Goagr@am: Misadventures of an Influencer by Bina Nayak

is proud to announce the release of

 Goagr@m
Misadventures of an Influencer   

by  Bina Nayak

Releasing 22 February 2024| 272pp | Rs 399

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ABOUT THE BOOK

A place in the sun … comes at a cost, sometimes!

Mesmerized by the world of social media influencing and its quick fix for fame, Madhur Chopra aka Maddie, escapes from COVID-infested Delhi to tranquil Goa, which provides the perfect backdrop for her vlogs. Armed with dreams of becoming a famous fashion influencer, she ends up in Casa Coutinho—a crumbling-but-glorious Goan mansion—and strikes an unlikely friendship with the landlady. As Maddie’s vlogs catch on, her life becomes a heady mix of Insta likes, ever-increasing subscribers and new-found fame, until a horrifying experience shatters her digital dreams.

What will Maddie choose—reviving her influencer persona and striking gold with her designer clothing line, or accepting analogue anonymity forever?

A spirited tale of resilience and reinvention, Goagram takes you behind the scenes to reveal the pain and the goop behind the pouts and glitter on screen.

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Bina Nayak, author, says, ‘I was upset with a new breed of tourists called “influencers”, crawling all over a coconut-tree-lined road in my village Parra, in North Goa. This road is identical to thousands of inner village roads in Goa. So why were people flocking here? Unfortunately, it was featured fleetingly in the Bollywood film, Dear Zindagi. And now this road—which skirts the 450 year old St Anne’s Church—has become the go-to spot for every influencer in Goa. I wondered what drives these influencers, armed with mobiles on selfie sticks, contorting their bodies and pouting for the right click. My explorations took me from anger to understanding, as I saw the reality of their lives beyond the glamour. And this is what made me write Goagram: Misadventures of an Influencer.’

Rashmi Menon, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India, adds, ‘A witty and addictive novel, Goagram cleverly and entertainingly delves into the highs and lows of the social-media-obsessed world we live in, the need to be true to oneself and the importance of refusing limitations set by others. With Madhur Chopra, aka Maddie, Bina Nayak has created a crackling protagonist – strikingly single-minded, fiercely determined to forge her own path and funny without having a clue about it! An observant and original story of hard-won wisdom, resilience and hope, Goagram will captivate readers from start to finish.’

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bina Nayak is an author and graphic designer based out of Goa. She was head of Walt Disney’s design team in India. Her first novel, Starfish Pickle: A Goan Adventure, has been adapted into a major motion picture. After graduating from Sir JJ School of Art she worked in FCB Speer, DDB Mudra, Leo Burnett and Ogilvy.

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For reviews, excerpts, author interviews and more information, please contact Nandini Tripathi at nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in