5.03 Shehan Karunatilaka: Ghosts, Death and Humor- The Formula To Win The Booker Prize

Find out what goes on behind writing a Booker prize winning book which discusses politics and death in a humorous light!Shehan Karunatilaka talks with Tara and Michelle about his experience of writing the Booker prize winning book “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”, which at first struggled to find a publisher. How to write a book in second person narrative? Why should you never be afraid of a lousy first draft? What kind of books do the Booker prize judges prefer? Tune in to find out!Books mentioned in this episode:Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative FictionThe Blind AssassinIshiguro NeverlandCloud AtlasMaps of Our Spectacular BodiesChinaman: The Legend of Pradeep MathewThe Birth LotteryBright Lights, Big CityA Case of Exploding MangoesIf you live, eat and breathe books, subscribe to Books and Beyond!Produced by Aishwarya JavalgekarSound edit by Kshitij JadhavApplications 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.