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Preethi Nair Interview

Posted on 08 June 2007. © Copyright 2004-2024 WriteWords
A longer version of this interview is available to WriteWords Full and Community Members.
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WriteWords talks to author Preethi Nair

Tell us something about your background.

I have three books with HarperCollins: Gypsy Masala, 100 Shades of White & The Colour of Love. 100 Shades of White is being adapted for a BBC drama. I have done a few plays for radio 4 and am currently working on a play for theatre.

I also run story workshops to teach people how to be more creative.



How did you start writing?

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t written but I started writing seriously in my twenties. I used to work as a management consultant in the city and the routine was so monotonous, to escape, I used to write.

Who are your favourite writers and why?

I love magical realists especially South American writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Isabelle Allende.

How did you get your first agent/ commission?

I just couldn’t get one and got rejected by every publisher so I took the deposit I had saved for my flat and set up my own publishing and PR company. I then hyped my novel under an alias, got it into the book charts and then sold it as part of a 3 book deal to HarperCollins.


What's the worst thing about writing?

The solitude

And the best?

The freedom

Tell us what kind of responses you get from audiences\ readers.

Mostly positive and this inspires me. It doesn’t actually affect the writing but my attitude to the moments when seemingly it isn’t going well.

What was your breakthrough moment?

In terms of publishing it was when Gyspy Masala published under my publishing company was picked up by Books Etc and promoted in all their branches (free of charge). Normally publishers have to pay to have their books promoted and window space is often bought up for lead titles and when you are a small publisher you do not have the money to compete with the big guns.



A longer version of this interview is available to WriteWords Full and Community Members.
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Comments by other Members



nessiec at 12:32 on 10 June 2007  Report this post
Goodness, this is truly proof that there's a way to get published if you are determined enough. I love this story of how you got your first deals!

hailstorm at 13:05 on 12 June 2007  Report this post
'I then hyped my novel under an alias, got it into the book charts and then sold it as part of a 3 book deal to HarperCollins.'

Brilliant: There is hope for us all!

Lammi at 16:39 on 26 July 2007  Report this post
What an extraordinary and inspiring story! I'm open-mouthed at the thought of you Pritt-sticking in the missing pages. I think that's rather brilliant. Me, I'd just have cried and given up.

CarolineSG at 19:51 on 07 November 2007  Report this post
Just saw this in The Random Read (which, I must confess, I usually ignore). I heard a brilliant podcast with Preethi a while ago in which she told the full, incredible story of how she got her book noticed by the Big Boys. It was so inspiring. I can't remember where I got it from, but I will post the link if I can find it. If by any chance you are reading this, Preethi, maybe you can jog my memory!

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