American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar | Debut Friday
Hey everyone! Welcome to Debut Friday!
For today’s feature, I chatted with Anuradha D. Rajurkar, the author of "American Betiya", a YA Contemporary standalone that will be released on March 9, 2021.
Read ahead to see what Anuradha has to say about her publishing journey, her debut novel and her best advice for aspiring debut authors!
1. First off, congratulations on being published! How does it feel to be in the final steps of becoming a published author?
Anuradha: Thank you so much! It's surreal to be in the final stages of the publication of American Betiya. It's been a long-time dream of mine to publish this story, and it's both amazing and nerve-wracking to know that soon, my book will be launched. I'm incredibly thrilled and grateful to be at this point.
2. From what I've heard, the publishing process was not an easy journey. What was the hardest part of the process for you and what did you learn from it?
Anuradha: The hardest part of this process was not knowing if all your years of work will "pay off" in the end. But it's true what they say--the glory of writing is the process, the emotional journey that you go through when you write a book that comes from the heartbeat of your soul. I feel so connected with my characters and feel a deep sense of pride in telling their story, one that will hopefully resonate with readers.
3. Did you have any finished manuscripts before you started on "American Betiya"?
Anuradha: No, this was my first finished manuscript. But honestly, it took many years and drafts to get it to where I felt it was ready to send to agents and to the national SCBWI Emerging Voices Award committee (which offered the deadline that I needed in order to finish revising already!) Having American Betiya go on to win the Emerging Voices Award helped me see that I was not wrong to spend those extra years polishing this one story!
4. What's the one thing you wished you knew about the publishing process?
Anuradha: I wish I knew early on that there is no one "right" way of navigating the publishing world, which has many moving parts. That while much of publishing your first novel is a sundae of your personal resilience, grit, and submitting your very best work, on top is a large dollop of luck. Letting go of the idea that I have perfect control over the journey helps me enjoy the twists and turns of the publishing process, appreciating and celebrating the wins as they come.
5. Let’s talk about your debut novel! What was the main inspiration behind "American Betiya"?
Anuradha: Ever since I was a teen, I longed for a story that explored the balancing of two or more cultures that many first-generation teens of the diaspora navigate, the nuances of cross-cultural relationships, and the role that race plays in our everyday experiences in America. Though there are so many amazing stories out now featuring teens of color, I've yearned for more contemporary stories that depict South Asian families, ones that felt honest and true to my own personal experiences. So I set out to write a raw, gritty story about the way friendships and relationships shape our identities, along with the excitement and complications of forbidden first love. Rani, her charming boyfriend Oliver, Rani's hilarious best friend, Kate, and Rani's loving but strict Indian immigrant family roved my mind for years, their experiences slowly taking shape during the decade it took to draft and revise the story amid the juggle of life. One upside to taking loads of time to write a book is the way the story deepens alongside your expanding worldview and life experiences. I truly took advantage of those years of writing as I sussed out what it is exactly I hoped to “say” with this story!
6. How did the title "American Betiya" came along?
Anuradha: I hoped for a title that embodied the duality that exists within my main character, Rani, who was born and raised in America, but whose parents were born and raised in India. "Betiya" means daughter in Hindi. While it seemed possibly a little risky to have a Hindi word in the title of an American YA novel, it also felt kind of perfect: Rani is a teen artist and aspiring doctor who navigates what it means to be a daughter of Indian descent while managing the American teen experience.
7. Describe "American Betiya" in 5 words in one sentence.
Anuradha: Will love survive when cultures collide? (Sorry, that's six words!)
8. Alongside your debut novel. what other 2021 YA debut novels you're most excited for?
Anuradha: #The21ders are an amazingly talented bunch, all of whose books sound incredible. Just a few of the many I'm looking forward to reading are: Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant, Made in Korea by Sarah Suk, Wings of Ebony by J.Elle, Can't Take That Away by Steven Salvatore, Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis, Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan, Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp, Rise of the Red Hand by Olivia Chadha, Like Home by Louisa Onome, and Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price.
9. As a debut author, what is your best advice to those who wants to become a published author someday?
Anuradha: Write from the depths of your heart. Write the story that you've always wanted to read, the one that speaks to you and helps you more deeply understand your curiosities, obsessions, and struggles. Writing from a place of passion and honesty ensures that the work you are doing will be unique to you and your perspective. Being true to yourself and your story will help sustain you through the many months/years ahead of creating that masterpiece.
10. And my last question! For the readers who are still hesitating to pick up "American Betiya", why do you think they should give it a go?
Anuradha: American Betiya is a provocative, modern story that takes place in the suburbs of Chicago. It's about race, romantic and family love, cultural identity, and assimilation. This work of young adult fiction covers some new territory, like the nuances of fighting stereotypes and racism--especially from those we love. It navigates the ways artistic expression and cultural appropriation might play out within close relationships, and how both toxic masculinity and strong female friendship impact our sense of self. It has been compared to the works of Jandy Nelson, Sandhya Menon, and Erika Sanchez (all authors I so admire!). Finally, it has been called an "unabashedly contemporary story that is an immersive, sexy, emotional, unputdownable Joy Luck Club," and a "cross-cultural Judy Blume's Forever." If my debut was a season, it would be spring: It's about romance, emergence, growth, discovery, and awakening, like blowsy spring flowers after a deep, dormant, complicated Chicago winter! I can't wait to share it with you!
Thank you so much for reading for reading today's feature!
A huge shout-out to Anuradha for being a part of Debut Friday!
You can follow her on her Instagram (@anuradhadrajurkar).
And don't forget to add "American Betiya" to your Goodreads!
You can click here to add it.