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Sandip Mukherjee, a prolific author with two successful books under his belt and a highly anticipated third release on the horizon, has had an illustrious career spanning over four decades in the hospitality industry since graduating from ICTAN, Kolkata. The Top Author seized the opportunity to interview Sandip, delving into his mindset as an author and uncovering what's next on his creative horizon.Hey Sandip - Please share glimpses of your corporate journey and as an author. As a graduate of the Hotel Management Institute of Kolkata in 1977, I am fortunate to have over four decades of global experience in managing hotels, resorts, and restaurant operations. Having obtained a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management, I have also completed General Management programs at leading institutions such as IIM Bangalore and Cornell University in the USA. I am a certified international hospitality trainer from AHLEI (USA) and HCITB (London), as well as having served as an External Assessor for Tata Business Excellence and a Certified Climate Champion of the Tatas – certified via McKinsey. Throughout my career, I have collaborated on impactful programs like Taj-McKinsey’s Revenue Management initiatives and have been instrumental in setting up two hospitality institutes in Kolkata post-retirement. Passionate about nurturing future leaders in the hospitality industry, I serve as the Academic Advisor for the IIHM group of institutes worldwide and also teach management modules for MSc students of the National Council of Hospitality Colleges. In addition to my work in hospitality, I am a published author of two successful books and am poised to release my third offering soon. I conduct consulting workshops on areas such as ESG and Responsible Hospitality and deliver Leadership Programs tailored to the needs of hotels and service industries.Awesome! So, how did you get into writing? Would you like to share any memories or experiences from the past that ignited this interest? One evening in Malaysia, sometime in 2014, while preparing to leave work, a captivating incident shared by my F&amp;B Head – Rajen Krishnaswamy inspired me to document it. Encouragement from the revered Bagchi family, including Mr. Subroto Bagchi (CEO of Mindtree Consulting then), further fueled my interest in writing about hospitality experiences. Their persistent encouragement led me to publish my first book, “TALES OF A HOTELWALLAH,” during Diwali of 2021, which received positive feedback and motivated me to continue writing. On the home front, my better half, who is also a hotelier herself, Kalpana, has been both my top advocate and critic on this journey. I am grateful to all of them for providing me with the necessary push.Please talk about your routine as an Author. I do try to adhere to a daily routine of uninterrupted writing, as advised by a dear friend, Dr. Sandeep Roy, a senior ex-ONGC professional and geo-scientist. This is a challenge, but I realize it can be developed as a process, especially for new authors like myself.Coming to the characters in your stories. Do they overlap with real-life individuals or experiences? I draw inspiration solely from real-life characters encountered throughout my career in hotels, including staff, guests, vendors and seniors, as well as interactions with current students and colleagues.Share your thoughts on Author's Mindset. For me, the author's mindset revolves around spreading joy, happiness, and a sense of goodness through storytelling. I strive to bring humor and insight from the hospitality industry, highlighting its intricacies and behind-the-scenes dynamics.Who inspires you to be an author? I have been influenced by the works of Satyajit Ray (especially his short stories), Ruskin Bond, early Chetan Bhagat, Shankar (a renowned Bengali Author who wrote an epic tale of a hotel - Chowringhee), and Mr. Subroto Bagchi, who himself is a fabulous author.Well, authorship is not a bed of roses. Would you like to mention any hurdles that you faced during the journey. Initially, finding a publisher was a challenge as an unknown author. However, upon the recommendation of an ex – student, Murtuza Saifee, I embraced Print on Demand channels, leading to successful book releases. Now, my third book is due for release soon.Your strengths as an author... I prioritize simplicity, honesty, and relatability in my writing, aiming to make reading enjoyable for a wide segment of audience.Please pick up a moment that gave you maximum satisfaction as an author. The most fulfilling aspect for me is getting the opportunity to spread joy and positivity, while also providing insight into our ever exciting hospitality domain to a broader audience.What advice would you like to give to the newbie authors? Keep it simple, honest, and enjoyable for readers. I try and focus on maintaining a concise narrative, correct language usage, grammar and presentation, rather than using overly embellished language.How do you envision your writing impacting readers? I hope to leave a positive and a happy impression on readers, inspiring them to view the hospitality industry in fresh new and positive light.Please share any experience or interaction with the readers that influenced your journey towards authorship. Positive feedback from readers, including remarks that my stories felt like fireside chats, has been encouraging and motivating for me as a novice author. Some have even advised me on how to shape stories for better reading, which has also been a part of my learning curve, for which I remain grateful.What you're working on next? Readers can expect more fun-filled hospitality tales and, soon, a short story book titled “MYTHOS: ODYSSEY OF THE GODS.” In this, I am exploring and bringing to the fore myths from the Levant and beyond. Stay tuned for my upcoming release in July, “MYTHOS: ODYSSEY OF THE GODS.” I am excited to share this new venture with readers.Apart from books, what keeps you busy? Any hobbies, interests? I enjoy listening to Hindi film music - especially retro; traveling both domestically and internationally; teaching hospitality students; counseling and encouraging youngsters to join the services industry; and indulging in various forms of entertainment such as reading and watching movies.Thank you so much Sandip. The Top Author wishes you all the best for your next book.

Author Interview – Sandip Mukherjee

Dr. Ravi Bhatia is a pediatrician by profession. He obtained his MBBS from the prestigious Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, and completed his post-graduation at Jodhpur Medical College. His hobbies include quizzing and reading. His passion for quizzing developed over the years through participating in numerous quiz shows.He has authored two volumes of – Let’s Quiz Kid, published by Notion Press in the year 2020 and 2022 respectively. In this quick byte with the author, we’ll explore Ravi’s authorship journey and the mindset while authoring his works.Please introduce yourself and share a bit about your journey as an author. I am a pediatrician by profession, practicing and teaching pediatrics. My passion for quizzing developed over the years through participating in numerous quiz shows. During interactions with children in my practice, I noticed a lack of knowledge about our country, which inspired me to write quiz books for kids. The success of my first book propelled me to create a second one.What sparked your passion for writing? Any early memories or experiences that ignited this interest? Both of my books are quiz books; whenever I encounter interesting information, I transform it into a question.Can you briefly outline your writing routine? Are there any special habits you follow? I jot down interesting facts whenever I come across them, building a knowledge base for creating questions.What are some of the hurdles you encounter as an author, and how do you navigate them? The biggest challenge is promoting and selling my books. While writing comes naturally, selling even a single copy is daunting.On a positive note, what do you find most fulfilling about being an author? Seeing children read my books brings a sense of accomplishment. When young readers express gratitude, acknowledging the usefulness of my work, I feel fulfilled as an author.What words of wisdom would you offer to aspiring authors just embarking on their writing journey? Keep jotting down ideas; eventually, they’ll evolve into compelling stories.Could you share any memorable experiences or interactions with readers that have influenced your writing journey? Positive feedback from readers, affirming the quality of my books, always boosts my spirits.What can readers anticipate from your future projects? I’m planning a series of quiz books focused on India.Beyond writing, what are some of your interests or hobbies? Reading and quizzing.What genres do you predominantly write in, and what attracts you to these specific genres? I specialize in quiz books, driven by a desire to educate readers about India.Are there particular themes or messages you aim to convey through your writing? I aim to foster awareness about India’s greatness and encourage readers to take pride in their country.How do you maintain motivation and inspiration while battling writer’s block? The success of my books in the market serves as a major motivation for me.Ravi’s books are available for purchase on Notion Press, Amazon, Flipkart on many other online portals.Amazon – <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/1647839564" href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/1647839564" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Let’s Quiz Kid : Volume-1</a>Amazon – <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09VLFSP3D" href="https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09VLFSP3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Let’s Quiz Kid : Volume 2</a>We sincerely hope that children gain a deeper understanding of their country, culture, and values, and Ravi’s quiz books are undeniably setting the right tone for this. The Top Author wishes Ravi a prosperous journey as an author.

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Author Interview – Sandip Mukherjee

Author Interview - Author Ravi Bhatia