Author Amish Tripathi or Amish as he prefers to be called, is now the stuff of Indian publishing legends. The latest in Shiva Trilogy “The Oath of the Vayuputras” sold five lakh copies within a week of publication, and cumulative sales of the Trilogy have clocked Rs 40 crore.
While Amishs’ brand in Masala Mythology has given him a cult following, his book marketing methods could win easy place in any management handbook. The author who already has a Rs 5 crore advance for his next work from publishers Westland is on CNBC-TV18’s special show A list today, savouring his success.
Below is an edited transcript of the interview on CNBC-TV18.
Q: The third book, the ‘The Oath of the Vayuputras’ is out. The Trilogy is over, something that you started many years back has finally reached its culmination point. Is it cathartic?
A: There is certainly a sense of completion with the third book. This is a book series that has changed my life by 180 degrees, I am a far happier person than I used to be, and much calmer, so there is certainly a sense of completion. But I am not going to miss the Shiva Trilogy. You miss the book only if the characters go away. Lord Shiva isn’t going away anywhere. I am going to hold onto him. So, I am not going to miss the book series, but yes, there is a sense of completion.
Q: I just mean letting go of the characters.
A: That’s the point I am making, I am not letting go all the characters, they are with me, they are not going away anywhere.
