The Writing Bug

After 10 years of penning thrillers, Ashwin Sanghi is now exploring a collaborative, ‘bloody good’ business model in non-fiction.

- Pravin Palande

It is 11.30 am but the Vitesse Maruti Suzuki showroom opposite Nehru Centre, in Worli, Mumbai is alive with the sound of customers. It is the first day of Diwali—and still a pre-demonetisation world—and salesmen are unflaggingly pitching cars to interested families.

We walk through the buzz and climb a few stairs up to a mezzanine floor. A smiling Ashwin Sanghi opens the door and ushers us into his tidy cabin. His desk has a few copies of his latest book, 13 Steps To Bloody Good Wealth, released in October 2016.

Before we start our chat, he orders coffee and makes sure he gets a double dose of sugar. “I’m not the best person to write on health,” laughs Sanghi goodnaturedly. “But I am, actually, working on a book in my 13 Steps series which talks about how to keep fit and maintain good health,” he says, taking a sip of his much-sweetened beverage. The 13 Steps to Bloody Good Health, up for release in late 2017, is in collaboration with a health specialist, he quickly reassures.

This will be the third edition of his 13 Steps series. In 2014, the 47-year-old had released the first—13 Steps To Bloody Good Luck, a book comprising quick tips to achieve success and beat bad luck, drawn from his experiences— which had proved successful with managers. He followed that up with 13 Steps to Bloody Good Wealth, which also became a bestseller. “This book is an engaging and insightful account of lessons learnt as the authors [Sanghi co-wrote this with Sunil Dalal; more on that later] managed their own money, made mistakes and emerged wiser. It is recommended reading for anyone— students, housewives, professionals and savvy investors—who wants a primer for growing their wealth through the cycle of life,” says Leo Puri, managing director, UTI Asset Management.