Interview with Parinda Joshi

Debutant author Parinda Joshi is one talented lady. Armed with a Masters in Computer Science to an MBA in marketing and working in Analytics along with being a blogger for GQ and a professional photographer, she has entered the world of fiction by penning an urban, young romance set in two very vibrant cities. Needless to say that she has been able to play all these roles with élan.



BookChums caught up with this young author to know how Live From London happened and how she balances so many things on her plate.



Let us begin by knowing all about Parinda Joshi.
This is a tricky one. I was born and raised in Ahmedabad. I call it bubble city because if you live there, you don’t care about what goes on elsewhere :) Just like every other Indian, I have a few degree certificates that have been laminated and safely put away in my earthquake kit. I was a national level chess player during my school and college years but contrary to the belief, it hasn’t taught me much about manipulating or strategizing in life. I have an interesting job that I love and I promised myself I’d never complain about, but once in a while, when it gets too stressful and no one’s looking, I call it names. I’ve been in the US for almost a decade now but not much has changed. I still enjoy learning about the drama in my neighbor’s house, eating at hole-in-the-wall spots and speaking my mind.



What are your earliest memories of your writings?
I remember writing countless elaborate letters, each letter almost a life-story, to a few friends who’d moved to hostels far away, in my early teens. That concept seems so archaic now. I remember adorning them with excessive adverbs and adjectives to express myself better, not realizing the overkill. Then came journals but too infrequent and insignificant. At some point much later, blogs came into play and then a column before the book took form.



What brought about the ideation of Live From London?
I work in entertainment and I've been to hundreds of concerts over the last half a decade. So you experience things first hand and hear stories and read about incidents, throw in some imagination and it gives you enough content for a book.
 

The story shifts and moves across two very different cities: London and Mumbai. Tell us your connection with both the cities.
London is one of my favorite cities – the pace of life, the liveliness of the city, the magnificence of its architecture – I love it all. It also has a prominent music industry just like LA.

My extended family is from Mumbai and it’s always been a special part of my life. I have too many memories associated with it.



Your debut novel, based on the music industry, has a background of a reality show. What made you choose this premise for Live from London? 
I was trying to think of something that would be compelling enough to light the fire in an unmotivated and somewhat slackerish but talented young girl. Public humiliation that reality shows often add in can be extremely difficult to overcome. It’s also the flavor of the season. Numerous talented or otherwise youngsters find themselves striving to be a part of one.


People say first novels are usually heavily autobiographical. How much of Parinda Joshi do we see in Nishi Gupta?
I’d have loved to be a 21-year old dewy-eyed guitarist in London with a rockstar boyfriend as an arm candy but alas. Jokes aside, it’s far from being autobiographical but I’ve certainly drawn from my experiences and people, places, things around me.

One common trait between me and Nishi is that all through my growing years, I could never stay out of trouble. I find it rather baffling and somewhat amusing now. 



Why do you think the chick-lit genre of books is so popular? Did you plan to play it safe by writing a chick-lit as your debut work?
An editor described it best when she said chick-lits offer the feminist joys of freedom and the post-feminist joys of consumerism simultaneously. Personally, I think it’s the triumph of psychological, social and sexual freedom over traditional values that glorify this genre. It’s an escape from the often callous realities of the real world and provides instant gratification. The feel-good factor makes this genre a winner.

In case of my novel, I didn’t really start penning in a specific genre. I just followed a story that flowed. It was purely because of the thrill the process offered at the time.


From Masters in Computer Science to an MBA in marketing to working in Analytics, to a writer and now a professional photographer. (*phew!*) What do you think is your heart’s true calling?
One advantage of being all grown up is the pragmatism that life experiences bring along. It makes you realize that day jobs hold just as much significance in your life as a hobby which is close to your heart. Photography is a leisure pursuit. Writing liberates and excites me. One day I hope to have the luxury of picking a thing or two from the mix and exclusively following it. I’m not sure if I’ll miss the rest at that point but we’ll see.



How is the experience of blogging for GQ? Who according to you deserves the GQ Man of the Year Award 2011?
It’s been a terrific ride. They have a fantastic team of creative people. It’s often said that it’s hard to figure out what makes women tick. The reverse is equally true. Trying to unearth that is challenging and fun.

As for the GQ Man of the Year Award 2011, my personal favorite is Rahul Khanna regardless of the year and reason but that’s just the girl in me talking. On a relevant note, he’s got a great sense of style and is a master of the written word, although he doesn’t write much that I know of.



Share with us an exclusive detail of:
Parinda as an Analyst – planning, collaborating, executing and ‘making it work’ as they say.
Parinda as a Writer – in my comfort zone, striving to create an interesting make believe world.
Parinda as a Photographer – chasing the infinite beauty that lies in flawlessness and imperfections alike.
Parinda as a Traveler – basking in the splendor of the location, breathing it in, one moment at a time.



Name some of your favorite books/authors.
I grew up reading P.G. Wodehouse. I have some of his earlier works as well. I own everything ever written by Scott Adams and I simply worship Walter Kirn’s writing style. Charles Cummings is another author I swear by. I also enjoy Sophie Kinsella and Michael Lewis.



What do we see next from Parinda’s desk? 
Hopefully something that can knock the reader’s socks off ;) It’s significantly different from my first – contemporary fiction targeted at professionals. It’s not just about boardroom politics against a distinctive backdrop but also revolves around my two protagonists’ intricate urban existence. It’s something that, with any luck, will demonstrate my growth as an author.