Sometimes we can’t escape the webs we are born into. Sometimes we are the architects of our own fall.
Akash Choudry wants a love for all time, not an arranged marriage. Still, under the weight of parental hopes, he agrees to one. He and Jaya marry in a cloud of colour and spice in Bombay. Their marriage has barely begun when Akash embarks on an affair.
Jaya can’t contemplate sharing her husband with another woman, or looking past his indiscretions as her mother suggests. Cornered by sexual politics, she takes her fate into her own hands in the form of a lit match.
Nothing endures fire. As shards of their past threaten their future, will Jaya ever bloom into the woman she can be, and will redemption be within Akash’s reach?
“Make no mistake: while All the Tomorrows is character driven, those who enjoy a good plot will not be disappointed… This is superb writing.” ~ Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews
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It is with gratitude and excitement I welcome dear friend and elegant scribe Nillu Nasser to the blog.
1. Welcome, Nillu! I’ve heard you talk a
little about the inspiration for this novel, and it's very compelling. What can
you tell us about that moment in time, and how it became the genesis for
your tale?
I’ve always been a
daydreamer. There are some images I just can’t shake, and that’s when I know a
story is worth telling. With All the Tomorrows, there was one scene I
could vividly see, as if it were already on film: a filthy,
older, Indian man, pressed up against a window. He was sad, and not a threat. I
wanted to know more about him. What brings someone to spy on a family?
Could there ever be a reason to act that way? Could you feel sympathy for
someone who other people might class as a monster? Could a man like that find
his way back into being a functioning member of society? The novel grew
from those questions.
2.
Tell us about your publisher, how you connected with them, and some unique
aspects of their approach.
Evolved Publishing is a
small, hybrid US press. When I finished writing All the Tomorrows I
looked around for which publishing house might be the right fit for me. I was
keen to sign quickly if I could, to keep my momentum going, to carry on
learning about the industry. I really wanted to find the right person to trust
my manuscript to so I could keep on creating. I knew a couple of authors at EP,
and they encouraged me to submit. They were kind enough to share their
experiences with me, and it seemed a great fit. The team at EP is very
passionate and collaborative. I get more of a say in final decisions than I
would at other houses. I was thrilled to get an offer. The CEO puts a lot of
focus into editorial quality, and I loved the fact that I was signed for three
books, so they are investing in me as an author long-term. I couldn’t have been
luckier with my editor and cover artist. I’m so proud of the book we have
created together.
3. People sometimes
fret that a literary novel can't include a riveting plot, or a thriller doesn't
allow for deep characterization. But early praise for All the Tomorrows suggests
your literary novel has pulled off both--tell us how.
This is such an interesting
question! Most people so far have said that the novel is an easy read, and in
some ways that surprises me, as it raises some challenging themes. I want it to
challenge perceptions, certainly. I think my style has been influenced by
critique groups I have been a part of, in which authors have written a
cross-section of work. I often trade feedback with fantasy, thriller or romance
authors, for example, and these wonderful authors have influenced me. I live in
fear that mine will be one of those books readers drift away from. That was not
something I wanted. I wanted it to be a book people devour, as there are so
many other forms of entertainment to compete with. So I wrote chapter endings
that often have a small reveal. My editor helped me to make the most of small
moments to keep the reader turning the page.
4. What were the most
rewarding, challenging, and surprising aspects of writing this novel?
I’ve wanted to write a
novel for years. I started many. What surprised me is the persistence it takes
to finish a story. I underestimated the grit it takes. There’s always this fear
at the back of your mind, that you eventually learn to ignore. It’s like a
little woodpecker: you’re not good enough, no-one is going to read this, why are
you wasting your time? Eventually you realise that every creative leap is an
act of faith, and you find little tricks to keep on chipping away at your
creativity until it becomes a swell. I also found it surprising how awkward it
is for some people to engage with a first-time novelist. They have no way of
knowing if you are talented, and after a while I wonder if they might think
you’re a bit deluded. It’s not like baking a cake. There’s no immediate taste
test. So for both readers and the novelist, this sort of work is a test of
patience!
5. Your story's setting is
vivid and distinct: what can you tell us about the research that went into it?
All
the Tomorrows
is set in Mumbai. I wanted a culture that suited my themes of gender and
traditions, but one I was at least half-way familiar with. I’m Indian,
although I was born in the UK. I know lots about Indian culture, and I
loved the opportunities the setting brought to the story: the colour, the food
and traditions. I’ve visited India twice, once as a child and once in my
early twenties. My recollections are broad brush strokes: the smell of
street food, the sticky heat, the palaces in Jaipur, child beggars pressed
against cool taxi windows. For details I turned to travel guides and photo
books. Friends sent me pictures of their own travels there. I
watched Bollywood movies to drink up the setting. The geography was a bit
more difficult. I used Google Maps for the layout of Mumbai, and picked
beta-readers who would be able to alert me to any glaring errors, and guide me
to make the setting a bit more authentic. I hope I did it justice.
6.
What projects are next for you?
I’m signed to Evolved
Publishing for three literary fiction novels. My pace for novels tends to be
about one a year. My next novel, Hidden Colours, tells the story of an
acrobat and a journalist in Berlin. It’s about grief and chance, and about race
and fixed viewpoints. I usually try and write for a couple of anthologies a
year, but with three small children life gets really busy, and the novel has to
be my focus. I’m itching to get to that place in the process when the
connections all start fizzing, and you just pour it out onto the page and trust
that the magic will somehow happen. I hope you’ll read All the Tomorrows,
and be back for more when novel two is ready.
You can get your copy of All the Tomorrows here.
Nillu Nasser is a writer of
literary fiction novels. She has a BA in English and German Literature, and an
MA in European Politics. After graduating she worked in national and regional
politics, but eventually reverted to her first love. She lives in London with
her husband and three children. For further information or to say hello, visit www.NilluNasser.com. Sign up to Nillu’s
newsletter for a reader freebie plus, from 6-13 November only, to celebrate the
release of All the Tomorrows, newsletter subscribers will receive a
multi-author e-book bundle of fiction about contemporary women: www.NilluNasser.com/mailinglist
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