Prior to the launch of his new book, Horn OK Please - HOPping to conclusions, Kartik Iyengar once described as ‘a one-man marketing program’ speaks to Expresso about his latest book which is a heavymetal journey across a booming India. It revolves around the hilarious, rockstar lives of Chief Redbull, Goose Goldsmith and Derek Demonia in an SUV called motormouth.
Are you pleased with the hype your book is creating?
Yes, I am. For, I crossed my self-imposed target of 100,000 views per day of the fan-page and 10,000 views per post, I’ll keep modesty out for the moment. My next target will be more severe. For now, I move from marketing the book to selling it.
How important do you feel social networking was in generating interest in your book?
Social networking, social media and mobility have been the crux of writing the book. A global community helped me put together the book, drove the spirit, designed the cover, validated the content and it has been a journey. I now know what I need to do to take it to the next level with my second book due this December.
Why did you choose to print the books at orphanages instead of commercially?
After being rejected by every single publishing house in the country, I had two choices — get it mass printed at a commercial house cheap or pay a bit more but stand by the spirit of Horn OK Please. I chose the latter for the larger vision of HOP (which is a philosophy) is charity and is based on my promise to his holiness Dalai Lama. I want to change the world with a few other like-minded morons, who are my fans called hoppers. I faced no challenges for I only found support with every single hopper came out to help me in every step, my gratitude to them.
What, in your opinion, is the best possible outcome the trilogy could achieve?
It’s not a trilogy anymore for my fans want me to write five books and I call it a ‘frivology’. The best possible outcome would be to give the women and children of India live in a progressive, free-country which fosters out-of-the-box thinking and a safer, happier world. How will I achieve it? I don’t know, but I surely will make a difference.
Kartik Iyengar’s Horn OK Please - HOPping to conclusions is now available at Landmark, Forum mall.
