Hello, I’m Mitali Meelan (Topkar) an Indian contemporary and YA author and blogger based in Mumbai. This is my digital home where I share my writings, updates on upcoming books, fun facts and excerpts, experiences with publishing, reviews and recommendations and insights into the world of writing, creating and publishing books.

Publications so far:

My debut novel, ‘The Guest’ (released in May, 2016) was published by Ravinder Singh’s venture, Black Ink. I was one of the three first-time authors he chose to mentor and publish in his first season. If you are an aspiring author, I’d recommend you to go check out the Black Ink page for more details. If you need assistance, I’d be happy to help.   Download my short collection of modern poems, life lessons, conversations and musings titled ‘Coffee and Ordinary Life’. A gift for my readers, it is available on Kindle Unlimited for free on app or device. Read more about it in this post.   My latest paperback novel A LONG WAY HOME, a story of two brothers – an anonymous blogger and a reluctant engineer, is out now on Amazon and Flipkart. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get updates on the same. My two short stories ‘Love Letters’ and ‘Love is Blind’ were published in anthologies in 2015. Click on the stories to read them for free.  

Some random facts about me:

• I worked in a magazine as an editorial coordinator, then in a publishing house after my post-graduation before I left the job and began writing my second novel.
• I got featured in Vogue (July 2017 issue) for being one of the ten inspiring young Indian girls chasing her dreams.

• I featured two actors I personally admire—the Deshmukh couple—in my book ‘The Guest’ as major characters who help our book heroine in a critical situation. Of course, I got their permission to use their real names, but I assumed their personalities (as I thought they would be in real life) and wrote them into the scenes. It was such a joyride and I thank them for reading the scenes, loving their role in the story and letting me go ahead with this crazy idea!

• My second novel “A Long Way Home” was jointly published by HarperCollins, India in collaboration with Black Ink Books.
• During one of my book signing events, I chanced upon Rata Tata sir and had a brief chat with him and gifted him a personalised copy of my book which turned out to be the highlight of my day. It was truly a cosmic coincidence!

• Attending Mithibai College as a post graduate and then being called back to a college event as a speaker was another highlight of the year. 
• I write best to white noise or soothing instrumentals playing in the background.
• I survived school life, but I miss college life, which is why I try to relive it in my books.