Journey's End

It has been a long and arduous journey - a journey of frustration, rejections and sometimes insulting criticism. But the journey is nearing its end and novelist Nirupama Rao is finally going to reap the fruit of her labor.

Currently residing in Mobile, Alabama, Rao's association with creative writing began at the tender age of five. Moving from one neighborhood to the other in South Delhi, Rao immersed herself in writing poems and short stories. Her poems, short stories and non-fictional essays were published in community and school magazines. She was awarded the "Shankar's International Prize" for her poetry three times. Her creative works including non-fiction also got published in premier Indian magazines such as Children's World and Competition Success Review. She also participated on numerous occasions in national creative writing competitions at the zone level. What began as a hobby soon turned into a passion and then an academic choice. Rao graduated in Creative Writing from Kent State University in 2002. She wrote a comprehensive novella for her thesis which now rests in the University library.

Rao began writing her first novel at the age of 20, and it has been an uphill struggle since then to get published. She smiles and says, "It has been tiring as no one wants to take on an amateur... they all want someone who has been published but frankly I don't understand, if I am already established and published, why am I coming to you and hearing all this talk?" She shakes her head, "Writing and publishing are two different things. They depend on each other but you should never confuse the two... writing is a talent, you keep on writing, develop your own style... it depends on you... but publishing depends on someone else. No matter how much you try if you don't have luck it just doesn't happen... it is not going to happen."

"Her writing is very distinctive," says her thesis advisor, Dr. Zee Edgell, at Kent State University. "She reads a lot but does not copy anyone. I always knew that someday her work will get published and it is being published now. I am very happy for her."

Rao began her professional career as a reporter, climbing the ladder upward to that of a feature writer and later, a columnist. She worked for a few years at various US and Indian newspapers including the SAARC Quarterly. She then donned the mantle of a senior copy editor of a reputable international firm located in the UK. And all the time, Rao never lost hope. She knew that someday her luck would turn and her novels would get published.

"Her thinking and her way of expressing her very unique," says former professor of English, Dr. Alexander Hughes, Kent State University. "I told her to keep at it and she would get her dues soon."

But it didn't happen soon enough - from top publishing companies with an international presence to moderately-sized firms in New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, Rao tried them all. She knocked on doors, sent endless query letters and writing samples to editors, and heard numerous excuses. "It was the same old excuse," Rao says. "You are good but people want to read books by published authors," she giggles. "If one is given the chance then only can one publish... how can one ever get published when no one is willing to give them the opportunity?" she asks. Rao continued to write more novels despite repeated failure and rejection and today, has a collection of six more, waiting in the wings to see the light of day. From murder mysteries to thrilling adventure stories by child sleuths to a heart-wrenching story of a family coping with life after death of a parent to a Hindu wedding extravaganza, Rao continues to weave novels in her distinctive fashion.

Her first book titled Summer Break is about five Indian children who come together to spend their summer holidays together. It is a contemporary Indian novel set against a backdrop of changing Indian social scene. The novel, according to Rao, showcases sentiments, values and attitudes unique to the Indian mindset. In a nutshell, the book revolves around a brother, 14 year old Rahul and his younger twin sisters aged 11, Sheila and Tanya. They stay in a south Delhi residential locality with their father and grandparents. Havoc breaks loose when their irritatingly lovable cousins, eight- year old Mini and five-year old Mahesh land up at their house, along with their pet mongrel, Junior, to spend their summer vacation.

The book takes the readers on their fun-filled adventures leaving everyone in side-splitting laughter. It is a page turner fit for all ages. "Summer Break is loosely based on my childhood experiences... my cousins... they are not the characters but they have contributed a lot to making Rahul, Sheila, Tanya, Mini and Mahesh... even the incidents with the grandparents are inspired by real life events," Rao says.

Yet, at the same time the novel offers more - a window into relationships, friendships and values from an Indian perspective. "I can only imagine from an Indian point of view," says Rao. "My thoughts, attitudes reflected on paper are Indian...," continues Rao who has spent the last eight years abroad, namely in USA and UK. Currently finishing her research work in Mobile, Rao plans to pursue her writing endeavors. Writing according to Rao is a talent, "creative writing cannot be learnt... there is no set formula," says the active member of International Poetry Association. "Creative Writing cannot be learnt like academic writing... you can learn how to write an academic paper but you cannot learn to write poetry... good creative writing has to come from the heart... it has to be felt."

Right now, Rao is excited and a little apprehensive about her first novel. She plans to continue writing novels for the Indian market, and already has many ideas up her sleeve. So, can we expect more books from this budding novelist? "Oh... absolutely... the first one sets the stage and then you just carry on..."