Chit-chat with a YA fiction Author!

Jash Sen is a popular Young adult fiction author, with Wordkeepers trilogy to her credit. Here, Jash talks about writing for YA genre and more….

Jash Sen’s first memories of reading were of leafing through a hard-bound copy of her grandfather’s illustrated Ramayana on his four poster bed. Ignoring an opportunity to read English, Jash graduated in Statistics, then completed her MBA from IIM, Calcutta. She worked in the IT industry in Bangalore and the US before opting to teach Mathematics in a London High School. This was when she started writing in her free time. Jash began The Wordkeepers Trilogy in December 2010. The Wordkeepers, first in the series, was published in January 2013 and its sequel, Skyserpents, in October 2013. She is currently working on the third and final book of the trilogy - Soul Army. Jash Sen is pen name of Jashodhara Chakraborti. Here’s a brief chit-chat with this popular Young Adult (YA) fiction author.

Varsha: When and how did you start writing for young adults?

Jash: I started writing in end of 2010, but of course, I just wrote a story. My publishers told me I was writing for Young Adults. So, I didn't start out thinking I'd write for a specific age group. I still don't keep that in mind. But, my trilogy is for young adults.

Varsha: In your opinion, what is the hardest part of writing a book? 

Jash: The hardest part is getting into the momentum of the story. Once you are in, it is smooth sailing. Writing daily helps a lot.

Varsha: What factors are kept in mind while writing for young adults as there is a thin line between children and young adults?

Jash: Well, in the young adult genre - I have some personal taboos - for example, explicit sex or too much violence or incest, although these are issues that many young adults come across. In this genre, I prefer a lighter touch. I do not make my vocabulary simpler, though, as some writers prefer to do.

Varsha: Are your characters inspired from life or are they fictitious?

Jash: They are both, and at the same time, I take quirks and characteristics from real people; but I add my imagination to that and keep the characters if I like the way they turn out.

Varsha: What writing/publishing advice do you give to aspiring writers of any age?

Jash: Start writing now and write every day. Start reading now and read every day, too. Read everything you can lay your hands on - an age group (children's, young adult) is just a guideline, not a boundary. Read the classics, they are still popular after so many years because they're very well written books.

Varsha: Your likes and dislikes...

Jash: Shhh - I dislike noise - noisy music and noisy people stress me out. I like soft spoken people, soft music and birds.

I enjoy reading, writing, watching films, bourbon biscuits, libraries and well stuffed armchairs.

Varsha: Which is the next book that readers can look forward to?

Jash: Soul Army, the third and final part of The Wordkeepers Trilogy, is my next book.

“Delhi Book Fair is a consumer fair, focused on the book lovers”

“Delhi Book Fair is a consumer fair, focused on the book lovers”

–tells Dr Ashok Gupta, president, Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) in a brief conversation with Varsha Verma.

Dr Ashok Gupta

The theme of the book fair this year is ‘Literature in Cinema’ which will focus on the impact of literature in cinema amongst the Indian society, told Dr Ashok Gupta, president, FIP. Housed in hall 08, the theme pavilion will be made attractive for visitors.

On asking about the expanse of the fair, Dr Gupta informed that the fair would be spread across hall number 08-12. “About 50 percent subsidy is being provided to regional language publishers to attract more such players to the show,” told Dr Gupta as a matter of fact. Besides, Indian exhibitors, there would be a host of exhibitors from overseas countries like USA, Pakistan, China, etc.

“In my opinion, the reading habits are improving though the formats are changing. In nuclear families, parents encourage their children to read. The market is growing, there zare more players in the publishing segment; foreign publishers have made the market more competitive. The shelf life of the books has decreased as similar books on the same subject come up very soon. However, in spite of similarity in their approach, some authors come up with better books. Despite all odds, the market is growing.” 

Unlike the New Delhi World Book Fair, where the layout is done genre-wise, Delhi Book Fair will have a mix of exhibitors. “A lot of publishers publish books in various categories, hence it is difficult to segregate them according to genre.

Besides, it is a consumer fair and not majorly a business fair,” told Dr Gupta.

“It is more of a B2C fair, where visitors can browse though books and sit on the sofas lined up for the purpose. We want to give them a homely atmosphere. We have contacted a lot of schools not just in Delhi/NCR but also neighbouring states and are expecting good footfalls,” he said.

A number of conferences and seminars, buyer-seller meets, book releases, book discussions, literary activities for children and meet-the-author get-togethers, etc will also be organised during the fair. “For example, Ranganathan Library will host a session for librarians, while organisations like Authors Guild of India, Bhartiya Lekhika Sangh, Sahitya Akademi will also host independent sessions,” he told.

The much-awaited FIP’s Excellence in Book Production awards function would be organised on August 29. “We have received 1,000 entries for the same and our jury has been finalised consisting of renowned people in the industry,” informed Dr Gupta.

As a message to all book lovers, Dr Gupta shared, “Parents should bring their children to the book fair and let them browse through books and decide to their interest. Parents, in turn, should let them buy those books. This will create responsible future citizens of India.”

Happier times ahead for the textbook publishing!

What have been the changes and emerging trends in the textbook segment, especially at the school level, shares Raghu Ram Aiyar of Amity University Press (AUP) in conversation with Varsha Verma. 

Undoubtedly, the total market for textbook publishing in organised sector has grown by leaps and bounds. The market is estimated to be over Rs 1,600 cr and more and more foreign participation is coming forth. Top publishing companies are acquiring companies of repute that are not doing well. This is testimonial evidence that there is a great future for textbook publishing, tells Raghu Ram Aiyar, executive senior vice president of Amity University Press (AUP).

“This is a true reflection that the companies already consolidated will take on newer grounds as they have the knowledge, experience and stability, which gives a new growth to the industry per se,” he adds optimistically.

On asking about any acquisition plans at AUP, Aiyar confirmed that they are also on the lookout for companies for acquisition. “In the last 7-8 years, AUP has consolidated itself in the primary segment of textbook publishing. Slowly, but steadily, we are emerging as a lead player,” he shares. “This is because the primary segment is ever-growing.”

Entrepreneurs: raising the publishing level

Another important trend in the Indian publishing industry is that more and more MBAs or entrepreneurs are getting into the business. “This is giving a new dimension to the industry as these youngsters are themselves going into the depths of merits and demerits of the textbook. Earlier, trade was playing a bigger role in influencing the decision-makers to buy books. But, this is now changing as people are now doing justice to the efforts done by the publishers to bring out quality books. Now, books sell more on merit rather than just the monetary aspect,” tells Aiyar.

From printing to publishing…

“The publishing industry has come a long way. Earlier, publishing was synonymous with printing but now people understand that publishing is right from conceptualising to book production and this is art,” states Aiyar.

New government…
new beginnings…

“Besides, the new government has come in to add few more bold steps towards popularising Indian languages such as Hindi and Sanskrit. One has to look at this development with greater interest. Hindi, which has not got the importance it deserves, shall probably gain new momentum,” feels Aiyar.

Emerging aspects in education…

New institutions are now coming up which are less certificate-centric and more knowledge-centric. “The CCE (Continuous Curriculum Education) pattern started by CBSE ensures that the child has all-round development and not just bookish knowledge. There is an interactive process between teacher and children. Objective type questions are put forth to let the child understand the concept while the problem-solving and formal assessment play a lead role in gearing up the child to face newer challenges. This new methodology by CBSE is in the right direction,” sums up Aiyar. “This is a good time for children as academics is not the only aspect, sports is also important,” he adds. “Besides, sports teaches so many skills to students – team spirit, tolerance and of course focus, which are needed in day-to-day life and academics as well.”

Aiyar also shares his cherished dream that the ratio between child and teacher be 1:15 as against 1:35 prevailing trend.

Value education…

One of the most positively recognised subject is value education but not many publishers have taken it seriously. “Values are best imbibed at home front by parents. Books can only supplement it. Amity is aiming at educating parents also for value education and this is a new approach, that has been much appreciated,” shares Aiyar.

Publishing clichés…

Aiyar shares a very interesting example, wherein CBSE has provided 6-7 books which are unabridged versions of out of copyright books. Publishers can download it and put it in a form of book, with value additions. “Still, some of the publishers make grammatical and typographical errors,” he shares.

Looking ahead…

“It is heartening that people are now taking publishing industry as a happening industry and they are very careful about plagiarism and copyright issues. Due to this, piracy has also come down. The future of publishing industry is bright with lot of happenings in the printing and epublishing. But, they need not replace the print version as they all supplement each other. There are happier times ahead for Amity University Press in particular and the textbook publishers in general,” he concludes optimistically.