The Killing of an Author [Kindle Edition]

Richard Crasta (Author)

Book Description

The Killing of an Author, which is set mainly in the publishing world of New York, and to a lesser extent in London and in New Delhi, is an often laugh-out-loud and thought-provoking nonfiction publishing thriller about an author's quest for justice and authenticity. It is the third book of the Freedom Trilogy by Richard Crasta, author of the acclaimed novel The Revised Kama Sutra.

Such illustrious figures as Sonny Mehta, Salman Rushdie, Tim O'Brien, John Irving, Jackie Kennedy, and a host of others make decorative and sometimes substantial appearances in this tale of an immigrant writer's quest for freedom in the Land of the Free.

While this book, with its biting humor, has been enjoyed by a broad section of readers, writers may derive particular benefit from it; for if this book helps you avoid even a single one of dozens of mistakes listed in this book, that could be worth a thousand times the price of this book.

"Crasta has a sense of humour which he maintains from the start to the end. Funny, sad, and eye-opening. . . .We need more writers like him." --The Deccan Chronicle

"You are funny and delightful . . . and nowhere are you too heavy to carry. I've never read anyone like you. I laugh, I ache, I smile, I cry - but never close the book without that smile surfacing."--Sheelagh Grenon, Canada

"More than a book . . . an act of bravery."--Lulu Review

More information at: richardcrasta.com

About 70,000 words or 270 paperback pages
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crasta's 1993 comic novel The Revised Kama Sutra eventually received favorable reviews and was sold around the world, but its birth was a tortuous process that took a severe toll on its author. Crasta now runs his own press, Invisible Man, and in this memoir-cum exposé, he rails against both a perceived Indian elite and a seemingly politically correct but ultimately racist white Western publishing clique. Crasta recounts that after agent Lynn Nesbit and Knopf honcho Sonny Mehta ignored his absurdly offensive entreaties hawking his novel, he was finally published by Penguin India. However, his editor, pressured by his good friend Mehta, insisted he excise references to Jackie Kennedy. When Crasta refused, the publisher lost interest in publicizing or reprinting the book. Crasta also has other claims: that literary agent Scott Meredith scammed wannabe authors by charging them for evaluations; that Columbia MFA writing workshops attacked his self-esteem by degrading his subject matter; and that his psychiatrist ex-wife addicted him to Librium and Valium. Although similarly disgruntled writers may find validation, Crasta's unfocused, bitter, and ultimately self-indulgent rant tries for wit and parody but misses its mark, merely serving to prove that the author is his own worst enemy.
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Review

"Funny and delightful . . . and nowhere too heavy to carry. I've never read anyone like you. I laugh, I ache, I smile, I cry - but never close the book without that smile surfacing." --Sheelagh Grenon, Quebec City, Canada

'Killing of an Author' by Richard Crasta is a book full of exuberance. It is mesmerizing and bubbles with/exudes a great spirit that you hardly find inside any one book. It brings out heartache and tears, laughter and wanting. It showcases a part of you. To sum up it is a rare gem in a city of rocks. --mangalorean.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 422 KB
• Print Length: 218 pages
• Publisher: Invisible Man Press, New York; 2012 Edition edition (July 20, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003WQAX4M
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #829,103 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gift of Words August 7, 2010

By Mayflower

Format:Kindle Edition

"I am still reading your book and doing so in installments as I want to absorb it. Besides, I'm enjoying it in such a way that I want my joy to stick to me. You are funny and delightful . . . and nowhere are you too heavy to carry. I've never read anyone like you. I laugh, I ache, I smile, I cry - but never close the book without that smile surfacing."
Sheelagh Grenon
Quebec City, Canada

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read; a courageous book - a new literary genre of autobiographical thriller August 29, 2011

By Aashish

Format:Kindle Edition

Its a book that touches your innermost soul - with all its raw emotions, desires, pain, anguish and a feeling of injustice that any Indian author can experience at the world's publishing capital - New York. Its not a book - its an act of bravery, its a kick in the pants of the publishing lords and its an eye-opener for anyone who is awed by the glitter of the modern day institutions of the world, be it publishing world or another. Reading this book was a very different experience for me since I laughed, I cried, I was pained, I felt angry, I was shocked... but I smiled nevertheless and thanked the author many times in my heart for such an open and honest writing, for such a courageous book and ofcourse for such a gift of words that he has. Richard knows how to weave a magic with his words and always maintains a wonderful sense of humour in his books.

Its a book that is not to be missed and its not a surprise that it had to be self-published by the noted author. Who else would dare publish such a courageous book after all?

More About the Author

Author of 15 books, one of which has been published in ten countries and in seven languages, Richard Crasta was born in Bangalore, India, the son of a World War II veteran who miraculously survived 3 1/2 years as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese. Growing up in India, he was shaped by his peculiar South Indian Catholic-Hindu micro-universe, Time Magazine, Hollywood movies, and copies of Readers Digest that found their way into his small Indian town. Dreaming of becoming a writer, he found his way to America, and has been a New Yorker for over 20 years (though he has spent most of the last few years in Asia).

His books include fiction, nonfiction, essays, autobiography, humor, and satire, and have been described as "exuberant," "courageous," "hilarious," and "going where no Indian writer has gone before." He has been interviewed or written about in "The New York Times," BBC (television as well as the World service), The Independent, Time Out, and elsewhere, and was described as "very funny" by Kurt Vonnegut.

He has traveled widely in North America, Asia, and Europe. You may write to him at [e-mail] or visit his website, http://www.richardcrasta.com or http://www.richardcrasta.com/links