Naina Gupta

Naina Gupta is the author of The Bollywood Break-up Agency.

Your debut novel is called The Bollywood Breakup Agency. Can you tell us a little about it?

Well the Bollywood Breakup Agency is about Neela, who sets up a breakup service for those who are having second thoughts about the people they have chosen as part of an arranged marriage.

She starts up her business after her parents cut off her money tap because she refuses to marry any of the potential suitors that they keep inviting to the house.

Where do you find inspiration?

I am at that time of life where everyone I know is getting married, about to get married, or thinking about getting married. I have learned a lot about the arranged marriage process over the last three years and the kinds of people my friends and family were meeting, so I thought, there is a book in here somewhere.

Describe your typical writing day.

When I write, it is usually behind closed doors, when everyone has gone to work or gone to sleep. I wrote this book in secret because I was pretty sure my friends and family wouldn’t appreciate someone writing about arranged marriages in this way. I don’t have a typical day, I write whenever there is the opportunity to do so.

How much planning do you undertake before beginning a new book?

There was some planning. I knew what I wanted and I knew where the characters wanted to go. There were a few key plot points that I wanted in the book, but sometimes there is only so much planning you can do because you do need some spontaneity.

How do you approach editing?

Cautiously. I never spend a whole day writing or a whole day editing. I know how important it is to have a fresh mind when you are looking at your own mistakes, so sometimes I won’t edit until I have had a couple of days break from the book.

Which three books have you read that have made the most impact on you?

Oh dear … that’s a hard one. The Green Mile is one of my all time favourites. The Namesake. Not for the same reasons as everyone else. I realised after reading that book that I never felt culture clash growing up, there was no identity crisis or anything. My friends and I have carved out our own identities and there never really was any confusion of cultures. And finally, to indulge my geeky side, Bad Science. I thought that book was fantastic and I really learned a lot and suddenly became much more sceptical about what I read when it came to the subject.

Is there a character from Fiction you’d like to meet?

I was just thinking about this the other day. I want to meet Natsenka from White Nights by Dostoevsky. When I read the book I thought that she was such a fickle person who leads people on, dumps them within a second and then write a letter demanding forgiveness. I hate people like that.

Best/Worst thing about being a writer?

I love being able to escape after an awful day of real life and immersing myself into an imaginary world which I have control over.

The worst is waiting for the reviews and seeing if people love or hate that manuscript that I spent a year slaving over.

Are you working on anything new at the moment? Tell us about it?

My next book is the Bollywood Wife, and it is set in India. It tells the story of one of the characters after they move to India after marriage.

Have you any advice for new writers?

Don’t give up. And write the story you love the best you can before you send it out to the publishers.

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by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.