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The secret is out

Warm, open, and gregarious are the first words that leap into the mind if you want to describe Jaishree Misra. The Delhi-based Malayali author, who shot to fame with her debut novel “Ancient Promises” , was in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the release of her seventh and latest book “A Scandalous Secret” . It is the third book of a trilogy commissioned by Harper Collins, the other two being “Secrets and Lies” and “Secrets and Sins”. Excerpts from an interview with the author…

What is your latest book “A Scandalous Secret” about?

It is about motherhood; mothers and daughters. The central character gave up her illegitimate daughter at birth and is now happily married to someone else. The daughter turns up after 18 years in search of her birth mother.

What is the inspiration for your books?

My first book, “Ancient Promises” , was largely autobiographical. It was initially a four page memoir that grew and grew and then became a full length novel. Inspiration for my other books came from different places, from something I read in the papers or something I heard some one say. In fact what provoked “A Scandalous Secret” is a clipping I saw in the newspapers a while ago of the reunion of Clare Short, a British politician, and her son whom she gave up at birth. In Britain adopted children have a right to information about their birth parents when they turn 18.

This book is the third in the series of a three-book deal that you signed with Harper Collins. What does this book have in common with the earlier two books?

Expect for the fact that in all the three books, a secret from the past comes to haunt the lives of the characters, they do not carry anything in common.

Did it affect your freedom as a creative writer when you signed a deal for three books and you had a deadline to adhere to?

I signed the deal with Harper when the recession was at its peak in the United Kingdom. The publishing industry was badly hit and it felt like a miracle when my agent rang up to tell me about this offer. The publishers had read the manuscript of the first book and they wanted a comprehensive deal with two more books. Yes, it did affect the kind of writing I did as this was a commercial fiction imprint but, given the circumstances, it was too good an opportunity to miss. The experience was both exciting and daunting.

Is ‘love and loss' a kind of common theme that runs through all your books?

Since this is my seventh book I guess people are now trying to find patterns and themes. But honestly I don't think that way when I write a book and in any case when you write about people, both love and loss are emotions that you can't escape.

Were you upset with the furore caused by your book “Rani” and its subsequent banning by the Uttar Pradesh Government?

When I started writing historical fiction, I knew I was bound to comr up against all sorts of sensitivities. But I was fascinated with Jhansi ki Rani and the more I read up on her the more I liked her. I seriously don't think there are any elements in the book that depict her in a bad light or that should hurt public sentiments but it's true that my friends had warned me against  tinkering with an iconic figure. Though I distantly anticipated trouble the actual incidents shocked me. I subsequently sold the rights of the book to Sushmita Sen who, it's well-known, has for long wanted to make a movie about Lakshmibai.

How is your project in Delhi for adults with learning disabilities coming up?

It's taken on a scale that I didn't envisage. About ten years ago, six of us – all parents of children with learning disabilities – got together and the idea was then to set up a residential unit for our own children. But the project took off in all kinds of directions subsequent to that and, recently, the Delhi government granted us an unused community centre on three acres of land. The plan now is to house up to 70 residents and they may all not necessarily be people with learning disabilities but also those with physical disabilities and senior citizens too. We intend to commission the project by October.

Have you begun work on your eighth book?

Yes, I have although I've only written around 30 pages. In the past, I've made the mistake of telling people about a book that has yet to be finished. What finally evolves could be very different from what was initially thought of so all I can tell you now is that it has historical bits interspersed with current events. So wait and read.