Get to know the authors of Sirens Spell Danger

Today I have here the three authors of Sirens Spell Danger. Please welcome Karthik L, Suresh Chandrasekaran and Radha Sawana. Let’s get to know them through this question and answer session.

Q:Tell us something about yourself and how you got into writing?

Karthik: Writing was farfetched considering that I am a management consultant. I tried it for the first time when a friend suggested it. Once I started my blog, I could experiment with different genres. Short stories and novellas were the next step.

Suresh: I have always wanted to write since childhood and, while at IIM-Bangalore, I planned to quit work at 40 (after saving enough) in order to write. I did quit at 41 but, because the thought of writing a book was daunting, I took to trekking instead. The urge to write would not be denied, however, and I first started blogging and, now, to writing fiction.

Radha: I am a 25-year-old chemist from BITS Pilani, working in Bangalore. While in BITS, I started my blog called ‘Entropy’. A couple of years ago, I joined the Indiblogger community, which brought me in touch with Karthik (The Fool) and through him, the Indifiction workshop. I decided to take part in the second edition of this workshop to test my fiction writing skills. After that, I couldn’t not write any more 🙂  

Q: Your experience of writing a book – easy as pie or hard as nails?

Karthik: I would say hard as nails.

Suresh: I don’t sit to write unless I have the entire story clear in my mind. After that I feel too lazy to writeJ. I find that the process of actually typing it in – is hard as nails. The one thing that makes me absolutely shudder is the process of rewriting and editingJ.

Radha: Sometimes easy as pie, but mostly hard as nails. It was a dark story and more often not, writing it required a sombre mood.

Q: What motivates you to write?

Karthik: I define myself as a sum of my thoughts and ideas. Writing enables me to leave behind an essence of my personality that remains in the world long after I am gone. So in some ways I see writing as a route to immortality.

Suresh: Writing is a pleasure. The process of using language to bring people and settings live is like weaving magic. I think reading takes people out of their humdrum lives into a world of entertainment and I like to give it to them as a writer.

Radha: Stories. Some stories call to be written. They become a motivation in themselves.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

Karthik: This book was more of an experiment for us to take a leap from the world of blogging to serious novel writing. Reading the history of Bellary inspired this story.

Suresh: This book came about as a journey of exploration – of finding how a story shapes itself better when one gets relevant criticism and rewrites to suit; and of finding out the efficacy of Kindle as a medium for publishing a book.

Radha: Ummm, the inspiration to write this particular story came from a word in Chanakya’s Chant. (And anything more than this will count as a spoiler!). And of course my teammates.   

Q: Please describe your book briefly.

Karthik: The book is a thriller – an IB agent sets out to investigate ISI activity in Bellary. Even before he starts, he is swept into a whirlpool triggered by the two beautiful women he meets. What he discovers in Bellary is an altogether different ball game.

Suresh: My story ‘Femme Fatale’ is a roller-coaster ride of action. A naïve hero gets embroiled in a terrorist plot when he gets attracted to a beautiful woman. It’s a light read woven with some thrilling action.  

Radha: I am bad at writing descriptions, even if it’s my own story. But since you asked…

The story begins with the discovery of an esteemed industrialist’s dead body in a dingy hotel. Beside the dead body lies a strange picture. As Inspector Shardul Reham starts investigating the bizarre circumstances, help comes unexpectedly from Rajinder Sharma, a forensic expert. While unravelling the mystery, Shardul gets more than what he bargained for.

Q: Tell us about the main characters in your book.

Karthik: The main character is Jay, a successful IB agent who is disgruntled with the functioning of government agencies. He has a bit of a complex about not being as successful as his foster brothers and not having a way with women.

Suresh: Vicky is the protagonist of the tale who gets sucked into a dangerous situation by Tanya. Tanya is the more important character even if the story is told by Vicky in first person.

Radha: There are two main characters visible in the story – Detective Inspector Shardul Reham – an uptight police officer, and Dr. Rajinder Sharma, a veteran forensic analyst.

Q: How do you overcome writer’s block?

Karthik: I apply brute force and whatever comes till I break through.

Suresh: I have not yet had a writer’s block. It’s more laziness than anything else that keeps me from writing.

Radha: By travelling or by experiencing something new

Q: Does writing get in your way of life?

Karthik: Actually it is the other way round. Often life comes in the way of writing.

Suresh: As I have said earlier, I quit with an intent to write though I did get side-tracked. Right now, writing IS my way of life.

Radha: It’s rather the other way round!

Q: What’s next in your writing plans?

Karthik: Have lot of projects in mind. But yet to decide what to start on first.

Suresh: I have a few ideas jostling for space in my mind. It seems likely that the next may be more in the Humour genre than in Crime.

Radha: Reviving my blog, writing many many short stories in several genres and then finishing a novel length sci-fi story.

And here comes our rapid-fire round:

Your favourite movie

Karthik: Lord of the Rings

Suresh: Ben Hur

Radha: Rang De Basanti

The worst movie you’ve seen

Karthik: 2012

Suresh: Too many to pick from J

Radha: In recent times, Hobbit (II) – The Desolation of Smaug

Any secret habit?

Karthik: Can’t think of any.

Suresh: Never been able to keep secrets J

Radha: Whenever I am reading a book, I tend to eat whatever the characters in the book are eating.  

Actor you’d fall for in a heartbeat

Karthik: Not really much into film stars.

Suresh: Had you asked this 20-30 years before, I could have readily answered J

Radha: Viggo Mortenson

Favourite book.

Karthik: Dune Series

Suresh: Any of PG Wodehouse’s books.

Radha: Mistborn – The Hero of Ages

Fallback option when the fridge is empty 

Karthik: Fasting

Suresh: Starve (Believe me, we wrote the answers independently. No wonder we get along well)

Radha: Cuppa Noodles

What comforts you when things go bad?

Karthik: My family, friends and some light reading like children and young adult’s fiction.

Suresh: Books, Music AND a sense of humour.

Radha: Reading

Your most comfortable outfit.

Karthik: T-shirt and shorts.

Suresh: Tracks and tees.

Radha: A loose kurti and churidaar

A very enjoyable chat getting to know you, authors! Karthik, applying brute force for writer’s block is something I hadn’t yet heard of 🙂 And starving? Really? Both you and Suresh need to be more resourceful, don’t you think 😉 I’d rather like cuppa noodles myself,  Radha 🙂

This intriguing collaboration by this great team is available now.
Book buy links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HBJ5TMM/ 

Thanks everyone and hope you enjoyed the interview 🙂

Author’s Interview..Ruchi Vasudeva, Mills and Boons, Harlequin Author by Sufia Khatoon

Here’s my interview on Being Bookworms, hosted by Sufia Khatoon.

Welcome to another edition of Being Bookworms Author’s interview session where Sufia Khatoon has interviewed Ruchi Vasudeva, Milland Boons, Harlequin Indian Author, the writer of two successful books Bollywood Fiance for a day and You can’t fight a Royal attraction…

We Being Bookworms team are delighted to welcome Ruchi Vasudeva.

I had a great experience knowing you and reading your work. A review coming soon of Ruchi’s books and I am happy to say that she is a wonderful writer, full of surprises and a very dear friend. We wish her all the best, waiting patiently for you other titles.
Best wishes….Sufia

Q1: Being a doctor how difficult it is to find time for writing and juggling two professions at the same time?

Ans: Thank you for hosting this interview, Sufia. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Juggling a medical career and writing is certainly not something I’d advise anyone to do! *smile* Having a job and family means hands quite full, so at times it gets quite tough to find writing time. To write one needs seclusion and I, at least, write better when I’m either alone or somewhere where there’s no chance of getting disturbed. Which is near impossible because at home every one has a claim on your time. At work too I’m busy. But the good part of a great story idea is that it writes itself. The characters will compel me to tell their story no matter if it’s just fifteen minutes I have free. So, all that word count piles up and holidays and weekends help a lot *grin*

Q2: Writing happened to you with winning the passion contest by Mills and boons, have you always been a writer by heart?

Ans:I think so, yes. I used to write stories and poems when in school. I liked to present my essays in new ways than the usual way of introduction. One favourite starting point for me used to be “since the dawn of civilization” No matter what the topic was, eg value of books or my grandmother’s chair (yes, I was given that topic once) I would start with the dawn of civilization phrase and go on to the topic. It worked quite well *grin*

Q3: To many writing is a form of expression, to some a way of escapism from the mundane lives, What is writing to you?
Ans:A series of ideas popping in my mind and forcing me to put them down! It’s something of a compulsion I’d say *smile*

Q4: How challenging is writing a novel? Does one need to be very serious to take up this profession?

Ans:Oh absolutely. Anyone who wants to write well has to be quite dedicated and determined. There is so much to learn. The craft of writing comes way before the art. So it’s certainly not anything you can do just whiling away the time. On top of that, nowadays, writers have to learn about the publishing and marketing side, study the trends and genres. I’d say as a profession, it’s quite demanding.

Q5: Most of us have a writer in us, but few have that passion to pursue it for life, Do you think having a lot of expectations can be harmful as we know is not easy to get published especially now when everyone seems to write?

Ans:In any profession, we have to begin low and go up. If one is willing to work hard, there is no harm in having ambition and I believe there is no lack of opportunity. But writing offers no time-bound progress as occurs in most other jobs. A book might take ages to sell while another book of the same writer might hit the charts as top seller. Don’t expect miracles but be willing to swot, I’d say. Have goals like making your work the best it can be, rather than unreasonable expectations like winning awards with your first book. Goals make you more focused and productive.

Q6: You first novel Bollywood Fiance for a day seems to have been inspired from Bollywood, and so does your other novels. Tells us how important romance and Bollywood is for Indians and Why doe sit inspire you so much?

Ans:For most Indians the two are nearly synonymous. Bollywood films and especially songs ooze with emotions. I can’t say exactly why I like to think of Bollywood as a setting. It’s something that happens unconsciously; maybe because I have grown up watching movies like YC’s Lamhe and others of that genre.

Q7: You can’t fight a Royal attraction is a sequel to your first book, usually a love story in Mills and boons end in a first novel only. What made you write sequel and telling Saira and Rihaan’s love story? Can we expect another sequel to this story in future?

Ans:It wasn’t really a deliberate effort to make it a sequel. I was discussing ideas with my editor and she wasn’t keen on the one I was suggesting at the time. So I put forward this tentatively because Saira’s character had inspired me during the writing of Bollywood Fiance for a Day itself. My editor Kathryn loved it, so I went ahead and the book was formed.

As for another sequel, I have story ideas in mind for Mia and also for Viren of the second book. But they’re not always easy to chart out. Let’s see what happens.

Q8: How do you start writing your story, Do you start with a plot or just start writing and the characters develop eventually?

Ans:Usually for me the story begins with an idea revolving around two characters. Gradually I flesh out the idea and develop the characters. It takes time to situate the idea into the real world because imagination has no foundation in logic and what initially looks good might turn out silly when you actually write it out. So under the left brain direction, there is a lot of tampering and repair and what eventually emerges is quite different from the original. Once the characters and their world is ready then all I have to do is listen to them and let the story unfold. The writing is fairly quick after that.

Q9: Tell us something about Saira and Rihaan?

Ans:Saira is young and spirited. She believed in love and married early, being a little headstrong. She is the sister of the first book heroine. The marriage didn’t turn out well and now she’s divorced and feeling hurt. She has no career and sees no direction in her life. At this point she meets Rihaan.
Rihaan is a loner and somewhat reclusive. He has no desire to get involved with Saira but out of friendship for her sister and her brother-in-law, he takes her under his wing. However, the attraction between them escalates. A twist of fortune places him at a defining moment in his life when his past collides head-on with his future.

Q10: Are your characters in your novels inspired from real lives? How important is inspiration and travelling for a writer?

Ans:Inspiration happens from real life but only to an extent. I do pick up some traits from real people initially but then as the characters start to speak, they assume their own personality. That’s also because they have their own world, their own past and present. So like every human being they are unique. I might discard the traits I had got inspired from once the characters get their own skin so to speak *smile*
Travelling and interacting with people is important for inspiration, I believe.

Q11: Now to get published most writers are choosing the romance or chiclit genre, knowing this is widely read. Do you think a writer should write form the reader’s point of view or write what he or she observes around rather than following the stereotypes?

Ans:The hardest question to answer is what will sell well. I think writing to expectation can profit neither the reader nor the writer. An easy way to decide what to write is think of what you love to read. These days published works are very genre specific so if you pick your favourite genre, you’ll know what comprises it and you’ll find it easy to write for it. But one shouldn’t be afraid to experiment if one has complete belief in the story. And certainly don’t write romance or chiclit just because they sell good.

Q12: Many Indian writers are doing wonders with their impeccable storytelling skills, but recent writers are lacking it, Can you tell us what our new enthusiastic writers need to focus on?

Ans:I’m myself a relatively new writer so really can’t presume to tell anyone anything. I can share what I have learnt and am still learning about writing. It’s that for one thing, one has to know about the craft of writing. The story structure, the goal, motivation, conflict of the character must be properly charted out. I heard it said and will repeat here : there is no shortcut. You learn to write by writing and by having the attitude to learn. Don’t be in a hurry to get published. Try to hone your skill. Take every rejection as a step to learning more.

Q13: You won the Harper Collins’ short story contest, can you tell us something about it and how do you feel?

Ans:The contest was an initiative of Indiblogger in collaboration with HC India. They asked for love stories inspired by real life situations to be selected for publication in an anthology. It was thrilling to win and I’m looking forward to getting published with them.

Q14: How important is participating in contest for newbies? Does research really help in shaping up a novel?

Ans:Contests are the way publishers are roping in new talent these days. Having won two of them and got a publishing break through both, I’d say they are a great opportunity for writers. Just one should read the guidelines very, very carefully and obey the rules to the letter.
Harlequin holds the Passions contest every season for aspiring Indian authors. Right now this is underway. The last date to submit is 25th Jan, ’14. You can check out the details on Harlequin India website.
Research definitely opens new portals for a host of ideas. The more you research the better you can shape up the story world and the characters. For example in case of Rihaan, the more I learnt about his background, the better I could visualise

Q15: Many assume that writers can earn in millions if once published, tell us how does the publishing thing works, and is it really true that once published, there is no looking back?

Ans:If you sell to a renowned publisher and get a great contract, you can earn well but if you think one or two books will land you in the lap of luxury, then no! You’re sadly mistaken if you presume that!
Writing is a job like any other and you have to work at it and be consistent. It’s probably tougher than most jobs because there are long hours but no paycheck at the end of every month to look forward to, in the beginning. When you sell your first work, it feels as though you have arrived but it’s not so. Be prepared for your expectations and your pride to take a lashing. But stick in there – if you really want to succeed – and gradually you will see results. Since publishing world makes a snail look like a jet plane as far as speed is concerned, you’ll need loads of patience. Make sense of what makes successful writers successful and try to work out those principles. It might help.

Q16: Mills and boons is known for its steamy sex scenes, many feel that its just erotics that mills and boons produces, but that is not entirely true. Did you had nay such inhibitions when you were writing about your characters. Do you think a steamy scene is a must in any love story to make it more real or its better avoided?

Ans:It all depends on the story and the characters. All Mills and Boon are not explicit. Take my book for instance. Mills and Boon have many genres and allow the authors free hand in writing what they are comfortable with. For myself, I leave it to the characters. That said, when you’re writing a love story, you have to show some sensuality to make the emotions convincing.

Q17: When you first touched your published novel and heard praises for it, how did it feel?

Ans:Awesome, absolutely out of this world…I could add more superlatives here because I’d have to use many to describe what I felt. Hearing genuine appreciation from a reader who has harmonized with your work is very rewarding indeed. It’s a feeling hard to beat.

Q18: You are a bookworm we know, which writers inspire you and why?

Ans: Getting published is tough. I know so many authors who are writing, taking care of families as well as tackling a job. I salute all those writers and get inspired to do more by their example.
As for writings, my favourite are Agatha Christie’s whodunnits and Georgette Heyer’s timeless Regency novels.

Thanks, Sufia. Enjoyed answering your questions.

Ruchi, Best wishes and lots of love.

Hope you are really liking the way we are bringing you tips and the real world of the writer’s…tells us whom should we interview next
warm regards,
Sufia Khatoon, Being Bookworms

Being Bookworms is a praiseworthy project started by the multi talented Sufia Khatoon. She is artistic, devoted to charity work and dedicated to supporting readers and writers. Being Bookworms is an effort to bring readers and authors together and promote good readership. I congratulate Sufia on her work and wish her the best for future.

Here’s the link to the interview http://beingbookworms.blogspot.in/2014/01/authors-interviewshomprakash-sinha-roy.html

Six Tips for Writing First Chapters of Your Story

Nowadays, writing competitions have become quite the thing for publishers to draw in new talent. Having found my way into publishing through a writing contest myself, I’m all for participation in these kind of online hunts. Some require a full manuscript like the Harlequin SYTYCW. Most others however just require your story’s synopsis and a partial. Like the Passions contest that Harlequin holds every season in December-January for aspiring Indian authors. It is ongoing and you can check out the details here. Last date to enter, 25th Jan, ’14.

So how to go about preparing for a contest? They say, well begun is half done. Well prepared is target secured. Any contest is both difficult and rewarding. Difficult as it takes nerves to enter and rewarding because one always learns from experience. Writing contests are no different except that an aspiring writer contestant is especially sensitive to rejection. It’s important when you enter a contest to first keep in mind that ANY outcome is possible. Second, to repeat to yourself, ‘I’ll give it my best shot.’ Over and over. If you do, you’ll have no reproach for yourself at least, however it ends…and who knows you may be next one shortlisted! From my experience of entering writing contests, and winning both of them, I’ve compiled some tips. Also I’ve included the input from all I learnt during the writing of the initial chapters of my first book, Bollywood Fiancé fora Day and the second, You Can’t Fight A Royal Attraction I’ve listed them in order of what looks important to me:

Opening scene: The opening scene should draw the reader in. Right into the world you have created. What is your character doing as the story opens? What is she/he feeling? Is your character worried while driving? Does she accidentally miss the turn signal of car in front? What happened then? Create a situation where the readers (or your judges) can’t help but read on to find out what happens next.

Build a problem: Is your heroine (or hero) in trouble? Why? Who could help her? Why wouldn’t she take help from him? Always go deep into a character’s reasons. Why. That simple word leads to so many possibilities. The late Penny Jordan, romance author extraordinaire once said, the most important of the tips her editor gave her was: always ask why.

Interaction of characters: In romance you have two main characters. Have them in the scene together as soon as possible. That sounds like a tall order for a first chapter. You would say, what about explaining the setting, the situation, the background? But just think, if you don’t show them together here, you may miss the chance to make a strong initial impression. The first chapters, mostly first three are asked for in a partial, should not just set up the story but also hint at the first turning point. So have your characters interacting as soon as possible. Show what the heroine feels for the hero and he for her. How do they happen to be in the situation? Is it planned? Or coincidence? Does she want to avoid him? Will she succeed? Build up the curiosity factor.

Tension: Show the tension between the characters. Awareness. Attraction. Conflict. Does she drop something in her confusion when near him? Most heroes aren’t bumbling but a little tug at his necktie would be endearing, don’t you think? Tension between Hero/heroine is a must in a Mills and Boon! 🙂 And even in other genres, tension, implied and manifest, is a desirable ingredient.

Sympathy for the characters: Have the reader sympathize with your character. If the hero turns the heroine’s troubled aunt out of her house, it’s a very strong conflict between the characters but would the reader sympathize with someone like that? Would you? You’d most likely kick such an insensitive brute. Always keep your character if not lovable, at least understandable. For more on characters, go here.

Make it read-worthy: Last but not least the grammar. Spell check. Read. Revise. Watch your tenses. Double check your verbs. Make your presentation the best it can be. Also always follow the specifications given under the contest rules.

So do remember, begin with a strong opening scene, build a problem, have your characters interact and show tension between them. Make your characters lovable, always spell check and make your work presentable.

Sharing your work can be scary. If you’ve submitted or made a decision to submit your entry to a writing competition, you’re already to be congratulated. If you’re reading this to improve it, double congratulations, because you have decided to go after this writing thing and you’re already interested in making it better. So are you trying your luck? Good luck to all the entrants and remember, if you’re pursuing your dream, you’re a winner!

Write with love,

Ruchi.

Get to know Sundari Venkataraman

Today I have with me author Sundari Venkataraman, talking about her new book with the intriguing title of Double Jeopardy. Let’s get to know her better through this question and answer session.

Q: Tell us something about yourself and how you got into writing?

A: I have grown up in a family where a woman’s main aim in life is to get married, preferably an arranged marriage. I got married to my husband Venkatraman when I was 23 and had two kids. While I always loved reading, I never could write creatively.

I enjoy Mills & Boon romances and kept visualizing Indian heroes and heroines in them. I used to weave a number of scenes in my head but never wrote as I had no confidence in my writing.

One fine day, I just decided to put my thoughts into words in the form of a novel and quite liked the way it read. And that’s how my writing happened in my life.

 Q: Your experience of writing a book – easy as pie or hard as nails?

A: Writing a book is easy as pie. Rewriting to specifications is hard as nails.

 Q: What motivates you to write?

A: Just about everything that I come across – movies, books, newspaper articles, things people say…

 Q: What inspired you to write this book?

A: Writing about twins had been running in my head for a while. We have seen a lot of Bollywood flicks with twins separated at a young age and connecting as adults. I wanted to write one where they grow up together. I wanted both the twins to be good guys. And then, I love romances – both reading and writing. And Double Jeopardy was born.

 Q: Please describe your book briefly.

A: Sanya is a young lady who is in love with her childhood sweetheart. Unfortunately for her, when she comes to Mumbai all the way from London to live with the Sharmas, Arth is nowhere in the picture; while Ansh is around all the while, tormenting her. She tries hard to deny her physical response to Ansh, very sure that it is Arth she wants. The rest of the story is about who Sanya ends up with.

 Q: Tell us about the main characters in your book.

A: Sanya is the heroine. She lives in London with her parents. She parties round the clock and is bored of her life which has no purpose. She grabs the chance to visit the Sharmas in Mumbai and hopes to reopen her relationship with Arth.

Arth & Ansh Sharma are twin brothers who help their father run the family electronics business. They look exactly like each other but have very different characters.

While Sanya holds on to her childhood crush on the gentle Arth, she is too disturbed by her physical attraction to the mischievous Ansh.

The story revolves around the three of them.

 Q: How do you overcome writer’s block?

When I see that writing is not happening, I don’t try to. I just leave my writing alone for a few days until I can feel the words flowing comfortably within me.

 Q: Does writing get in your way of life?

No, it’s woven quite well into my life.

 Q: What’s next in your writing plans?

I have a couple of ideas that I have submitted to Indireads – my publisher. I am waiting for their feedback.

 And here comes our rapid-fire round:

 Your favourite movie

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge

 The worst movie you’ve seen

Tees Maar Khan

 Any secret habit?

You really set me thinking on this one. J It took me the longest to answer this question, actually. I can’t think of any. In our family, everyone talks about everything to everyone else. We have no secrets – not out of compulsion but more because we are open about things.

 Actor you’d fall for in a heartbeat.

Arjun Rampal

 Favourite book.

JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series

 Fallback option when the fridge is empty

Home Delivery from one of the many restaurants near home

 What comforts you when things go bad?

Talking to God

 Your most comfortable outfit.

Sari

 Hope you enjoyed meeting Sundari, folks. I’d say having restaurants near home is bliss, isn’t it? 😉 and as for finding sari the most comfortable, I can only gasp in amazement!

Here are the book buy links :

Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Double-Jeopardy-Sundari-Venkatraman-ebook/dp/B00H7QUELU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388228463&sr=8-1&keywords=sundari+venkatraman

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/double-jeopardy/p/itmdrvh4aavtfk2g?pid=DGBDRUMYJZGDEGPF&otracker=from-search&srno=t_2&query=sundari+venkatraman&ref=377796be-df7c-4147-83d7-1524fe61cf73

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/386589

Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/double-jeopardy/9781927826386-item.html

Diesel eBooks: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000386589/Venkatraman-Sundari-Double-Jeopardy/1.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-jeopardy-sundari-venkatraman/1117704167?ean=2940045494762

Bookworld: http://www.bookworld.com.au/ebook/double-jeopardy/46604300/

All Romance Books: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-doublejeopardy-1380981-177.html

Indireads: http://www.indireads.com/books/double-jeopardy/

This interview is a part of the Blog tour hosted by The Book Club.

Double Jeopardy by Sundari Venkatraman

The Blurb

Sanya doesn’t just have trouble, she has double trouble. Twins Arth and Ansh Sharma, are rich, sexy and sinfully handsome – what’s a girl to do?

 

Sanya last saw the twins when she was ten years old. Now, all grown up, she has come looking for gentle Arth, the twin she has loved ever since she can remember. But instead, she is confronted with fiery Ansh, who is hell-bent on seducing her. And what’s worse, she can’t seem to stop herself from responding to him.

 

As she chases Arth and is chased by Ansh, Sanya finds herself on a crazy roller coaster ride with no way of getting off. How will she deal with these two very different men in her life? Will she be able to convince one twin that she loves the other?

 

Meet the author

 

The Author’s Thoughts

 

Even as a kid, she absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as Sundari grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end.
Soon, into her teens, she switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years.
Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! She could never string two sentences together. While her spoken English had always been excellent – thanks to her Grandpa – she could not write to save her life. She was bad at writing essays in both school and college. Later, when it was time to teach her kids, she could manage everything from Science to Mathematics and History & Geography. When it came to writing compositions, her kids found her of no help at all.
All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job at a school’s office and did not know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That’s when she got home one evening after her walk and took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That’s how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. While she felt discouraged when publishing did not happen, it was her husband who kept encouraging her not to give up.
There was no looking back after that. While publishing took a long time happening, Sundari continued to write novels and then short stories and had them published in her blogs. Her luck turned when Indireads approached her to write for them and Double Jeopardy was born.

You can stalk her @

            

 

Blog Tour Schedule

 

1Jan-11 Jan 2014

(The Blog links will be live as and when the posts come up)

 

2nd Jan 2014

Adite Banerjie  (Spotlight)

aditebanerjie

3rd Jan 2014

Ushasri Nannapaneni (Review and Interview)

ushaveera68

5th Jan 2014

Sridevi Datta (Review)

THE WRITE JOURNEY

 

7th Jan 2014

Jaibala Rao (Review)

My School Of Thought

 

7th Jan 2014

Ruchi Vasudeva(Interview)

Ruchi Vasudeva Author’s nook

 

8th Jan 2014

Sonia Rao(Interview)

soniaraowrites

 

9th Jan 2014

Neelesh Gajanan Inamdar (Review)

From the Heart – Neel

 

10th Jan 2014

Dola Basu Singh (Spotlight)

Shiuli

 

11th Jan 2014

Rubina Ramesh (Review/ Interview)

The Book Club