Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a freelance writer and editor cum blogger.
I have written four solo books and been a part of two co-authored books so far.
I have also edited a book written by another author.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Love (Try) Angle is my latest book. It is in fact my debut novel.
I had been meaning to write a novel ever since my first book (poetry collection titled A Rustic Mind) came out. After years of contemplating over an idea, the plot for Love (Try) Angle came as an inspiration in a dream one day and I just knew this is what my debut novel would be based on.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to challenge myself every now and then. So, when I come across a new genre or form of writing as a reader, I immediately want to try it out myself too. But my quirk here is that I don’t emulate, I add my own bits to it, and voila! I have something new completely.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Almost all books by Enid Blyton and Sidney Sheldon,
Harry Potter series by JK Rowling,
God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Godfather by Mario Puzo
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
What are you working on now?
A nonfiction book based on the lives of women who are into multiple professions.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth and reviews (honest and unbiased/unpaid reviews) have worked best for me so far with all my books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Focus on the content of your book more than the marketing. If it’s a good book, it will find the right audience who will appreciate it. Also, understand the types of publishing that exist out there clearly before you decide to publish.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t write to get published.
What are you reading now?
Once Bitten Twice Lucky by Sundari Venkatraman.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m planning to be more experimental with my writing. As in, I want to write genres and formats that I have never written before, like a thriller or horror story.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
2. The Bell Jar by Slyvia Plath
3. The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway
4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
5. Sophie’s Choice by William Styron
Author Websites and Profiles
Manali Desai Website
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