Bollywood and Books

In Conversation with Surabhi Kaushik on Writers Beyond Borders and Much More!

Meet An Extraordinary Woman - Surabhi Kaushik

“Writing has been my passion and profession for over 2 decades now. “

Surabhi Kaushik is a professional writer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She and her husband and son moved to the US in 2105 from Mumbai, India.

We met by chance, as fans of Author Alka Joshi, and I knew Surabhi’s story had to be shared with my listeners!

Surabhi doesn’t have a work visa for the USA yet, but she gives of her time and talent and serves the community as a volunteer. She initiated a writing group—Write Like You Mean It, at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, and she conducts writing workshops in other Charlotte, NC libraries.

Surabhi led writing programs and assisted hosting events at the library for five years. In that time, she logged well over 500 hours of service. Kaushik shared, “Volunteering at the Library has been an enjoyable learning experience for me because it has given me a space to showcase my talents, meet new people and be part of a welcoming community. The writing group has given me a sense of belonging which was important to me as a newbie immigrant.”

In November 2020, Surabhi received the North Carolina Governor’s Award for Volunteer Service.  

Her work has been published in several magazines and on websites in India and the US. Some of her writing may be found on India Currents . Check out her writing talent on her blog Writers Mind.Surabhi .

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES & LINK TO SURABHI'S PROGRAM WRITERS BEYOND BORDERS

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/surabhi.kaushik.52/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/writersmind.surabhi/

Writers Beyond Borders

The virtual program hosted by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library. The FREE ONLINE PROGRAM meets the third Wednesday of every month. It is a FREE program. Register for the program here.

Thanks for listening to Part II of my two-part episode featuring my conversation with New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi.

In this episode, Alka continues her discussion about her path to publishing her debut novel The Henna Artist. It’s a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

Reese Witherspoon said, “Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page.” 

Alka talks about hiring two developmental editors for her manuscript after she had been working with her agent for several years on changing her novel. Initially she resisted the feedback, but she realized the comments were nuances and brushstrokes that could help elevate her novel to bestseller status. Now she encourages everyone to find a developmental editor, but particularly ones that are interested in the genre they’re writing.

Alka discusses the reasons she cut almost 150 pages from her novel, and it wasn’t because of the reason I imagined. We discuss the publication of The Henna Artist and the novel’s meteoric rise to bestseller although it looked like the 2020 launch might not succeed after the pandemic caused everything to shut down in March.

 We talk about the Netflix series in the works for The Henna Artist and book two in the trilogy The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and we discuss the third novel that Alka will publish in 2023.

 Alka shares the ways readers can find her online and she encourages writers to visit her YouTube channel to see the videos she made about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing. She talks about how to get an agent and how to deal with self-doubt. She encourages every woman to write her story.

Make sure to listen to Part I of the conversation with New York Times best-selling author Alka Joshi.

www.alkajoshi.com

www.thehennaartist.com

Now a Netflix Project

New York Times Bestseller

Reese Witherspoon Bookclub Pick

LA Times Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller

Toronto Star Bestseller

Globe & Mail Bestseller

Indie Bookstores Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

Longlisted: First Novel, Center for Fiction

Amazon Summer 2020 Readers Pick

Goodreads Finalist Choice Awards 2020: Best Debut Novel & Best Historical Fiction

Indigo 10 Best Books of 2020

HCC Spring 2020 Fan Choice Winner

Follow Alka:  Instagram  Facebook Twitter  Bookbub  

NYT Bestselling Author Alka Joshi, The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur

In Episode I of this two-part episode of Bollywood and Books, New York TImes best-selling author Alka Joshi talks about her novel The Henna Artist.

In our conversation, Alka talks about her childhood in India and her path to publishing her debut novel The Henna Artist. It’s a New York Times bestseller and a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub Pick. It’s also an LA Times Bestseller and a USA Today Bestseller.

The Henna Artist is now a Netflix Project. We’ll talk about that in part two of the conversation.

Alka discusses the reasons she launched an ad agency and hired women to help her implement projects for clients. It was all about empowering women.

 She created the character Lakshmi to give her mother the chance she never had--to lead her life in the independent way in which Alka has been able to lead her own life. She wanted her mother to experience that independence. She talks about her fascinating journey to publication. She advises writers that they need passion, patience, and perseverance--stick-to-itiveness, to get good at what they're doing. 

 Make sure to tune in next week for part two of the episode with author Alka Joshi. We'll talk about the Netflix project for The Henna Artist and book two in the trilogy The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and we’ll discuss the third novel that Alka will publish in 2023.

www.alkajoshi.com

www.thehennaartist.com

Now a Netflix Project

New York Times Bestseller

Reese Witherspoon Bookclub Pick

LA Times Bestseller

USA Today Bestseller

Alka shares her writing tips on her YouTube Channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNLMIc32Z-y4hzkiE3o6rQ. 

Follow Alka Joshi:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Bookbub

YouTube

Order on: Amazon Barnes&Noble Goodreads Indiebound Target BooksAMillion Walmart & your favorite indie bookstore.

Listen to Episode 11 of the podcast on your favorite podcast players or by visiting the podcast page...

Guesthouse for Ganesha

Author Judith Teitelman talks about her award-winning debut novel Guesthouse for Ganesha. Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.

Kirkus Reviews writes: “Teitelman paints an intensely beautiful world in which different cultures merge in surprising ways.””

 Khaas Baat, a publication for Indian-Americans writes: "Ms. Teitelman, please take a bow for an inspiring and touching story of love, loss and spirit beautifully told with great conviction and style. The debut novel, which weaves Eastern beliefs with stark realities, speaks volumes about the talent of this budding author.”

Guesthouse for Ganesha is the 2022 Official March International Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book of the Month. Purchase your copy of Guesthouse for Ganesha from the The Pulpwood Queen Book Shop  or your favorite independent bookstore.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guesthouse-for-Ganesha-317749368845421

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judithteitelman/

Website: https://guesthouseforganesha.com/

In his podcast, Movers Mindset, Craig Constantine's talks with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. This podcast is part of the Movers Mindset project, which he started so he could explore movement's underlying motivations, and movement's fundamental place in society. Interested?

He interviews me and we talk about podcasting, writing, Akimbo workshops, Seth Godin and generosity.

In Conversation with Anju Gattani

Fiction author, freelance journalist, fiction writing instructor, blogger and former newspaper reporter, Anju was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong. She has also lived and been published in Singapore, India, Australia, and USA in cover stories, fiction, feature, news, interviews, travel, perspective pieces and more. She finally dug her roots in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with her husband, 2 dashing boys and a rebel lion-head rabbit.

Her Winds of Fire series, was optioned for film / TV to Double Strings, Inc, ranked on the Amazon Bestsellers List and is honored to be a book of the month pick by International Pulpwood Queen and Timber Guy Book Cub Reading Nation. Reviewed as Crazy Rich Asians in India “Downton Abbey-style saga, but set in India!” by BooksByWomen.org. The series advocates for awareness of abuse, domestic violence, mental health and more...

Anju also interviews writers and publishing industry professionals on her Youtube channel, Story Mantra. Anju hopes her books will Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers.

Social Media:

website:https://www.anjugattani.com

Facebook: Anju Gattani Author

Twitter: @Anju_Gattani

Instagram: Anju_Gattani27

Bookbub: @Anju_Gattani

Youtube: Anju Gattani, Story Mantra                 

“Hard to believe this lush, passionate novel is the author’s first. In Duty and Desire, Anju Gattani has created an utterly immersive reading experience—fascinating characters, evocative details, compelling dramatic turns, all set against the teeming irrepressible vibrancy of modern-day India. A bravura performance.” —David Corbett, award-winning author of The Art of Character

“Like all good stories the story of Sheetal conveys deeper meanings about human experiences and relationships. Duty and Desire is definitely a bridger of cultures; educating readers about and celebrating Indian culture whilst keeping the reader well hooked.” ~~Qaisra Shahraz, peace activist, author of ‘The Holy Woman’ & Founder/Executive Director of Muslim Arts and Culture Festival, UKw

I'm excited to introduce today's conversation with Veena Rao, Atlanta-based author of Purple Lotus that has won all kinds of awards. The 2021 Winner of the AmericanFiction Award, Rao was Georgia Author of the Year Award Finalist in 2021. She's an Award-Winning Finalist in Women's Fiction for the 2021 International Book Awards. Rao is also an Award-Winning Finalist for Multicultural Fiction in the 2021 International Book Awards.

Just listen to what Newsweek magazine has to say. "Rao’s resonant novel is an ode to the value of personal dignity and the importance of being true to oneself  that carries on long after the final chapter."

Kirkus Reviews calls it a moving and polished novel that highlights Rao's literary promise.

Purple Lotus is the dazzling tale of an Indian American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world, according to Author Elaine Neil Orr.

Tara's story is one of hope and a woman's finding her own self-worth. Rao’s novel is about women empowering other women.

I wanted to see Rishikesh where the Beatles stayed with the Maharishi . . .

I'm wedged into the third-row seat of an SUV between two young girls, Israeli soldiers, and three other young Israeli soldiers, my partner and a Sikh driver with his turban. We're in the Pajar Ganj in New Delhi at a traffic light on the way to Rishikesh when there's a knock at the window.

I see a hand with long fingernails painted red and lots of bangles up the forearm. It's a he /she, a Hijra, India's third gender. The Sikh driver rolls the window down, drops some coins into her palm and we’re on our way to Rishikesh.  

Want to learn more about the trip from New Delhi to Rishikesh, the James Bond movie set in Rishikesh and how we got out of Rishikesh? Listen to my podcast, Bollywood and Books - Episode 6.

Just follow the link to my website and the web page for Bollywood and Books podcast. You can also listen on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or your favorite podcast player. I hope you'll listen in and let me know what you think. Please leave a rating and review.

Meet Vishesh Azad, screenwriter, cinematographer, and director. He dances. He sings. He's a filmmaker and academician. His name means Special Freedom in Hindi, and the name fits. He's Assistant Professor of Photography at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi and he shows his students how to live life large. He enjoys what he describes as ordinary treks to Triund in the foothills of the Himalayas. That’s a trek from Dharamkot near McLeod Ganj in Himachal Pradesh. Then again you may find him on a road trip where you'll see some of the most spectacular mountainous scenery in Northern India.

Make sure you visit my website: https://www.lovelacecook.com where you'll find a gallery of incredible photos of Vishesh Azad and links to his videos on his YouTube channel where you can see what a fantastic dancer he is. There's also a link to his most recent film Dear Shalini with subtitles in English, and his synopsis of the film is on my blogpost about Vishesh.

Check out my YouTube channel to see the video chat that is an unedited version of our podcast conversation.