Interview with Bhabika Joshi

http://bhabikajoshi.wordpress.com

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I was six or seven, there was a pencil and paper lying nearby, I had nothing to do, and thus began my career.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

I started writing my book at age ten, finishing it at thirteen. I wanted my book to be published by a big ol’ publishing company and have it made into a movie by the very next year. Then, the reality hit.

When I sought out to find an agent, I got rejected numerous times. There were answers of, “You’re plot sounds exciting, but it’s not the project we’re looking for right now” or maybe the typical automated response, “Dear Author, Your letter has been rejected.” I was quickly getting disappointed, knowing there was no way I was going to give up when a very helpful article came my way.

A list of authors who had self-published before, it was, including writers like Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon, and Edgar Alan Poe. I decided, maybe this was just telling me that there was nothing wrong with self-publishing, especially with the growing demand. I contacted an associate at iUniverse, my publishing house, in late March at age thirteen, and six months later, at fourteen, I had Mortals: Hayden Roux Chronicles in my hands.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

Mortals is a saga about a day-to-day average eleven year old girl who gets her world tipped over when she finds out that she has a family she never knew about, a history about herself she needs to discover, and most importantly, a national heirloom that Hayden, the girl, must rescue to defeat Pandora, a misanthrope existing right here on Earth.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

My greatest inspiration for publishing has been my grandfathers. They are both published authors and have involuntarily helped me in every path possible.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

I was born in Nepal, where most of my family still lives. My dad, Harihar Joshi, is doing what he loves to do best, flying helicopters. My mother, Deepika Joshi, has always been here, supporting me to publish and just go on with life.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

I love Chinese food and cookies, preferably at different times in the day.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Brush, pop in my contacts, and do a quick prayer.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

All my hangers in my closet are color coded. I am an absolute neat freak about organization.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

Hot pink, because there needs to be a child in everyone.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Spongebob!

Which cartoon character is most like you?

I’m not sure if she’s considered a cartoon, but Hermione Granger. Except for the buck-toothed and not-looking-anything-like-me part, she’s like my fictional twin!

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

Right here. It’s better to experience the now than the then.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

Pop! Miley, Taylor, Jonas – you get the idea. (Note to readers who are confused about my musical preferences: I’m a fourteen year old girl, someone who just turned into a teenager!) I do not listen to music if I’m writing, reading, or studying. I plain can’t concentrate.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I love watching Full House, Saved by the Bell, Friends, etc. Bring me comedy, and I’ll be happy. I would watch Harry Potter twenty-five hours everyday if I could. Last movie I saw…Land of the Lost. Will Ferrel is comedy God.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Never, ever, stop trying. It doesn’t matter if you’re a great artist, a wonderful dancer, or born to be a neurosurgeon. Go for it and never think it’s too early to start anything. You can achieve any goal; you can fulfill any wish, and you can do that at every age possible.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

I’m currently writing a realistic fiction novel about an autistic boy that struggles inner and outer battles and stories from the points of view from both his mother and normal twin brother. I hope to have it published by the time I start my sophomore year in high school.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!