Would you keep writing if your agent told you "not yet" for ten straight years?

In this episode of Books & Beyond, Tara sits down with NYT bestselling author Alka Joshi to discuss her latest novel, Six Days in Bombay.

Alka reveals the incredible decade-long journey behind her debut, The Henna Artist, from a relentless agent who kept saying the book wasn’t ready, through years of tireless revisions, to the "perfect timing" that landed her in Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.

But for Alka, the story started much earlier. She shares her personal journey of navigating prejudice as an Indian in America; an experience that once forced her to leave her heritage behind, until she finally chose to embrace it all to tell her mother’s story.

She also takes us behind the scenes of her new book; how she purposefully traveled to cities like Prague, Paris, and Florence to "live" the world of her novels before meticulously reconstructing the 1937 world portrayed in Six Days in Bombay.

Tara and Alka also dive into their shared love for historical fiction, their top book recommendations, and the real-life incredible women who inspired her most beloved characters.

Tune in now to hear firsthand about Alka Joshi’s fascinating road to publishing and her life as a storyteller!

Books Mentioned in the Episode:

1. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
2. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
3. Red Azalea by Anchee Min
4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
5. Stories from Tagore
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
7. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
8. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
9. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
10. Railsong by Rahul Bhattacharya
11. Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

You don't need a playbook to become a leader, your instincts are your guide.

In the latest episode of Books & Beyond, Roopa Kudva, author of Leadership Beyond the Playbook, joins Tara to challenge the formulaic approach to leadership. Instead of giving you a 10-step plan, Roopa hands the steering wheel to you.

They dive into why true leadership can’t be squeezed into neat frameworks and why the real growth happens when you start looking inward. Roopa shares her own evolution, from asking for a career-changing role to her transition into becoming the CEO of Crisil.

They also explore leadership styles, authentic vs. inauthentic communication, and the science of resilience, including how to build it within yourself and across your organisation.

Whether you’re taking your first step up or navigating a major transition, this episode is an empowering reminder that you are in the driver’s seat and get to decide the leader you want to be.

Books mentioned in the episode:

1. Personal History by Katharine Graham

Authors mentioned in the episode:

1. P.G. Wodehouse
2. Agatha Christie

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Ever wondered what it takes to go from crunching numbers to creating worlds that millions of readers dive into?

In the latest episode of Books & Beyond, Amish Tripathi shares the ups, downs, and behind-the-scenes of his journey from the 9-to-5 grind to bestselling author. From juggling a full-time job while writing Immortals of Meluha, to being one of the few authors in India who can write full time, he spills it all.

Get a peek into his unique writing process: constant reading, letting characters “speak” to him, and rewriting until the story feels just right. He also shares insights for aspiring writers on how to navigate the journey of writing while staying true to their craft and managing the realities of the profession.

Whether you’re an aspiring author or just curious about the magic behind bestselling books, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and the twists and turns of Amish’s writing journey.

Tune in now and dive into the mind of one of India’s most celebrated authors!

Books mentioned in the episode:

1. Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy
2. Banbhatta Ki Atmakatha by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi
3. Ramayana by Valmiki
4. Mahabharata by Maharishi Ved Vyasa

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Ever wished you had an extra hour each day? (Spoiler: you don’t need one!)

In this episode of Books and Beyond, Tara chats with Apekshit Khare, HR professional and author of The Time Energy Toolkit, about why the problem isn’t our 24 hours, it’s how we use our energy.

Apekshit breaks down the very real time struggles we face in India, from social expectations to nonstop notifications, and shares small, doable shifts that actually work. Think: finding your purpose, setting chill social media boundaries, and using tech without letting it hijack your day.

He also shares fun, practical tools like the “day catalog,” his go-to method for tracking where your time and energy really go. Plus, we get into his love for playing the sitar, how side passions keep him grounded, the story of getting published with Westland, and what he’s working on next.

Tune in for an episode that’s equal parts helpful and hopeful, all about feeling less burnt out and more in control of your day.

Book mentioned in the episode:

1. Deep Work by Cal Newport

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

How does mythology change when we look at them through women’s lives?

In this episode, Tara chats with P. Lalita Kumari, also known as Volga, one of the most influential feminist voices in Indian literature, and Purnima Rao, the translator of On the Banks of the Pampa, Volga’s retelling of Shabari’s story from the Ramayana.

Volga shares how the idea for Shabari’s story first took shape, reflecting on the many women in mythology whose voices have been silenced. She talks about nature, womanhood, and the connection she sees between the two. Purnima speaks about the process of translating Volga’s lyrical Telugu prose into English while preserving its essence.

Volga also explores her journey as a reader and poet, the challenges of writing as a feminist in the 80s, and how storytelling became her weapon. Purnima discusses her shift from tech to writing, the hurdles of setting up an independent Telugu publishing house, and the need to fill gaps in the literary ecosystem.

Together, they look ahead to their upcoming projects, and to Volga’s return to contemporary narratives.

Tune in to dive into their creative process and literary brilliance.

Books mentioned in the episode:

1. Yashodhara: A Novel by Volga
2. Swetcha by Volga
3. Liberation Of Sita by Volga
4. Na Maate Tupaki Toota (in Telugu) by Mallu Swarajyam

Painting mentioned in the episode:

1. The Great Departure (Mahabhinishkramana)

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What dangerous secrets lie beneath the "comforting newborn smell" of one of the most trusted companies in the world?

In this explosive episode, Pulitzer Prize-nominated NYT journalist Gardiner Harris pulls back the curtain on Johnson & Johnson's history, detailed in his book No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson.

Gardiner reveals J&J's systemic deception, from knowingly selling asbestos-contaminated baby powder for seven decades to marketing drugs as cancer cures that were actually "Miracle Grow" for tumours. He exposes J&J's hidden role in the opioid crisis and their shocking refusal to share life-saving HIV drugs with Africa, costing millions of lives.

Drawing from years of investigative reporting, Gardiner explains how corporate PR, media influence, and medical incentives allow giants like J&J to evade accountability, even with secret Grand Jury testimony as evidence. Tara and Gardiner also discuss the stories that didn't make it into the book and the mental toll of exposing the truth.

Tune in for an essential, eye-opening conversation that forces consumers to question the products of a company they love and trust.

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

Can a vision board help you design your dream life?

In this episode, Pushkar Anand, author of Manifest Your Infinite Riches and founder of the Centre for Infinite Riches, discusses what it truly means to manifest the life you want, beyond material wealth.

Pushkar shares his journey from a corporate career to pursuing an MBA at Cambridge and founding the Centre for Infinite Riches. He highlights actionable steps such as the Primary Vision Tool and the JJ Method for manifesting goals, while emphasizing the importance of taking inspired action, having faith, and seeking mentorship. He also touches upon publishing his book in India through Jaico.

The conversation also explores personal growth, developing clarity in your goals, and cultivating a mindset that supports meaningful action, using real-life examples to bring these ideas to life.

Tune in to this infinitely rich conversation about aligning your subconscious visions with reality, taking inspired action, and watching them manifest in your life.

Books mentioned in this episode:

1. Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield
2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
3. Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind by Al Koran
4. Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

How do you rebuild your life when one moment changes everything?

In this episode, Tarini Mohan, the author of the memoir, Lifequake shared the raw and honest story of suffering a traumatic brain injury and waking up from a coma with lifelong disabilities. She details the disorienting early days of recovery, how she fought her way back to pursue her MBA at Yale, and the simple cup of coffee that reminded her where joy resides.

Tarini also discusses the incredible discipline behind writing her book, working with Mohit Parikh, her mentor through Bound, and the difference in disability support between India and America.

This is a story of survival, resilience, and why love, not just inspiration, is the primary theme of a life rebuilt.

Books mentioned in the episode:

1. I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility by Trisha Meili
2. Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad

Podcasts mentioned in the episode:

1. Books and Beyond with Bound
2. Writer’s Routine

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What happens when the ghosts you see are more reliable than the people you know?

In this episode, Daisy Rockwell, the internationally acclaimed, Booker Prize-winning translator and author, takes us inside the unique world of her latest novel, Alice Sees Ghosts, a family story where a young woman sees her grandfather’s ghost, who nudges her to unearth buried family secrets.

Daisy shares how she began translating Hindi and Urdu literature and what inspired her to write her own fiction. She shared how she weaves history and the supernatural into a story that travels across continents and how she creates characters that are anything but ordinary.

Plus, we get a look into her writing process, her upcoming projects, and how winning a major literary prize has changed her life.

Tune in to experience a deep dive into family, ghosts and the beautifully unsettling way the past can haunt the present.

Books mentioned in the episode:
 1. Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree
2. Mai by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Nita Kumar
3. Taste by Daisy Rockwell
4. Heart Lamp: Selected Stories by Dr. Banu Mushtaq
5. History’s Angel by Anjum Hasan
6. Falling Walls by Upendranath Ashk, translated by Daisy Rockwell
7. A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There by Krishna Sobti, translated by Daisy Rockwell
8. Our Friend, Art (upcoming memoir by Daisy Rockwell)

Movie mentioned in the episode:
 Frozen (2013)

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

What if the person your ex-husband fell for was your doppelganger?

In this episode, Sanjena Sathian takes us inside her new novel Goddess Complex, exploring one of the most personal choices a woman can make. Step into the world of Sanjana Satyananda, a woman navigating life after a challenging period in her life, grappling with themes of motherhood, fertility, divorce, and absurdly enough, a doppelganger with a cult following.

With a protagonist who almost shares her name, Sanjena reveals how much of herself she poured into the story.

She also reflects on her writing journey, her time at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, her acclaimed debut novel, and how Goddess Complex marks a shift in her storytelling.

Tune in now for this rollercoaster ride!

Books mentioned in the episode:

• Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
• Operation Shylock: A Confession by Philip Roth
• The Horned Man by James Lasdun
• Malory Towers (novel series) by Enid Blyton
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
• All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage
• Family Planning by Karan Mahajan
• All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews
• The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan

Movies and TV Shows mentioned in the episode:

• Adaptation (2002)
• Gilmore Girls (2000)
• Veep (2012)

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.

When carefully laid plans go up in smoke, is it fate playing its hand, or the works of a silent puppet master pulling the strings?

In this episode, engage in a candid conversation with Shikhar Goyal, an iron-and-steel entrepreneur with a creative streak that led him to write his debut novel Delhi Disco, a romantic thriller that crackles with chemistry and unease inside Delhi’s newest club, Kapital.

He opens up about the grind, the tactics that kept him motivated, the early rejections he faced, and how a pragmatic approach to pitching finally took the manuscript to publication.

The conversation moves across the plot twists and suspense along with exploring the love story, the tongue-in-cheek humor, and his process of creating characters he knows so well, even slipping in inside jokes just for kicks.

Books and Movies mentioned in the episode:

• Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman
• Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
• If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
• Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon
• Club You To Death by Anuja Chauhan
• Forgotten (2017)

‘Books and Beyond with Bound’ is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D’costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India’s finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.