Jaipur BookMark 2025: Day 3 Explored Global Stories, Literary Agents, and Publishing Thrillers

The third day of Jaipur BookMark (JBM) 2025, India’s premier publishing conclave, continued to offer insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of publishing, storytelling, and literary representation. Held alongside the Jaipur Literature Festival, the day featured conversations on the global reach of stories, the challenges of publishing in India, the role of literary agents, and the marketing of thrillers.

Local Stories, Global Appeal: The Norwegian Perspective

One of the most engaging sessions, ‘Roots and Wings: Stories that Travel and Stories that Stay Home,’ presented by The Royal Norwegian Embassy, explored what makes books resonate across cultures. French publisher Emmanuelle Collas and Norwegian editor Jon Krog Pedersen emphasized that authentic local stories often have the strongest universal appeal.

Pedersen remarked, “Stories have to be local to be universal,” highlighting how women authors are increasingly gaining global recognition, particularly through narratives of self-discovery and cultural richness.

Ravi Mantri’s Journey: From Rejection to Bestseller

In an emotional session, Telugu author Ravi Mantri shared the challenging yet inspiring journey of his book Amma Diary Lo Konni Pageelu. In conversation with Swetha Yerram, he recounted the struggles of publishing a deeply personal story about lost love, second chances, and familial bonds.

Initially rejected by a publisher for its unconventional title, the book was intended for a niche audience with just 200 copies. However, it struck a chord with readers and sold 1,000 copies in just two days in May 2024. Written in pure Telugu, it reinforced the power of regional storytelling.

Encouraging aspiring writers, Mantri said, “Stories should come from the heart, not from the need for validation.”

Literary Agents on Pitches, Publishing, and Perseverance

In the session ‘Literary Agents: Pithy Pitches and Creative Contracts,’ some of India’s most influential literary agents—Jayapriya Vasudevan, Kanishka Gupta, and Mita Kapur—shared insider perspectives on navigating the publishing industry.

• Vasudevan, founder of Jacaranda Literary Agency, discussed challenges in India’s publishing landscape, including freedom of speech concerns that led her to establish her agency in Singapore.
• Gupta revealed how she built trust with publishers despite lacking a traditional background, proving that persistence and industry knowledge are key.
• Kapur stressed that strong author-agent relationships should extend beyond business ties.

The discussion also tackled translation issues, shifting author-publisher dynamics, and the evolving Indian publishing market. Kapur advised new writers to prioritize patience, research, and professionalism to navigate the industry successfully.

Thrills and Chills: Why India Needs More Thriller Writers

The session ‘Thrills and Chills: Publishing and Marketing Thrillers’ explored why South Asian writers are underrepresented in the thriller genre.

• Vikas Swarup, former High Commissioner of India to Canada, revealed that he turned to writing thrillers because Indian authors were largely absent in the genre.
• Ram Murali emphasized that curiosity drives great storytelling, stating, “I find everything interesting.”
• Pandey shared his technique for writing compelling thrillers, explaining that he only writes stories that make sense to him first.

The panel also raised concerns over the decline of Hindi book libraries in northern India, shedding light on accessibility issues in regional language publishing.

Literary Magazines: A Platform for New Voices

The session ‘Literary Magazines: A Writer’s Nursery’ brought together Andrew O’Hagan, Ashok Maheshwari, and Jai Prakash Pandey to discuss how literary magazines continue to nurture emerging writers.

The panel examined the evolution of literary magazines, the challenges of online publishing, and the impact of social media on classical literature readership. The conversation highlighted the importance of regional language representation and the role of magazines in fostering new literary talent.

The Editor’s Roundtable: Balancing Art and Commerce

The day concluded with ‘The Editor’s Roundtable’, a behind-the-scenes look at editorial decision-making in publishing houses. Industry leaders Amrita Talwar, Chiragh Thakkar, Elizabeth Kuruvilla, Karthika VK, Manoj Satti, Moutushi Mukherjee, Rahul Dixit, and Sushant Jha, in conversation with Arunava Sinha, tackled pressing industry questions:

• Why are poetry and plays often marginalized in publishing?
• How much do sales figures influence editorial decisions?
• How do editors strike a balance between artistic integrity and commercial viability?

The discussion provided an unfiltered look into the complexities of publishing, offering insights for aspiring writers, editors, and industry professionals.

A Day of Literary Revelations

From publishing thrillers and global storytelling trends to the inner workings of literary agencies and editorial decisions, Jaipur BookMark 2025’s third day reaffirmed its position as a crucial platform for shaping the future of publishing in India and beyond. With each session offering practical wisdom and thought-provoking discussions, JBM continues to serve as an indispensable space for literary exchange, collaboration, and innovation.