Author Interview: RUBINA RAMESH, author of KNITTED TALES & FINDING THE ANGEL

Rubina Ramesh

Today I bring you Rubina Ramesh, proud and popular indie author of two books, one an eclectic collection of short stories while the other is a beautiful and touching romance novel, as diverse as they come. I have known Rubina since 2013 and I am also proud of the fact that she inaugurated her THE BOOK CLUB with the blog tour of my first published novella. There's more to Rubina than a writer. She's an ace reviewer and marketeer, though my first association with the lady was when I came across her short stories during a contest and was totally impressed. I am mighty chuffed about the fact that I had a hand in pushing Rubina to publishing her work. Yeah, writing she has been doing for many years, while publishing is a different ballgame altogether. And I am truly thrilled that my friend has chosen the indie path - a mite difficult maybe, but totally self satisfying, I must say. I am sure she agrees with me.

So, here you go...

Sundari Venkatraman: Rubina Ramesh, the marketer VS Rubina Ramesh, the author - how tough is it to wear two entirely different hats? Do you find it easy or difficult to promote your own work?

Rubina Ramesh: Hi Sundari, Thanks for these lovely questions. You really know how to ask the tough ones

Sundari Venkatraman: Glad to hear that

Rubina Ramesh: I am an author by choice and a marketer by chance. You know we started this journey together. During those days, some 4 years back, the idea of gathering reviews was not so much in vogue in the Indian scenario. Though we had some terrific reviewers gathering the book lovers together, the word “cross-promotions” was looked down upon.

It might be I was living in the USA and I can stay up late, which made it possible for me to reach out the readers in their prime time. Now prime time in every zone varies. And this became my field to play with. I fell in love with cross promotions and I met some authors who trusted me enough with their books. They did not even ask me as to why I needed the free copies. I have been blessed that way.

Sundari Venkatraman:  Oh yes! I remember only too well how we started off together. It's been a wonderful and self-satisfying journey indeed. Cheers! Now for my next question: You had an opportunity to go trad publish. Why did you change your mind? Are you happy with your decision?

Rubina Ramesh: Not once but four times. My first two books were trad published and I had the blessing of the Man above to be published on the same pages as Gulzar Sir. Thanks to Fablery Publications for arranging that. But then, one of the big publishers along with a few upcoming ones accepted my book Finding the Angel and my upcoming Maya. (Yes, I had written Maya many years ago) But the changes they asked me to make, I just could not.

The world is changing nowadays Sundari. I am trying to be true to my art. My story. My effort and my mistakes. I leave it to the readers to decide whether they like me or not. It cannot be the likes and dislikes of one human being. Period. So like I live my life, I relive my stories. On my own terms.

Sundari Venkatraman: I know exactly what you mean. I found this quote under Mind Chow in today's Mumbai Mirror, "If you're creating anything at all, it's really dangerous to care what people think" and was thinking how apt it is for us indie authors and your reply just confirms that thought. So when are we going to read your next book? What genre is this one going to be?

Rubina Ramesh: Maya. I just cannot let go of it yet. It’s a drama or a psychological thriller, as you want to call it. I like experimenting with genres. I am writing a fantasy also. One day maybe an erotica. I won’t suggest this to new authors at all. Very risky since the chance of losing your audience is more. But the readers are more intelligent now and they like exploring things too. They like coming out of their comfort zone. I have had serious readers coming up and saying they like Finding the Angel and romance readers falling in love with Knitted Tales. I have had a few who rejected the other one based on their likes of my one book. Fair enough. I am not out to please all but to satiate those 3 hours that a reader spends on a book. Only those three hours where they forget their likes and dislikes. I dream of stories and write them. And my dreams are varied.

Knitted Tales in Paperback

Sundari Venkatraman: I have been hearing a lot about your Maya. I am waiting eagerly to get my hands on it. My fingers crossed that you are able to complete it soon. Okay, now for the next one and maybe this question should have been the first one. Knitted Tales is a short story collection of mixed genre. Finding The Angel is a gentle romance. They can't get more diverse and I must say both are extremely well penned. How do you manage that?

Rubina Ramesh: Where is it written that a writer has to be curbed within the boundaries of a genre? I read everything I can lay my hands on. Every genre. Every kind of author. To me, it does not matter, if he or she is an indie author provided the story is well edited. So if I can read any genre, I think I want to write in a few diverse genres as well

Sundari Venkatraman: You have a very valid point there. And I know from my experience with Knitted Tales that you can write in diverse genres. Keep writing is all I can say. Do we get to see your books in paperback anytime soon?

Rubina Ramesh: Oh yes! My Knitted Tales has come out as Paperback now and soon all others will follow. Amazon has been great to authors like us. Eccentric and those who don’t follow the rules. You will know that feeling, right Sundari?

Sundari Venkatraman: I can's but agree with your point about Amazon. With this we come to the end of an awesome interview. Looking forward to reading more and more of your work, Rubina Ramesh. I wish you the very best in your journey as a writer, an entrepreneur and reviewer. Kudos!

Click here to buy the author's books: Author.to/Rubina

Author Interview: RUBINA RAMESH

Rubina Ramesh - Author, Blogger, Reviewer, Marketer

Hi Rubina,

Welcome to Flaming Sun - my blog; my space. I am glad to have you here and feel proud that I will be the first one to interview you.

To my readers,

Rubina Ramesh is ace reviewer, promoter. She has reviewed 300+ books on her website - www.rubinaramesh.com and interviewed 150 authors (including Yours truly).

Ms. Ramesh’s The Book Club exists because “We promote so that you can write…” Since The Book Club was launched in November, 2013, they have conducted blog tours for 45 books from different genres. As we talk, TBC fan page has 1834 Likes - all of them organic. They have a pending list of 36 books that have blog tours lined up.

While a number of bloggers come together to read and review the books, TBC otherwise is a one-woman show, where Rubina Ramesh creates the spotlights; co-ordinates with authors & bloggers; promotes book reviews; guest posts and author interviews across 200+ social media platforms.

I bring you Rubina Ramesh….

Rubina: Thank you Sundari. This is my first official interview. Needless to say, I am damn nervous :) But also very excited.

Sundari: Tell us something about yourself - where you hail from; where all in the world you have lived in; your education; your work profile; your family…

Rubina: I am a world citizen. Originally from Ranchi, I think from the day I came out of Ranchi, I have never stopped travelling.  Before marriage it was within  India from Guwahati to Karnataka.

Then I married my childhood friend. We both come from different cultural backgrounds - him being Tam Bram and me a Bengali. It was an interesting, learning experience for both the families :D Now blessed with two kids,  Ritika and Ritvik, we have finally settled down in Phoenix, Arizona after travelling from UK to The Netherlands; and then Malaysia to Phoenix. Often I am asked why I don’t write a travelogue. Frankly speaking, if I don’t see another plane for the next ten years, I won’t shed a tear.

I always wanted to be a journalist and ended up in IT. After I completed my MBA from Liverpool University, I had envisioned a dynamic career but due to the H4 Visa rule, I had to say goodbye to my web designing career too. During one of my lowest moments in life - the writing bug revisited me. Thank god for that.

Sundari: “WAKE ME UP” is part of the anthology Marijuana Diaries - a collection of short stories based on addiction. I find yours very different from the rest of the stories. How did you come up with the idea? Was it written exclusively for MD?

Rubina: Thanks Sundari, for appreciating my story. It was originally written for another anthology where fear was the theme. But when they asked me to pay for the story, I decided to withdraw. I have nothing against paid publication, but during that time I did not feel comfortable. When Paulami Duttagupta came up with this wonderful concept, I showed her my story and she did the honor of accepting my story. I kept the addiction as 'superstition', though some reviewers do feel that I did not comply with the theme. To me it was an addiction of superstition. The father’s addiction to superstition makes him sign a contract in blood. Which means - you part with your soul by giving the object you love most. In this case, it was his daughter.

Sundari: This is not the first story of yours that’s been published. Can you tell us about your other published works?

Rubina: My first story was published in an anthology called Writings From The Heart by Beth Ann Masarik. That story I first wrote when I was eight years old. It was once published in a local magazine. I remember an anecdote here. One army colonel wrote to me after reading that story, and asked me why I was so sad; if my mom was my stepmom. I was aghast and my mom was horrified. But today, when I look back, I think it was the biggest compliment I got as a writer :P

Then there were two short stories named Let me Go and You stole my Heart, both were part of Indireads first published anthology Long and Short of It. For personal reasons I hold Let Me Go very dear to my heart. Both the stories, I am turning them into novels. Fingers crossed :)

Sundari: You wrote your first work of fiction when you were eight. I am amazed. You are truly a born storyteller as I always believed. You review and promote other authors. But more than that, you are also a great storyteller. When should we expect to see a whole novel in your name?

Rubina: Haahah.. As soon as the publishers realize they cannot live without me :P and if they don’t realize it soon, Amazon will adopt me :D. But definitely by 2016.

Sundari: Please give us a short excerpt from your story Wake Me Up.

Rubina:

       Thinking the morning sunlight would disturb her sleep, she got up to close the window. The rusted latch was difficult to close but finally, she managed it. Turning around, she gave a scream of terror. Holding a lantern, her white face looking menacing, Swagata stood in the doorway, glaring at Arya. 
       “You didn’t come for dinner?” She asked, as if this action of Arya had cost her to fall into some kind of problem.
       “I wasn’t hungry.” Arya managed to say.
       “At this stage, you should eat properly.” Swagata looked up and down at Arya, her face a clear mask of disapproval at what she saw. 
       “You are too thin!
      This ashram was a madhouse. Arya couldn’t understand what Swagata meant by her statement. But then, nothing till now was making any sense either. 
       “I’m not hungry.” She murmured. “But I would like to meet your Acharya.” 
Swagata looked scandalized at this suggestion. “You can’t meet the Acharya so late at night.” 
      “But it’s urgent,” protested Arya. Moreover, she was planning to leave by morning. And she needed her answers before she left. 
       “No,” stated Swagata almost rudely and turned to leave. Then as if a thought occurred to her, she turned and looked at Arya, a look of regret making her face more grotesque. 
       “I wish it could have been different. I wish you could go away.” 
       Arya felt a cold shiver running down her spine. The ominous words played in her mind as she watched the retreating back of Swagata into the oblivion. 

Sundari: It’s not just Arya who must have felt a cold shiver down her spine. I am sure your readers will feel it too. I, for one, felt the heebies jeebies after reading your story. :D

Thank you so much Rubina Ramesh for gracing my blog and answering my questions. I am looking forward to reading your full-fledged novel. Inshallah, it will happen soon!

You can get in touch with Rubina Ramesh here:

Website | Facebook Author Page | Twitter | Google+ | LinkedIn | Pinterest 

Buying Links for Marijuana Diaries: Stories of Addiction

Amazon.in | Amazon.com

Meet the Creator: REET SINGH, author of Scorched By His Fire

Reet Singh

Welcome to my blog Reet Singh. Your second book The Cure Was Love was released on 1st November 2014 by Mills and Boon, India. Congratulations!

Thank you so much, Sundari!

Sundari: Your first novel Scorched By His Fire happened because you won the Passions Contest held by Harlequin Mills & Boon. What was your reaction when you first learned of the result? Were you expecting it or was it a surprise?

Reet: Gosh! You've taken me back, Sundari, to one of the most exciting times of my life. This was my third Passions contest. The one that Ruchi Vasudeva and Adite Banerjie walked away with – I also participated, and read the shortlisted entries to look for clues to what worked for them. The next year was my year because all the research paid off!
After submissions closed, all I could do was twiddle my thumbs and dream. Then, without warning, I got a phone call from Mills and Boon where a very nice lady asked me if I was indeed Reet Singh. She said she had called to verify my contact details. The penny dropped then, and I just knew I had made the shortlist.
Voting began, to choose the best three stories out of five, when – again – I got a phone call asking if I was alright with public appearances. By then, I had become clairvoyant, so I knew I had made it to the top slot.
So to answer your question, it was a surprise, kind of, but I was prepared also, sort of!
Haha, I know! My brain got all jumbled up then with excitement at the possibility of becoming a Mills and Boon author, and it is scrambled now, probably forever, because the excitement is nowhere near dying away!

Sundari: That is quite a story and a super success at that. Kudos! They say that the first novel usually has traces of the author’s biography. How far does that apply to your book?

Reet: A tiny bit, I won't lie! For instance, I've been to Mauritius, so it was a natural, picturesque location for the setting of “Scorched by His Fire”; I am impulsive and passionate – as was Mita; I have a partiality – ahem – for tall, dark and handsome men, which is why Mita couldn't resist Tanay.
But that's about it. The rest is all a figment of my vivid imagination. Some of the things Mita did, I wouldn't dream of doing - like asking a veritable stranger to pretend to be my fiancé! The idea!

Sundari: Now we know. Could you please present the blurb of your novel as a tweet to my readers, in 140 characters.

Reet: Meet Mita's hot fake fiancé–can enmity in Mauritius become passion in India? #ScorchedByHisFire http://www.reetsingh.in/for-18-and-above.php

Sundari: Good one. I was going to ask you if you plan to come up with a book that has a medical background before I saw the gist of The Cure Was Love. Rudy is a surgeon from New York while Simi is a medical student. So what plans have you for your next one? Would you like to share a glimpse of it?

Reet: I could write medical romance, and maybe I will some day, but for now I'm enjoying the freedom to invent. My next one is going to be based wholly in India – my characters are getting no foreign junkets this time – specifically, I have chosen vibrant and colorful Punjab for the setting. If Mohini and Sameer behave, I might weave a short visit to Mumbai into the plot. Sundari, I might ask you for help with locations etc, you being a Mumbai Gal!

Sundari: You are most welcome! Will be glad to be of help. You have written a book for teens called The Zaken Takeover. Do you have another book planned along those lines in the near future?

Reet: I sure do! The Mystical Amitree is an adventure story. I am currently in the process of completing it; during NaNoWriMo 2014, so expect it to be available in December or January, on Amazon KDP. The story starts in Delhi and moves rapidly to Africa as Arjun, a ten year old boy, goes looking for his missing uncle.  There are all sorts of mysteries to solve on the way, and I am having great fun writing it!

That’s simply awesome Reet Singh. It was lovely having you here on Flaming Sun. I absolutely enjoyed reading your answers. I wish you all the best with all your writing (ad)ventures. Keep up the great work!

Blog Tour: SPOTLIGHT, REVIEW & INTERVIEW of SUMEETHA MANIKANDAN & her THE PERFECT GROOM

My Review

I started reading in the night and could not stop reading till I finished Sumeetha Manikandan’s book at 1.30 am. All I can say is The Perfect Groom is a perfect novel with all the right ingredients.

Nithya is the elder daughter of a widow and they are dependent on an uncle and aunt who are quite nasty. When Nithya gets married to Ashok in the USA, everyone insists that she is the luckiest woman on earth as all expenses are taken care of by the groom’s family. But is that the truth?

There is Vasu who has also been ill-treated by the same uncle-aunt duo. His is a rags-to-riches story. He goes to California to receive an award. That’s where he meets Nithya after a ten-year gap. Nithya is excited, but feels that she has no right to be. Will she ever find happiness?

From Chennai to California to Mumbai, Sumeetha Manikandan has woven a lovely story about Nithya’s life in the first person. Having lived in Chennai myself and also having undergone immense interference from a number of relatives, I could so relate to the circumstances surrounding the widow and her young daughters. There is an excellent twist in the tale and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was that the author has not shown any of the main characters as bad, just different. Beautifully penned! Congratulations Sumeetha!

And why would Ashok get married if he is not interested in his wife? You will have to read the novel to find out.

Rating: 

The Perfect Groom by Sumeetha Manikandan

The Blurb

Very little has gone right in Nithya’s young life. So, when a proposal from a young, handsome NRI comes along, her mother jumps at the opportunity and packs her daughter off to the US with her perfect groom.

Nithya seems to have settled in with Ashok, ostensibly happy, if as yet childless, in her new life. When an old flame comes back into her life, however, the cracks in her perfect marriage begin to show…

Meet the Creator of THE PERFECT GROOM

Meet Sumeetha Manikandan, the creator of The Perfect Groom published by Indireads. This is her debut novella and I must say that I found the story very interesting. It’s also very well written for a first time author. 

Sundari Venkatraman: Hi Sumeetha Manikandan, welcome to Flaming Sun. Give a description of your novel THE PERFECT GROOM ‘twitter’ style, in 140 characters. 

Sumeetha Manikandan: Meet Nithya, the bride of #ThePerfectGroom, a woman who rises above her #socialmileau to reclaim life on her own terms @Indireads #romance

SV: They say that debut novels generally verge on a lot of incidents from the author’s life, at least the characteristics of the protagonists. How much of The Perfect Groom follows yours? 

SM: Very true. Though The Perfect Groom is based on a true incident, I found it comfortable to set it within a background which I am familiar with. And many of my own characteristics are mirrored in Nithya’s.

SV: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? A full time author or...? 

SM: I would love to be a full time author. 

SV: The Perfect Groom is your debut novella. I read that you got the idea from something a friend said. For myself, I loved the Tamil setting in Mylapore that I could so relate to. What about your next book? I saw the title “These Lines of Mehendi”. Does that mean it is set in North India? Can you share something about this new venture?

SM: These lines of Mehendi is not set in the north. It is a story about a mehendi artist who lives in Mylapore. It is a typical romance. I will reveal more about it soon :)

SV: The Perfect Groom is a romance. Do you plan to continue writing in the same genre or…?

SM: I would be writing more romance novels in future. I am also toying with a plot idea for a historical fiction, which is in the research stage. 

SV: Any pitfalls that you would like to warn new writers about? 

SM: Have an open mind for bad reviews and rejection slips. I have always believed that we just need to keep doing what we really love to do and we will get our due, one day. Write, write and write more. 

Thank you very much Sumeetha for that interesting view into a writer’s life. I hope you enjoyed answering as much as I enjoyed asking the questions. Wish you all the best in your writing ventures. Looking forward to your new romance novel, These Lines of Mehendi. 

Buy @

 Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.uk | Amazon.ca |Indireads |Smashwords |

           

Watch it

Meet the author

The Author's Thoughts

An author and a freelance writer, Sumeetha Manikandan has been writing for many years now. After working in dotcom companies, like Sulekha for over a decade, she started freelancing from home. 

Her debut novella, 'The Perfect Groom' was initially written in a script format, which was later converted into a novella for Indireads. The Perfect Groom touches a taboo subject that is most often shrouded in secret whispers and exclamations in the tambrahm community. Inspired by a real anecdote, 'The Perfect Groom' is in parts the true story of a girl who rose above myriad challenges to make her own way in life.

     

  

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Author Interview @ THE TALES PENSIEVE

I am thrilled to present one more author interview where I was featured. This time it was on a website called The Tales Pensieve. It is Rubina Ramesh that I have to thank for this one too.

Read on to find out more...

Writing Can Be A Bolt From The Blue, Proves Sundari Venkatraman

Sundari Venkatraman felt the happiness of being a published author when Indireads decided to publish her short novella Double Jeopardy. When I got this book for review I was ready for a quick read without much expectations. This small package made me sit up, bite my nails and hold my breath  and above all the oomph factor was something I would not have guessed in my wildest dream.

Two guys and one girl. Simple story, right? How would you eliminate the second hero? Kill him? Sacrifice his love? Well Sundari chose another path. Quite a bold path for such a sweet love story.

Sundari Venkatraman was born in Kumbakonam, a town in Tamil Nadu. She grew up in Chennai in a joint family consisting of her parents, four sisters, grandparents, her uncle, aunt and their three children. Life was irresponsible and wonderful in those days. She learned the Queen’s language at her Grandpa’s knee along with her sister Sujatha. After her arranged  marriage to Mr. Venkatraman, she moved to Mumbai. She was a housewife till her kids had not entered the middle school. That’s when she officially went to work outside the kitchen. Writing happened to her out of the blue and she was so glad about it. First came the novels, then short stories and later the blogs. She was so thrilled to be able to blog. The number of hits on her page and comments from readers intoxicates her like rare wine.

I got InKonversation with Sundari Venkatraman about Arth, Sanya and Ansh. Meet Sundari Venkatraman:

Hi Sundari. Thanks for agreeing to this interview. I have read your book, Double Jeopardy and must say it has been quite a shock. Nice way to eliminate the competition. Can you tell us something about your book?

Hi Rubina, I should thank you for this interview. While my intention was not to shock, I am glad that my book ‘Double Jeopardy’ made a strong impact on you. If that will eliminate competition, then I must say I am glad.

Double Jeopardy is about Sanya’s journey into womanhood. She travels all the way from London to Mumbai to meet Arth Sharma, her childhood sweetheart. She is repeatedly thrown in the company of Ansh, Arth’s twin brother. Sparks fly as she is physically attracted to him. While Sanya refuses to let go of her childhood dreams, she is forcibly drawn to Ansh. Read the full story to find out who she lands up with.

Click Here to read the complete interview on The Tales Pensieve.

Sharing: MY VERY FIRST AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Rubina Ramesh is the owner of the blog The Book Club where she writes book reviews and author interviews regularly. These pertain predominantly to the romance genre while she also writes about other books.

Rubina has done me the honour of not just reviewing my book DOUBLE JEOPARDY, but also doing my very first interview as an author. I am super-thrilled to present it here.

Here is an excerpt:

Q: As a writer when you blog your stories, don't you feel that you are losing out on publishing your stories. That you would do more justice if you publish them, even as a self published ebook?

A: I am 'publishing' my books on my blog. Yes, I lose out on the royalty. There are two angles to publishing. One is being read by people across the globe and the other is money. For 13 years, I had neither. Atleast over the past 3-4 years, my work is read by a number of people. Even if I am published by the best brand, what is the guarantee that my books will be sold? Yes, it would be fantastic if I turned out to be a JK Rowling or an Amish Tripathi. So far there is no indication of that.  I just got fed up with waiting and 'published' my own work for free. I have no regrets. This way at least I write regularly and do get feedback occasionally. Then there are those page hits. Total nasha!

CLICK HERE to read the Book Review & Author Interview by Rubina Ramesh in her blog The Book Club