Today on our podcast, we have with us a celebrated author Milan Vohra in conversation with our host Ashutosh Garg. Milan has authored three books titled, The Love Asana, Tick-tock, we’re 30 and, Our Song. She’s the first Indian author to write for Mills and Boons. In her own words, Milan juggles advertising and fiction.
In the interview, she tells us about the three key milestones in her life. Coming from a corporate background, Milan’s life was changed forever when she won a short story competition and she’s never looked back. She tells us that honesty, patience, and authenticity make a good writer. She then shares her writing style with us and tells us that she likes to write only when inspired, like so many of us. When asked about what success meant to her she shares a moving incident with us and tells us that the positive impact she has on her readers is a success for her.
She advises young people to get enough sleep and stay healthy. She also asks them to stand up for themselves and not wait for someone else to do it for them. Tune in to listen to this interesting interview.
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I juggle writing fiction and advertising. My latest book ‘Our Song’ ( HarperCollins Sep.2019) is out just recently and has already received great reviews including some from big mainstream media like The Times of India, Outlook magazine, The Hindu,The new Indian Express, The Telegraph, iDiva etc . I have been Creative Director with advertising agencies like JWT Delhi and Saatchi & Saatchi Bangalore up to 2007 and worked directly with clients as a strategic consultant from then on. Some of the successful brand launches and relaunches that I am better known for are Pizza Hut,Enamor Bras,Zapp Kids apparel (by Raymonds), Woodwards Gripe water etc. I am based out of Bangalore and collaborate with some of the finest talent around the world to make sure the communication and creative work we do is really stunning. I have also spent a few years as a consultant with Saatchi Direct working in the B2B space and with leading event management companies in the corporate communication and entertainment space like Showtime Events & DNA Events. Now as an independent consultant, I believe this 360 degree experience comes together beautifully with ideas and solutions that go beyond a mainstream advertising perspective only.
As mentioned already, when I am not writing advertising, I write fiction.One of my short stories won a nationwide Harlequin shortstory contest in 2009 to make me India’s first Mills & Boon author. My book ‘The Love Asana’ became so popular, it sold 4 times more copies than any other M&B title in India. The book has been translated into several Indian languages and has gone global and digital as well . My short stories have been published in anthologies like “Vanilla Desires” by Unisun and ‘Love Like That & Other Stories” by Penguin India.
My second novel called ‘Tick-tock we’re 30’ was published by Westland, and has been acquired for a screenplay adaptation by a big Bollywood studio. Via @siddharthjain at #TheStoryInk. Hopefully we see the story and characters come alive on the screen soon! My Advertising Specialities: Sharp, uncluttered strategic thinking. Outstanding creative solutions. Brand building and focused creativity unconstrained by low media budgets. Applying human observations and insights to develop communication ideas that may not be mass media driven and can yet turn around market situations for my clients.
