Peace Ho! We have an announcement to make!

We, at Gargi, have been constantly working day in and out to bring the best in publishing industry. We started from scratch and have tried to put in every amount of our hard work, perserverance and will to bring about good faith in an industry that had suddenly begun to lose its charm. While the quantity has increased, quality is what that has taken a backseat. We entered the market with the motive to offer the most of an author's dedication and commitment towards writing.

Being an author himself, Pulkit Gupta, the founder of Gargi, understands pretty well about the energy that goes into not just writing but marketing as well. While it may have become easy to get published in today's times, it has become a lot more difficult to reach the market. Due to erratic distribution network, a number of good writers do not get the deserved attention and acclaim. With the core team of authors, Gargi has tried to put in the best foot forward. Our June releases, 12 Strokes of Life by Durgesh Shastri and Cheer Up! by Ila Garg have carved a niche for themselves in a small period and with the initial success of both the books, we wait with bated breaths for our July releases, Bad Romance and Crumpled Voices.

Now that we have talked a lot about ourselves, our beginnings and our endeavours, there is something else we wish to tell you about. Yes, we have been taking steps into the market, strengthening our services and our distribution network. All this while, there was a team of developers, designers and testers burning the midnight oil to shape in something we had been looking forward to. Yes, we are talking about our website.

Our official website is up.

http://www.gargipublishers.com/

This is how the home page looks. You can browse through our website for all the information required. All our books and lovely authors have been listed here with their shining and glittering trophies (Uhh..we mean books :D ). We also have a Gallery section that showcases all our celebrities caught by the paparazzi. We are not the ones who would like to keep it under covers. Nah! That's so not us! We like flaunting, you see. So, from the core team members to the interns working with us, we have them all, under one roof.

For all those who find our start-up exciting enough and wish to join in our literary journey, we have a 'Join Us' page. Do have a look at it and send in your CVs.

If you are an author and are interested in sending us your manuscript for consideration then we have a Submissions page that talks about what we look for in a proposal. Read it carefully and send in your tale, a tale that you wish the world to read. We are always on the lookout of great writers.

You can also place an order of our books straight from the website. All you have to do is to click on the book's info that will have purchase links. You can either select the major online shopping portals or else fill and submit the form. The book will be delivered at your doorstep with free shipping, COD and amazing discounts ranging from 25% to 40%.

The tech team has put in maximum efforts to make it a user-friendly website and we hope that you find it easy and convenient to browse as well as find it informative enough. We look forward to your feedback, orders and submissions too :D

That's all for today. We'll come around soon :)

Have a happy Monday! :D

Interview with Harshita Srivastava - By Anshuma Sharma

A full-time writer, she is the author of 'One In A Million' that got published by Mahaveer Publishers in April 2013 in her final year of Mechanical Engineering at G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Noida. She is an avid reader and a prolific blogger. She loves reading classics and is a diehard Mills and Boons fan. She believes that writing provides solace to her soul and that is why ditched her engineering skills for the mighty pen. She writes for a number of online platforms on a regular basis and loves interacting with people. 

Apart from writing, she loves travelling, reading, listening to music and spending time with friends and family. At present, she resides in Gurgaon and works as a Content Writer with a leading e-commerce group.

Buy her second book here: Homeshop18 (and don't forget to drop your reviews)

Here we get to know her a little more closely:

1. So tell us something about you?

I am just a regular girl who finds happiness in the small little things in life. I have all the basic traits of a Taurean. Independent, stubborn, lazy, patient and down to earth. Like so many of us around, I studied engineering, mechanical to be precise but went on to take up my passion as my profession. My debut work of fiction ‘One In A Million’ released when I was in my final year of engineering and since then there has been no stopping. As of now, I work as a content writer with Ibibo Group and totally love my job. My second full-fledged novel ‘Bad Romance’ is about to release and I’m pretty much excited about it.

2. Tell us something about your college life?

Ahh! College days were indeed the best times of my life. I stayed away from home at Greater Noida, a place that is flooded with just colleges and students. I took Mechanical Engineering and hence was surrounded by males all around. In a class of 70, we were just 4 girls and it was always like hell broke loose in our batch. My college life on-campus was an experience of a lifetime for me considering the fact that I came from a convent background and had studied for ten years straight in an all-girls school. I was one of those students in class with whom teachers were always distressed. From bunking classes to being involved in the wackiest of things, I did it all there. Probably, all that made me divert from all the depression Mechanical Engineering books gave me. I just could not find an inclination towards the subject and that is when I realized that writing was my true calling, something that I was trying to ignore. Soon enough, I was back to my first love and I am quite happy with the decision I took. 

3. If you could give one piece of advice to max. Number of people what would it be?

RESPECT WOMEN. DO NOT RAPE. TEACH PEOPLE NOT TO RAPE.

4. What’s the most frightened you’ve ever been?

I have survived engineering result declaration. How can I be scared of anything (devil laugh).

5. Do you remember the happiest and saddest moment of your life?

The day I signed the contract for my debut work has to be the happiest day of my life and as for the saddest moments, they come and go, I don’t give them much of an importance in my life. 

6. Do you have a specific writing style?

Not exactly but I try to keep everything slow and subtle when I put down my thoughts in words. My writing style changes a lot with the kind of genres I work on.

7. “Bad Romance”! How did you come up with the title?

I am too bad at finalizing the titles but while I was reading this book, one day all of a sudden, I woke up with this title in my mind and decided that this was it.

8. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I grew up reading a lot of classics so the first author who left a deep impact on me was Charles Dickens. Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, all of them have amused me since childhood and I don’t even think for a second before picking them up even now. I simply love the way he develops his characters and builds an interesting plot around them. 

9. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I was an introvert as a kid and would be too shy to talk to people. I didn’t have much of friends and all those I had wouldn’t know much about what I felt or how I felt. Altogether, I never felt like sharing my feelings with anyone, neither my friends nor family. I would generally be lost in one of those story books gifted to me by my grandpa and Mom and Dad. At such a point, my Mom asked me to write diary entries and that is when the revolution began. I have been writing since I was eleven and I don’t think I am ever going to stop doing that.

10. Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

In the recent times, I have found Bhavya Kaushik’s work soothing. It kind of strikes you right there, not in your heart but seeps through your soul. Read his book ‘The Other Side of the Bed’ and you’d know why I am saying this. I am a regular reader of his blog and this guy just takes you to another world with his words. Two more people I really love reading lately are Mehek Bassi and Tanya Shrivastava. I really like reading Mehek’s write-ups where she encourages all the girls to speak out for themselves for their rights. Her debut book ‘Chained’ was a lot more different from the regular debut efforts we see today. And Tanya, she is one charming girl who writes minutely about the small little things of life and that is why I totally adore her.

11. Could you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?

I am a content writer so I write almost 10-12 hours a day although out of these, around 8 hours are dedicated to my office work. When it comes to creative writing, I try to write regularly but there are days when the thoughts don’t just come to me. On such days, I give reading a lot more time and treat myself with anti-depressants in the form of chocolates and brownies. I write anywhere and everywhere, from a small sheet of paper lying somewhere to laptop or phone. While I do a lot of writing on MS Word, I don’t let go off my habit of writing on paper. I have always maintained a diary that has all my relevant and irrelevant writings.

12. Any writing rituals?

None, as such. I write whenever I feel like. Though yes, when it’s a writing project I do work as per deadlines.

13. Ballpoint, uniball or fountain pen?

Nothing specifically. Ballpoint, most of the time because that’s what I generally have in my bag. Fountain pen when I am exceptionally happy.

14. What’s more important: characters or plot?

Both of them are as important but at times, even if your story is a simple, it’s the character sketch and presentation of the whole tale that makes a lot of difference.

15. How hard is it to establish and maintain a career in fiction writing?

It is quite a tough call. You have to constantly work towards perfection, you have to learn to face the criticism, the good ones and the bad ones. A lot of people will de-motivate you, misguide you but if you are lucky, you’ll also get some really wonderful people who will always be there to help you rise and shine. Try to learn from every person you meet. It’s upto you how you take it and deal with it. After all, in the end, survival of the fittest is what matters.

16. Any last thoughts for our readers?

Thank you for reading my work and constantly motivating me for every sane and insane stuff I wrote. Your support means a lot to me. Stay blessed!

 (This interview was taken by Anshuma Sharma under the internship program by Gargi Publishers)

Interview with Ila Garg - by Milan Modi

She loves writing. It is her passion. Creativity and writing has always attracted her. Besides that, she loves to sketch and click pictures. Apart from being an avid reader, writer, reviewer, and editor, she is an active blogger too. She blogs at ilashininggem.blogspot.in. Her debut novel, titled, ‘Life and Promises’ created a lot of hype. Five of her poems were part of a poetry anthology, ‘Minds at Work 2’. She is also a part of several short story anthologies, ‘A Night in Paradise’, ‘Moonlit Matinee’ and ‘You Me ‘N’ Zindagi’.

NOW SHE HAS COME UP WITH A NEW NOVEL “Cheer Up - The Worst Is Yet To Come”. Her upcoming projects include ‘Crumpled Voices – Shades of Suffering’, an anthology based on social issues.”

Buy her latest book here: Homeshop18 (and don't forget to drop your reviews)

Here we get to know her a little more closely:

Milan: Is there a key person that has inspired you in the process of writing?

Ila: Well, not exactly. It was just an inborn passion which came to the fore as soon as I got enough time to explore this interest.

Milan: Describe the role books played in your  life?

Ila: Books act like an escape route. They tend to transport you to another world especially when reading romantic fiction. Normal life is quite stressful nowadays. Books do provide the much needed relief and at times they expose you to the unknown realities. Sometimes, they inspire you too.

Milan: How did “Cheer up, the worst is yet to come” happen?

Ila: Ever since I started jotting down my ideas and thoughts in a diary, a faint picture of my story started forming in my mind. With passage of time this picture grew sharper and clearer. Till one fine day it was crystal clear. ‘Cheer up, the worst is yet to come’ is the product of my own imagination only.

One fine day, as a friend of mine read and praised my scribbling, I started taking it seriously and worked towards giving it a proper shape and form, and help it see the light of the day.

Milan: You have worked under various publication houses, How's the experience with Gargi Publishers team?

Ila: It’s always a fresh feel to work with different publishing houses. It keeps you vibrant in your mannerism too. All the houses have different ways of functioning so working with them becomes a learning experience. You take the best of all, and keep moving ahead. So far I have worked with Moments (Life and Promises & Moonlit Matinee), Omji (A Night in Paradise & You Me N Zindagi), FirstStep (Minds At Work 2), and Author’s Empire (Life and Promises – Second Edition). Each of them have given a varied essence to me and I am content with all of them.

With Gargi Publishers (Cheer Up & Crumpled Voices), my approach has turned vivacious. It has not only given me opportunity to write, but to edit, review and mentor several interns too. It’s not every day that you get such an exposure. I am overwhelmed and humbled. Enjoying each moment of my work with Gargi.

Milan: What are your views on co-authoring?

Ila: Co-authoring is fun! It helps you improve each day and add on to the book. If one of the writers has a doubt, the other can always come to the rescue! During ‘Life and Promises’ a time did come when we both ended up pointlessly arguing and got mad at each other. There was also a phase, when I completely disagreed with Pulkit, my co-author, and we reached a mid-way! There were days when I suggested some modifications, and he consented to all of them. And then there was a day, when he gave the total authority to me to reform it according to my choice. Though in the end, we managed to develop an understanding and complete the novel without any major conflicts.

Yes, I agree it was tough initially and even today it is difficult to work together at times, but Pulkit guides me well and I’m happy to have him as the lighthouse in the middle of this sea!

Milan: What genre do you particularly like?

Ila: I like romance fictions, though at times they move around the same plot lines. A well written tale, fast and engaging is something I adore.  Fantasy thrillers, good mysteries, crime fictions, something which involves magic realism, I like them all. 

Milan: What are some things you like to do when you’re not writing?

Ila: In my leisure time, I love to watch Korean movies, listen to Sufi music, chatting, and travel to new places.

Milan: A curious question, what’s your view regarding love?

Ila: A need in this cruel world full of hate. A comfort. A solace. For me, love is no less than a prayer. It is too pure a feeling for me. When I see a happy couple, it makes me happy, I smile and my heart smiles with me. The elixir of life is love. It is in that sense very powerful. I adore the SRK - Gauri love. My latest icons are Gauhar Khan and Kushal Tandon. Gaushal!

I find love in the tiniest things around me. I love my pillow, my clothes, my books, I love me. It pains me to see anyone hurt especially because of me, may be that is what love actually is. I love everyone and everything unless they hurt me or make me hate them. When you start falling for somebody and you can't stop thinking about when you're going to see them again, I love that. In a relationship each person should support the other; they should lift each other up.

Milan: What was the time frame for writing this book?

Ila: Several months of writing and then few weeks of editing before I gave it to the publishing house for consideration.

Milan: How does it feel being an author?

Ila: Being an author is a tough thing. Carrying that tag is a burden at times because it’s a competitive world we live in. But on the flip side, I am enjoying this phase, basking in the glory, cherishing each positive review that I get for my work. Being a part of 5-6 books and having the second edition of your debut book out in less than 2 months of being in this industry is almost like a dream. Amm… it’s feels good overall and gives me a reason to smile when I feel low.

Milan: An editor, reviewer or a writer?

Ila: A combination of all three *laughs* and in addition I like designing promotional material on Photoshop too though I am still an amateur. I like editing a lot, it is challenging and a learning experience in itself. Reviewing others work lets you ponder on your own flaws which is at times insightful. Writing is a tedious task and involves patience in addition to imagination.

Milan: What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Ila: Oh well, I guess it is editing your own book and marketing too. It requires a lot of patience and accuracy. Also, meeting deadlines is perhaps a hindrance in expressing our emotions beautifully.

Milan: Any specific tips you have for aspiring authors who want to make it in the publishing Industry?

Ila: Everyone has a different way of seeing things, or behaving, and I try not to judge others. I am not into giving sermons. I find a lot of talents around, but the execution is flawed. There is not enough description and nuances in some books. A book has to appeal to the senses. It should have the capability to shake you from within. A few of the books I read have a lot of grammatical errors. This is something, I despise. So, dear budding writers and bloggers work a little more on that raw write up, make it presentable, hire an editor if you must, but never let the first impression go wrong. Best wishes!

Milan: Any message which you will like to give to the readers?

Ila: Life is too short. Fulfil all your promises. Don’t waste your time in over thinking  Help others whenever you can irrespective of the fact that how they treated you. Trust me, they will adore you. I have always believed in standing for what is right and being fair in all my decisions, I will continue to do that. I hope you all do the same. It’s very important to be assertive and always follow your heart. Never wait for somebody to come and love you, love yourself. It’s very important to focus on yourself before you expect others to focus on you and make you their priority. Also, it’s equally important to love others, and make them feel heavenly. Do things that make you happy once in a while without thinking what others will say. I always do that.

And how can I forget to thank my readers for always being so supportive. I hope they continue to read my books and drop a feedback at my mail id - ilagarg@ymail.com

Milan: Will Milan Modi (if you don’t know that’s me :P) get a free signed copy of your book?  *wink*

Ila: Why not? You just have to promise to write a detailed review.

THANKS ILA FOR SPARING YOUR PRECIOUS TIME. I WISH YOUR BOOK GOES TO THE “BEST SELLER” LIST SOON. 

(This interview was taken by Milan Modi under the internship program by Gargi Publishers)

Order her book at: http://bit.ly/1hIjjmK

Interview with Harshita Srivastava - By Akash Khonde

A full-time writer, she is the author of 'One In A Million' that got published by Mahaveer Publishers in April 2013 in her final year of Mechanical Engineering at G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Noida. She is an avid reader and a prolific blogger. She loves reading classics and is a diehard Mills and Boons fan. She believes that writing provides solace to her soul and that is why ditched her engineering skills for the mighty pen. She writes for a number of online platforms on a regular basis and loves interacting with people. 

Apart from writing, she loves travelling, reading, listening to music and spending time with friends and family. At present, she resides in Gurgaon and works as a Content Writer with a leading e-commerce group.

Buy her second book here: Homeshop18 (and don't forget to drop your reviews)

Here we get to know her a little more closely:

Akash: An unforgettable compliment or critic you received till date?
Harshita: Till date, a lot of people have appreciated my work but one compliment that I cherish was from a reader who said that after reading my book, she realized that no matter what happens she would never break down. I still wonder why I find it so wonderful but then I guess, certain things are out of comprehension; maybe, the sheer fact that I could help create a difference in her life gives me a high that alcohol can never ever offer.

Akash: Would you like to give any advice for upcoming writers/authors and our readers, in choosing their publishers and preparing their manuscripts?

Harshita: I don’t know if I have reached the stature to advice aspiring writers but as per my experiences, I can just say that do not get disheartened by rejections. Write what your heart says and always believe in what you write. You constant faith in yourself is going to take you heights.
I have often observed that there are a lot of freshers who don’t take preparing a proposal sincerely and thus end up facing rejection even after having a strong script. To everyone, I’d suggest you to please give proper time to your proposal so that your efforts of writing out those 60000 words don’t go futile. And on a personal note, it’s the cover letter that the editorial team at Gargi, takes quite seriously. Always remember, first impression is the last impression.

Akash: Are you a voracious reader? What kind of books do you like to read? Any particular writers who inspired your writing?
Harshita: I do love reading books and my life is actually incomplete without books. I have been reading since I can remember being alive. I read all kinds of books though yes, classics, serious drama and romance fall under my preferred genre. One writer who has contributed in a big way in making me love reading and writing is Charles Dickens. If he wouldn’t have created magic in Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and A tale of Two Cities, I would have not been sitting around here answering your questions.

Akash: From Engineer to Author, Passion versus Profession. How difficult was the fight?

Harshita: The path wasn’t a cakewalk. I had to struggle a lot but then I believe, for every battle fought, for every sleepless night and for every hardship, all of this was worth it. I had loved writing since I was eleven but at that time, I had no idea that I’d actually end up taking my hobby as my full-time job. The conflict that I faced during engineering was something I’d rather not narrate but then I knew that I had to take the path. I understood that if I did not take up a stand then I’d have to give up on my dreams and I didn’t want it to happen. I wanted to turn my dreams into reality. Gradually, things began to fall in place with all the efforts that I put in and here I am, working for my passion. 

Akash: Many young people land up in engineering solely because of parental pressure. Do you have any advice for the parents?
Harshita: Parents need to understand that there’s a lot more at stake than just career. I have always believed that whatever you do should be done with your heart and soul. If you aren’t inclined towards what are probably going to do for the next 40-50 years then you can forget terms like inner peace, contentment and success, maybe.
I understand that parents are pretty much correct in thinking about the welfare of the kids but instead of pushing them into a profession, it is always good to analyze and understand the preferences of their children so that nobody remains at a loss.

Akash: What can the fans of Harshita expect from you in the future?
Harshita: A lot of my readers have originated from my blog so they’d know, by now, that I either write down about relationships or social issues. These are the two things that are quite close to my heart so in the recent future, three topics around which my stories may revolve include romance, drama and social issues.

Akash: Tell us something about your new novel BAD ROMANCE?
Harshita: ‘Bad Romance’ is an intense romantic fiction and is extremely close to my heart. This is the story of a girl Kritika and how life changes for her when Tanishq comes along. This isn’t just about how two people fall in love, it’s about dealing with the traps and complexities of life. This is the story of choosing priorities, unravelling the mysteries surrounding love and lust and finding the courage to survive.

Akash: What else you love to do apart from writing & reading?
Harshita: Sleeping and eating (laughs). Cooking is my new found interest; in the past six months I have learnt and experimented a lot with food. I love teaching kids so it may not be surprising if you find me some day playing with street kids and teaching them simultaneously. Also, I love interacting with people and listening to soft music.

Akash: What do you think about the present scenario of publishing industry? What was your experience with your publishers?

Harshita: There are a lot of good as well bad aspects of the present state of the industry. While it has become a little easier to get published, exploitation of talent has become a major issue. But I do hope and believe that situations will improve.
My experience with Mahaveer Publishers as well as Gargi has been quite amazing. Both the houses have helped me grow as a person. I shall always remain indebted to Binay Dutta from Mahaveer for giving me the much needed break and Pulkit Gupta for having immense faith in my abilities, more than I could have ever imagined myself.

Akash: Would you like to give any message to your readers?

Harshita: I’d like to extend a big thank you to each and every one of you for making me reach this position. Please continue to motivate me and do send me your feedback at hsrivastava0205@gmail.com. 

  (This interview was taken by Akash Khonde under the internship program by Gargi Publishers)

Reviews of 12 Strokes of Life :)

Buy this book here: Homeshop18 (and don't forget to drop your reviews)