Interview with Bestselling Author- Sudeep Nagarkar !!!

   Interview with an author who don't need any introduction- Sudeep Nagarkar- Bestselling Author of two novels "Few Things Left Unsaid" and "That's the way we met":

  1.    When your first book- Few Things Left Unsaid came out, what was the reaction of people around you- Parents, friends, neighbours, relatives etc? 

A :  Is it yours? You must be kidding? Don’t tell me? Now you have something new! It went on for couple of weeks and then they had no other option but to accept that its written by me. They still doubt. :D

2. You are up with the sequel of Few Things Left Unsaid i.e. That’s the way we met, should the readers expect a new kind of love story or almost the same that they read in FTLU? 

       A: You can’t say it’s a sequel. Though the lead characters are same, the story is quite different from ‘Few Things Left Unsaid’. FTLU was about college romance while ‘That’s The Way We Met’ unfolds a mature love story. It’s about responsibilities, sacrifices and priorities which a couple realizes when the situation demands. Sometimes you have to take a decision against your will and you really can’t do much about it. In the end, I must say that the romance in the book still remains the same!

3. You are almost up with your 2nd book within a year since your first released, when do you write as you are an employee of a renowned organization too? 

A: I don’t have any fixed timings or days when I sit on my table or laptop and pen down my thoughts just for the sake of doing it. I write what I feel and the incidents which can happen with any normal human. It may sound simple but I don’t want to complicate it by saying I think for hours before writing. If you can portray what you as a person are and what readers want you as a person to be then you have done your homework.

4. will you keep attempting Love stories as other contemporary writers or will you try to script a topic that is intense and deep? 

A: I will go with the 2^nd choice. You can’t expect an author to write a bestseller every time. I am fortunate enough to see my both books in the bestseller lists. However, it’s about taking a chance and attempting something different. Maybe you will get trashed, but at the end of the day you will be satisfied that you at least attempted.

5. As Indian authors are accused for degrading the quality of English and not giving a chance for readers to learn something new, can we expect some Good vocabulary, idioms, phrases, one-word substitutions etc from you ?

A: Who is to be blamed? It’s a chain. Everyone is interlinked. Publisher publishes what sells, authors write what market demands and the chain continues. When PoonamPandey says she will strip, that news gets highest ratings, but when genuine news is featured no one is bothered. That’s sad but truth. We live in a country where Roadies gets more ratings than any intellectual chat show. It’s nothing different in writing field. So who is to be blamed? I agree somewhere we need to stop this but publishers play key role in this. Some publishers don’t hire professional editors too which degrades the quality as there is no selection panel too when it comes to choosing quality scripts.

Talking about me, I personally believe I have improved and tried to give my best in ‘That’s the way we met’. The reviews are overwhelming till now.

6. Indian Publishing is too hard to deal with, was it easy for you to get a Publisher or did u wait for a long time to get your work published- for both the books as they are from two different publishers.

A: You need to present yourself. I don’t think it’s too hard to deal with. Maybe I feel that way because I never saw the struggling phase. Still, I can say if you are good in narrations in your book, if your script has quality and a smooth flow then you should not come across any hurdles. But what is more important is you need to be in safe hands.

7. What are the Promotional strategies that you and your publisher have applied to promote/market your second book? 

A: We have kept it simple. There are various launches and youth oriented activities keeping in mind the target audience. As I said, the reviews of ‘That’s the way we met’ have been far better than I expected. If everything goes well and I meet my love then it will surely bring a smile on my face.

8. After seeing the success of Five Point Someone, that it was adapted as a Blockbuster movie later on, did you ever feel as if your books can also achieve this feat or are you working on building some contacts to get your books turned into visual format?

A: I am not taking any steps in that direction as of now! It’s destiny. It’s just a year that my first book got released and I am quite happy to see my both books in bestseller lists of all online portals like flipkart, homeshop18 and infibeam.

9. What exactly is your target from your Books- 1. Getting most copies sold out, 2. Getting the love of readers or 3. You just wrote it because you wanted to write a book once in your life, hence you have no targets?

A: Getting Riya back. That was the only motive when I wrote ‘Few things left unsaid’. The reason has not changed even after ‘That’s the way we met’. People ask me to move on and forget my past. I always mention, I have not stopped my life. My parents are my priority. I am fulfilling their expectations and there is no harm if I am waiting for her. It’s not about forgetting your past, it’s about remembering and cherishing those happy moments you shared in your relationship.

The entire credit goes to her! Also, I am really thankful to all the fans and readers who showered love on my both books.

10. In the end, tell us in 5-7 lines, what speech will you give if you win a Major Award for the Best Indian Author for your books?

A: Do I need to answer this? :D Let the answer for this one be preserved for that moment! Why to think now and spoil it! Moreover, I seriously don’t think on these lines. I don’t believe in those. If my work is appreciated and if I am able to connect with my readers through my book, I will be happier rather than winning an award.

Restart by Aabhas K Maldahiyar!!!

 620th BLOG POST -->>

Book Summary of Restart: An Architect's Journey to the Parliament House:

           Pain of losing, hurts and messing up things, big time started becoming a regular chapter of Aditya's life, which started as a successful process in his architectural career and slowly started fading until he faces the toughest moments of life, and starts thinking differently. Will this change in his realizations and attitude bring him luck? Will he be able to restart? Will he get back what he had one day? Will his lost fortune again shine back on him? Hence, we present you the fast paced life of Aditya and his urge to breathe back, which has been beautifully carved into a novel by the author. The novel gives one a glimpse into architecture, modern day college life, the true face of complete system, along with the highly inspirational note to live life this moment.

             It is often said "Never judge a book by its cover". I just got an example of it. Recently completed reading Aabhas K Maldahiyar "Restart". The book also has the tagline of "An Architect's Journey to the Parliament House". When I read the synopsis of the book, I was pretty sure that I willl get to read a very motivating story indeed. But, what I experienced was a weak plot. Even characters aren't given the kind of depth that is required. It is not the kind of book that will compel you to see what's on the next page. You know that the story is too slow to excite you. You will just read for the sake of reading it. Power Publishers charge authors to publish them, but they should also edit the book properly. If they would have looked once in the story with the attitude of eliminating the loopholes, this could have been one of the most interesting books of recent times. And I am not talking much about this book as I didn't find anything intriguing, but this is my personal opinion, I am not saying that you should ignore the book because of my review, go for it. I am not the one to judge a book and ask others to withdraw their interest from it. But again, Power Publishers, 225 rupees for a 152 pages book? Are you crazy? Huh!!!

Thanks.


 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

Interview with the author- Ishaan Lalit!!!

Interview with the author- Ishaan Lalit who has penned "The Bracelet" and the upcoming one-"Hexagon".

1. When your first book- The Bracelet came out, what was the reaction of people around you- Parents, children, friends, neighbours, relatives etc? 

  My mom was astonished that I could sit down and write a whole book. My wife was very supportive. She and my brother knew how hard I was working on The Bracelet. My friends still look at me in disbelief when I talk to them about my books. My neighbors, well they don’t know I exist.

     2. What exactly your latest book- Hexagon is all about? Because the title of the book is itself a strange word for many of us?

        Ha ha… Hexagon is not a strange word. It is just a six sided polygon. Hexagon is titled after an ancient six sided device in my book which can transport you to six dimensions. All having their own form of Earth but there is a war brewing on the other side or sides and my main protagonist is stuck in the war.

   3. How much long did it take to write this book from the moment you started developing the story to start writing it till completing it finally with editing and all?

       A book like Hexagon is very very exhausting and a lot of fun to write at the same time.  It took me two months to develop the concept and another six to write it.

    4. when do you write as you are not a Full Time Writer and its not easy to find time after coming back at home in evening?

      Actually I have left everything and turned to writing full time. I see a lot of potential in the market and I believe there is room for an author like me, who doesn’t want to conform.

    5. What exactly do you want to spread in society as a Writer?

      Just one word. Imagine! The word is very boring without imagination.

    6. As Indian authors are accused for degrading the quality of English and not giving a chance for readers to learn something new, can we expect some Good vocabulary, idioms, phrases, one-word substitutions etc from you ?

     Well I sure do hope so, but that doesn’t mean that Hexagon will be hard for you to read. It just means that I try to achieve a balance between English and English.

    7. Indian Publishing is too hard to deal with, was it easy for you to get a Publisher or did u wait for a long time to get your work published (Regarding your first book)?

       Yes it is at times hard dealing with the publishers but that is just a small hitch in the Indian Literature scene. I believe soon everybody will be more professional because our industry is here to stay.

   8. What are the Promotional strategies that you and your publisher have applied to promote/market your book- Hexagon? 

        I have six trailers which our easily viewable on youtube and asked Kunal Marathe and his Authors Empire Literary Company to help me out with the promotion. They are very good at what they do. I don’t know what the publishers are doing.

   9. After seeing the success of Five Point Someone, that it was adapted as a Blockbuster movie later on, did you ever feel as if your books can also achieve this feat or are you working on building some contacts to get your books turned into visual format?

I.     I would love for one of my books to be turned into a movie. It would be great to reach an audience which doesn’t read and the shear recognition it gives your work is amazing.

  10. What exactly is your target from your Books- 1. Getting most copies sold out, 2. Getting the love of readers or 3. You just wrote it because you wanted to write a book once in your life, hence you have no targets?

     The last one made me chuckle. I think if the readers love you then you will get the most number of copies sold. So I will go with the number 2.

   11. In the end, tell us in 5-7 lines, what speech will you give if you win a Major Award for the Best Indian Author for your books?

     Oh my god! If I have asked to give a speech I would most probably choke but here it goes.

Thank You Ladies and Gentlemen. I hoped you enjoyed reading my book because it seems it did very well and that is why I am giving a speech in this dream land. And I think it is time to get up now.

Excuse me, where were we?

Interview with Authoress- Ritu lalit !!!

Interview with the author- Ritu Lalit, who has penned two books: "A bowful of Butterflies" and upcoming- "Hilawi".

1. When your first book- A Bowful of Butterflies came out, what was the reaction of people around you- Parents, children, friends, neighbours, relatives etc?

A lot of them were not as surprised as I was.  Apparently as a kid, I had told people that I would write my own novel.  An uncle said, “You are a voracious reader, so it was just a matter of time that you would write your own book.” 

2. What exactly your latest book- Hilawi is all about? Because the title of the book is itself a strange word for many of us?

HILAWI is a word I coined.  “Jo hila kar rakh de”.  As the book trailer explains, at the time of the churning of the ocean, a young slave girl, barely fourteen, tries to flee the warring gods and demons.  Inadvertently she takes a magical object churned out of the ocean.  This object had to be given a name … so I coined the word HILAWI

3. How much long did it take to write this book from the moment you started developing the story to start writing it till completing it finally with editing and all?

Actually writing a story does not take more than three to four months for me.  But then my editing takes over.  I revise, edit, discard a lot, add a lot.  That takes a huge amount of time.  In the flow of writing I do not like to stop and think – I just keep developing events and scenes, many of which I chop off later.  “A Bowlful of Butterflies” was written in 50 days, the final shape came together after 7 months.  Hilawi took longer, roughly about ten months to come together.

4. when do you write as you are not a Full Time Writer and its not easy to find time after coming back at home in evening?

I do not sleep much … and the night is very peaceful and conducive to writing.

5. What exactly do you want to spread in society as a Writer?

I am not much of an advise giver or prone to giving motivational speeches.  So I have no message to give, apart from one.  I am a woman, and hence all my women characters are strong, passionate and real.  They are not sex objects or sacrificial goats.  So I guess that is my message …

6. As Indian authors are accused for degrading the quality of English and not giving a chance for readers to learn something new, can we expect some Good vocabulary, idioms, phrases, one-word substitutions etc from you ?

I do not like using weak grammar and it irritates me to read a poorly spelled word or a badly worded sentence.  It is possible to write a simple story with easy words.  In fact simplicity is beautiful, and I want my story to be read by all so I try to use simple words.  I am a writer and not an English teacher, but hope I can not be clubbed with writers who degrade the quality of English.

7. Indian Publishing is too hard to deal with, was it easy for you to get a Publisher or did u wait for a long time to get your work published (Regarding your first book)?

I guess I was lucky.  I had submitted my book (A Bowlful of Butterflies)  to an agent who rejected it outright.  It annoyed me a lot.  In a spirit of “How dare he” I sent it to Rupa & Co. directly.  But the rejection bothered me so I worked harder on the manuscript and polished it.  Rupa accepted it in three months, and I was on tenterhooks, because the original manuscript had been changed!  So I talked to the editor who laughed and said, “No problem, we’ll publish your latest version”.  So I guess it worked out for me.

8. What are the Promotional strategies that you and your publisher have applied to promote/market your book- Hilawi?

Not many, just the usual.  I have made a trailer which I am promoting through Youtube and my blog.  I am giving interviews like this one.  The publisher on their part is sending out press releases.  I do hope people like the book and write reviews.

9. After seeing the success of Five Point Someone, that it was adapted as a Blockbuster movie later on, did you ever feel as if your books can also achieve this feat or are you working on building some contacts to get your books turned into visual format?

I really don’t know.  I have not seen that far ahead.  I am just concentrating on writing quality books.  If someone approaches me, I may consider.  But I am a blogger and writer – not a movie maker.  So I will concentrate on doing what I know.

10. What exactly is your target from your Books- 1. Getting most copies sold out, 2. Getting the love of readers or 3. You just wrote it because you wanted to write a book once in your life, hence you have no targets?

Oh I am a drama queen.  I want it all, love of the readers, being on the best seller list, getting fame and fortune!  And why not?  One only lives one life eh? 

11. In the end, tell us in 5-7 lines, what speech will you give if you win a Major Award for the Best Indian Author for your books?

This is a message I would like to give my readers irrespective of the fact that I may or may not win any major award …

Thank you all for loving me so much!  You have encouraged me and so I am going to go back to the key board and dream up more stories for you.

Life Unplugged by Bhavya Sharma!!!

             Sorry for the excessive overflow of Book Reviews today. Already 11 has been posted and this is the 12th one. But I promise no more are coming at least within 24 hours from now. You can stop abusing me. :-) Finally completed reading Expression Publication's published Bhavya Sharma's "Life Unplugged". The book has an extremely attractive cover page having the tags of every thing that the book contains in its story line. Bhavya Sharma's pic is enough for the girls to pick up the books while browsing the books in bookstore. :-) Today itself, Bhavya Sharma is celebrating his 22nd birthday. A Very Happy birthday to you, sir from ARB and its readers. We hope that you will keep writing entertaining stories and entertain us until your fingers stop you to do that. :-) For my readers let me tell you that Bhavya Sharma is pursuing his Post Graduation from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. And he gets angry whenever someone gives more emphasis to the "a" in the end of his name. :-) He is also the co-founder of Guiding Light that is involved in Career assessment, Personality assessment, Career Guidance, Self-realization, creative workshops in schools & for NGOs. Amazing profile at the age of 22! 

            "Life Unplugged" is the story about how the teenagers get to know new things when they enter in Junior college after giving their 10th std board with innocence and pressure. How they develop friendship with some raunchy guys and how they get involved in those extra-ordinary activities that they only saw in movies but never dreamed of applying those in their own life. How they struggle for exam, how they cheat, how they argue with parents, how they understand what friendship is and what betrayal is, how they get excited when they see girls and many other elements of being a Junior collegiate. BUT, this book is written in a perspective of a boy studying in a BRANDED school like DPS. And as the IITIANs have helped us know what goes in IIT hostels and campuses through their books, Bhavya Sharma has let us know how DPS school's students are also involved in the crazy stuffs. To know the more about the book, purchase it. :-)

           Bhavya Sharma has written the whole book as an autobiography of his. At least it seems so as it doesn't have any over did element. Even when some extra ordinary activities are indeed a part of the story line, it seems as it is possible and it would have been the real experience of the author. But as it is promised on the cover page that its a Fiction/Humour, I didn't find any such humour while reading it. It is a light read that one will enjoy reading but nothing that will make you laugh like a crazy Laughing Buddha. But one thing is indeed sure. If I would have read this book when I was in 10th std, I would have enjoyed lot more in my 11th and 12th std. :-) The synopsis of the book is perfectly written as it does not claim any thing that is not in the book. So read the synopsis of the book and if it amazes you, surely go for this one.

            At least, the children in school and those who are yet to enter in a Graduation college, should surely try this one. They'll explore their college life more. :-) All the characters in the book is being given equal treatment. As the book is set in Junior college's scenario, there is nothing about Sex and Lust and those elements that could have been inserted and made this book a monotonous attempt too. But thankfully, it is more about how the intelligent students too end up screwing their life by getting distracted for exciting things around them. This book is actually for all those who belong under the age group of 14 to 20. And for those who think that the schools like DPS, Ryan are only meant for studies and not for fun. :-) I'll rate this book an Average attempt. 

   Thanks.


   ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

Zero Percentile 2.0- Missed IIT Kissed Gurgaon by Neeraj Chhibba !!!

              Zero Percentile- Missed IIT Kissed Russia (Read its review by me HERE) was finished by me exactly 24 hours ago. And it made me wake up for the whole night of 26th June. And I started its sequel "Zero Percentile 2.0- Missed IIT Kissed Gurgaon" last night and it made me wake for this whole night again. :-) Very lovingly, after thinking a lot after completing the first part, I settled with 4.4 which seems to be so much analyzed and studied. :-) And when you rate a book so high, its sequel already gets a challenge to impress the reader as the first one remains to be a kind of an epic for him. But after completing the Second part, I am very proud of saying that Neeraj Chhibba is one of the favorite authors I'll look out for in future. Zero Percentile 2.0 has already sold 50,000 copies as I read it in an interview. And this author deserves to get such recognition. 

             Zero Percentile ended when Pankaj returns to India after completing his Red Degree successfully(kind of) from Russia. He gets married to Priya, his childhood love. While Nitin was still shown to be alive even after being diagnosed with HIV positive. Motu gets his own ventured organization open in India. Zero Percentile 2.0 takes story forward from here. It brings some new characters as the lead in the book such as Sans, Arjun, Tanya, Jaanvee with the oldies Pankaj, Motu, Priya and Nitin. It's enough for you to understand that if a sequel has new characters as lead in first of the three parts, then bringing back the old characters in second part and finally merging all of them together in the last part of the book, how entertaining it would have been to read. :-) GO GET THE BOOK.

           As I have already spoken about the author's skill of writing, I don't find any need of repeating it again in this review. But, I did miss the sense of humour in this book which was in abundant in the first book. :-( But I did like how the role of AIDS patient-Nitin and a physically-mentally challenged little girl-Divya is being shown beautifully. I fell in love with the character of Divya. Actually, now I just want to become father as soon as possible to get a beautiful little daughter like Divya and take her care as Arjun, her father does. :-) The part where Divya recites the poem without any stammering and gets nervous and emotional in the last four lines which is related to a complete family because her mother, Muskaan had left her and her father because Divya was born as a special child. Nitin's AIDS case is shown too encouragingly from the point of view of AIDS patient. Else, the software scenarios bored me initially. 

            Just when you start hating the absence of Pankaj and Motu's friendship in this book, author brings them at the right time in the Part II to bring our interest back in the book. :-) The story teaches us so much about not being arrogant and punishing someone else for someone else's mistakes and faults. Sveta and Kapil's chapter is closed nicely in the story. Asterisks that is often used in book to make a reader know that the author is relating the scenario from the first book, it will urge the ones who haven't read the first one to read and while the one who have already read the first part, smile after remembering the funny and sweet moments of the first book. The totally different approach of this book is what I liked. The First book made me confident of migrating to a country where one can't even understand my language while this one motivated me to study my Software Engineering nicely so that I don't get screwed as Motu gets. :-) The only problem that I had with the story was injustice done with Priya's character in the end. But even that is ended with a sweet note but still. :-( 

           I would have rated this 3.5 but combining this story with Zero Percentile, I will settle at 4/5. :-) 

 Thanks.

 ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

Zero Percentile-Missed IIT Kissed Russia by Neeraj Chhibba!!!

             Whenever you see any paperback format of any 200-230 pages book by an Indian author, you term it as "chick-lit" without giving a thought of trying some of them to give an analyzed judgment to your statement. But still there are readers who are interested in reading the ordinary Love Stories by Indian authors as they find it familiar to theirs. Recently, I picked a National Bestseller book named "Zero Percentile" with a tagline of "Missed IIT Kissed Russia". For once I thought that it's a Love story but I still took courage of reading it. And I am so shocked to witness that the book has nothing about Love (as primary or even secondary topic) in it but still had a tagline which can misguide many that this boy missed a chance on an IITian girl and finally landed up in succeeding with a Russian. But it has nothing of such story line in it. This book is 2000 times better than my imaginary plot. :-) The author of "Zero Percentile- Missed IIT Kissed Russia" is Neeraj Chhibba who was born and raised in India but studied his engineering at Russia, where he spent almost 7.5 years of his life. He is currently employed with a software company in India. And I would say, one of my favorite authors from the moment I finished reading half of the book. :-)

            The book is about Pankaj who has a perfect childhood with his friend Motu aka Gaurav and Priya. He passed all his childhood with both of them and loved more than anyone else. Finally, he realizes that he has a strong feeling for Priya but he feels awkward about it as he belongs from a lower middle-class family while she almost lived a life of a Princess. Hence, he promises himself that he'll try to be of the level Priya is. He tried for IIT but misses because of some uncertainties. Then, he lands up in Russia to study the Engineering equivalent course. But, with studies, he faces lots of different worldly elements in Russia which matures him as a Human being. He realizes and observes many different aspects of a Human life and nature. And to go deep into the inspiring life of Pankaj, go get the National Bestseller book.

            Neeraj Chhibba is a wonderful writer having the power of language to express even the tiny things so intriguingly that you remember each of them even after completing the book. Even when the story is lengthy, it didn't bore me for a single minute. I completed it in one go. And I thank Neeraj Chhibba for taking me away from India for few hours and let me enjoy the country of Russia. :-) 

              One of the most powerful story line I came across in last 3 years. The childhood story of the protagonist in 1970's is so wonderfully described. The way India was then lets you know the kind of life your parents had. The description of every character and even describing the whole family background of each one of them right from their great-grandfather's history makes you feel as if you are watching a Blockbuster movie in a multiplex. The funny scenarios where the protagonist and his friend-Motu has to deal with sophisticated and rich Priya made me laugh out loud. Minute things of childhood and school is also recorded with emotions that makes the book unique in itself. The fight that the protagonist had with Khalid and Hassan over food which was equivalent to World War 3 at the hostel in Russia was so fun to read. I didn't want it to end. :-) The way the struggle and fight against it of the protagonist is narrated, gives you a confidence that even you can survive in a country where people don't even understand English. At least, I have got the confidence of moving to Russia in next 24 hours. :-) When Pankaj bribes the Russian teachers for marks is something that has also given me the confidence of bribing teachers for my internal assessment. :-) When Pankaj's story is moved from India to Russia, you forget all the characters of India and get in love with the new ones that are introduced. 

              This book will give you confidence of dreaming big even if you have failed miserably in your school/college/professional life. The book has been successful in making you know how the Big and Small things of Russia is. It lets you know how can one leave family, friends, attachment if one have to do something extra-ordinary in life. In short, this book is too good to be missed. I just can't stop writing good points about the book. The only two drawbacks that I couldn't ignore are- Initially it becomes difficult to get the flow of story. And the climax doesn't mention about the Sirs who taught him for IIT. It would have been little more exciting to have them in the end. Else, I am rating this book 4.4/5. Go for it, undoubtedly. And Yes, this book also has a Sequel to it "Zero Percentile 2.0". I am about to begin it in 5 minutes. :-)

  Thanks.

   ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU