KORAMANGALA:Debutante author Vani Kaushal realised a long cherished dream this year when her novel, The Recession Groom finally hit the stands.
Born in Garian, Libya in a traditional Hindu Punjabi family, Vani was raised in Chandigarh. She holds a masters degree in economics and also took a course in mass communication, which she believes set the foundation for her career. She later pursued MBA at Kingston University, London.
The author was at Atta Galatta for a reading this week, and she spoke to City Express about her take on arranged marriages, suitable grooms and more.
On writing
As a child, I loved reading, but writing something of my own never occurred to me. I started my journey of professional writing in 2002 and as a financial journalist, it was exciting to meet new people, absorb their ideas, conceptualise and write stories. However, I did not want to limit myself to writing just business articles and started work on a novel, only to abandon it a little later. It was while working in London that I got back to writing again, this time to pen my first work of fiction.
The story
The Recession Groom is the story of Parshuraman, a 27-year-old IT professional who is settled in Canada. He has the credentials that put any Indian man at the top of the eligibility list. Despite his family’s attempts to get him to settle, he is too distracted by other problems. As the credit crisis grips the global economy, the little world he’s created for himself begins to fall apart. The story revolves around how he faces the challenges and finds true love.
Marriage material
In Parshuraman’s case, what accentuates his appeal is the fact that he’s very rooted in Indian traditions and loves his family. He is very respectful of women and that makes him ‘marriage material’. I know he will strike a chord with the female readers and I hope the male readers like him too.
Arranged marriage
Marriage is a means to an end, the end being happiness. How you meet that end is not important. I am glad that we have examples of love marriages that flopped and arranged marriages that lasted a lifetime, but it’s not fair to say that one is better than the other. As a woman, I’d say do what you think works best for you. Not everyone is so forthright in making choices in their life but if there’s someone whom you hold close to your heart and think you have a shot at happiness, do, by all means, get married.
Rejection and motivation
I knew The Recession Groom was a lovely story and all I ever wanted to do was to tell it. I read about other authors who faced rejections while submitting their manuscripts and took solace in the fact that I wasn’t alone. I also watched a lot of motivational videos to keep my spirits high. Good music, food, quality relationships and affirmative thoughts also helped me a lot.
On being a published author
Getting your book published is not easy. It could take from months to years. From framing the perfect cover letter to writing a crisp one-page synopsis and getting three sample chapters ready, a writer is on a constant learning curve. Patience helps and so does perseverance. Sustaining oneself financially during this struggle period could be a big challenge. I’ve been through all of it and it has served to enrich my experience. Today, I feel glad that I made it through.
Nuts and bolts of research
I have a background in economics and management and clearly, writing about an IT professional wasn’t easy. I needed to know the terms used in the IT industry. I had to understand the routines of IT professionals, how they work on projects, what their day-to-day challenges are and how they deal with them. I read up a lot on the Internet and also had help from some friends and family members who are in the industry.
Dreams and goals
I am currently writing a sequel to my first book. There’s a third book that ties up the whole story. I see myself writing many more novels, particularly in the fantasy genre.
On Bengaluru
I have never been to Bengaluru before but I had heard that it is a vibrant city full of young people with high aspirations. I now think Bengaluru is more cosmopolitan than Delhi. I am also a huge fan of south Indian food.