Author Interview + Giveaway (IN Only)- Love and Lokpal by Pooja Wanpal

Hello, guys! Today, we have author of Love and Lokpal, Pooja Wanpal on the blog for an Author Interview and a two copy giveaway. Without wasting much time, let's get onto the both the things after knowing a little about the book and the author. 

READ MY REVIEW OF LOVE AND LOKPAL

GOODREADS SUMMARY: 

Shlok Kulkarni, an architect by day and an Assassin's creed junkie by night is being bombarded with eligible girls by his matchmaking mama. In a bid to escape her and maybe check out a few hot girls while he’s at it, Shlok flees to Delhi, where a massive protest for the Lokpal Bill has been building up.

Kaveri Gokhale has been searching for a cause her whole life. When the winds of the Lokpal blow through the country, she eagerly catches the next train to Delhi to witness history.

When Shlok runs into Kaveri at Jantar Mantar, the sparks are undeniable. As their relationship blossoms, Kaveri discovers a dark secret that leaves her devastated . . . and endangers the fate of billion others. Will Shlok and Kaveri’s love wither or will it withstand the uncertainties of the corrupt politics? Can love truly conquer all ideologies?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Pooja Wanpal considers reading books the sole aim of her life. In addition to writing, she gives unsolicited advice to people and tries indefatigably to avoid her textbooks. She studies at Fergusson College, Pune and spends most of her time chatting with people over endless cups of coffee in the canteen. Owing to her almost unhealthy enthusiasm for politics, she was a part of the crowds that protested for the Lokpal Bill in 2011. The event left an indelible inspiration on her, and further conversations and debates about the movement culminated into this novel. She can be reached at her email. 

AUTHOR LINKS : BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / GOODREADS

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: 

Hi Pooja, welcome to The Readdicts! It's great to have you on our blog. 

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Twenty. Completely hooked on coffee. Essentially nocturnal. Reading, writing and listening to music come next to breathing in priorities. Pani Puris too are somewhere on the top too.

2) Tell us about your book, Love and Lokpal. 

'Love and Lokpal' is a love story set against the backdrop of the 2011 Lokpal Bill movement. It explores the relationship between Shlok and Kaveri, the protagonists, and their involvement with one of the biggest mass movement of the decade. 

3) How did the idea to write Love and Lokpal come up? 

My friend, Harsh Agarwal runs a literary agency, 'The Asylum'. While discussing the Lokpal Bill movement one day, the idea for the novel came along, and I decided to put the story on paper. 

4) Are any of your book characters based on people you know or are they completely based on your imagination?

People will be after me with pitchforks if I say yes. But well, I do draw inspiration from the people I see, but my characters are not based on a single person. They are an amalgamation of people I have met, things I have seen and felt. 

5) How interested are you in politics? Have you studied it and do you follow it on a regular basis? 

I am a fanatic, devoted to my daily ritual of reading the newspaper with a cup of coffee. I love reading about the political situation in India and around the world. This is one of the reasons why the Lokpal Bill featured so prominently in my novel. I had been a part of the Lokpal Bill movement, and it had left an indelible inspiration on my. 

I have also written about politics in India, both on my blog and on Blogcritics.

6) You are a student and your book is already published. How difficult or easy is it to maintain a balance between being a student and a writer? 

I haven't had much of a problem with it, honestly. I have been writing since I was 10 years old, and so it has always been a part of me. I do not find these two roles mutually exclusive - they're a part of who I am. Of course, I do have a lamentable tendency to leave aside my studies for writing, and vice versa. But on the whole, I manage. 

7) On a more personal level, give us a glimpse into a regular day of your life. 

I get up early, drag myself to college, attend a few lectures, hang out at the main circle or at the canteen - just the life of a normal Fergussonian, I guess. In my free time, I read books, haunt the local library, study Spanish, and on rare occasions, I study.   

8) I read that you are an avid reader. When you are not studying or reading or writing, what do you like to do? 

I like to watch cricket matches and hang out with my friends. 

9) Who are some of your favourite authors and which are some your most favourite books? 

I go through various phases during the year, so the answer to this question often changes. However, I absolutely love Oscar Wilde, George Orwell, Salman Rushdie, Ramchandra Guha, and Jane Austen. I also like reading novels by Julia Quinn. My favourite books include Pride and Prejudice, 1984, Last Song of Dusk, and Love in the time of Cholera. 

10) What's next in line for you? Future plans? 

An anthology, which I've contributed to, is set to hit the bookstores in December. 'Time's lost atlas' covers 11 most important events of the past decade, by leaving the reality behind, and taking a leap into fiction. 

We also have a fun this or that round lined up for you. All you have to do is select one choice from the following picks! 

1) Tea or coffee? Coffee. Always. (:P)

2) Sweet or salty? Sweet

3) Coke or Pepsi? Coke

4) This is an old one! Team Edward or Team Jacob? I prefer to stay out of the battle. I have never been a Twilight fan. 

5) In college... Main Circle or Kimaya? Main circle

6) Economics or politics? Economics

7) Novels or short stories? Novels

8) Black or White? Black

9) Day or night? Night

10) Beach or mountains? Mountains

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer our questions and visit The Readdicts, Pooja. We wish you all the very best in life and happy writing! 

GIVEAWAY: 

Enter below to win one of two copies of the book! 

Giveaway rules are simple: 

*The giveaway is open only to INDIA residents. 

*Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. 

*Once the winners are picked, they will be emailed and announced here on the blog as well after which they will have 48 hours to respond or else we'll be compelled to pick other winners. 

*The book will be sent by the author. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, all! 

Once again, I'd like to thank Pooja for stopping by and for the generous giveaway. And thank you too, readers, for stopping by!