Vibha Batra is the author of Glitter and Gloss, a recent publication of Bloomsbury. She is a multi-talented young woman with excellent potential to thrive in the literary world. Her recent release is a proof of her exceptional writing skills. She has also penned The Activist and The Capitalist, Sweet Sixteen (Yeah, Right!), Seventeen and Done (You bet!), Eighteen and Wiser (Not Quiet!), Ishaavaasya Upanishad (a translation), Tongue-in-cheek (a collection of poetry), A Twist of Lime and Family Crossword (short story collections).
Read the review of her book, Glitter and Gloss, here.
Aritri: Copywriter, author, poet, columnist, (did I miss something out) which is the real Vibha Batra? Which of these do you like doing the most?
Vibha: When faced with multiple choice questions, I always go in for the option: All the above.
Your journey into the literary world began when you translated your grandfather’s work. Tell us about it. How young were you at that time?
Young at heart then and now.
I announced it to everyone at my ad agency that I was translating my grandfather’s book on the Ishaavaasya Upanishad. Needless to say, I couldn’t sit still for a second without colleagues marching up to me and asking, ‘Why are you wasting time, don’t you have a book to write?’ It took me a good eighteen months to translate it, it was published by Rupa, and that’s how it all started.
I announced it to everyone at my ad agency that I was translating my grandfather’s book on the Ishaavaasya Upanishad. Needless to say, I couldn’t sit still for a second without colleagues marching up to me and asking, ‘Why are you wasting time, don’t you have a book to write?’ It took me a good eighteen months to translate it, it was published by Rupa, and that’s how it all started.
Glitter and Gloss is a romantic comedy. What was your inspiration behind this novel?
I’d just finished writing my first romance novel The Activist and The Capitalist. And the withdrawal symptoms – shudder – they were severe. So like any addict, I decided to get my fix. And lo, Glitter and Gloss came about.
Tell us more about the character Misha. How much of her do you resemble in your life?
Misha is your regular twenty something. Loves her job, loves to hate her ‘sup’, moons over the dishy guy, throws occasional pity parties for herself, holds impromptu bitch fests with her BFFs. Ditzy and crazy she may be, but she’s all heart. Not surprisingly, she keeps getting into all sorts of trouble.
That’s soooo not me (at least, I like to think so).
That’s soooo not me (at least, I like to think so).
Is it more difficult to write comedies? What are the challenges you faced while writing?
Vibha: Not really. Once you get that hypnotic, addictive, demanding lover called social media out of the way – is easy peasy. (Yeah, so I’m one of those guys. You know, the crazy types who like to romanticise the whole process).
Have you always been this passionate about writing?
That’s the problem, I’ve always been this passionate AND compulsive.
Some birdies whispered into my ears that you have some strong Kolkata connection. Did the city of joy influence your passion for writing in any way?
Smarty birdies! I certainly hope the City of Joy has influenced my writing. God knows all those hours on social media haven’t.
What can we expect next from Vibha Batra’s quill?
Another romcom (told you, I was addicted!) and a book for tweens.
Current Read : Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.Some Favorites
Genre– Only genre I won’t go anywhere near: Horror.
Authors– My grandfather (the late Shri Vishnukant Shastri), Ruskin Bond, Bill Bryson, Nick Hornby, JK Rowling, Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella, Helen Fielding, Saki, Maupassant…
Poets– Rabindranath Tagore, Ogden Nash, Ghalib, Rumi, Jagdish Gupt, Shiv Om Ambar, and Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
TV Shows– FRIENDS, Big Bang Theory, SATC, HIMYM, Game of Thrones, Modern Family.
Books– Nearly not enough space to jot ‘em all down!
Contemporary works– Same as above
To buy her book, visit Amazon.
The Liquid Sunset 