Book Publishing Secrets: Interview with Annu Subramanian, author of 'Another Heaven'

Our guest today is Annu Subramanian, author of Another Heaven, and is published by Apprentice House.  She is here to give her experiences as a small press author.

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Thank you for your time in answering our questions about getting published.  Let’s begin by having you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
 

Annu: While teaching a high school course titled Eastern Literature, my research invariably led to two global issues; human trafficking and terrorism. Compelled by the more recent events involving acts of terrorism, I decided to write this research-based novel. An incident that occurred close to my home in India, an explosion that was triggered at the end of a

dispute between two religious groups, cemented the purpose in my mind to expose the atrocities associated with human trafficking and terrorism, and I began to write the first chapter of Another Heaven. This is a story I had to tell.

Is this your first book?

Annu: This is my second.

With this particular book, how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose this method?

University press. Apprentice House (Loyola University) is my publisher. As an educator, I was drawn to this publishing house as it is the only publishing facility that is primarily run by students, with guidance from professors and mentors. Publishing is a powerful media, and I am glad these students have an opportunity to learn it first-hand while they are in an environment that fosters writing and reading.

Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey?  The pros and cons?

Annu: Finding a publishing company that matches the writer’s needs is hard. This publisher understood my rationale behind the novel and supported my cause, and I chose to publish my novel with Apprentice House.

What lessons do you feel you learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing industry as a whole?

Annu: Writing is the easier part of creating a book. However, getting a book published is a very difficult task.

Would you recommend this method of publishing to other authors?

Annu: It depends on the project and the author’s needs.

What’s the best advice you can give to aspiring authors?

Annu: Be passionate about the topic you have chosen. You are writing a book and allowing your readers to step into a different world because your voice is bursting to come out. Speak to the world as freely and as often as you can.

 

 

Annu Subramanian is the director of the Writing Center at Brown School, Schenectady, New York. She co-founded Albany Women Connection, a support group in Albany, New York. She was chosen as one of four national finalists by the Norman Mailer Center and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) in 2011 for her short story, SO FAIR AND VERY LOVELY. She was chosen as Educator of Excellence in 2011 by the New York State English Council.

Her latest book is the factu-fiction, Another Heaven.

Visit her website at www.annusubramanian.com.