Marriage Unarranged #booktour #ritubhathal

Posted on Feb 6, 2020 by

I have known Ritu Bhathal, yes this lovely lady

pretty much since we started blogging. In that time she had blogged her heart out. Her prolific output, her range of subjects, her dedication to improving the craft all stand out. But she is almost always the first one to read and comment on any new post I launch into the ether and her approach has been universally supportive, as you would expect of someone who values her Bloggily.

A while back she took what she considered to be a brave step with a book of poetry but she need not have fretted. It was an excellent read, a proper dipper-inner. At the time she talked about the book, that project that had been on the slowest of slow burns. Would it ever come to be?

Yes, it would! It’s here in

Marriage Unarranged

I was privileged to be a beta reader and, while I doubt my comments helped much it was clear she had a usp of her own, using her experiences as a woman with a British Indian heritage steeped in both cultures, but with all the quirky humour that seeing the absurdities of both sides gives you.

Here’s the blurb…

It all started ended with that box…

Aashi’s life was all set.

Or so she thought.

Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.

But then Aashi found the empty condom box…

Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.

Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.

And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets? A stranger who’s hiding something…

And this is the rather delightful cover

And so you know where to grab your copy here are all those social media links that define our lives

Blog Website: http://www.butismileanyway.com

Author Website: http://www.ritubhathal.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RituBhathal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritubhathalwrites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/butismileanyway/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RituBhathal/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/bhathalpadhaal/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/56854412-ritu-bhathal
Mix: https://mix.com/butismileanyway
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/ritusmiles

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritu-bhathal-48941648/
Bloglovin: https://www.bloglovin.com/@ritubhathalpadhaal

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/ritubhathal

And by clicking the following link, you get to my author profile on Amazon

Author.to/RituBhathal

 myBook.to/PoeticRITUals

http://getbook.at/MarriageUnarranged

Now, I don’t come cheap and so when Ritu asked if I’d help with her launch I, of course agreed… on condition.

And that was to answer some questions that bubbled around in my head as I read that earlier draft. I’m sort of nosey like that and, hmm, maybe you’ll be interested too. So here we go, over to Ritu to see how she stands up to my searching examination…

1. I want you to tell me how you balanced your story against the inevitable cultural sensitivities of being of British Indian heritage. Did you wonder how your parents would take the perspective your characters have and modify anything. Ditto your relatives back in India and the portrayal – an expat of sorts but necessarily of a culturally aware Indian background – how would they view this. Patronising foreigner or One of our own?

When I first started to write this story, I had no idea what would happen; whether I would finish it, if it would be a short story or a fully formed novel. With this in mind, I had no thought of anyone else reading it.

Then it became a real thing. You know, something that everyone out there could read, if they wanted.

I like to think that I have kept it balanced, in a way that it would raise a giggle (or an eyebrow, once in a while) from those British Indian readers out there, who could relate to some situations and reactions, and it would be accessible to western readers, and maybe even educate them to an extent.

Aashi, the main character for this book, is very similar to me, in that she is a British born Indian, Sikh girl, from a reputable family, with simple ideals. Writing from her perspective came easy. (Not that she is me, clearing any misconceptions there! I am happily married and haven’t experienced a broken engagement!)

I may have played with some stereotypes, but in a loose way, to create humour.

If any of my Indian compadres aren’t enamoured of any parts, it is not meant to reflect what they think of India, but what a British-born-Indian feel, upon going ‘home’ so to speak.

My Pops and Mum are extremely supportive of my writing, and yes, I may have toned down certain scenes, thinking of what they might think, when reading, but then again, they know it’s fiction, and I don’t think I have written anything to offend them, or anyone else.

I even have a great aunt who lives in Canada, who is chomping at the bit to read it. Am I worried? No. I think she’ll love it!

I have already had a good few people I know asking whether it is autobiographical. No. It is not. It is a purely fictional story, set in real places, with imagined characters – honestly!

2. I’m fascinated by the concept of cultural (or indeed any) appropriation in literature. Could only someone of your background have written this? Should only someone like you write this? Or does it not matter as long as there’s an attempt at honesty in the characters and their perspectives. 

I think, quite possibly, it would be best to be someone like me to write about what a young British Indian woman thinks, as I have lived and experienced life as that very person. But I don’t see why someone who isn’t of my background, or gender, even, shouldn’t have a go. The important thing is to get honest feedback, so you know whether you have got it, or ended up with a stereotype-filled piece of writing that could be misconstrued by people of that background.

I attempt a male viewpoint in the story too, so I asked a British Indian male to read it too, to get his opinions. On the whole, he thought it was good, but worried that I may have pandered to the stereotype of Punjabis who like a drink and get rowdy a bit. However, that is all part of the humour, and no one else picked that out as a worry as it was minimal!

3. You’ve lived here you whole life with a foot in several camps culturally and this seemed to me when I read it as a love story to that pot pourri experience. But what was the most difficult – being British and imagining the indigenous Indian view, or viva versa?

To be honest, Geoff, pretty much all the characters I portray are British born Indians, and the characters they meet in India, we learn of them from these British born characters, so It wasn’t too much of an issue.

There was only one character who was Indian- born, Milan, but he is quite a flamboyant one, and as he might just feature in a future book of mine, I will be doing more research on certain opinions to make sure a deeper portrayal of him is accurate.

As you say, I have been here my whole life, but I have had my feet, and an arm in the Indian, British, and Kenyan ways of life, as that is my background! We have learned to create an amalgamation of the three key cultures in our lives, as a family, and I think these things are what give me so much inspiration.

 

Author Bio

Ritu Bhathal was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970s to migrant parents, hailing from Kenya but with Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration to her.

From childhood, she always enjoyed reading. This love of books is credited to her mother. The joy of reading spurred her on to become creative in her writing, from fiction to poetry. Winning little writing competitions at school and locally encouraged her to continue writing.

As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she has drawn on inspiration from many avenues to create the poems that she writes.

A qualified teacher, having studied at Kingston University, she now deals with classes of children as a sideline to her writing!

Ritu also writes a blog, www.butismileanyway.com, a mixture of life and creativity, thoughts and opinions, which was awarded first place in the Best Overall Blog Category at the 2017 Annual Bloggers Bash Awards, and Best Book Blog in 2019.

Ritu is happily married and living in Kent, with her Hubby Dearest, and two children, not forgetting the fur baby Sonu Singh.

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published four books - Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, My Father and Other Liars, Salisbury Square and Buster & Moo. In addition I have published three anthologies of short stories and a memoir of my mother. More will appear soon. I will try and continue to blog regularly at geofflepard.com about whatever takes my fancy. I hope it does yours too. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
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73 Responses to Marriage Unarranged #booktour #ritubhathal

  1. thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 11:09 am

    My daughter and I are both looking forward to reading this!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. willowdot21 says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Another great blog stop for Ritu, and I love the in-depth questions you posed Geoff. I think we all can garner where our Ritu is coming from and you have teased a little more out of her.
    Good luck Sis and thanks Geoff 💜

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  3. Pingback: Marriage Unarranged #booktour #ritubhathal | willowdot21

  4. Lance Greenfield says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 11:52 am

    Reblogged this on Write to Inspire and commented:
    Ritu and Geoff are lovely friends of mine, whom I met through the Annual Bloggers’ Bash Awards. This looks like a great book from Ritu and I love the qurstions and answers in Geoff’s probing interview at the end of the article.

    Take a few minutes to read the article. Maybe you’ll follow their blogs and purchase a copy of Ritu’s ‘Marriage Unarranged.”

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. trifflepudling says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    What an excellent interview – thanks.
    Would love to read this. Sadly I don’t own a Kindle and would need a print version. At work, somebody had the bright idea of classifying people who like to print everything as Dinosaurs, people who print some things as Walruses, and people who never print anything (and therefore, in my view, risk getting screen-shaped eyeballs) as having a Dolphin mindset (argh, who thinks up this stupid-speak?). I’m the middle one!
    As most people who love reading do own a Kindle, I hope the sales are great!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Ritu says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Aw shucks, thanks His Geoffleship! You are indeed a task master and a half! Really appreciate you having me on here! I’ll be sharing the post when I get home ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Rebecca Moon Ruark says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Great interview. Probing questions. Well done, Geoff and Ritu!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. Susan Zutautas says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    What a fantastic interview! Ritu, your book sounds like something I would love to read. I have so many right now but yours is going on my must-read list.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. thecontentedcrafter says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:59 pm

    I have seen/interacted with Ritu here and on Norah’s blog and always liked her – don’t know why I haven’t actually followed just put it down to innate laziness I guess …… Anyhoo, great interview Geoff, loved those questions. I’ll be heading off to Amazon and getting me a copy for my kindle now.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Ritu says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 6:11 pm

    Reblogged this on Ritu Bhathal and commented:
    And here is Day 4 of the blog tour! This time it is the lovely Geoff Le Pard who is hosting, and asking all manner of questions!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Pingback: Marriage Unarranged #booktour @ritubhathal | TanGental – Day 4 | But I Smile Anyway...

  12. Suzanne says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    This post is lovely to read as many of us know how hard the road has been for you. Especially time-wise.

    On a different note, I think you are very privileged to have two cultures. My niece and nephew have a kiwi/Vietnamese and the other kiwi/German heritage. Brilliant. With that in mind, I’m sure that your book will be a success as many will be able to relate.

    Thanks to you both for being so supportive of newbie bloggers and writers.

    All the best Ritu and I’m sure you will write plenty more in the years to come.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Darlene says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    A great interview with Ritu. Her book certainly sounds delightful, as is she.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Charli Mills says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    I love Ritu so much, I often call her different names (she’s so forgiving, just as my children are when I can’t get their names straight)! She’s a delightful blogger, short-story writer, and now author. I love how she considered connecting humor across cultures. Her book has been on pre-order and I think I get it Feb. 9. I’m excited to read it!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. Mary Smith says:
    Feb 6, 2020 at 11:02 pm

    Great questions, Geoff and brilliant answers from Ritu. I’m so looking forward to reading this.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Jane Sturgeon says:
    Feb 7, 2020 at 11:29 am

    Ritu’s book is on my ‘to read’ list and I loved this interview, Geoff. your questions are inspired as are Ritu’s thoughtful replies. I can’t wait to read it. Hugs to you both. Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    Feb 7, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you for the very informative posting. Even if i am a little bit late, i am honoured by reading and reblogging. Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  18. Jennie says:
    Feb 8, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    Super interview, Geoff!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. robbiesinspiration says:
    Feb 9, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    A lovely author interview, Geoff. Interesting questions that you posed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. SC Skillman says:
    Feb 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    I enjoyed reading this interview especially as I am currently reading Ritu’s book. Some of the questions had occurred to me too as I read. I have visited India myself, starting in Delhi, and am intrigued to see that some of her English-born Indian characters’ reactions to India are very similar to my own. Yet in many other ways they have that special insight because of their cultural background. I am learning a lot too. Will post my review online when finished.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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