hold inherent appeal to children. But my story does have some philosophical and satirical elements that I am not sure children can fully grasp and may appeal more to an older audience. But it is possible children may enjoy them even without grasping those elements and adults may enjoy for those subtler elements as well as for nostalgia of revisiting the stories they heard during the childhood.

How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?

I read an interesting tag line of a company. Forgot which. Creating a great product and not marketing it is like winking at a pretty girl in a dark room. A book is a work of art as long as you are writing it but after that it is a product to be sold. If one doesn’t want to think of it as a product, one may as well keep it to oneself. Which is something quite admirable if one can really do it. But doing this requires a different state of mindset.

Please share a passage or quote from ‘Carthick’s Unfairy Tales’ for our readers.

There was one rare case where one of the newly “enlightened” mice decided that some of our kind were actually cats who had been enchanted and enslaved by mice. So he exhorted his followers to strive to break through the illusion and discover their true nature. The cult had a strong following and it looked as if it would take the entire mouse society by storm. But then one day, the leader of the cult, who called himself “The Prophet”, happened to encounter one of his supposed kin. The rendezvous had proven not-too-fortuitous and he managed to get himself assimilated into his supposedly true tribe…or one of them at least. Not exactly in the way he had imagined, of course. With his attaining martyrdom, the cult had just fizzled out.

What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?

1. Think clearly what motivates you to write. Some may call it their muse. Once you find the muse, hold that it dear and stay true to that. You will face numerous distractions and might be tempted to adopt motivations of other authors. Every time you are beset by uncertainties and doubts, seek guidance from your muse.
2. Before you learn the various writing skills, discover the one thing that is special and unique about your own writing. Then build all your skills around that. Keep learning new things and innovating. But always retain the core.
3. Every time you are writing a new story, try to write in one or two lines what the story is about. Maybe a paragraph if it is novel. Does it feel fresh and exciting? Will it bring the readers new perspectives? If so, go on full steam ahead. If not, maybe time to go back to the drawing board and rethink.

Thank you, Carthick!  Wishing the very best for your book.

About Carthick's Unfairy Tales:

Blurb: 

An evil dragon. A damsel in distress. A concerned father seeking a savior. A hero galloping off to the rescue – a knight in shining armor. Now THAT is stuff of fairy tales.

But what if the father’s real concern is for the dragon’s hoard; What if the damsel’s reason of distress is the marriage proposal by her pompous savior; and what if the story is told by the horse who bears not only the overweight knight but also his heavy, shining armor all the way to the dragon’s lair and back, facing certain death in the process?

What if there was more – much more – to all your favourite fairy tales than meets the eye?


This book chronicles not one but seven such unfairy tales – tales told by undead horsemen and living cities. Tales of mistreated hobgoblins and misunderstood magicians. Tales of disagreeable frogs and distressed mice. And bears baring their souls. Once you read these stories, you will never be able to look at a fairy tale the same way ever again.

On Writing: Interview with Mythology author Utkarsh Patel

Today on 'On Writing', we have Utkarsh Patel, who is a corporate professional turned mythology author. 

Utkarsh Patel is a corporate-professional-turned-mythologist and now the author of “Shakuntala – The Woman Wronged”, published by Rupa Publications, and "Satyavati", a mobile-book published by Hungry Ogre Publications and "Kannaki's Anklet", published by Indus Source. He is a professor of Comparative Mythology at the Mumbai University and has qualifications in Mythology, both Indian and World from Mumbai University.

 Utkarsh is also a regular speaker and lecturer on varying subjects of mythology and other topics, at various forums, litfests, organisations and colleges.

Welcome to 'On Writing', Utkarsh Patel!

Website || Blog || Twitter @utkarshmp || Instagram @utkarshmp || Facebook 

You are a corporate professional turned mythology author. How did this transition happen?

I would think it began with my teaching at the Mumbai University, where I was teaching Comparative Mythology. I was beginning to enjoy teaching, reading and researching on the subject and around the same time, I was beginning to lose interest in my profession which included the routine – travel, meetings, targets, etc. When my first novel found a publisher and it was in process, I was commissioned for another book. That is when I decided to take the plunge to a full-time author, speaker, and teacher.

How much important is research while writing a mythological novel?

In my opinion, that is the most important part of mythological writing. Mythological stories exist and many of us are retelling or interpreting the story. If one has to do so successfully and honestly, then one has to study them and know what one is retelling or interpreting. With fragments of knowledge, or without a proper research, one ends up writing just a fiction, which uses characters from mythology. That is not a mythological novel.

What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?

Well, I do write every day, but some days are busier than others, so there isn’t quite a fixed time. However, I do try to ensure that there is continuity with both the story and the thought. I for one do have a favourite place, but that is more out of design – my study table!

What is different about ‘Kannaki’s Anklet’?

Kannaki’s Anklet is an effort to bring the Tamil epic Shilappadikaram, to a larger audience and in a relatively easy prose format. While the epic has been translated by academic scholars, Kannaki’s Anklet is an effort to make it easy reading for the modern reader who is exploring the hidden gems of regional literature, without getting into the academics of it. This book is an easy translation, and enables a smooth flow.

Shilappadikaram, though an epic, doesn’t follow the rules of an epic. It was written in Tamil and not Sanskrit. The protagonist is a female, who is not a divine or a semi-divine character, the action is not around palaces and there is no war. All this is a far cry from what makes an epic. Besides, this could be the only epic which rests on the shoulders of a woman and not a male. In my opinion, this is a unique epic in that sense and brings out the human aspects from out day to day life, at the same time, sending a very strong message to the leadership of our times. Kannaki’s Anklet keeps all these differences in mind and brings it for all those who might not have been exposed to this gem which is a part of the Sangam literature.

Did you face any difficulties while writing this book?

My lack of Tamil language was an issue, so at times understanding the cultural nuances was something that bothered me. Also, the available English translations were very authentic. I didn’t want my book, to be just another translation or as just another academic work, to be relegated in the shelves of libraries. I wanted more people to be aware of these regional gems, so to make it both true to the original, at the same time make it more interesting than an academic translation, was in my opinion quite a difficult thing. I sincerely hope I have managed to do that!

How long did it take to finish writing Kannaki’s Anklet?

I took me about 8-9 months of writing and the first draft and I guess another month or so, for some more.

How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?

It is as important as writing! You could be a good writer with a good book, but if it doesn’t reach people, then the effort is completely wasted. While I do agree that a good book will speak for itself, but in these modern times, when the market is full of books of different genres and people moving away from books, a good amount of marketing takes the book closer to its readers. Also, we live in times of push-mechanism, where something gets accepted much easier, if it is known to them, than something that one has to seek out.

Please share a passage or quote from ‘Kannaki’s Anklet’ for our readers.

The following is an extract, wherein the male character in the story gives into the lures of life. The extract is an example of how men often end up justifying errors as a bit of manly extravagance and how giving into such lures is just being a man –

“Curiosity was working her seductive skills on Kovalan. Could she be an apt counterpart to his music? Could her dancing skills be the perfect complement to his skills of singing? Oh, what a thought? But the thought had moved further from a simple exploration of complementary skills. Kovalan couldn’t help imagine, what it would be to sleep with a woman, who has been trained in all forms of art for the bed. It sounded a bit odd, to think that someone could be adept in such an art form in the first place if there was such a form. He had never imagined this before, not because he was not capable of such things, it’s just that it had never occurred to him before. But now things were different, he had learnt quite a few things himself and was willing to learn more and needless to say, enjoy more too. A woman, who has enthralled the king on her very first performance and has got the entire kingdom speaking about it, must be some expert in such art forms too. This was unbelievable and quite enticing a proposition, to say the least. What is a man, whose adrenaline doesn’t egg him for something different? What is a man, whose masculinity doesn’t engage in acts beyond the ordinary and mundane? What is a man, who has not gone a bit wayward for the sheer fun and adventure of it? What is a man, who doesn’t take advantage of the simple fact, that he was a man?”

What other works are you currently working on?

Currently, I am working on a few projects which are again based on mythological characters and events from mythology. I am trying to work on a concept which is prevalent in mythologies of the world and see if it can be brought out in the form of a fiction; however, it is still at a nascent stage.

What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?

1. Start writing – there is no better day than today. Do not wait for a certain time, when you think you will write. Start today.
2. Be ready to accept a rejection. Your writing could get rejected for many reasons, but let that not end your writing career before it begins. That’s a part of the writing. Understand why it has been rejected and see what changes it requires. There are many options for publishing, explore another, if one has been closed.
3. Your writing doesn’t end with the publication. Be ready to promote it, because only you know the merits of the work. Times have changed and in this clutter of writing, you have to move it. It’s your baby and you will have to walk it all the way, till it can run by itself!

Thank you, Utkarsh! Wishing you the very best for your books.

About Kannaki's Anklet:

Blurb:

Kannaki's Anklet is a near-adaptation of the Shilappadikaram, a masterpiece of the Sangam literature that showcased Tamil life and culture in its full splendour. The epic highlights the trials and tribulations of Kannaki, an ordinary woman, who endures personal adversities but chastises the king for his single act of misdemeanour and injustice. Her anger burns down a city, forcing the goddess of the city to come down to appease her-such was the wrath of a woman wronged! An ordinary woman, with mortal desires, goes on to be revered as Goddess Kannaki in Tamil Nadu, as Kodungallur Bhagvathy and Attukal Bhagvathi in Kerala, and as Goddess Pattini amongst the Sri Lankan Buddhists, while the Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus worship her as Kannaki Amman.

Buy the book from:

Or directly from the Publisher 

On Writing: Interview with Editor Kunal Nachane

Today on 'On Writing' I am bringing to you an editor, Kunal Nachane, who manages a very popular Online magazine  Telegram which aims at bringing out quality fiction and non-fiction writing.

Welcome to 'On Writing', Kunal!

When did the first issue of Telegram come out? What was the thought behind the creation of this digital magazine?

Telegram has been around since mid-2016. Our first issue came out in July of that year.

The thought process behind Telegram was a desire to bring forth, or one might say, bring back the culture of the literary magazine which has for some time been missing from the Indian scene, at least in English, though we believe there are some very admirable regional-language publications in this space. We wanted to showcase voices that are otherwise lacking an audience and bring out quality fiction and non-fiction writing in the process; to inculcate a culture of reading and writing both from the classics and from modern fiction. But most of all we aim to put out a magazine that a reader should both enjoy and find mentally stimulating.

You have described Telegram as ‘a literary magazine which aims to rekindle the flames of quality Indian fiction’. Do you stick to a theme every month?

We do have a theme for each month’s issue, which we mention as a part of our call-out for submissions. It is not so much a definitive theme as it is a ‘guidance’, the idea being more to stimulate potential contributors to write a new work.

What makes Telegram stand out amongst other digital magazines?

Our unflinching focus on quality over quantity is something that we feel gives us an edge over some of the other digital magazines in the English language. We have, from the beginning, been very clear that we would rather not publish a particular issue than publish whatever comes our way. The quest for quality is why we haven’t diluted our magazine with paid advertisements till date. If and when we do run ads, we want to ensure that they represent offerings that we, as a magazine, actually endorse to our readers.

We also believe in providing our writers with constructive feedback. Rejection letters are a part of the game for any emerging writer, but to have someone tell exactly why an entry was rejected and what is missing or can be improved on can really help those serious about it in refining their craft and becoming better storytellers. Some pretty good writers that routinely submit to us have had their first stories rejected, but they still persevered because they trusted us as editors, took our feedback on board, and worked on writing better stories.

What do you not need when it comes to article/story submissions?

We like an article to be coherent if it is non-fiction and both coherent and entertaining if it is fiction. By ‘entertaining’ we do not mean the content needs to be ‘light’. In fact, a lot of the pieces we carry, deal with serious, socially-relevant subjects. What we mean is that there should be something that makes the story worth reading. Someone is spending five minutes reading that story; you have to make it good enough to justify their time.

Or to put it in a single sentence: Don’t be boring!

What's your day like as an editor?

We try to keep engaged on social media with our audience. Our first newsletter should be going out shortly, and we are always trying to share interesting articles related to the world of literature through our Facebook page.

Aside from this we read and respond to the submissions we receive, as well as work on editorial content. As the content comes close to finalization, the designer works on creating her magic to make the final outcome clean, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-read.

What happens to the rejected articles or stories? Do you give reasons as to why the story/article cannot be published?

We try to provide a reason for not accepting a story, sometimes going into pretty specific details. However, that is not always possible when there are a lot of submissions and we may not have the time to provide individual feedback on them. We still try to give as helpful a feedback as possible, instead of sending a run-of-the-mill rejection letter.

Who are the target readers of Telegram?

Anyone who likes reading quality short-form literature and content about the literary world should be able to enjoy Telegram.

Do you write some of the content for the magazine yourself?

Yes, each issue has an editorial and often a cover story written by one of the editors. In fact, the cover story for our latest issue – November 2017 – has been written by me!

Do you run any writing contest at the magazine?

As of now, we have not run any contests, but it is something we are considering for the future.

What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?

1. Keep writing. It is like exercising a muscle – the more you write, the better you will get at it.
2. Take feedback in the right spirit. Listening to and learning from rejections and criticism is an essential part of the writing process.
3. There is no substitute for reading. Read to challenge yourself, question your assumptions and beliefs, and your writing will blossom, along with your worldview.

Thank you, Kunal for agreeing to be a part of 'On Writing.' 

Aspiring writers, do submit your works to Telegram and become a published writer.

Readers, subscribe to Telegram to read quality fiction and non-fiction on various interesting themes every month.

SUBSCRIBE to Telegram

On Writing: Interview with Romance Author Reshma Ranjan

 Today on 'On Writing', we have romance author Reshma Ranjan, a former Public Speaking and English teacher, who worked at Brookfield High ICSE School in Bangalore before moving to Denver, Colorado. Now she is settled in Miami, Florida.
She is a passionate romantic who loves literature and has been driven by the romance around her. She has made up her own happy endings in her imagination for every movie and for every book with a sad ending. 

Welcome to 'On Writing' Reshma!

Follow Reshma on Facebook  Twitter  Website  Google Plus   Amazon Author Page

Email her: authorreshmaranjan at gmail dot com

Was becoming an author always your dream or was it a particular event or incident that gave birth to the author in you?

I believe it was always in me, though I was not conscious of it. I remember watching Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and becoming completely depressed for weeks. Then, in my mind, I changed its ending. In my version, the characters fall off the cliff and manage to reach a hospital and finally get their happy ending. Similarly, after watching Mr. India I was heartbroken when the little girl died. I made my own version where she returns, my reasoning being her death was staged to provoke Mr. India. So, I believe a penchant to produce happy endings was there in me. I started making stories when travelling, doing chores, watering plants, in fact always. It took me to be twenty-five years old to finally put these stories on the paper. I had journalism as a subject in my graduation, but I guess writing was my calling.

How important are names of the characters in your books to you? Do you spend agonizing hours deciding on their names?

Not really. I do ponder over names, but I usually end up picking them up soon. I have picked names from the TV serials my mother watches. I guess for me, any name is fine. I build the character and a name is to identify that character. And soon, the name becomes the character for me.

What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?

No, I wouldn’t say every day. There are times when I can sit and write for days to finish what I started. But I do have days where I can’t or don’t. I do have a favorite place and I’m a habit-forming person. This November, for NaNoWriMo, I was finding it difficult to as I was spending about three to four hours in a car, picking up and dropping my kids and my husband. And one day, just out of the blue, I started writing on my phone at the parking space in my kid’s school. Now I am continuing that. If at one place I can manage to write, I try to stick to it until the flow is broken and I’m forced to find another spot.

What is special about ‘Yours To Love And Yours to Take’?

Many who read my first book 'Love Sees No Reason' wanted to know the story about Suraj and Ria, a very important character and the protagonist of my first book, in detail. I didn’t want to use the part removed from that book. Instead, I thought of penning down a different story inspired by them set in 1950’s. Soon it began to grow into a huge series and I thought to release this story first.

It is special because it is the first of the series, a grand saga of a big family with royal connections. The Verma Clan is how the family is known in the story. I delved in-depth into other members of the story through Salim and Anita’s story. The concept is having people with completely diverse backgrounds, from different parts of the world as one family. A family that stands together without the need for any blood ties.

It is absolute fun to be in that space, right in the middle of The Verma Clan.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

Milind. He is not the protagonist of this book, but just like for the readers, Milind is a character taking time to reveal himself to me. 'In Yours to Love, Yours to Take', Milind is the only one who could tell Salim about the darkness lurking in him. He was the calming and soothing presence in the book for the characters. I would soon complete Milind and Sia’s story—another book in the series. As of now, two other books of the same series are to be released soon. 'A Promise, Togetherness Forever' and 'Cherished as My Queen'. The cover of A Promise has been revealed on my social networking sites.

How long did it take to finish writing ‘Yours To Love And Yours to Take’?

I wrote it in November 2016 in about 17 days. I had sprained my ankle during a Taekwondo class and was literally bedridden. So, with nothing but a laptop at my disposal in my bedroom, I finished writing the novel in 17 days.

Please share a passage or quote from ‘Yours To Love And Yours to Take’ for our readers.

A painful sob broke from Anita’s lips but she tried to stifle it with her other hand. The man came forward and placed his hand on Salim’s shoulder. “She is not Ananya. She is Anita, Ananya’s twin.”

Salim looked at Anita without any reaction. He stood still as a stone and with a sudden movement his hands clutched the back of her neck and pulled her to him.

“Stop playing games with me! What are you trying to achieve, Ananya?”

Her eyes widened, her hand went around him and the other clutched his shirt. There was pain in her eyes but she didn’t make a sound.

“Leave her alone.” The man’s voice boomed through the hospital room.

The nurse stood frozen by the bed, fear written all over her face. The man held Salim’s arm in a tight grip. When the woman in his arms turned ever so slightly to the man he let go of Salim’s arm. The reality slowly started seeping in.

“No!” His painful denial was audible to all. “Why couldn’t you be dead instead of Ananya?”

Anita moved back as if he had slapped her but she didn’t make a sound. His voice was barely audible but his words had seared through her like he had engraved them on her being.

Which do you prefer as a reader? EBook or Paperback?

I would pick both. For the last couple of years, I’m reading more e-books than paperbacks. But paperbacks are always a weakness and I love to collect them. It was heartbreaking for me to leave my collection of two thousand books in India while moving to the US.  I have kept them in a storage facility in Bangalore. I miss them, especially my Barbara Cartland collection.

How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?

It’s the major deal-breaker. With so many books releasing every day, I must pitch in completely for my book to stand out. I know that first hand. Since my second novel “Blind, Certainly Is Love,” I have taken it on myself to market my books, shamelessly.

What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?

1. Read, Read and Read some more. Unless you read, you can never write.
2. Write, write and write some more. Unless you break that barrier and write, it won’t materialize. Never compromise on the quality and packaging.
3. Whether you opt for traditional publishing or you-self publish your novel, without marketing the chances of your book reaching the targeted readers is bleak. So shameless self-promotion is a must.

Thank you for having me over at your site, Preethi!

It was a pleasure chatting with you Reshma! Wishing the very best for your books.

Featured book: Yours To Love, Yours To Take 

Blurb: 
As if losing her parents and her voice in a childhood accident wasn’t cruel enough, Anita Batra now has to come to terms with her twin’s death and help her sister’s partner get a new lease of life.
Adopted by the Verma Clan after his parents died in an accident, Dr. Salim Verma finally finds love and a chance to be happy only to lose it in an accident he himself survives.
When fate strikes a final blow and brings two strangers together, Salim can’t help but punish Anita and make her tread through the hell he himself was in, while all Anita wants is to help her sister’s partner start afresh, no matter what the cost.
Will Salim ever be able to ignore Anita’s resemblance to his dead girlfriend and fall in love with her instead? Will Anita be able to reveal the real Salim hiding behind the monster? Will they be able to embrace their tumultuous attraction for each other despite their terrible start?
Yours To Love Yours To Take is a heartwarming saga of love and sacrifice that will reinstate your belief that love conquers all.

Purchase link:

Check out other books by Reshma:

Love Sees No Reason   

BlinD, Certainly Is Love  

Upcoming release: A Promise - Togetherness forever

On Writing: Interview with Sudesna Ghosh

Today on 'On Writing' we have the beautiful and talented Indian author Sudesna Ghosh, who is also a strong body positive and mental health advocate. 

Follow SUDESNA:  TWITTER     FACEBOOK   WEBSITE

Was becoming an author always your dream or was it a particular event or incident that gave birth to the author in you?

My love for writing and books started early when my mother took me to the huge public library where we lived in the United States. I remember spending the day with books and bring back a pile to read. And then, I wondered if I could see my name on a book cover someday. Also, I was lucky to be encouraged by elementary school teachers who asked us to write our own short stories and read them out to the class.

How important are the names of the characters in your books to you? Do you spend agonizing hours deciding on their names?

I think names are just as important as any other character traits. I have a habit of naming my protagonists after people I know – usually the person who inspired that specific character’s creation.

What is your writing process like? Do you write every day? Is there a favorite place to write?

I do something related to writing every day, be it marketing or adding word count. That said, I take a couple of weeks to a month off between writing each book to mull over the next one’s plot in my head.

I love writing in the night when everyone else is sleeping. But my favourite place to write is in a coffee shop during the quiet weekday afternoons.

What is special about ‘My Singapore Fling’?

First of all, it is my first attempt at the romance genre. I was used to writing fiction for children and teens. Secondly, I never had so much fun writing a book before because the protagonist was doing what I wanted to do but am not brave enough to try.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?

I love Dipa. As I said, writing her character and experiences enabled me to live out a little fantasy of my own J  Plus, I love how she’s 30+ just like me and still not ‘settled down’ or dying to be settled down, as society puts it.

How long did it take to finish writing ‘My Singapore Fling’?

I wrote the first draft during NaNoWriMo 2016 and then let it sit there for a while. Then I spent a couple of months editing.

Please share a passage or quote from ‘My Singapore Fling’ for our readers.

He was shocked. “Dipa, never give up on anything. Not love and not chocolate,” he said.

 Love? I have no idea how love had come into this conversation. 

Somehow it felt right.

Which do you prefer as a reader? eBook or Paperback?

I started reading ebooks this year after I published five of them myself. I am enjoying reading books on my iPad without worrying about shelf space. But I still enjoy browsing for new reads at the physical bookstore, running my hands over the spines and reading the back cover blurbs. Both formats have different advantages.

How important do you think is marketing in today’s world for any book?

It is VERY important. More than ever before. This is because anybody can publish a book and that means that readers have a lot more to choose from. Every author has to do something to build his or her personal brand. Standing out is difficult and being online is a must to get readers to know you and your work.

What are the three tips you have for readers of this interview who are aspiring writers?

1. Read a lot from both inside and outside your preferred genre.
2. Write regularly at the time that suits you-you don’t have to wake up early to write just because someone else does.
3. Writing is just a part of the whole publishing process. Keep your eyes and ears open to see what successful authors are doing in terms of marketing and promotion.

Thank you, Sudesna! It was great chatting with you!

Readers, go grab 'My Singapore Fling' from Amazon!

Book Blurb:

Meet Dipa Basu. She’s a 30 something modern Bengali woman living in Kolkata and a successful writer. After many relationships and breakups, she’s decided that love is a waste of time.

 She’s always had these phases where she’s been obsessed with different things; like one where old men in dhotis appealed to her. 

But this time she’s crazy about men with British and Australian accents. She travels to Singapore for a few days, on a quest to have a fun, meaningless fling. Her trip is full of surprises. 

Will Dipa have her Singapore Fling?