Going it alone
by
Preethi Nair’s latest venture – and with Nair, it’s always a venture – is the reincarnation of an idea that began as a sell-out one-woman stage production, Sari: The Whole Five Yards. Nair wrote, produced and portrayed all 22 characters herself. The script was subsequently optioned for a TV adaptation, and in the interim Nair transformed it into a novel, now published as Unravelling. The story centres on Bhanu, a middle-aged wife and mother who, despite living an ostensibly satisfying life, finds herself confronted with a life-altering proposition from her first love. This unexpected reunion occurs as she prepares to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary.
Nair explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the haunting question of ‘what if?’ that shadows every decision we make. “I wanted to explore the gap between the curated lives we present to the world and what is truly happening beneath the surface,” Nair explains. “Bhanu’s story is a universal tale of love, regret, and the pursuit of genuine happiness.”
Nair first caught the literary world’s attention when her self-published debut Gypsy Masala caused such a stir that it secured her a three-book deal with HarperCollins. They also made an offer for Unravelling, and Nair admits that turning it down was a difficult decision. “However, I felt it was crucial to maintain creative control over this deeply personal story. It’s important to demonstrate that it’s never too late to start anew, and at any moment one can step into a new narrative.” Her choice to forgo this coveted opportunity and self-publish once again makes Nair an intriguing talent in the book world. Perhaps her reading habits hold the key to her success…
What are you currently reading?
I have just started The Mountain Is You by Brianna West.
Tell us about Unravelling.
It’s about a 59-year-old woman called Bhanu who pretends she has a great life, and on the eve of her 40th wedding anniversary her first love reappears asking her to come away with him.
Which books do you feel you ought to have read but haven’t yet?
Books by Elif Shafak.
For me reading is about widening my perspective and making me question my position on what I believe to be true.”
Which book(s) do you treasure the most?
I love personal development books so I’d have to say Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I was 17 when I first read it and it changed my life.
What is the last book you recommended – and why?
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. I recommended it because it is so transformative, and I thought it would help the person navigate their situation.
Fiction, non-fiction, novellas, graphic novels or short stories?
Business books and self-development books 🙂.
At any time in your life has a book affected your worldview, and in what way?
I hope the books I choose do that because for me reading is about widening my perspective and making me question my position on what I believe to be true.
Which book/s turned you into a writer – and why?
Amy Tan books. They were the first diverse books I ever read, and I thought, wow, perhaps I can do this too.
Do you judge books by their covers?
YES! Absolutely yes!
How do you learn about the books you choose to read?
Through friends, or a book will randomly find me.
And where do you usually get your books from?
Bookshops.
Tell us about a book adaptation you last watched – did it do the book justice?
I don’t tend to watch adaptations, as for me they never do them justice. I did watch One Day but I hadn’t read the book!
If you ruled the world, which book/s would you make mandatory reading (apart from your own, of course) – and why?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (life-changing) and Women Who Run With the Wolves (also life-changing!).
Do you finish every book you start?
No!
What will you read next?
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.
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Preethi Nair worked as a management consultant but gave it up to follow her dream and write her first book, Gypsy Masala. Having been rejected by a number of publishers, she set up her own publishing company and PR agency to publish and promote the book, and after two rollercoaster years she was offered a three-book deal with HarperCollins, and won an Asian Women of Achievement Award. She went on to set up Kiss the Frog, a company that takes storytelling into organisations, and is on the faculty at various business schools teaching creativity and storytelling for personal leadership. Unravelling is published in paperback and eBook by Kiss the Frog Press.
Buy at Amazon UK
preethinair.com
instagram.com/writerwala
Author photo by Rosie Parsons
Compiled and introduced by Farhana Gani.
@farhanagani11
