1.1: Manu Pillai - History is a Living thing

How did Manu first discover history? How does he convert hours of dry research material into rich, imaginative and deep stories?In our very first episode, we are joined by Manu Pillai, an author who has published three books before turning 30. He shares hilarious stories from the diaries of Mughal emperors, his experience with Twitter trolls and when he feels most inspired to write.He takes us on a journey through childhood anecdotes and family stories to help us understand the inspiration behind his first book, the reasons for his love of reading and how it has influenced the way he creates his characters. He is completely honest about all things writing – from what he thinks about the publishing industry in India to financial responsibilities as a professional author in India to even how luck and timing were instrumental in his first book being a success!Tune in to hear us gush about the powerful female characters in his book, his goal of making historical fiction more accessible and a few of his current favourite books.'Books and Beyond' is a podcast hosted by Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D'costa of Bound. They talk to some of the best writers in India and find out what makes them tick.Manu S. Pillai is the author of the Sahitya Akademi award-winning The Ivory Throne, Rebel Sultans and The Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin. Formerly Chief of Staff to Dr. Shashi Tharoor MP, he has worked with the House of Lords and the BBC and writes a weekly column for Mint Lounge. He is an alumnus of Fergusson College, Pune, and is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate at King’s College, London.You can get your copy of his books here:https://www.amazon.in/Books-Manu-S-Pillai/s?rh=n%3A976389031%2Cp_27%3AManu+S.+PillaiFollow Bound on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @boundindia Follow our podcast on Instagram: @boundpodcastsYou can check out our website at https://www.boundindia.com Applications for The Bound Publishing Course 2026 are now open.The Bound Publishing Course is a 3-month intensive course on book, magazine, and digital publishing. Through live sessions, workshops, and industry-facing projects, participants gain practical publishing skills and exposure to careers across the industry.Cohort size: 50 seatsFirst round of acceptances: 15th June 2026Applications are reviewed on a rolling bas‘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.