The Dynamic Duo- Mr. Subhasis Das and Miss Mahi Singla

Hello!

So we are back with yet another thrilling interview!

Today we have, not one, but two brilliant authors.



What happens when Chandigarh di Kudi meets Mumbai cha Mulga?

While one loves shopping, the other aspires to become a film maker

While a single cup of coffee is all the she needs to charge up, what he needs are long conferences.

They are different yet similar

They are awesome

They are brilliant

They are Mr. Subhasis Das and Miss Mahi Singla....

 

1. How does an idea for a story come to you?

Subhasis: Well… Day dreaming in Office.

Mahi: For me, add coffee to his reply.


2. At what age did you start writing?

Subhasis: Three I guess when I was in a play school.

Mahi: That was seriously not funny Subho! Anyway, I had been an avid reader all my life but never thought I would myself write a book ever. I thank Subho for being so supportive and giving me a chance to write an amazing story like I.T. Hurts.









3. Is this your first book?

Subhasis: C’mon Tara! That guy on Mom says no girlfriend’s cover is actually young me with long hair and glasses.

Mahi: Though I.T. Hurts is the first book I wrote but my second novel ’12 Hours’ was released before.

4. What is the book- I.T. Hurts about?

Subhasis: Well, it is a story of six youngster who join an IT firm with a common ambition to be rich and for that they can do anything. It’s a book about knowing your inner demon.

Mahi: I would be happy if you find the rest of the story by reading the book itself.



5. How did you come up with the name- I. T. Hurts?

Subhasis: I remember when I was still fiddling with the idea for my next story after Mom says no girlfriend, I went on a dinner with my college friend Misbah. I narrated the story to him and also told him that I wasn’t able get a title for it. He then suggested- I.T. Hurts which I liked.

Mahi: I joined late. He had already finalized the name and I too liked it.




6. Which is the favorite part of your book I. T. Hurts?

Subhasis: Well, to point out a part and term it as a favorite would be so unfair. It has six different stories in it and all are my favorite.

Mahi: Again I would not talk much about the story but for me the best thing about I.T. Hurts was co-authoring Subho.








7. What do you think is more important- the names of the character or the nature of the character?

Mahi: Of course, the nature of the character is more important but you need to be cautious while choosing the names too.

Subhasis: Having a great story is important, rest fall in place automatically.

8. If the protagonist of your favorite book comes alive in front of you, what would you say?

Subhasis: Umm… I don’t know.

Mahi: I will marry Gautam.



9. Is there a particular time of the day when you write your ideas? When?

Subhasis: In office, particularly during long meetings.

Mahi: Give me a coffee and I am charged any time.



10. Just like you are an inspiration to others, who is/are your inspiration?

Subhasis: My Maa

Mahi: My Mom



11. What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

Subhasis: I want to be a filmmaker someday.

Mahi: I want to own Zara, Levi’s, Gucci, and list goes on…



12. They say, “Nobody can judge you, as much as you yourself can.” Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Mahi: Let’s do this for each other. I see a pot-belled half bald man sitting on a laptop and searching for Yami Gautam hot on Google.

Subhasis: An old lady with broken teeth, wrinkled face but wearing high heels sipping coffee in a CCD

13. What would you do if you weren’t into writing?

Subhasis: I would have been dating someone.

Mahi: Shopping. More shopping.



14. How do you react to the reviews that you get about your writing from your readers?

Mahi: Depends. Positive or Negative.

Subhasis: Depends. Boy or Girl.

15. What is your biggest fear?

Subhasis: Mahi not picking my call.


Mahi: My new heels not of my size.



16. Which is your favorite fictional character?

Subhasis: BATMAN

Mahi: A matured Subhasis



17. Who is your favorite author?

Subhasis: Mahi Singla


Mahi: Now I will have to take his name. You mind next question, Tara?



18. List any 3 books that you would recommend to our readers.

Subhasis: I.T. Hurts, Mom says no girlfriend and 12 Hours, of course.


Mahi: Only two, I.T. Hurts and 12 Hours.



19. Is there one specific subject you would never write about? What would that be?

Mahi: Till date whatever, I’ve written has covered different subjects. I like to be versatile.

Subhasis: I would never write about my ex.

20. Which genre, according to you, is the most difficult to write?

Subhasis: Writing itself is very difficult if you can’t come up with new ideas.


Mahi: I completely agree with him.


21. Are you working on your next? What is it about?

Subhasis: Yes! I have completed ‘Mumbai Unplugged’ and now looking for a publisher who don’t care if my protagonists don’t have sex in the whole book. 

 


Mahi: These days lot of sale around, so I am kinda busy.





22. Since you have co-authored this book and have written some on your own, what do you prefer more- co-authoring or writing on your own?

Subhasis: This is the first time that I am co-authoring and it just happened accidently yet I must say, I had a great time working with Mahi. However, co-authoring is very difficult since two different people have different perspectives for a same situation. Also, there are other factors like publications, marketing, editing and contracts to look on. So, all the work load should be equally handled. Co-authors need to respect and trust each other. For future, I don’t know. After I.T. Hurts, I wrote many short stories and they were not co-authored.


Mahi: I had released two books and both were Co-authored and luckily, both of my Co-authors are my best friends. So, there wasn’t any problem whatsoever.




23. What is your message to other budding authors?

Subhasis: Read more books. Ours is now available at Flipkart at a discounted rate.


Mahi: Stop asking me to be your co-author and yes order my all books.



Thank you both for the valuable time that you have given us!

It was indeed fun interviewing both of you!

All the best for your book- I. T. Hurts

It sure is going to be a best seller

Guys! Their book "I.T. Hurts" is now available on pre- order.

Here is the link- http://tinyurl.com/moq8my3

Order the book soon. Even I will be having a copy in my hand as soon as it releases.
This book is going to be amazing! 

They will be awaiting your reviews so hurry!

With that, another mind boggling interview comes to an end.

We will meet you next Wednesday- Same Time, Same Place. 

Till then, 

This is Mathangi (Tara) Aiyyar signing off!

Woman Power- Miss Ishita Bhown

Hola!

Long time no see....

Sorry for the late update....

The theme this time is Woman Power...

She is young,

She is dynamic,

She has a hectic corporate job,

And the best of all,

SHE WRITES!!!!

Awesome right?

SO here's presenting an insight on the beautiful Miss Ishita Bhown:

1. How does an idea come for a story come to you?

My hobby of reading and the way I lived the characters in the books that I read. It motivated me to write something, which others could relate with. I wanted to touch the lives of people with literary interests. I had a dream to attach other people to my fiction and thus started blogging. The positive response of my blog boosted my confidence and inspired me to write this novel, which derieved inspiration from the general surroundings around me.



2. At what age did you start writing?

I started writing articles for school magazine right from the school days. However, I became more serious about this hobby in college days, when I started maintaining my own blog.



3. Is this your first book?

Yes, TGH is my debut novel.

4. What is the book- ToGetHer about?

I can never forget the first day of my college. I presume similar incidences are common among professionals throughout the country. Sharing the experiences of my friends and imagining the situation of other colleges, I could visualize the concept of this novel, which tells about a simple girl Ayesha and her interesting life, full of strange coincidences. The story takes you to the college campus, the carefree days and the excitement each day brought-from the first crush to romantic fantasies, strange co-incidences, to great misunderstandings, from detective instincts to protective feelings. This is a story which any one can easily relate with.

5. How did you come up with the name- ToGetHer? How long did it take?

Some things just happen by chance.Choosing name for the book was one such thing. I had been thinking about the books’ name for quite a long time, and had almost finalized another title for it…but one day, suddenly on bed, “ToGetHer” name occurred to me.
I thought about its relevance to the story plot, and also the uniqueness of the fact that it can be read as to- get- her, as well as together made it an instant pick.





6. Which is the favorite part of your book- ToGetHer?

Being the author of this book, all its parts – every word, every page is close to my heart. It’s difficult for me to pick any favorite. I would rather let the readers decide their favorite part.



7. What do you think is more important- the names of the character or the nature of the character?
I believe it’s the role of each character that is of utmost importance. Every character has a unique nature and relevance in the story, and while writing or reading- we associate the name to that particular character and its image. Don’t you think so?



8. If the protagonist of your book comes alive in front of you, what would you say?
Umm..difficult to think..
Most probably I would congratulate her for having such wonderful set of friends, and advise her to never let distances bring them apart.



9. Is there a particular time of the day when you write your ideas? When?
No, there is no particular time of the day.
Whenever a thought pops up in my mind- I make sure to write it, or atleast make a note of it. There are many similar drafts saved in my mobile phone- written in a bus, or just before sleeping.
Infact, you will find it hard to believe that major portion of TGH was also written in the boring lectures at college..on the last pages of my class notebooks. :-P



10. Just like you are an inspiration to others, who is/are your inspiration?
My parents, their motivation and support encourages me to dream, and the smile on their proud faces inspires me to work towards fulfilling those dreams.












11. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?
I have not achieved much till date- however my friends are my worthiest possession. I am lucky to have met wonderful people and I consider them as a blessing.



12. They say, “Nobody can judge you, as much as you yourself can.” Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

10 years from now-I definitely see myself as a better person. I wish to have a better understanding of this complicated world and wish I am able to contribute positively in its growth.
I believe in setting short term targets, and wish that I am able to strive for them.



13. What would you do if you weren’t into writing?

I am a writer by passion, and a software engineer by profession. I presently work as an IT professional at a MNC in Pune. Besides work and writing , I am keenly interested in philately and also like to dedicate my time volunteering at NGO’s.
So you will find me pursuing any of the other interests during leisure , when I am not writing or reading.



14. How do you react to the reviews that you get about your writing from your readers?

I share everything with my mother. So I almost begged her to read the book, before sending the final MS for submission. I wanted to make sure that the MS was okay, and that people would not make fun of me, once it is published . She was the first reader of my book- whose appreciation brought it to its present form.
Dad read the book after it was published. He is a slow reader, yet, he finished it in 2 days. Those two days, I kept looking at his face to gather his feedback from the expressions. It was the same scary feeling like we get during the declaration of exam results. Those reviews are the most precious reviews for me.
I believe all my readers have been very generous in giving positive feedback and encouragement. Their overwhelming support and belief in me is a gift that I shall treasure forever!








15. What is your biggest fear?

Doing something that brings shame to my parents is my greatest fear. The very thought of not being able to face mirror and to look into eyes of my parents with confidence is what scares me the most.



16. Which is your favorite fictional character?
It has to be either Harry Potter or Edward Cullen (from Twillight series). I shamelessly confess that both of these were my crushes in school and college days respectively, and I re read those books multiple times to fall in love with their character again and again…
Kudos to the authors, for the wonderful detailing they have done for these characters and the way they have almost made them real life heroes for most of the girls.



17. Who is your favorite author?
I really admire Dave Pelzer, Mitch Albom and Dan brown for the way they keep the readers bonded to their books. I have also read many Indian authors like Shobha De and Jhumpa Lahiri and appreciate their talent.



18. List any 3 books that you would recommend to our readers.

SpeedPost : By Shobha De
For One more Day: By Mitch Albom
and ToGether, by me :-P
The first two books, because they deeply touch our souls and makes one introspect about his own life and the relationships.
and ToGetHer, so that I get more reviews and learn from them.. J





19. Is there one specific subject you would never write about? What would that be?
When I was a child, I thought I would never write text books. But as luck would have it, last year I got an offer to accept this challenge, and the end result was a reference book on computers.
The book not only did well in the market, but also made me believe that “never say never” is totally true..
For the writer in me, it’s best not to put any kind of restrictions and thus I don’t think there is any subject I will never think of writing…





20. Which is your favorite genre? Why?

I am a moody person when it comes to reading. I do not have any favorite genre. I enjoy Mills and Boon as much as I enjoy self help books. Equally admire Jeffery archer and JK rowling. Basically, I can read any book as long as it hold my interest, and has a decent English.



21. Which genre, according to you, is the most difficult to write?
I think it’s very difficult to write books for children. Once we grow up, its difficult to bring back the innocence which is needed to write such books- the simple language and the creativity that enhances their imagination are the rare qualities that are make such books a tough choice for the writers.



22. Are you working on your next? What is it about?

Being a debundant writer, I was a bit hesitant about the acceptance of my writing, but the positive response of the readers and their affection as well as feedback is definitely motivating me for a second attempt. I have a plot in mind, and hope to get it in the form of a good writing.I look forward to write things which are relatable to everyone and can touch the hearts of my readers in a constructive way.



23. What is your message to other budding authors?
I would suggest them to never give up! Patience is the key to success. Reading is the best hobby one can ever develop,to be able to write well, you should also have a flair for reading. Work hard and focus on your grammar. Just write for yourself, and readers will follow automatically ..:-)

That was quite an inspiring interview...

What say, girls?

Thank you Miss Ishita Bhown for giving us your time. I am sure it was very helpful to all of us- aspiring writers...

This is Mathangi signing off!!!

Until next time.