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Kitty on the Prowl (Interview with Trisha Bora)


Author Trisha Bora’s What Kitty Did is a laugh out loud comic caper. She talks about her ditzy, witty heroine, who can bake delicious cakes

Kitty, aka Ketaki Roy, is an English Lit grad, working for a lifestyle magazine in Delhi. She is a sugar addict, alcoholic and well, always bungles up her assignments. But like all the underdogs, Kitty emerges a champ. It’s a familiar premise, but makes you laugh, chuckle and giggle, when Kitty is in her elements.

What Kitty Did (HarperCollins), written by Trisha Bora, a commissioning editor at Juggernaut Books, is a hilarious take on the coming-of-age story of the 20-something protagonist. And, if you have read Susan Coolidge’s What Katy Did, then Kitty Roy of untamed wild hair, will certainly appeal to you. Here’s what Bora has to say about her heroine:

Who is Kitty — a person based on many people you have met or is she your alter ego?
She is a caricature of many 20-somethings I’ve had the pleasure to meet and observe, and also a figment of my imagination. She’s not my alter ego at all.

Do you think flawed, bumbling characters make for interesting protagonists?
Of course. Because they hold up a mirror to our lives. We can identify with them only if they are imperfect like us.

Humour is important in the book. Was it difficult to come up with seemingly ordinary chuckle-aloud scenarios?
Not really. I had a bag full of ridiculous stories that just worked perfectly for this book. And the remaining stories will go into the next Kitty book.

Were you inspired by a certain Sunanda Pushkar/Tharoor case to have your own Roxy Merchant case?
Yes, but of course, this isn’t about them. There are certain cases that hold the public’s imagination for whatever reasons.

You have captured Delhi so beautifully. How many years did you spend in the city?
I’ve lived in the city for 13 years, and was heartbroken to let it go. For all its problems and eccentricities, I love Delhi. It’s where I went to college, fell in love, got a job. Plus, all my friends are there and where the book business is.

Lastly, the recipes. Magical and mouth-watering. How did you come up with those?
That’s really a basic brownie recipe. My mother’s, which I tweaked a little.

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