AN AUTHOR DARING TO SOAR

Author Interview - Anuradha Prasad

Anuradha Prasad is a feature writer, artist and a model. She has done her PhD in English literature from Mumbai University and has had the privilege of working with the best publications in the country. She has published thousands of articles with top magazines and newspapers, and was featured on the cover of Times West-Side Plus. Her passion is writing and she has come out with the book “Coming Back Home”. She also blogs and writes on invitation regularly. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, she talks about her latest book, her writing journey, and her favourite books and genres.


Please tell us more about Anuradha Prasad as a person.
As a person I am very idealistic. I believe that everybody has a role to play, be it outside or inside the house. This has to be as a professional or as a homemaker in the case of a woman. No job is small or big. Simple duties done with dedication become reverential. I believe what we seek shall seek us eventually. Being aware of my thoughts is important, so being careful about my choices is also very necessary. Everything in life has a purpose. Pursuing some form of art makes people emotionally rich. Never stopping to learn and being on the move everyday is my mantra for life as holding on to things and bad experiences can stunt my growth. I am fun loving too, apart from all the ‘grown up’ things that I mentioned above. I really believe that there is no generation gap between me and the next (I do get surprises on that one sometimes though!). I am a happy, die-hard dreamer who cannot remain sad for long!

You are a feature writer, artist and a model. When did you start writing? Can you tell us more about your writing journey?
I started writing since I learnt to do it! Jokes apart, I think from a very young age- I must be seven or eight. I think meaningful writing could have happened a little later. The difference was that I really did not know that I was creating something beautiful that needs to be preserved. The actual writing journey must have subconsciously begun, when I was doing my PhD. Till then I guess it was dormant. Whenever I would compile and write, I experienced a sense of joy and peace and I thought of doing something about it seriously.
I had a bit of published work prior to my thesis. I was also a visiting editor to a life style magazine called as Body and Beauty care. (Oh yes! During that phase I did model a lot. That seems like a different lifetime altogether). Post thesis, I walked one day, armed with my published work into Times Westside office as they needed feature writers. The then Editor-in-chief took note of my work and offered a contract. That is how my professional writing journey began. Working in Times, I realized that getting published was not easy. Tons of writers were rejected daily and so was their work! I felt fortunate as even when I was not a professional, my articles hardly got rejected. There is a lot of respect out there for published feature writers, simply because talented writers and journalists are very rare. However, when I was writing and publishing articles, I never thought that they will pave a way for a career in this field.
After Times, I edited lifestyle magazines, compiled and put together websites, and wrote for a variety of magazines on request. It was not easy at all. Burning the midnight oil and working towards developing my own individual style was a back-breaking process. In every field, I realized that women have to work harder, and what with the added responsibilities. My case was no different! Besides in order to rise above the rest I needed to be better than the best. With continuous painstaking effort I was rewarded with a stupendous response from the Times readers. My journey continued with writing these beautiful books. Writing comes to me naturally. I will write till I die.

Can you give a brief overview of your book “Coming back home”?
Coming Back Home is an interesting story set in the background of Hindi Film and entertainment industry that deals with deceit, hatred, despise and above all success. Despite all the negatives the story exudes the success of main characters that bounce back irrespective of circumstances. In the professions where depression, drugs and suicide reign high, Arpita’s (the main lead) character is a sterling example that shows the way. I would not like to disclose everything about it; I had rather prefer the readers to read it!

How has the reader’s response been to your book?
This happens to be a popular book. The response by the readers to the book has been quite good.

What type of research went into writing this book?
The research involved a lot of interviews of youngsters who come to Bollywood to make it big and also the hearsay about the lives of Starlets. I also read a lot of online stories on casting couch and the struggles of Bollywood entrants, especially the girls as to how they are taken advantage of, how men are desperate to be teamed up with successful women and lead actors and so on and so forth.

What are your favourite books? Can you share with our esteemed readers about the genres that you like and your favourite authors?
My favourite authors are Danielle Steel, Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Abraham Lincoln and Leo Tolstoy. I have a lot of favourite books. The first ever book that I had read was The Diary of Anne Frank. I also love The Mills and Boon Series of 80s that I read through my school. The genres that I really like are- Adventure, Romance, and Suspense.

What are your other interests apart from writing?
My interests include singing, sketching, painting, cooking and gardening.

Are there any new literary projects that you’re currently working on?
I am currently working on my third book. It is a collection of short stories.

There are many new writers there who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?
Please know that you will be rejected initially. Don't get disheartened. If you are true to yourself and your writing, then it will be published and recognized. Keep trying. Besides know your strengths and weaknesses. If you are meant to be, it shall happen. Dreaming is important but having a reality check is also essential. Having a job along with your writing work if necessary should not be overlooked. At the same time don't ever stray from yourself. Don't run after success. Know that writing a book in itself is a big achievement. Youngsters can also start with writing blogs or small articles. Start early, start young. Today there are so many platforms. Writing blogs will give a kind of perception about your ability, scope for improvisation, and popularity or demand for your work! Do not write to please anyone but yourself.

Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going? It is ‘Dare to soar.’