In the bustling realm of entrepreneurship, there are individuals whose innovative spirits not only shape businesses but also extend their creativity into other realms. Mr. Anil Dsouza, a distinguished member of Kanara Entrepreneurs, Dubai Chapter, has recently unveiled his latest masterpiece a book that promises to captivate minds and inspire hearts.
As an avid seeker of inspiration and insight, I sat down with Mr. Anil over a cup of tea to delve into the genesis of his latest literary venture. Throughout our conversation, we explored the profound inspirations that fueled his creative journey, the formidable challenges he encountered along the path to the publication of “The Gods Must Be Smiling”, and the invaluable message he wishes to impart to aspiring authors who dare to tread the same path.
Interviewer/Host: What inspired you to write this book:
Anil: About 2018, I was reading an article about a Vice-Chancellor who was a transwoman. I was unsure if it was Kolkata or other parts of the country in India. But I was unaware of the fact that a transperson could also rise so high academically because I knew that they don’t study or they don’t do what work we do, by which I mean studying. I was not aware that even a transperson would also be allowed to do such things, and that caught my attention. So, I did my research about trans people, through which I came to know that outside of India, trans people are very well respected.
So, I began writing as a parent. I realized how difficult it would be for a parent to raise a trans child. When I wrote this book, I understood that the protagonist must be the trans individual, not the parent. That is where I introduced the character called Manjunath, aka Manjja. I did all this research while I was reading the book.
Interviewer/Host: What kind of research did you have to involve yourself in during the writing of this book?
Anil: I have done a lot of research on trans people, where individuals undergo surgeries. The policies in other countries that allow trans people to integrate into mainstream academic and business sectors were implemented earlier. However, it was only in the year 2019 that surgery was made legal in India. I did not meet anyone during this research.
Interviewer/Host: What was your approach to the writing process for this book?
Anil: It took me 1.5 years. I would say, I was disciplined. I used to get up at 5:00 AM and write the book. I kept a target of 2500 words for a week. Took me almost 3 hours of my day. It took me 1.5 years to write and 1.5 years to get published because it took 9 editions to cut down multiple chapters and 75,000 words to ensure it met the actual requirement.
Interviewer/Host: What challenges did you encounter while writing/Publishing this book? If you did how did you overcome this challenge:
Anil: While writing, I used to draft a plot, and mindmap the outline of the story, and building a story was always a challenge. However, when I tried to publish my book, I faced 35 rejections because I was a first-time author with no established name, experience, or market presence. The turning point came with the 36th publisher who took three months to read my entire manuscript. They agreed to publish my book, but they proposed an option to divide it into three sequels, mentioning that in the present era, readers might not be inclined to pick up a hefty book. I did not agree, as I wanted to keep it as one book. Therefore, publishing proved to be the challenging part, and marketing was tough for a new author.
Interviewer/Host: Why did you face 35 rejections in Publishing your book?
- First-time author. There is no book to show. They did not consider my articles as some of the top management was not convinced.
- The majority reason for rejection was because they wanted the Trans Story to be told by the first person. I was the third person who created this story as it was fiction and it was not my story. They assumed that it would not sell.
Interviewer/Host: To aspiring writers seeking publication: What advice do you have for those who are eager to publish a book?
Anil: One thing I’ve experienced is that it’s easy to give up when you hear the word “NO” after facing numerous rejections. If I had given up at the 12th rejection, I would not have had the opportunity to get a book published—an achievement in itself. I would emphasize that, keep writing, and don’t halt your efforts in approaching publishers. With technology, self-publishing is an option, but always pursue your passion and “NEVER GIVE UP.” I still recommend going to a publisher and reviewing your work. Work on the feedback, as with self-publishing, it’s easy to get lost.
Author Introduction:
Anil Dsouza hails from Halealve, a coastal hamlet in Kundapur. For any updates on the book tour schedules, or special events, please visit the author’s website www.pinchhofsalt.com, or follow Anil D’Souza on Instagram (anil_aron_dsouza) and Facebook or email him at anilsouza@gmail.com.