Preethi Nair

“I gave up work as a management consultant to write my first novel ‘Gypsy Marsala’. I was so horrified when it was unanimously rejected I decided not only to publish it myself but to use a fake name and set up a PR company to publicise it and make sure that people knew about the book.

“The plan worked. Working under the alias of Pru Menon, I managed to get substantial coverage and then signed a three-book deal with Harper Collins. I also won the Asian Woman of Achievement award and got shortlisted as Publicist of the Year for the PPC awards! My three books are published and ‘100 Shades of White’ has been bought by the BBC for adaptation.

“I think I have a strange combination of creativity and strategy. I was inspired by my parents, who were Asian immigrants arriving in the UK with nothing and who built all they had. We live in a culture where things are perceived to come easily – the reality is not like that. If you’re not prepared to fail at first, don’t begin!”