In this episode of the M-Square Podcast, host Anurag Manik interviews author Subhadra Kunduri about her debut novel, Jasmine Trails. They dive deep into the transition from a 20-year corporate career to becoming a published author during the pandemic. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the historical fiction research process, maintaining writing consistency, and navigating the modern publishing industry.

• The Power of Consistency: Subhadra emphasizes that "writing is a consistency process" and shares how she completed her first draft by writing 1,000 words every single day over seven to eight months.

• Historical Research & World Building: Learn how to "stitch together" a story using a mix of family enigmas, historical records, and academic books to authentically recreate India in the 1920s.

• Finding Your Authentic Voice: Subhadra discusses the importance of writing "from the heart" and using a voice that feels natural to the characters' background—in this case, an authentic South Indian perspective.

• Navigating the Publishing World: The episode provides critical advice on the role of a literary agent to help navigate the commercial aspects and the "entire world of publishing".

• Overcoming Writer's Block: Subhadra shares her unique experience of writing through grief and how the words "just started tumbling" onto the page once she began the process.

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Authors