Author Interview: Sadashiv Pradhan, Author of 23:59:59 | Dhiraj Sindhi (Part-2)

Author Interview

Sadashiv Pradhan

Author of Amazon Bestseller '23:59:59'

Giving Advice On Pursuing Unconventional Career Options!

Hey readers' fam, welcome back to the author interview with Sadashiv Pradhan, the author of Amazon Bestseller '23:59:59 The Journey of survival in the B-Schools of India'. I have reviewed the book, check it here, if you haven't yet. And I can't recommend it enough.

FOR MORE SUCH CONTENT, FOLLOW MY BLOG (Click the button here somewhere👉)

Again, let me introduce y'all to Sadashiv.

Sadashiv Pradhan has completed his MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He is currently working in Star India Pvt. Ltd. He is a passionate writer and prolific storyteller. He started writing 23:59:59 when he was in XLRI, where he believed that there is a story to be told- the story behind the curtains of otherwise glamorous B-school culture, which every graduate goes through but hardly anyone speaks about. The story of survival in the B-schools of India.

Follow him on Instagram: @storytellersada

Check out his Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Sadashiv-Pradhan

Twitter Handle: @storytellersada

Order your copy of 23:59:59 here: https://amzn.to/2WuH6GE

Sadashiv Pradhan, Author of Amazon Bestseller 23:59:59

"If you want something then have the courage to do anything in your power to earn it. There is no right or wrong in this world! Grab it before someone else snatches it from you"

Today, Sadashiv will answer the most important questions we face in our lives. Again, which I think, will be helpful to all readers, students, parents and budding authors. I hope this interview will be resourceful to writers and readers.

Q: What do you enjoy the most apart from writing?

A: I do enjoy investing and trading in the share market. I have been an investor since last three years, recently I have started trading as well. I enjoy the process of research-analysis of stock & learning various strategies to maximize returns. I do believe money is an important part of life and you should try to create multiple income sources – if worked out diligently, Indian share market can become an excellent income source.

Q: Your answer to the ultimate question ‘Money vs. Passion?’ and message to your readers and their parents.

A: My position on this debate is simple – ‘Life me passion ka boz mat banane do!’ Many people from our generation mistakenly assume that for ‘following passion’ you need to leave the job (money), then and then only you can be successful – it has become fashionable to do so! Although it might have given success to a few, I would always recommend against it.

Money brings stability in life, and financial security gives you a cushion to try different things while following your passion. If you have a good amount of bank balance then success while following passion doesn’t become a necessity and failure becomes a learning experience.

Yes, juggling both things is difficult, it wasn’t easier for me either, it took me 3 years to write a book, and I hardly get time to promote my book, but my well-paying job ensures that I am not dependent on the success of 23:59:59. Hence, my advice to everyone who feels that they are stuck in their job and want to ‘follow passion’ is to start doing what you love the most without quitting the job – a point might come in the future when passion will give you sufficient money but before that, it would be too risky to quit job.

Q: What would be your advice to aspirants who may want to pursue unconventional career options?

A: Be selfish! Be selfish to yourself, to your passion, and to your dreams! Our generation is spending or rather wasting too much time on toxic relationships and on worthless jobs/corporations that would not think twice before replacing us. I don’t understand when someone says ‘I am crazily in love with him’ or ‘I can do anything for her’; that craziness, that ‘deewanapan’ should be reserved for your dreams; the person for whom you are willing to do anything should be YOU! Love is a choice, and in today’s world, that choice is just one right swipe away. Those, for whom you are willing to do anything will not hesitate to leave you, but your dream and your passion – that is something no one can take away from you. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in love, it’s a wonderful feeling, we need someone in life to grow old with or to share everything with but that person should not be bigger than our dreams. if you want to pursue an unconventional career then first you need to be crazily in love with that dream, rest of the things will take care of themselves.

Q: Any upcoming project you’re working on? Tell us a brief about it.

A: Absolutely! There are a couple of projects I am working on, but if I tell you about them then it would be nothing less than a joke. As I said earlier, one should never hesitate to dream bigger, if your dream doesn’t sound like a joke then you are not aiming higher – if ten years ago, a boy who did his schooling from a Marathi medium, who could barely speak in English would have announced that he is going to be a bestselling author then everyone around him would have laughed but again, here we are! So, yes, there are a couple of things on my mind, let’s see how that turns out to be, maybe after ten years, will again refer to this question, until then…

Again, Thank you so much, Sadashiv for being with us and for giving advice on pursuing dreams and discussing unconventional career options, that would definitely help readers with quality decisions and great content.

So, that was the Author of Amazon Bestseller '23:59:59' The Journey of Survival in the B-Schools of India.

My audience and I, wish you the best for the journey to come.

Comment down below and let us know if it helped you in any way.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don't forget to subscribe. Don't forget to subscribe for more content. Thank you so much for reading!

Author Interview: Sadashiv Pradhan, Author of 23:59:59 | Dhiraj Sindhi (Part-1)

Author Interview

Sadashiv Pradhan

Author of Amazon Bestseller '23:59:59'

Sharing His Invaluable Experiences With Us!

Hey readers' fam, we are back with another, yet precious blog post. So, without wasting further time, welcome to the author interview with Sadashiv Pradhan, the author of Amazon Bestseller '23:59:59 The Journey of survival in the B-Schools of India'. I have reviewed the book in the previous post, check it here, if you haven't yet.

FOR MORE SUCH CONTENT, FOLLOW MY BLOG (Click the button here somewhere👉)

First, let me introduce y'all to Sadashiv.

Sadashiv Pradhan has completed his MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He is currently working in Star India Pvt. Ltd. He is a passionate writer and prolific storyteller. He started writing 23:59:59 when he was in XLRI, where he believed that there is a story to be told- the story behind the curtains of otherwise glamorous B-school culture, which every graduate goes through but hardly anyone speaks about. The story of survival in the B-schools of India.

Follow him on Instagram: @storytellersada

Check out his Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Sadashiv-Pradhan

Twitter Handle: @storytellersada

Order your copy of 23:59:59 here: https://amzn.to/2WuH6GE

Sadashiv Pradhan, Author of Amazon Bestseller 23:59:59

"If you want something then have the courage to do anything in your power to earn it. There is no right or wrong in this world! Grab it before someone else snatches it from you"

Now, we will get to know more about Sadashiv and how he managed to write and published his debut novel. And also we will discuss career and passion. Which, I think, will be helpful to all readers, students, parents and budding authors. I hope this interview will be resourceful to writers and readers.

Q: Who is your favorite author and why do you adore him/her?

A: It has to be Agatha Christie! I always had a fascination towards crime – mystery genre. The most difficult part as an author is to keep a reader enticing till the very last word, especially in the mystery genre.

Q:  What was the inception point of 23:59:59?

A: The moment I walked inside the gate of XLRI, I knew there is a story to be told! A life that we expect while aspiring to be a part of elite B-schools is completely different from the one we get to experience. The euphoria of getting admission dies down or rather reality hits within a week, and you realize that beating two lac candidates in a rat race was the easiest part and the worst possible rat race of your life has just begun! Throughout my XL journey, I met various ‘characters’, followed their journeys, and started penning down those stories which eventually turned into 23:59:59!

Q: How long was the procedure, writing 23:59:59? How was the entire experience?

A: It took me 3 years to complete 23:59:59. I started writing it when I was a student at XLRI. Post XLRI, I got a job in Star India. Taking time out to write a novel while working a full-time job that too in travel-intense sales job was the most difficult part of the process. However, in a weird way it was peaceful, during my loneliest and most hectic days of work in a small town of Latur where I spent a year as an area sales manager, writing 23:59:59 gave a purpose!

Q: Which was the most difficult part of the writing process, in the entire course from drafting to publishing 23:59:59?

A: Selling! Hahaha! Honestly, getting a word out and convince people to buy your work is the most difficult part of the process. Being the first time author, I was inexperienced about the industry and unknown of the nitty-gritty of the sales and marketing part of the book publishing process. I must admit, I have committed many mistakes along the way, starting from printing an incorrect version of the book (that’s why you will see few grammatical errors in the book) but it has been a wonderful learning experience, and hopefully 23:59:59 will achieve greater success in days to come.

Q: What was your best XLRI experience ever?

A: Graduation Day! To be honest with you, academically, I wasn’t the best student at XLRI, I wasn’t even in the top half of the batch. For me, the entire XLRI journey was the journey of survival – day in day out! At top B-schools of India, we have daily competition, quizzes, & assignments – that rat race became even more intense, and sometimes, it did get excruciatingly taxing. But the moment I saw happiness and pride in the eyes of my parents on the graduation day, I knew, it was all worth it! My parents worked extremely hard to give me a wonderful life, my graduation was the reward of all their hard work, hence, yes, XLRI graduation day was the best day of my life.


Thank you so much, Sadashiv for being with us and for narrating us your writing journey and sharing your experiences.

There are few more questions to come in the Part-2 of this interview with Sadashiv Pradhan. So, stay tuned.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don't forget to subscribe. Don't forget to subscribe for more content. Thank you so much for reading!

Will catch you all in the next part!

Top 10 Favorite Books of 2018

Hello readers, I am back with a fun stuff today!!

Top 10 Most Favorite Books of 2018

These are my Most Favourite books I read in 2018. I am sorting them from 10 to 1 (Most favourite), so that you can understand what I like the most AKA what taste I have in reading. So lets get started.

AND all are 5 STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me! I haven't reviewed the books here but it is more about what I felt for the books and my relation with them. Enjoy!

Top 10 Favorite Books | Dhiraj Sindhi

10. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island (Penguin Classics Crossword Edition)

I grew up watching varieties of this iconic Treasure Island story. There are cartoons from Doraemon to specifically focused on sailing theme like animated series, The Legends of Treasure Island which all take reference from this work of Robert Louis Stevenson. This was the first classic book I read and enjoyed a lot despite tough glossary. The plot and storyline you always can discover from Wikipedia or in this case, watch animated movie! So I will not mention about the story much in this post (maybe in upcoming blog series of reviews). There is everything, mystery, action, sailing, lovely and powerful characters. I learned the terms about sailing, the mast and the harbour and the schooner and the pirates and Jolly Roger! 'Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!' I loved this song. You should definitely pick this if you haven't read this yet. You're gonna love it, specially the characters John Silver and Jim.

Buy Treasure Island on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ENQWKk

9. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Little Prince (Fingerprint Pocket Classics Edition)

The Little Prince is that one book, which you should read once in your lifetime. It is also third most translated book in the world after The Bible and The adventures of Pinocchio. It left me with questions at the end as intended by the author. The book showcases the nature of grown-ups and their ability to think limited. There are world famous quotations by fox in this book on human relationships, which are the best part of the book. This book addresses to moral values if you pay attention to them. I would recommend this book to everyone on this earth to read it once.

Buy The Little Prince on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H4Wt1o

8. Until Love Sets Us Apart by Aditya Nighhot

Until Love Sets Us Apart (Fingerprint Publishers)

If you haven't checked my review about this book yet, then you should check it out right now HERE. The story is inspired by true incidents. The plot kept me to the edge and this is the only book I finished in just two sittings. The author Aditya Nighhot has managed well to carry out all the consequences in the plot and explains that 'Nobody is innately bad or evil but circumstances changes people drastically'. With that the author conveys his message to his readers that 'Nothing is impossible. If we strive hard together, we can definitely bring change in our society which is filled with few individuals having sick mentality'. The story also shows how true friendship and relationship grows with time. I really recommend this to everyone for the message being conveyed.

Buy Until Love Sets Us Apart on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VGI9zv

7. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Norwegian Wood (Vintage Books)

'Death exists, not as opposite but as a part of life.' This quote started my journey with Haruki Murakami. And I now know that Haruki Murakami is one of the best novelists in the world. His writing style is mesmerizing and mind blowing. Originally written in Japanese which is translated in English by Jay Rubin. Let me save you a search on wikipedia 'The plot is the nostalgic story of loss and burgeoning sexuality'. The protagonist Toru thinks back to his life when he was in college. Norwegian Wood touched my heart and soul. It is about life, death, relations and sex. Most importantly the setting of Japan. You will just love to walk around in streets of Tokyo and more cities.

Buy Norwegian Wood on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HfHWPK

6. Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Turtles All The Way Down (Penguin Random House UK Special Limited Edition with Jacket Poster)

Turtles All The Way Down is really close to my heart and relatable too. It is the first published work  of John Green since his 2012 novel The Fault in Our Stars. This book directly addresses to mental illness.The protagonist Aza Holmes is high school student with OCD and is on search for fugitive with her best friend. She goes through so much of internal conflicts daily and then she reunites with her old friend Davis. You see what I'm trying to say. The story goes on with that internal mess which really makes it heart stomping. If one is suffering from clear anxiety or any disorder or any mental illness, it needs serious attention. If it relates to you in any way like I do, then you have to read this and it will only make a positive difference. Just like The Fault in Our Stars its not another Young Adult Fiction, it is special and is as personal to me as it is to John Green.

Buy Turtles All The Way Down on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SNdVsR

5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus (Vintage Books)

The Night Circus is 2011 debut fantasy💗 novel by Erin Morgenstern, written for annual writing competition NaNoWriMo over the span of three NaNoWriMos. This book is literally one magical and enchanting and surreal and breathtaking. As I'm writing this, I'm craving to  read it right now, again. Now, The Night Circus is before my eyes. The first line of the novel 'The circus arrives without warning.' caught me by nerves and I knew this was for me and I loved it a lot. An instagram handle recommended me this and I am very thankful to them, though I don't remember who. The plot is about a duel between two great magicians and The Night Circus (Le Cirque des Rêves which translates to  The Circus of Dreams) is the venue for that. The writing style and the plot is simply fantastic as they say Erin Morgenstern is a writer and an artist who describes all her work as being 'fairy tales in one way or another'. This phantasmagorical debut work of her affected my imagination deeply. If you are fan of fantasy and magic, then this is must and is for you.

I am back. Seriously I am back after reading the Prologue (Anticipation) of The Night Circus. and in few minutes it painted my mind in Black and White circus stripes. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!! I'll just read it and then get back to this post. LOL.

Buy The Night Circus on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TjGDGM

4. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkban (Flipkart Fake Edition)

Confession: I am a Potterhead and I LOVE Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling and it should be on top at number one.There will not be any universe like Potterverse and Hogwarts but for some reasons I enjoyed the next top three books more than this. Maybe I like more of Young Adult so yeah.

🔔 SPOILER ALERT 🔔

As always when I think about any Harry Potter book/movie, it fills my heart with warmness, magic, dark magic and above all, pure love and pure friendship. Like any of Harry Potter book, this also is full of powerful moments and those characters! One of my favorite part of this book was Sirius Black, godfather of our Harry. His background and his relation with James. This one is such a sentimental rollercoaster ride (Well which one isn't?) for finally meeting his official guardian from whom he can expect parental love (Exception: Mr.& Mrs. Weasley) and who would protect Harry at any cost. The journey starts with aunt Marge and then Knight Bus. Crookshanks and Ron's Scabbers! Azkaban, Dementors and Remus Lupin (My favorite DADA teacher)! Buckbeak and Professor Trelawney! Minerva, Hermione and Time-Turner! Werewolf and the black dog! Harry's casting 'Expecto Patronum' and finally escaping of fugitive! LOVE, LOVE and PURE LOVE!

Buy Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SGT2zi

3. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone (Pan Macmillan India)

Children of Blood and Bone is a young adult fantasy debut novel by Nigerian-American novelist, Tomi Adeyemi. She has built a whole new world, Orïsha. Where the ruthless King Saran rules over two conflicting cultures, Maji who have unique magical abilities and Kosidán, the nobles. The King Saran has taken away the magic from the land of Orïsha. Zélie Adebola, the lead character and her trio strives hard for reinvigorating the magic back to the land. Absolutely the epic one. Tomi Adeyemi made this attempt in response to police brutality and violence against black americans. She drew an inspiration from paintings in gift-shop (Brazil) of african gods and goddesses and says "It really made me think about all the beautiful images we never see featuring black people." The plot is just amazing! I wasn't able to sleep for couple of nights thinking what will happen next. Hence, I had to finish this in few days. Again, the world she has created is phenomenal. Double thumbs up for this dark yet stubbornly magical.

Buy Children of Blood and Bone on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VD1YYe

2. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On (Pan Macmillan India)

Carry On is that one young adult fiction (set in the space inspired by Harry Potter) with that queer romance, I would love to read it again and again. It is difficult to explain where this book came from but what is wikipedia for? In short it is a fanfiction based on fictional series of novels ('Simon Snow') within Rowell's novel Fangirl written by protagonist of Fangirl, Cath. However, she says that it is not meant to be seen as written by Cath. There is unique kind of magic and Watford, school for wizards and witches. There are homosexual relationships and romance too. Simon Snow is the worst 'Chosen One' ever according to his roommate Baz. Talking about that, I want to reread this now. Also the conflicts between distinct classes within magical community and the politics are the major plot points here and are interesting as it carries the story further. I just LOVE Carry On and is close to my heart  💗. (*There is comedy too*)

Buy Carry On on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Tkrogy

1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Simon and Schuster BFYR)

You must be knowing by now that Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is one of my favourites. You see the title of my blog? Yeah. Dedication goes like "To all the boys who've had to learn to play by different rules." The format of the book is divided into six sections and each one is preceded by an epigraph. The first quotation (epigraph) that touched me is 'The problem with my life was that it was someone else's idea.' Two discrete characters from very different cultures and family backgrounds become friends in the summer of 1987. Ari and Dante have their own problems with life and have really different perspective towards that. After being friends, universe conspires to teach them the truths about their life. The book is filled with emotions. Their families and their relation with their parents is what carries the plot where it supposed to move. Between all this the story goes through all sorts of hurdles and then finally they discover the secrets of the universe.

Buy Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H3cODD

FIN

If you have survived through this, please give it a chance! Holly crap. I wrote a book! (Sorry Superwoman for stealing the line.)

Buy on Amazon

(Click on above image to buy Winged Sisters)

Thank you so much for reading y'all. I hope you enjoyed and got some recommendations.

Comment below if you have read any of this and tell me your views on it.

Next, we will discuss Most Anticipated Books of 2019.

Till then stay connected. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Don't forget to subscribe. Don't forget to subscribe for more content.