WIN COPIES OF THE NOVEL - ONE AND A HALF WIFE BY MEGHNA PANT

We are back with a very simple contest for you.

Title: One and a Half Wife
Author: Meghna Pant
Publisher: Westland Books

About The Book:

Unlike most Indian immigrants, Amara Malhotra is not destined to achieve the American Dream. Much to the anxiety of her parents - the spirited Biji and the doting Baba - Amara leads an unremarkable life. That is, until she marries Harvard-educated millionaire, Prashant Roy.
However, this fairy-tale isn’t meant to last, and even as Amara’s marriage collapses, she finds herself returning to the land of her birth, to the small city of Shimla. Here, in a borough grappling with questions of modernity, Amara is caught in a tug-of-war between old beliefs and new ones, between parents who favour obedience and new friends who encourage independent thought.
With powerful insights, One and a Half Wife traces the coming-of-age of multiple characters, while re-defining family, relationships and love in contemporary India.

About The Author:
A financial journalist by day and a writer by night, Meghna Pant is the editor of a business magazine. She has formerly worked as a TV anchor for NDTV Profit and Bloomberg-UTV. Her short stories have been published in over a dozen literary magazines, across four countries.
An avid traveller, Meghna Pant has stayed in various cities around the world, from Mumbai and Singapore to Zurich and New York City. She is currently based in Dubai.
One and a Half Wife - Meghna’s debut novel - has been long listed for the Cinnamon Press Novel Writing Award, selected as a top ten finalists in Word Hustler’s Literary Storm Novel Contest, and made it to the second round of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

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CONTEST  

Win copies of this exciting novel written by Author Meghna Pant.

To win a copy, all you need to do is - 
 

1. Like the book's facebook page here --> http://www.facebook.com/OneAndAHalfWife 

OR

2. Follow Author Meghna Pant on twitter --> https://twitter.com/MeghnaPant  

Yep, thats all 

You may like the page as well as follow on twitter to increase your chances of winning.

After you have liked/followed, just fill up the simple form given in the link below so that we come to know you have entered this contest.

Link to form - Click me to view form 

Contest begins Sept 24 and ends on Oct 8 at 10pm.

All the best

Do let your friends know about this contest

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - AJAY KAR

We recently interviewed published author Ajay Kar

Short Bio :
Ajay Shankar Kar is a doctor with a passion for writing.

Way Back in Love is his debut novel.

Dr. Kar is an ophthalmologist from CMC Vellore. He lives in Hyderabad and practices as a fellow in the cornea department at Apollo Hospital.

- How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

I am not a writer, I am a story teller. This world is a race planet. Each and every one of us is running after success. I was one amongst them. In this long run, I had lost many things from friends to relatives, from happiness to peace. It took me many years to realize that you are not successful when you lose everything to achieve something. When I knew the limits of my abilities, I gave a break in the form of a book. I wanted my readers to look into themselves through my eyes and realize where they stand now.

- When did you take to writing?

I am a voracious reader from my school days. I started writing short stories and poems in college magazine after joining MBBS. My stories used to run in boys' hostel and were a rage in girls' hostel. My readers would always ask me about my next endeavor. It is my best friend who believed in my writing more than me and asked me to write a novel. I wasn't sure whether I will stand as an author, writer or a story teller but his confidence in me obliged me to finish my first novel. He still believes I am a better writer than many of the famous authors in the present day world. Our friendship has gained strength to strength in last 15 years and his belief has made me an author. The adventures of Sherlock Holes won't be complete without the appraisal of Dr John. H  Watson.

- Where do you usually write? What is your favourite setting to write in?

I usually write when I feel like writing. It’s the best stress buster when you want to express your thoughts to the world. The days are gone when writers used to go to river banks or take holidays and go to some hill station to complete their book. I usually write at midnight when the hullabaloo of my thoughts has amalgamated with the serenity of the peaceful night.

-Did this story  come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

The first chapter of my novel ‘The other side of the road’ was a short story which every reader known to me liked it so much that they wanted to know what happened next. I was not sure about it as I was comfortable writing short stories than a novel. As recommended by my best friend I started writing my first novel. The main hiccup was the ending which took me months, as I was not sure how to give a different ending. But it feels great when readers send messages and comments saying, they loved the ending. There is a saying, ’If it starts well, then it ends well’. I believe, ’If it ends well then everything is well or else you are in the hell.’

- Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain

I don’t have much life online. I am usually in my department of ophthalmology offline from 8AM to 6PM.But you can catch me some times on Facebook or Gmail. You can join my group in facebook ,’WAY BACK IN LOVE’ where there are thousands of followers  or mail me at ak.cmc.ophtha@gmail.com, ajay.kar.9@facebook.com. You are free to ask me not only about my book but any eye related disease, and I will be happy to reply you to the best of my ability and knowledge.

- What are your thoughts on life – The one thing that it takes to live it?

I live for a day to its fullest. It's not worth living if you die for nothing. My main aim in life is to open a charitable multispecialty eye hospital in Western Odisha which can serve the needy free of cost. If God showers his grace, may be some years down the lane I hope to be recognized as an excellent surgeon and a good novelist.

- How has your experience been so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this space that you would like to share here?

Literary world is an illusion for me. I don’t have a circle of great authors and writers. I am more with my patients and their pathos. I got to know few of the Indian writers through facebook. Most of them are engineers and MBAs making a mark in the world of writing. I am not sure whether I am in the rat race to make a mark in writing nor do I want to become a full time writer. I am happy with the job what I am doing. Writing is my passion and hobby. I am not writing for any name of fame. It’s just the expression of my thoughts which is taking the shape of a book.

- Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

At present I am doing my fellowship in cornea at Apollo hospital, Hyderabad. Soon, I will  shift to Visakhapatnam, and join as a Cornea consultant at Sankar Eye Foundation. It always feels good  to work in a referral center dealing with difficult cases. With God’s grace I hope to fulfill the expectations of my patients and bring smile on their faces.

I love reading, writing, travelling. I love watching movies, listening songs and eating delicious food. To sum up, I am just a normal human being.

- So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

In one word if you ask, ’SATISFIED’. I didn’t have much time to think and ponder over it as I have other things to do. Writing is a desert for me after a good meal.

- Top 3 All-time favourite books .

Fountain head by Ayn Rand

The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Swami and his friends by R K Narayan

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - NITIN VINAY KHARE

We recently interviewed published author Nitin Vinay Khare

Short Bio :

Nitin (Age 28)  is a nomadic artist from the sleepy town of Panna ,Madhya Pradesh. He lives a nomadic life in search of creative inspirations and keeps on moving from one city to another for his painting assignments.

''I Loved A Street Woman' is his debut English novel, he can be contacted at: nitinvinaykhare@gmail.com

How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

Writing, as a form of expression came to me by itself. It started from poetry and painting and gradually the canvass got extended to the story board. I have been writing stories for several years; it’s just that I have now only managed to get them published.

As any other guy of lower middle class Indian family, I too had pressures of safe job and sustainability. But destiny had different plans. It forced me to travel and write my experiences.

‘I loved a street woman’ started as a mere thought during one of those trips, gradually the thought took the shape of a story and then after some research, finally it took the shape of a book.

It is an eternal love story between Aviral and Umrao, Aviral represents typical urban male, whereas Umrao, a cultured rural girl. The urban-rural conflicts and their journey to small towns unfolds many misconceptions and makes them fall in love with each other.

I have tried to keep the story smooth yet interesting and enlightening. I feel delighted when readers revert back that they were so amused that they have finished the book in one long sitting. The first and foremost thing for an author is to keep reader intrigued in each line; each paragraph. I think the book has succeeded in achieving this level up to some extent.
 

Where do you usually write? What is your favourite setting to write in?

There is no fixed place. In our school days, I visualized a play while discussing it with my friend while using commode in adjoining washrooms. I have written poems even on those tissue papers while waiting for dinner at a Dhaba and on those black and white mobiles while travelling in general bogies of trains. Talking of novel, I have written some chapters online and some on paper as well. For me its not about mode, its about mood.

Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

There wasn’t anything like writer’s block; but the story didn’t come that easily. There was sheer amount of research and brainstorming into penning down this story.
 
Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain
I am not that much Tech savvy, my friends have helped me a lot tolearn to run Facebook and blog. I do have my business website of De Murals ( www.demurals.com) which is dedicated to wall murals painting.

Facebook page -- https://www.facebook.com/ILovedAStreetWoman
and I write a popular blog --http://nitinvinaykhare.blogspot.in/ 

What are your thoughts on life – The one thing that it takes to live it?

For me, life is a self stabling equilibrium. Your good and bad deeds do come back to you. Many a times it happened that people came from nowhere to help and guide me in my lows. These were those people whom I have helped and loved unintentionally. I consider life to be a long story, an ever ending movie; and I try to give my best shot in its every scene.

How has your experience been so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this space that you would like to share here?
Prior to becoming an Author, I was in sales in a publishing company. So I had a little bit insight of it. Still, the experience was extreme at both ends. The industry is evolving and it has its own merits and demerits.

Talking of lows, I was refused almost a dozen of publishers. Some haven’t reverted even till this date. At one time, I thought to give up the whole idea of the book, but my friends motivated me to fight till the end. The highs in ascending order were first to sign the contract, second to touch the printed copy of my book and third and the highest was to sign the first copy for my beloved readers.

Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

I hardly have hobbies anymore, I have converted them in my profession. Before turning into an Author, I had already turned into a Painter. De Murals is my painting venture. Travelling has also turned up being part of my professional life. So no more hobbies left for me!

How did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?
Ans: Contrary to feeling simply happy and excited, now I feel an extended sense of responsibility to fulfill the expectations of my readers in my upcoming books. The benchmarks get elevated by themselves every time.

Top 3 All-time favourite books .

The first one is ‘We, the Living’ by Ayn Rand.

Second is ‘TheZahir’ by Paulo Cohelo

And third is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I am a die hard fan of Ayn Rand, Dan Brown, Paulo Coelho and above all; Munshi Premchand.

       

 

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - YASHODHARA LAL SHARMA

We recently interviewed published author Yashodhara Lal Sharma

Short Bio :
Yashodhara Lal graduated from IIM-Bangalore in 2002 and has over a decade of experience in the corporate world, across the FMCG and media industries. She lives in Gurgaon with her husband Vijay and the three children who they innovatively refer to as Peanut, Pickle and Papad. Yashodhara began her journey in writing with her blog, described as a serious attempt to take life less seriously, now at www.yashodharalal.com. Just Married, Please Excuse is her first book.

-Tell us something about your novel

The book is called ‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ (sample chapters are up on www.justmarriedpleaseexcuse.com) and as the name suggests, it’s a humorous story of the early years of marriage. The protagonists are, a hot-tempered Delhi girl and a laid-back boy from Jaipur, who find that they have perhaps bitten off more than they can chew. 

-How did this book happen and why did you choose to write about it?

The book happened because I always wanted to write – I blog at www.yashodharalal.com and for years, I was getting feedback from my readers that my writing was funny and that I should write. Finally, a difficult pregnancy and two surgeries in 2010 convinced me that life was too short and if you have a dream, you better just sit down and get to it.

-When did you take to writing?

I used to write consistently through school and college and was on the editorial boards – but when I started work, the writing was on hold. Until 2006, when I started blogging, I’d say – that really helped in various ways, leading to a serious effort later – at the book.

-Where do you usually write? What is your favourite setting to write in?

I’m on a sabbatical right now, trying to finish my second novel. I actually love to write at my desk in my room at home; but often, my three children are screaming outside for me, so it gets a little difficult. I wait until they’re asleep and now get a little time to myself since the younger sons – my twins – have started pre-school.

Sometimes I write at coffee shops – that works, unless it gets too noisy. Kids, again, usually.

-Did this story come to you easily or did you find yourself stuck with a writer’s block sometimes?

This story came very easily to me, primarily because it’s based on my own experiences. I’m told that this makes the story very relatable because most of it is real. But now, I am suffering a bit from writer’s block although I’m trying hard to get over it – the second novel is a lot more fictional in nature, and I find that more difficult. It’s all part of the experience, though.

-Tell us about your life online and the sites you maintain

I am very proud of my book website – it was designed by my nephew and a friend, so it’s not really done ‘professionally’, but people have remarked that it’s great. That’s at www.justmarriedpleaseexcuse.com.

I’m active on my blog, www.yashodharalal.com – I’m currently running contests there around the book, but primarily use it as my personal blog.

My facebook page is fairly active www.facebook.com/justmarriedpleaseexcuse

And of course, these days, what are we without our 140-character pearls of wisdom? I’m on twitter with the handle @yashodharalal

There’s also an interesting activity on the Indiblogger platform, where I’m going to share my learnings and mistakes with writing and getting published – that’s one to watch, as well.

-What are your thoughts on life – The one thing that it takes to live it?

That’s a very profound question. I wish I had a profound answer.

I’m going to go with ‘Living so that you have no regrets at the end.’ I also like the phrase ‘Life is too short to be small.’

-How has your experience been so far in the literary world? Any highs or lows being a part of this space that you would like to share -here?

The experience has been – interesting, to say the least. There have been many highs – getting published, getting great reviews; but there are also lows, usually disappointment that things don’t always work out as you want them to; or meeting someone who you thought was very helpful, but turns out to be less than so – it’s a rather slow burn with long turnaround times and overall, it requires a lot of patience and tenacity to stick to your guns and go ahead to try and do the best for your book. But then again, these are things which are a part of every space in life, right? I’d say overall, I’m very lucky to be in the position I am in, and have met some great and supportive people along the way.

-Tell us something about your work & hobbies?

I work in the Marketing domain, and have done so for the last ten years – I’ve worked at a large FMCG and am currently involved with the online domain. For the last couple of months, I’m on a sabbatical and I’m pursuing time with my family, writing my second book, dabbling with a short story and taking an active interest in my Zumba lessons. I’m also planning to start guitar lessons and catch up on my reading in the next few months before I go back to work.

-So how did it feel when you finally finished writing the book?

First feeling – a great sense of achievement.

Second feeling – a great sense of self-doubt. Would anyone care to publish it?

Thankfully, I got lucky with the nice people at HarperCollins.

-Top 3 All-time favourite books.

Thornbirds – Colleen McCullough

Palace of Illusions – Chitra Devakaruni Bannerjee

And my god, I really can’t think of a third. I like Bill Bryson, James Herriot and Gerald Durrell though.

Okay, I’ll say My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. 

We would like to thank Author Yashodhara for a Tete-e-tete with Team Book Readers Lounge.