'I think music and writing go hand in hand', says Anmol Malik. The 25-year-old singer and songwriter has turned author with a romcom Three Impossible Wishes. Published by Harper Collins, her book is digitally available on Amazon, Google Books and for Kindle too.
Daughter of music director Anu Malik, Anmol started her musical career at the age of five and has sung for several Hindi films including Biwi No 1, Umrao Jaan, Tere Sang and others.
Just like her father, Anmol has also composed music for independent tracks and movies. At a young age, she has gained knowledge and experience by working with production houses and ad agencies, which has also enriched her writing.
Because she has always been inclined towards writing, it does not come as a surprise to see Anmol jot down her thoughts in the form of a novel. She tells us more about her literary journey.
What is the inspiration behind the story of Three Impossible Wishes?
A: It's not easy studying, working or trying to make a living in a new city or a new country. It's not easy standing up against loved ones. And unrequited love is an absolute silent killer.
A lot is going on in this book, a lot of things that inspired it. But honestly, I just wanted to write a warm feel-good romcom of an Indian girl who's a bit of a jugaadu, and a Russian boy who's far too morally sound for his own good. A comforting mix of hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies. I hope my book can make people smile.
How would you describe the process of writing the novel?
A: The first draft was ready in four months. But the honing and editing took a year. I absolutely love writing, so it was exhilarating from start to end. But I won't deny that the whole process takes immense dedication, certain perseverance to write day after day with the same enthusiasm.
Would it be right to say that writing is an extension of your music skills?
A: I think music and writing go hand in hand. There is a certain rhythm to writing, and there is a certain narrative to music. I feel they simply melt into each other.
How much does your music background reflect in your writing, or do you keep the two separate?
A: I never truly have control over what my pen scratches out on the page. It could come out as a song or as a story. A lot of the songs I've composed (Let Me Come Home, Into The Night, Isn't That Why) were actually songs composed for stories I was writing. In fact, there's always a story knitting itself up in the back of my mind, and it nearly always has a background score threaded into it.
How did the collaboration with Harper Collins happen?
A: Publishing is a whole new space, a whole new industry and navigating it on my own is a little scary yet fantastically exciting. There's no one in my immediate family I can turn to for advice or help regarding this. So, I'm solely relying on sheer hard work and messages from my heart to take me ahead. But it will forever feel surreal to land a debut book deal with a publishing giant like HarperCollins. From being an AD, working at Disney-UTV, Leo Burnett and Yash Raj Films, I am grateful for all the opportunities I have got so far. It has enriched my writing and introduced such wonderful people into my life. While studying creative writing from the University of Warwick, I used to write a lot of articles under my pen name Audrey Piano as my part-time job.
As a young author, what is your piece of advice to budding writers?
A: I wrote Three Impossible Wishes with no expectations. I only wrote it to make myself smile and hoped that whoever reads it would smile along too. So, I'm afraid that's the only advice I can afford right now at this nascent stage in my career — write for the joy it brings to you.