Novel Writing Tips

I could feel the tension ease palpably as the book launch function of my second thriller, “Lucky For Some, 13” came to an end recently. It was also the time to summarize a few key learnings which might be of use to budding writers, if not to other writers. “Writing a 87,000 + word novel is pretty easy, its writing the less than 200 word back cover copy that is tough,” I quipped. There’s a lot of truth in what I said. Ask any author.

“Lucky For Some,Thirteen”

“Lucky For Some, Thirteen” is the title of my to be published thriller. It came out of my participating successfully in NaNoWriMo 2010. This will be the second thriller that I have written, the first being my debut novel, “It Can’t Be You.”

I wrote recently about back cover copy. I would like to share the back cover copy that I wrote for “Lucky For Some, Thirteen.”

“Is the only good terrorist a dead one? When she captures two fanatic fidayeen after their sensational terror strike in Goa in January 2010, little does Major Mohini Nair, of India’s elite counter terrorism force, the National Security Guard, realize that they will come back to haunt her and the nation later that year.

In September 2010, in another audacious, chilling attack, some of Bangalore’s rich and famous are taken hostage in “Opulence” that last word in luxurious living, in a place and at a time they least expect. Clearly, the best of technology has crashed before base human emotions of greed and fanaticism. Ransom money is not what the mysterious terrorists want. They want the release of their two comrades and safe passage in exchange for the hostages. The blood-curling brutality of the perpetrators, who include the beautiful Alice Hatchman, petrifies the hostages driving the story to a fever pitch.

Relishing the gruesome to show her power is easy for Alice as she loves no one. Rescuing the hostages is made more difficult for Mohini, as amongst them is the man she loves. Can the 13^th floor penthouse of “Opulence” prove to be lucky for some?”

I would welcome your comments. This book is likely to be published around May 2012. To follow its progress, do see its Facebook Page.

Ignore The Back Cover At Your Peril

Today, I thought I would share my views on that important part of the book, which some authors ignore at their own peril. I, of  course, speak of the back cover. Many authors, particularly first-timers, feel their job is done once they have written the book and handed it over to the publisher. I submit that you the author have a huge role to play in making the best use of the back cover.