Falguni's Blog: AUTHOR'S CIRCLE: introducing MOHANALAKSHMI RAJAKUMAR

On Author’s Circle today, meet indie author and mother, Mohana, to talk about writing, life and her book, An Unlikely Goddess.

Hi Mohana, welcome to my blog. Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedule to come chat with us. To dive right in, tell us a bit about An Unlikely Goddess?

Mo: The story of a young South Asian girl, Sita, growing up in America, looking for love in all the wrong places, exchanging one conservative society for another.

If your book becomes a movie whom would you want to play the

hero and the heroine?

Mo: Hero: James McAvoy

Heroine: an as yet undiscovered Indian actress along the lines of Mindy Kaling (she is more comedy than drama)

Ooh. I adore James McAvoy. And hmm Mindy Kaling is an
interesting choice. But moving on...What does your day look like?

Mo: I wake up, try to journal if it’s not too early. On slow days, there’s a 20-45 minute work out; on busy days, right our the door, to drop the 3 year old at nursery, then to meetings, teach class, more meetings and pick up the 3 year old to head to an activity – swim or gymnastics class – home for dinner.

That's a busy, busy day. You must need some potent inspiration to

sit down and write after that. Which brings us to the author/s
who have inspired you the most?

Mo: I love Alice Munroe and am so happy she won the Nobel Prize for Literature this year.

How did you become a writer? In other words, tell us YOUR

STORY.

Mo: I wrote and wrote and wrote for ten years, short stories, novels, memoir, and essays. I tried to get agents for each project and each time, was told that the writing was interesting but not for them. I finally began self publishing in 2011 and have released 8 eBooks. Now those books are coming into paperback.

What is your least favorite part about the writing/publishing

profession?

Mo: Everyone thinks they have a story - which they probably do. But they also think that becoming a successful writer is an easy, overnight process and if they figure out how you did it, that process will work for them as well. Publishing is a unique process because you have to connect with your audience; that takes time and dedication. There is no shortcut.

What is your best marketing tip?

Mo: Figure out who your target audience is and reach out to them on topics that are not about your book. For example, my niche is women interested in culture. I share information on my author Facebook page that is related to current events, humorous gifs, and recipes. If they know me as a person, they’re more likely to pick up one of my books.

Why write romance?

Mo: The number one genre for readers, even over crime or thrillers. I want to be read, discussed, argued over. So I write literary romances; the female characters look for love but also live their lives in modern societies which are complex and challenging.

What can we expect from you next?

Mo: I’m revising a novel set in 1975 Laos, a Southeast Asian country that became communist in that year. A young woman is thrust into marriage as a way of escape; she immigrates to America and must decide her own way.

To end lets try a Rapid Fire round. Your answer should be the first

word/s that pops into your head when you think of:

LIFE: Long

PASSION: Love

HERO: Needed

LOVE: Friendship

HATE: Rage

Thank you once again, Mohana, for allowing us a glimpse into an author's life. We hope you bring us many more books to enjoy.