Confessionally Yours by Jhoomur Bose.
Audience/Genre : Adult/Women's Fiction.
Publication : July 15th 2012 by Penguin Books India (Penguin Metro Reads).

Polly is incapable of writing a good article for the newspaper – according to her editor.
Polly can’t have a baby soon enough for her mother-in-law…
Polly is not pretty enough for her husband – who moans about his ex – when they’re having the best sex ever.
Polly is not aggressive enough for her bitching colleagues and friends…
In the midst of all this, Polly has to write an expose on an anonymous blogger who has the entire media talking. Polly has been offered big money to write the story but writing it could cost other people their jobs and Polly her closest friend.
But when things take a drastic turn Polly knows she will need to sort out her life and this story might be her only resort...

I’m thrilled to have Jhoomur Bose, a fellow blogger, journalist and a debut author, here today. Her novel, Confessionally Yours, hits the stores in a few days.

Thanks so much for taking the time out to answer my questions Jhoomur.

How does it feel to go from being a journalist and blogging to have your first novel published?

Quite exhilarating and nerve-wracking at the same time; I’m quickly learning patience! As a blogger and as a journalist, you’re so used to getting instant feedback on what you write; it’s different with a book. The wait is killing but also perversely fun.

Confessionally Yours isn’t your typical chick lit novel, how did you get the idea?

The idea was born out of the stories many readers and friends shared with me through comments on my blog, emails and over cups of coffee. What I realised was that no matter where you put the Indian woman – from New Delhi to Newark, Bhatinda to Ballarat – their stories don’t seem to change. If one woman is trying to single-handedly salvage an arranged marriage, another is living through unreasonable demands of a love marriage, or in-laws who are intent on interfering; yet another woman is confused if she wants marriage or if it’s the independent life for her and what that independence might mean… I wanted to write a story about the women I know, women like you and me.

The protagonist, Polly, can you tell us a bit about her personality?

Polly’s biggest strength is her capacity to believe that everyone has something good in them; unless that person is being blatantly nasty to her. Polly has her beliefs – she likes to help out where she can (like her maid), she wants to be there for the people she loves – but she is not militant about those beliefs. She wants to live and let live, a good philosophy on most days but which can also be her biggest weakness. Sometimes Polly can let other people walk all over her. She doesn’t think of it as being taken advantage of though; she thinks she is keeping peace. But I think she’s learning and learning fast…

Are any of your characters or incidents in your novel based on real life people/experiences?

Real life experiences rather than real life people really. For instance, who hasn’t experienced bad office coffee?

Could you name a few authors or books that inspire you?

Inspiration has come from books and movies really, I always respond to stories that instantly “get” me. Fantasy author Sara Douglass (deceased), Terry Pratchett, Chuck Palahniuk, Nora Roberts (romance), Charlaine Harris, Kate Atkinson are few authors I really enjoy.

What’s your favorite quote of all time?

“Grab them by their balls and their hearts and minds will follow.” There is some confusion about who really said it originally, but the most popular theory is that it’s attributed to a General James Hollingsworth, the commanding officer of the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam.

If you met Polly before all the drama and you could give her one advice, what would it be?

I’d tell her that she’s intelligent, beautiful and capable and that she does not have to settle for just any man. In fact I’d tell her to focus on her work and let life and love happen to her.

I know it’s a bit soon, but do you have any plans for another novel?

I do and I’ve started jotting down my ideas for it and chalking out the characters. ☺

Thanks so much again Jhoomur!

Giveaway Terms and Conditions :

• Giveaway is India Only.
  
• Winner has 36 hours to respond or a new one will be picked.
  
• Giveaway ends on August 20th, 2012.
  

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Jhoomur Bose is a former journalist, blogger and full-time mother. She has written for various Indian magazines, newspapers and websites and currently lives in Melbourne, Australia. She writes about stuff that happens and stuff she wishes would happen at http://twistingthetail.blogspot.com.

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