Interview with a literary agent (Jayapriya Vasudevan)!!

Q1. What inspired you to become an editor/writer/publisher?

I grew up in a house full of books. My father was a journalist. I chose to study Literature and it was really the only industry i wanted to be in. I worked in many aspects of publishing, working with a running bookstore and finally using all my experience to set up Jacaranda, India's first literary agency.

Q2. What books have you published/edited.

So many books. I started our list with Anita Nair's first novel A BETTER MAN and Shashi Warrier's NIGHT OF THE KRAIT. We work with authors from all over the world. We are currently working on the India rights of Salinger's biography and Filipino author whose book is on the Man Asia long list. Look at http://www.jacaranda-press.com/ for our author list.

Q3. Do you find your job interesting?

I love what i do . I love writing and the arts. And am a complete people person. To be an agent, you have to be a discerning reader and passionate about the work you represent. You also have to be able to be a sort of sales person!

Q4. Is writing/editing/publishing tiring?

Yes it is. My work is more reading really. And that takes time. And concentration. I edit in more broad, giving an author direction way, which becomes part of the reading process.

Q5. How have your experiences at book inaugrations/releases been?

As agents, we take a backseat and allow the spotlight to be on the author. I do think that book launches are necessary. Especially in the case of newer, emerging authors. That way, the author gets the opportunity to share her work and then get some press and publicity as well. I have done book events in several cities and countries. An author leads such a solitary life. It is events like launches they get to connect with their readers.

Q6. Has your career ever interferred in your personal life?

Yes. Because a have to travel a great deal. But that would be true of many professionals!

Q7. Have you ever regretted being a writer/editor/publisher?

I question my career some days. When i have a particularly difficult time with either my authors or publishers. As agents, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. We work for the author but need to sell to publishers. We are dealing with very emotional people. That can get exhausting at times. Fortunately the feeling passes. This is what i was meant to do!

Publishing is a wonderful industry to work in!

Infinite Souls Summer Camp

It's that time of the year again! When we announce Summer Camp and start dreaming about pitching tents, apple crumble, Theatre Classes, Music jams, late night performances, early morning treks with Bamboo, Mushroom and Prudence, not to forget Vineet!

This year we're adding some work - we're going to try and dig a rainwater trench running through the course of the land from the highest point to the lowest. So come prepared with hats and shorts. Come prepared for hard work and balloon fights!

Hi! Theatre Lab

The first time I went to Theater lab, I was a bit nervous. As time passed I have come out of it.Theater Lab has given me a platform to express my views and it has helped me in using creativity. Theater Lab is more like an adventure as I learning new things everytime I attend the class.Through Theater Lab I have got new friends and it is a fun place. Theater Lab, I am looking forward to learn more from you.

Trip to Apparao gallery!

One day at Theatre lab, Kirtana told us we were going to an art gallery. We were all excited. We walked and walkeed the endless roads of bangalore, It was really exhausting. Finally we reached the place and went to the fifth floor, It was dark. We then realized we had come to the wrong place. But then, Kirtana told us there was anoher gallery nearby. Apparao gallery!! We were greeted by a paper mache person. Then we had a look at Gautamn Bhatia's work on Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji's face was stuck on other people's body. It was pretty hilarious. It also reflected the way we act nowadays. A pretty bad reflection, I must admit!! We also had a look at many drawings drawn by people many years ago. Later on, the way back to India garage we had smoothies! :)

What is a cinquain?

A Cinquain is a poem that has five lines, and each line has its own special rule.

1st line: One word (title).

2nd line:Two words that describe a title.

3rd line: Three action words about the title.

4th line: Four words that express the thought and feeling about the title.

5th line: One word that means the same thing as the title.

Such as:

Laya(SP)

Bubbly, bouncy

Learning, growing, glowing

Your sincerity is awesome

Trusted

Heres one more!

Pickle.

Bumpy,lumpy,

Crunching, munching, lunching,

Cucumbers making you pucker,

Gherkin.

hey guys i just acted in a movie it was directed by ang lee

It was the summer of 2009 when I was first introduced to Kirtana’s farm. The holidays were nearly over with just a week to spare. My mom had signed me up for this three-day camp, without even asking me. To be truthful, I wasn’t really enthusiastic at all. I thought it was just a waste of my last few days of the holidays. The thought of getting up early the next morning and sitting in a 1 ½ bus ride to a place that I hadn’t even heard about bored me to death. But eventually nothing turned out the way I expected it to be. The bus ride surprisingly didn't feel long and Aditya and I built up a rapport with another by Ansaar. He was in 8^th grade then, two years older than us, and studied in Vidya Niketan School (same class as one of my cousins). Once we reached, we were lead to our dorms. Ansaar, Aditya and I were in one. We were then left alone with our Kalaripayattu teacher, Mothi. Throughout the class he was stern and harsh (which showed me the respect he had towards the martial art), but otherwise he was a complete clown. That’s how every morning began, with 2 serious hours of Kalaripayattu, followed by Shakespeare. This was where most of my knowledge about Shakespeare came from. The first session we did a brain dump on everything we knew about the playwright. We proceeded by knowing bit about the plays he wrote, his family and where he lived, England at that time and so on. After we got our basics right we worked on the play Julius Cesar by acting out the main, popular, vital scenes of the play. There were also music sessions for whoever was interested with Konarak Uncle. We would spend every evening playing a game our multiple numbers of games of soccer along with Mothi and Vinit, and every night before dinner we had to perform anything that we had learned throughout the day or anything that you were willing to share, be it Kalaripayattu, be it a scene from Julius Cesar, be it a song that you liked. We’d then eat dinner and sleep at whatever time we pleased. The next morning we would get up early and go for a walk/hike. I enjoyed this trip to such an extent that I came back the next year. The memories of these trips will always be cherished.