“In our first interview we have got the author, who
chose to write about women safety over regular chick lit, an author whose
writing motivated women all over the country, an author who wants to stand
apart from the crowd by her writing abilities. Yes we are talking about
PRIYANKA BARANWAL, the author of IT’S NEVER TOO LATE. Here we present a chat with the author
Priyanka Baranwal, where she opens up on how she maintains her work with her
life, why she had chosen such a subject for her debut book, her view on the
‘name controversy’ and a lot more…”
Q:
From staring at your
blog to holding
your own book, how it feels?
PB: It feels fantastic; first of its kind experience. I had always
spared myself from imagining the moment during the journey but when it happened,
I was speechless. It was a dreamlike sensation to feel my own book in hands. I
have also mentioned the same ecstasy in From the Author’s Heart section
in the book.
Q: How important
is writing to you when
you are loaded with household
chores in your
everyday life?
PB: It’s all about managing time.
Actually I try to manage my other chores as per my writing schedule not my
writing according to the other chores.
Q:
Let’s talk about
your book, what made you
write about this? I
mean is it the result of
humiliation a woman has
to face now
a days or
you always wanted to write about
this?
PB: I had never thought of becoming an author, if truth to be
spoken. I have been a writer but authorship came completely out of the blue. On
August 26th 2012, Sumit, my husband, encouraged me to write a novel.
He has seen my articles online (that I have written being as a freelancer) and
he believed that I could also do well in literature world. I was tentative at
the moment but nonetheless I started the journey and here I am…an author today.
However my book is a work of fiction
yet I tried my best to echo out an issue that’s much in the need of attention
i.e. women safety concerns. Given the Delhi Moving Bus Rape Case and other
horrible incidents, I was deeply shaken though they happened much later after
submitting my manuscript. I just hope my book to reach out to the masses to
sensitize people towards women and how important it is to pay respect they
deserve.
Q: What is the reaction you are
getting for this
brave attempt of yours?
PB: Very prompt and highly positive. The Hindu has mentioned
like this –
"I believe the plot has been written with the intention
of making a difference — not just in the lives of women, but everyone, the
central theme being to face our fears, emerge
victorious over them by never giving up, to keep trying no matter how desolate
the future may seem.
Readers have been messaging and
mailing me about how much they are in love with the book. In fact, every one of
them has said that my book is very inspirational and speaks loads about the
issue. I am glad every time I hear such motivational comments.
Because of the plot and readers’
love, It’s Never Too Late has got covered in The Hindu with a realistic
and positive review. The book has risen up to Amazon’s bestsellers rank in
overall category as well as in Top 100 books in Literature and Fiction.
It has also been covered in The New Indian Express Bangalore under
Bestsellers. All in all, It’s Never Too Late is getting huge
response from people that I had never anticipated.
Q:
For a debut
writer, how tough it
is to get
published?
PB: It’s certainly not a child’s task to find a publisher for
sure. I myself had faced 2-3 rejections before getting finalized by Srishti
Publications. I can’t speak on behalf of others but as I have heard from other
sources and on the basis of till date experience, getting published has become
rather easier as there are now emergence of good numbers of publication houses
who are willing to give generous opportunities to good stories and hence, new
authors but still, one has to write good and face the struggle to get
published.
Q:
How is your
experience to work
with such a big name like Srishti?
PB: A very satisfactory one. I am privileged to be associated
with such a big publication house. It needed time for me to understand how
publishing industry works. With all the procedures and queries, Mr. Arup Bose
and my editor from Srishti Publishers have helped me a lot. I am extremely
thankful for the entire team of Srishti for giving me the chance to get
published and making my journey easier.
Q:
For your readers
who exactly is Priyanka
Baranwal?
PB: Priyanka
Baranwal is a person who believes in giving out her best in whatever she
pitches in. She religiously believes in the concept of family and finds eternal
peace being with them. Priyanka loves reading, writing, travelling, music and
is keen to learn Guitar someday. Coming from a small town Mirzapur, located in
Uttar Pradesh, she is a graduate in Science and have pursued Diploma in Pre
& Primary Teacher’s Training with Specialization in Teaching English from
ATI (American TESOL Institute) and, in Textile designing as
well. Versatile in achievements, she is also a Freelancer and blogger.
On the regular basis, I am a normal person who loves little perks of life
and the challenges. It’s the writing ability that makes me stand apart in the
crowd.
Q: Didn't you think
of changing your book's
name after the so called 'name
controversy' just before
the release of your
book?
PB: No. I never had any second thought about changing the
name of my book. I gradually came to know that two books can be of similar
names if they are generic in use. I also searched on the internet and
interestingly found several books listed with the name of It’s Never Too Late.
Thus, I never gave a second thought on the title of my book. I had always been
sure since then.
Q:
Did the controversy
help your book
to create hype?
PB: I was surprised when you asked the above question as I
had never talked about the controversy anywhere or in any of my interviews. I
only mentioned it once on my facebook author page but I expressed only my
shock, grief and uncertainty about such people on why they do it. As for the
hype, I did not create anything as such. People who did this, I think, are
cheap minded, craved to create hype about their work and surely do not have any
faith in their work. May be that is why they wanted to create a hype to
publicize their own work. I did not even post anything related to this
controversy on any of my official pages. I have always believed in my work and
thus, I chose to stay mum and let this horrible experience pass, however, I was
very hurt thinking how others can go this much insensitive taking someone’s
advantage yet I did not speak ill of them. I just went silent. In the process,
my editor helped me to cope with the issue. At last, the culprits had to take
back seat as they failed to scare me.
Q:
At the end
of your book you
have mentioned a NGO named
NWLO (National Women Liberating
Organization) and you have also
worked with a
NGO, so is the s tory-line somehow related to your real life?
PB: No. The NGO that I have mentioned in my book is a
complete work of fiction and do not resemble to any other
organization/committee in realty or the one I have worked with. The NGO, that I
have worked for, promotes disabled children in particular.
Q:
So, when
are we getting
to see more
of Priyanka Baranwal?
PB: As I am reading Robin Sharma’s The Leader Who
Had No Title, it says, uncertainty is a good thing as it sends you out on
an adventure. I am also on one such adventure while working on my second
project. Unless I am sure of anything, it wouldn’t be wise to speak. So please
wait for the right time.
Q: At last, congratulations for your
book! Hope your book gets
its desired success.
Thank you very much for these
wonderful questions and taking out your precious time talking to me. It was
great to answer the questions.
Q: Now I would like to
request you to say something for our blog and to
your readers too!
The
first time I visited Timid Fingers was then when Purnendu had reviewed my book,
It’s Never Too Late. Though the blog is simple yet it is always the content
that actually connects a reader to the portal. Overall, the blog seems good and
(I guess) majorly deals with the reviews of books. Best wishes!
As for the readers, always believe in your dreams
and take actions for them. Stay in touch with your loved ones as they are the
only people who will never ever walk away from you. And yes…read my book It’s
Never Too Late and let me know your views on it.
Connect with her on –
Buy her book at your nearest bookstore or order
online @
Blurb: Filled with cheesy motivational posters,
computer workstations crammed side by side, dumb bosses / blonde's and bored
employees looking for a career change - ABCDEF Corp., a software giant, rankles
with a sameness of a suffocating software giants existence. Until one man and
his best friend take things into their hands.
