HarperCollins India to launch Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut novel

]HarperCollins India is delighted to announce that Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s debut, Paradise Towers, will release on 10^th October 2018, with a book launch event in Mumbai. A heart-warming slice-of-life novel set in an apartment building in Mumbai, Paradise Towers, is a riveting read brimming with the drama and intrigue of everyday lives. The book is now available for pre-order on major online retail sites.

About Paradise Towers: Dinesh opens the door to the Kapoor flat to find Lata, the enchantress who works at Mrs Aly Khan’s, carrying a hot case with freshly made gaajar ka halwa. On the first floor, the inquisitive Mrs Mody wipes the dust off her precious binoculars to spy on the building’s security guard. The Singhs open the doors of their SUV, their four boys creating a ruckus – they are the newcomers, the outsiders. Through the peephole, the ever-watchful Mrs Ranganekar observes their arrival. Welcome to Paradise Towers, an apartment building in central Mumbai. Everyone here has a story to tell. Or maybe they have stories to hide.

          

Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s quirky, intimate debut explores the intertwined lives in this building – a forbidden r]omance, an elopement, the undercurrents of tension in corridor interactions and an explosive Diwali celebration. Shweta Bachchan-Nanda’s is a dazzling voice that will draw you into the intoxicating, crazy world that is Paradise Towers.

Speaking about how she came to write Paradise Towers, Shweta Bachchan-Nanda said, ‘I grew up with my grandfather who was a poet and a writer. Writing and reading was always a very important part of our lives. I’ve been writing a diary ever since I was a little girl, and wrote stories that I never shared with anyone. Then, one day I just said, I am going to take this plunge. I started writing a column for a newspaper in Mumbai and it gave me a lot of confidence to go ahead and do this full time, and that’s where Paradise Towers comes from.’

Karan Johar, renowned filmmaker, further added, ‘Observant, moving, hilarious and exceptionally astute... Paradise Towers is no slice of life...it's an entire loaf. Shweta “builds” her debut novel with the ease of a literary veteran. Go find your Paradise between these pages!’

Shre]ya Punj, Assistant Editor, HarperCollins India, who acquired the book, said, ‘I fell in love with the story when I first read it. Now, Paradise Towers is ready to meet its readers, and I cannot wait for people to fall in love with this quirky, intimate world Shweta has created. We’re proud to be publishing her debut – it’s fresh, insightful and a story that will resonate with everyone.’

About the author: Shweta Bachchan-Nanda is a columnist for DNA and V]ogue. A well-known personality, she is the daughter of actors Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan. Shweta is married to Nikhil Nanda and is the mother of two c]hildren. She has her own clothing label, MxS, which launched in 2018. She lives in New Delhi. This is her first novel.

For more information, please contact Shabnam.Srivastava@harpercollins.co.in     

Imprint: HarperCollins India      Price: Rs 250

Interviewing the author of The Jasmine Bloom – Mr. Rajat Narula

A writer will remain a writer all his life. No matter how many obstacles come in their life but the writer’s story sooner or later come out of a dream to become a reality. The US based author Rajat Narula’s story is somehow very similar. 25 years later when his picks up his writing skills, he knows he is ready to bloom as a writer. Today, I got a chance to interview with The Jasmine Bloom’s author Rajat and here are the excerpts from the interview:  

Tell our readers about your background & how did you get into writing?

I wrote my first poem, as well as my short story, at the age of 13.  My poems started getting published, when I was about 18.  Around that time, I started writing a fortnightly column for a local newspaper, and wrote for about six months.  The appreciation I received for it gave me confidence that I could write well.  It was at that point, I knew I wanted to write a full-length novel. 

However, life intervened.  I was studying to be a chartered accountant, it demanded all my time, and I gave up the writing. 

Over 25 years later, after reconnecting with an old friend over Facebook, the talk turned to writing.  I wrote a chapter, showed it to family and a couple of friends.  They liked it.  And I decided to pursue my childhood dream, in whatever dregs of time I could find.  That’s how ‘The Jasmine Bloom’ was born.

I continue to work full time (I work for World Bank, based out of Washington DC), and write in my spare time. 

Which writers inspire you for writing?

My list of favorite writers is long.  It includes Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, Khaled Hussaini, Emma Donoghue, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Kazuo Ishiguro However, one writer, whose style I really admire, and would love to write like her, is Jhumpa Lahiri. Her uniqueness is that she evokes emotions without being melodramatic. 

Where do you get ideas or inspiration for your writing?

The inspirations are all around you. People you meet, news you read, movies you watch, books you read, random conversations you overhear, sights you see, places you visit - all these things remain within you. Sometimes they percolate for years, enmeshing with other ideas and thoughts and a story begins to take shape.

What genre you enjoy the most while writing novels?

I like everyday stories about everyday people.  No fantasies, paranormal or space journeys for me.  I love exploring the inherent grayness of people.  Human beings have in this innate capacity of being good and bad both. I like working with life-like, flawed characters, and see what they can be like in different situations. 

I also like exploring relationships: lovers, spouses, siblings, parents-kids, and so on.  The intricacies of relationships and how they change with passage of life is also a subject of my enormous interest. 

What was the inspiration behind your recent book?

Many years ago, I watched a Harrison Ford movie called 'Random Hearts'. In the movie, Ford's wife dies in a car crash, along with the Senator for whom she worked. After her death, Ford finds out she and the Senator were lovers - and she was thinking of leaving Ford. Senator's wife finds out too and the movie was about their coming to terms with that truth. Ford and the Senator's wife also have an affair and so on. The concept of finding out about your partner's infidelity after he/she is gone fascinated me. I thought what if the situation was reversed. If the husband was the one who having an affair and the wife (who died) knew about it, but didn't confront him, while she was alive. After her death, when the husband finds out that she knew, how hard it would be to deal with that guilt. When the person you want to apologize is gone. That was the kernel of the story of 'The Jasmine Bloom'. Of course, it needed a lot of development, fleshing out the characters, introducing children in the mix, a potential corporate fraud and so on to make it an engaging story.

What does your family think of your writing?

My wife and daughters have been very supportive.  They are my first readers, and give me candid feedback on my writing. My mom (78 years old) and hasn’t read a book for the past thirty years, is currently reading my book, and is also giving me an interesting feedback.   

Can we expect your next writing stint & if yes, what & when?

I am currently working on my second novel, tentatively titled, ‘Azalea Heights’, which is based in United States. The central theme of the book is the inter-ethnic tensions and clash of cultures in US, particularly in the post-Trump world. Instead of one protagonist, the book has five! I am currently on my fourth draft and expect to complete the book this year.  Of course, there is a big gestation between completing the book and seeing it in print. If I am lucky, that process may get finished in one year, so that would mean 2019.  If not, it can be longer. 

Lastly, what writing tips you’d like to give to budding writers? 

First: Persist. I see several people starting, but then losing steam midway. It doesn't matter how good or bad your first draft is, but it is important you finish what you start. There is plenty of time, after the first draft is completed, to further improve the book. But the most important thing is to finish it.

Second: Write the best book you can. I finished the first draft of 'The Jasmine Bloom' in 18 months but it took me another 42 months to ‘complete’ it. I understand there are shortcuts available (self-publishing, editors) and the quality of writing of some of the bestsellers in India isn't quite the best, but you still want to give it your best shot. The book may be a hit or a flop, but you won't want your name to be associated with a shoddy, half-baked product.

Three: Don't write what you think can sell in the market. Write what you want to write. The story you think you can tell the best. For example, if college romance is what selling in India currently, doesn't mean you must write one too. If that's the story that you have in you, then of course! But if you have another story to tell, go ahead and tell your story. That way your truth will make the writing stronger and the readers will relate with the book.

To buy The Jasmine Bloom, visit: Amazon 

Penguin India and All Things Chocolates have turned your favorite book into a chocolate bar

A good book accompanied by a huge chocolate bar! Yeah! You got me right! This excellent marketing idea has come from the collaboration between Penguin India and All Things Chocolates. 

This innovative and refreshing marketing concept not only has taken social media by storm but bibliophiles are going crazy as they can enjoy their favorite book with favorite chocolate. 

Image Courtesy: Instagram

Penguin India has smartly picked up popular classics like Meghadutam by Kalidasa, The Colors of My Heart by Faiz Ahmed Faiz and The Cat and Shakespeare by Raja Rao. On the other hand, All things Chocolates chose Belgian Milk Chocolate infused with ingredients like cream cheese, coconut crumble and more. Such combination has certainly become a delicious read. You’re not only going to melt in the world of fantasy but the perfect taste of Belgian chocolate is going to linger in your mouth.

So are you ready for this melting session of reading? 

To buy these Penguin Classics, visit TheAllThingsShop.com

  

  

Navi Mumbai to host city’s biggest Music, Art and Poetry Festival (MAP 2017) on 22-23rd July

Navi Mumbai has grown over the years, opening its doors to new ideas, new revolutions and new EVENTS! The city is now gearing up for its first ever Music, Artand Poetry Festival (MAP 2017) organised by one of the creative event pioneers- Event Eyes Communications.MAP 2017 is scheduled to take place on 22 &23 July at TernaEngineering College Auditorium and CampusNerul, Navi Mumbai.

MAP 2017 is a cultural good cause event to beopened by NMMC- Navi Mumbai Mayor, ShriSudhakarSonawane.To name a few renowned Guests, Guide, Speakers, Trainers, Performers associated with the event, ShriAnupJalota, Veteran Singer and Composer, JyotiKapoor, Screenwriter, RoubleNagi, Mural Artist/Sculptor and Social Worker, ManishaLakhe, Poet, Film Critic, Kartik Sharma, Percussionist and Didgeridoo Player, SushantDivgikar, Model, Actor, Singer, MohinderPratap Singh, Producer, Director, SudeepPagedar, Writer and Spoken-word Artist, Dr. RadhakrishnanPillai, Author, Founder-Chanakya's Institute, NupurSaraswat, Stage Performer, Anjali Kirpalani, Author, Writer. The event is likely to have huge participation from the Navi Mumbai college students, corporates, Bollywood personalities, renowned as well as budding artists and music, art and poetry lovers.

Neha V Jha, Curator- MAP Festival is of the view that Music, Art and Poetry are the best ways of expression and communication. She says, “The objective of MAP 2017 is to give its audience two days of escape from the hustle-bustle of the city’s life. A lot of research is involved! Here you get to listen to music you would have never heard, witness the form of art you could have never imagined and listen to poetry that might keep you thinking for days.” She also shared that this is going to be an annual event.

At MAP Festival, the workshops and discussions will revolve around topics like How music can benefit you, Whom to read and how to start writing, How to work with short movies, Art on social media, Work of some renowned artists, Artist survival stories and other interesting subjects. The performances will include leading as well as young artists from music, art and poetry fields. The rising rage of open-mic poetry sessions and stand-up comedy will also have a preview. Besides this, the event will also have a table-top exhibition area that will comprise of paintings, handicrafts, books, apparel, stationary, art & fashion accessories etc., put on sale and display.

Visitor Registrations are open at http://www.eventeyes.in/p/map-registration.html.

Brands are invited to partner. For more information you may visit: www.mapfest.in or drop an email at team@eventeyes.in

An Exclusive Interview with Indian Author, Ram Sivasankaran

That author who gave an interesting twist to old story; who transported us in the golden era of Peshwas & read Bajirao Peshwa’s history with an exciting knot. Yes, I am talking about the talented author of the book ‘The Peshwa: The Lion and the Stallion’ – Ram Sivasankaran.

Ram published his first novel and surprised us with his impeccable & impressive writing in The Peshwa. Who would have thought in their dreams that same old story of Bajirao Peshwa who often associated with Mastani could become an interesting read? 

However, our author did a mindboggling job on this part & we just can’t wait to get our hands on his second novel. But hold on your horses, peeps as there are many interesting facts about Ram that we should know. 

I had a chance to interview him & he gladly accepted my request. So here’s our candid talk about his writing stint, his life & many more!

I hope you’ll enjoy to know more about Ram Sivasankaran! 

Ram Sivasankaran, the Author of 'The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion

Q 1: Tell our readers about your background & how did you get into writing?

My background is actually (like most Indians) in Engineering. In particular, I am an aeronautical engineer. I have always been interested in all forms of writing since I was very young. I cannot say how well I do it but I have been writing short stories, poems, and articles since I was eight.

Q 2: Which writers inspire you for writing?

Mostly the authors of classics – Alexandre Dumas, Mark Twain, R K Narayan, Jules Verne etc. Also, the Indian Itihasas (epics) – namely the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas had a very profound influence on my life and thought process.

Q 3: As a child, which books or fictional characters fascinated you the most?

I will pick one out of many. The character who fascinated me most was Edmond Dantes, the protagonist/anti-hero from The Count of Monte Cristo. In a sense, he showed the resilience of human spirit in rising from a deep injustice that had been dealt to him. His revenge on his enemies was what I thought were both brutal and compassionate.

Q 4: Where do you get ideas or inspiration for your writing?

The number one inspiration for writing is reading other works by prolific authors. Read J R R Tolkien, George R R Martin, and J K Rowling and you see how these authors have weaved up universes in words. Add this inspiration with dreaming up stories and scenes of your own, put your thoughts to paper in consistent, coherent language and you hopefully have a book worth reading.

Q 5: What genre you enjoy the most while writing short stories?

I thoroughly enjoy drama, historical fiction (of course) and science fiction.

Q 6: What was the inspiration behind your recent book?

I am going to offer a little bit of a longer answer here, do excuse me 😎

My major inspiration is my firm belief that our history textbooks are biased and even sometimes downright inaccurate in the depiction of events and characters from out the past. As an example of a biased report of history, the years between 1100 and 1800 is dominated by chapters on the Delhi, Mughal and Deccan sultanates with almost zero mention of the Vijayanagara Empire and the rise of the Marathas to supremacy. The combined period between the dominance of the Vijayanagara and the Maratha Empires is entire 1,000 years. So, why the selectivity and bias in what we learn? 

I get the feeling Chhatrapati Shivaji is, in textbooks of national boards, shown as something of a brigand – an expert in guerilla warfare who snatched power from the Mughals a little at a time through unfair means. On the other hand, there may be a paragraph or two at most describing what an able, egalitarian ruler he was. 

The Peshwa

 You can buy this book on Amazon, Flipkart & Infibeam.

Of Peshwa Bajirao and his heirs who spread Maratha Samrajya over the entire subcontinent extending to the far reaches of Afghanistan, we barely hear anything. Of Mahadji Scindia who fought and defeated the British in the First Anglo-Maratha War, we barely hear anything. Of whole dynasties like the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas, who conquered not only lands up to the Ganga but built fleets to go as far as Vietnam, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia, we barely hear anything. Of Krishnadeva Raya, the greatest Emperor of Vijayanagara who smashed the power of the Bahmani Sultanate, we barely hear anything. On the side of inaccurate history, we study about the ‘Aryan Invasion Theory’ which says a small band of horsemen came from Europe and Central Asia and replaced local culture with their own. I could go on about this but let me stop here.

My books (and future books) are a fictional take on what actually happened in history. Any historical inaccuracies in my book are not only to be expected, they are a part and parcel of my storytelling style. My goal is to arouse interest in the actual history by telling stories in my way – so my readers may be intrigued enough to go out and do some research for themselves. However, I will always narrate the tale in the true spirit of what the protagonists are remembered for. For example, Bajirao is known for his military genius, chivalry, and valor. There are zero compromises made on that front regardless of what events and characters I choose to omit or exaggerate.

Q 7: What does your family think of writing?

They are very happy with my writing (and proud of me, of course). However, my wife is my biggest source of support. In fact, she is the only one in my family who has read my book from beginning to the end!

Q 8: Can we expect your next writing stint & if yes, what & when?

You can expect two sequels to The Peshwa – The Lion and the Stallion, effectively making it a trilogy. There are other projects in the pipeline too.

Q 9: Lastly, what writing tips you’d like to give to upcoming writers? 

Dream your stories well, have a solid and simple plot and write it down in simple, coherent language. Dream Big and Write Simple.

Follow our talented author on Facebook or Twitter.