Blog Tour: Interview with Alex Khan author of Bollywoods answer to Desperate Housewives, Bollywood Wives

I was lucky enough to read Bollywood Wives when the ebook came out and loved it. You can read my review here. The Crime Warp also hosted a Sneaky Peek of the novel (here) because I loved it so much. So, I'm chuffed to bits to have Alex here at The Crime Warp HQ today talking about all things writing, Zara, and more. Alex Khan has spent his life dreaming of writing and starring in Bollywood movies while traveling the world visiting some of the most glamorous and exciting locations. Moonlighting as a crime writer he finally got the courage to pen the novel he wanted to write all his life-Bollywood Wives. Taking you into the glamorous sexy thrilling environment of the world’s biggest movie stars and the secrets they hide. Alex also writes crime under the name ALEX CAAN.

Liz: Where did the inspiration for Bollywood Wives come from?

Alex: Bollywood Wives is basically a culmination of my desire to write a steamy bonkbuster with a very definite crime/thriller twist to it. As a teenager growing up in a very Asian working-class area of Manchester, things were tough. And things were even tougher when I was one of the only brown, poor kids on a scholarship at the local Grammar school. The way I escaped was through reading and the books that really helped me escape were Jilly Cooper, Judith Krantz and especially Jackie Collins. Going into worlds so alien from my own was like a literary plaster. And of course coupled with my love for Bollywood movies this novel was a dream project.

Liz: If Bollywood Wives was ever to be televised or made into a film who would you like to play your main character and why?

Alex: There are so many actresses that could carry off the role of Zara Das, but Priyanka Chopra has the right profile to really take this to an international audience. Yet so many others like Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone or even Bipasha Basu could really pull this off.

Liz: Are any of your characters based on real life people?

Alex: In a way yes and no. I’ve amalgamated all of my favourite Bollywood actors and actresses from down the years to create these complex men and women with plenty of secrets lies and reasons to kill.

Liz: So on to your writing routine. Do you have a particular writing routine you follow?

Alex: Yes. Leave everything to the last minute and write a draft in two weeks. Not recommended. But seriously I think writing is such a personal thing there can’t be a routine that will work for everyone.

Available here

Liz: Any tips for would-be writers seeking publication?

Alex: Don’t give up. Ever. Not before you get published or after you get published. It took me ten years and lots of failed novels before Cut To The Bone got published and if I had given up after my first rejection it wouldn’t have happened. Also don’t assume you are entitled to anything just because you have an agent and a publisher. Even after these things happen you have to continue to fight for your opportunity to be published.

Liz: If you weren’t a writer what would you like to do?

Alex: Be a spy. That’s the best job.

Liz: Who are your writing heroes and why?

Alex: John le Carre and Graham Greene. They write about the human condition with such rawness but also empathy, and yet write the most complex turning mirrors onto society novels. Layered, deep, political, thrilling. I never feel short changed or empty handed after reading any of their novels and now I’ve written my homage to Jackie Collins in Bollywood Wives I really want to one day write a spy novel as a tribute to these two amazing novelists. And Jane Austen of course. Being a single writer she really appeals to me as a way to end up. Although I’d like success in my lifetime obviously.

Liz: If you were to host a “Come Dine With Me” party, who would you invite from the Crime Fiction fraternity and why?

Alex: Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, she’s an amazing cook and those novels are still some of the best in the genre I feel. I tend to re-read a lot of her early stuff every year, and listen on Audible, just to refresh how good they are. She really inspired me to take my own writing down the crime route. John Le Carre obviously, the stories he has to tell, I think his autobiography was just skimming the surface, and I’d love to get the chance to tell him how much he inspires me. Agatha Christie. Legend. I don’t think any of us can cook apart from Scarpetta though, so maybe we need to just get take out?

Liz: Could you describe the book you are working on at the moment using only 5 words?

Alex: Two kick-ass female Muslim cops.

Liz: Have you ever thought of setting a book somewhere exotic so you could visit that place or perhaps live there for a while? Where would that be?

Alex: All the time. I’m hoping Bollywood Wives lets me write more glamorous fiction set in exotic locations. Istanbul is my first port of call, there is a story in my head I want to write about that amazing city.

Liz: Well, Alex, It's been an absolute joy to have yyou on The Crime Warp today. Best of luck with your Istanbul idea ... need a research assistant, do you?

You can connect with Alex here:

https://twitter.com/alexkhanauthor

https://www.alexcaanauthor.com/

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