Interactions with Ravi Subramanian.

Initially ,I was unsure if I would be able to make it.Then,I confirmed that I would be attending .And to  my luck ,what an event ! The writer ,the bloggers ,the ambiance,the food & the chatter was worth every second !

I travelled by train .It was a rain washed morning though I was not wet. I reached it in time though I went there for the first time.So far,so good.The eatery ,Chocolateria San Churro is a cosy place.It warms you up as you settle down.The sofa seats are deep & comfortable.All around ,there are frescoes exhibiting  cocoa trees,cocoa pods ,ladies mixing chocolate etal ! Very very chocolaty !

The staff was courteous & made me feel at home.Some  of my fellow bloggers had arrived before me & we started chatting.Then the hosting team arrived & introduced us to some more bloggers who had already arrived there before us.Shorty later,arrived the man himself,Ravi Subramanian.

Ravi Subramanian ,the author banker was dressed casually in tees & trousers..He has an ability to charm.There is a smile lighting up his face which is infectious.He asked that chairs be arranged around some tables & ordered an assortment of coffees & teas  for all...latte,espresso ,masala chai ,etal.The interactions began & the banker novelist was eager to answer all .The staff kept on passing snacks & sweets with chocolate,cheese & salsa  dips . He replied patiently to all queries..Not once did he make us feel that we are just readers  & he is the author.

Many asked the John Grisham of Banking about tips to getting published.He was more than ready to share his ideas & how he got his first book "If God was a Banker " published.He informed us that a book develops quite differently from what  the writer may have in his mind.He went on to add how one of his novels had a very different beginning though that was absent from the final draft.He stated that the first draft is the most easy part & then as it goes through editing make overs,it gets difficult & difficult.He informed that his books have gone through more than ten editing sessions.That just goes to show why  the final product is so fantastic ..you  cannot put down his novels once  you have begun reading them till you finish !

Ravi Subramanian has inspired his daughter Anusha, to write a book ! A daughter following in her father's footsteps ! He said that he searches books for his daughter as any father would do ! This statement by him, made him rise in  stature, all the more than before !

The banter was just going on & Vinita informed us that we must partake of the lunch that had been laid for us.There was vegetarian as also non -vegetarian platter.It was a wholesome spread with rajma,paneer,brown bread & chicken.Dessert- Tiramisu -both white & brown ones were too tempting ! The lunch was washed down by thick milk shakes in three flavors....choco ,cookie & mango !

Lunch over ,Vinita informed us that the author had picked up the tab for the event ! That drew gasps from all of us ! Vinita handed the author, a token gift, as a mark of appreciation. Vinita surprised us by giving us coins in fancy silver ,golden ,orange hued potlis .The coins were of the edible kind-coin chocolates !

The author thanked us all personally by shaking hands with each one of us ...just made my day ! I am sure he made every one's day as well ! Such a good human being ! Full of empathy & down to earth !

All in all...a memorable event....I made some more blogger friends.I was told that I am photogenic ...which I find unbelievable, even now ! I am sure, the camera is up to mischief...it has hidden my flaws !