No Ordinary Thursday virtual book tour #noordinarythursday

Anoop Judge

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No Ordinary Thursday

 

Book Summary

Lena Sharma is a successful San Francisco restaurateur. An immigrant, she’s cultivated an image of conservatism and tradition in her close-knit Indian community. But when Lena’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble, her ties to her daughter, Maya, and son, Sameer—raised in thoroughly modern California—slip further away.

Maya, divorced once, becomes engaged to a man twelve years her junior: Veer Kapoor, the son of Lena’s longtime friend. Immediately, Maya feels her mother’s disgrace and the judgment of an insular society she was born into but never chose, while Lena’s cherished friendship frays. Meanwhile, Maya’s younger brother, Sameer, struggles with an addiction that reaches a devastating and very public turning point, upending his already tenuous future.

As the mother, daughter, and son are compromised by tragedy, secrets, and misconceptions, they each must determine what it will take to rebuild their bonds and salvage what’s left of their family.

 

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Print length: 335 pages

 

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Author Interview

What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book? Do you chase the squirrel (aka “UP syndrome”) or do you finish your current project first?

This is such a good question. When a new idea about a novel comes to me, I jot down a loose outline in the “notes” section of my iPhone, so that it doesn’t get lost in the detritus of daily life. While I’m still hammering out a first draft of my current book, I continue to think about it, reflecting on the plot and refining it, so that I’m ready to jump into this next project when I’m done with the novel in hand.

 

Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?

My writing process is a blend of both planning and organic flow. I typically start with a loose outline to map out the major plot points and character arcs. This helps provide direction and structure to the story. However, once I begin writing, I allow the narrative to develop more organically. I find that my characters often take on a life of their own, leading the story in unexpected directions. This balance between structured planning and creative spontaneity keeps my writing dynamic and engaging.

 

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

I love all of JoJo Mayes’ books from her latest novel, “Someone Else’s Shoes” to her historical romance “The Girl You Left Behind.”

Recently, I enjoyed Sonali Dave’s “The Vibrant Years” and “Friends in Napa” by Sheila Yasmin Marikar.

 

Have you been able to incorporate your previous experience in your jobs/education in your writing?

Yes, to some extent. My first boss in my legal career used to say, “If you sell a story to a jury, you will win the case.” We saw this strategy play out successfully by the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial with the refrain, “If the shoe doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” This is the principle I apply when crafting compelling narratives. Additionally, my legal career has provided me with a wealth of real-world experiences and insights that enrich my storytelling.

 

Do you have any odd (writing) habits?

Yes, I do have a few odd writing habits. For instance, I often write my first drafts by hand in a notebook, using a specific type of pen that I believe brings me luck. Additionally, I tend to read my work aloud to myself, sometimes even acting out dialogues to ensure they sound authentic. Another habit is that I prefer to write in short, intense bursts, often late at night when the house is quiet, and the mind is whirring.

 

What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?

One of the toughest criticisms I received as an author was when working on my current novel, which is a story about an open marriage that is upended when all the rules are broken. My agent told me that the writing lacked depth and complexity. They mentioned that some of the interactions between the characters felt forced and didn’t resonate with them emotionally. This feedback was challenging to hear but ultimately helped me to focus on rewriting the book and developing more nuanced and multi-dimensional characters. I am close to finishing the novel after multiple drafts, and feel much more confident about querying it now.

On the other hand, the best compliment I received was from a reader who said that my novel “The Awakening of Meena Rawat” profoundly moved them, specially the inherent love story, and offered a sense of connection to their own experiences. They expressed that the story of two untouchables growing up in India gave them a deeper understanding of their own journey and struggles, which is incredibly gratifying and validates my efforts to tell meaningful, relatable stories.

 

What is your favorite line from your book?

This paragraph from page 23 of my latest novel “Mercy and Grace”:

“She picked up a can of Coca-Cola from the cooler and opened it with a satisfying hiss, sticking the thing straight in her mouth as it threatened to bubble over and make the upholstery sticky. The ice-cold sweetness flooded through her, a taste that she had enjoyed precisely twice before in her whole life, both times when some wealthy patron or other had treated them to a free lunch at McDonald’s in honor of their kid’s birthday. And here they were, handing it out for free in the back of a chauffeured ride to the apartment that had been provided for her.”

 This is the protagonist Gia speaking who has lived twenty-one years as an orphan in New Delhi before being chosen for an internship at a wedding and events coordination company in San Francisco. This paragraph is one of my favorites because I worked as a lawyer for thirteen years for a nonprofit organization based in the U.S.A. and got to see firsthand, the lives of orphans in India.

 

About the Author

Born and raised in New Delhi, Anoop is the author of four novels, The Rummy Club which won the

2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, The Awakening of Meena Rawat, an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, No Ordinary Thursday, and Mercy and Grace.

Her essays and short stories have appeared in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Rigorous Journal, Lumiere Review, DoubleBack Review, and the Ornament anthology, among others.

Anoop calls herself a “recovering litigator”—she worked in state and federal courts for many years before she replaced legal briefs with fictional tales. She holds an MFA from St. Mary’s College of California and was the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship.

She lives in Pleasanton, California, with her husband, and is the mother of two admirable young adults.

 

You can follow the author at:

Website: https://anoopjudge.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judgeanoop/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anoop-ahuja-judge-94396743/

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Blog Tour Calendar

June 17th @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Anoop Judge’s book No Ordinary Thursday. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

 

June 19th @ Writer Advice

Novelist Anoop Judge stops by with a guest post about Ways To Begin a Story.

https://www.writeradvice.com

 

June 21st @ A Wonderful World of Words

Let’s have some fun with a book giveaway and a guest post from Anoop Judge tracing her journey through four novels.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

 

June 22nd @ A Storybook World

Make an addition to your TBR pile with this spotlight on No Ordinary Thursday.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

 

June 24th @ My Beauty My Books

Author Anoop Judge visits with advice to her twenty year old self and a chance to win a copy of her novel No Ordinary Thursday.

mybeautymybooks.com

 

June 25th @ Words by Webb

Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday at Words by Webb/

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

 

June 28th @ What Is this Book About

Stop by for a spotlight on a new book for a new month: No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop

Judge.

www.whatisthatbookabout.com

 

June 30th @ Choices

Anoop Judges gives readers a peek at her writing life with today’s guest post.

http://madelinesharples.com

 

July 2nd @ Boys’ Mom Reads

Karen shares her review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel of love, friendship and family.

karensiddall.wordpress.com

 

July 3rd @ The Faerie Review

Want to enjoy the July 4th holiday with a great book? The Faerie Review is spotlighting No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com/

 

July 5th @ StoreyBook Reviews

Anoop Judge shares her thoughts on Crafting Dialogue: How Can You Best Give Voice to Your Characters?

https://www.storeybookreviews.com

 

July 9th @ Word Magic

Fiona welcomes novelist Anoop Judge sharing a few things you didn’t know about her.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

 

July 11th @ Knotty Needle

Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel about family and friendship.

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/

 

July 12th @  Author Anthony Avina

Pop by the blog of Author Anthony Avina for a guest post about what inspires Anoop Judge.

Home

 

July 17th @ Chapter Break

Ready to head for the hammock (or your favorite reading spot) with an engrossing summer read? Learn more about No Ordinary Thursday and author Anoop Judge.

https://chapterbreak.net/

 

July 20th @ Seaside Book Nook

Jilleen shares her thoughts on No Ordinary Thursday and a guest post on first memories from the author Anoop Judge.

http://www.seasidebooknook.com/

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