My last blog featured the book covers I designed for debut author Lucy Elena‘s love story, set in Rome, The Starling Dance and (via Liberty) Anna Burns’ 2018 Booker Prize winning novel, Milkman. That made me think that although I’ve featured visual artists, printers, photographers, performance artists, musicians and community art projects on this blog, I’ve rather ignored the writers. So I’m putting that right today.
I first met author, Ritu Bhathal, through my wife, Davina, when they both worked together in the same school. Years ago, when I was starting to paint again, I knew I had to do something about the figures I was painting – they just didn’t look right. So, I made an appeal on Facebook for people to send me pictures of themselves, so I could practice, and Ritu kindly sent me one of her. She still has that early portrait. Since then, Ritu has gone on to write three successful novels and continues to work as an Early Years Teacher as a sideline to her writing. I don’t know how she does it!
Ritu was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970s to migrant parents from Kenya, of Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration for her writing, and she’s coined the phrase ‘Chickpea Curry Lit’ for her particular style of fiction.
‘It’s Chic Lit with an Indian twist’, she says, ‘You’ll find culture, romance, laughs and, quite possibly, you’ll learn something new.’
Her first book, Marriage Unarranged (2022) combines a visit to India seen through the eyes of main character Aashi, best friend Kiran, and her protective brothers, with a slice of Indian culture back in the UK, in Birmingham. There’s drama, fun and romance, mystery, and a feast of vibrant colours, high fashion, appetising smells and delicious food when the group visits Delhi.
Although they’re funny and fun, Ritu’s books aren’t afraid to deal with more difficult cultural issues The second book in the Rishtay Trilogy, Straight as a Jalebi (2023), which continues to follow the family and friends featured in her first book, explores attitudes to gay relationships, and her third book In God’s Hands (2024) looks at the impact of infertility. These are enjoyable, fast moving, thought-provoking books, which I’d urge you to try – details below and via the links in the blog.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. I’m not a writer, so I invited Ritu to contribute a guest blog.
My Literary Satnav: How my story gets from A to B was first published on Ritu’s own blog in 2020 and asks, ‘Are you a planner or a pantser?’
As an artist, I’d say I’m a pantser. I only really plan if it is a commission or book cover type thing. I might have an idea for a picture, but when I draw it, it just comes out how it comes out. What’s your approach to life? Read what Ritu has to say and decide.
My Literary SatNav: How my story gets from A to B
Ritu Bhathal
Today, in a(nother) Facebook group I am a member of, a question was asked.
Are you a planner or a pantser?
Now, I have always laughingly referred to myself as a Plantser – a mixture of the two.
I was asked what I plan, and where I pants, and I came up with this analogy of my Literary SatNav.
Let me explain.
I have a basic idea of where I want the story to go, who will be present at the start and how I want it to end.
Then the characters are given the destination (aka the end)… with key places I want them to visit on their way.
They are like my Literary Satnavs. They take me to my conclusion in their own way.
It’s like a roadtrip with imaginary friends.
Sometimes I have to stop the writer car, let the engine idle, while I reprogram the route, because we’ve gone wildly off the map, but most of the time, it works.
We even pick up hitchhikers along the way, in the form of new characters who I didn’t even know existed! (Note to younger readers – I am not advocating picking up hitch hikers in reality, but extra characters, that’s a different matter.)
There are the key points we’ll stop at, as I specified when I originally gave the characters the basic travel plan, to savour the scenery, but more often than not, we carry on down the road to our HEA – our Happily Ever After.
It worked for me with Marriage Unarranged.
Here’s hoping they are as good at guiding me and my story this time too!
What? You haven’t read it, yet? Well, what are you waiting for?
Head on over to Amazon to download or order your copy using this link
Find out more
Ritu Bhathal
Links to all Ritu’s books, poetry and social media can be found here
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ritubhathalwrites