Details
Author name: Cedric Saldanha
Book title: Quest for Freedom
Genre: Commercial fiction, Crime
Launch date: 01.07.2024
Website: Cedric Saldanha
Buy links
Summary
A riveting tale about the extraordinary transformation of a woman from victim to vigilante to formidable crusader for the rights of women.
In Quest for Freedom, meet Smita, is a young woman from Mumbai, who is swept into an arranged marriage and relocated to Melbourne. Thrust into an abusive and loveless marriage, she battles domestic abuse and violence. With resilience and tenacity, she fights back against the injustices that confine her. Transforming from a victim to a symbol of hope, Smita becomes an inspiration for countless other women ensnared in similar plights. Her evolution is dramatic and empowering.
This deeply moving narrative will resonate with the struggles and triumphs of women around the world. It witnesses the extraordinary transformation of a woman reborn, a warrior in her own right, fighting for justice and reclaiming her life.
Let's talk about it
Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
I was a Jesuit for ten years, working on social justice issues in India
Why did you choose the themes in your book and were you aware of them from the start?
Domestic violence has become endemic in Australia. A woman is killed by her partner or family member virtually every week. I wanted to add my voice to the movement that is fighting this evil. The problem is also prevalent within the Indian community in Australia, particularly regarding the exploitation of the dowry custom. Dr Manjula O’Connor of Melbourne University has researched the issue and published her findings in her book – Daughters of Durga: dowries, gender violence and family in Australia.
How difficult was it for you to write this book? Did you face any obstacles?
I struggled to decide to embark on this book. The book criticises the male-dominated customs of Indian society. So in writing this book, I risk the anger of the Indian community in Australia.
Do you always write in this genre or do you like to break out of the box?
I write in different genres
What are your writing habits or idiosyncrasies?
I need to find a set of characters that inspire me. The plot then emerges spontaneously as their story.
What would you do differently next time?
With hindsight, what would you say to yourself as a fledgling writer?
I have a long way to go in improving the style and flow of my writing.
If you worked with a professional editor, what was the experience like?
What’s next for your writing?
I have completed two other books, including “The Monk and the Don,” a crime thriller based on real events in Mumbai in the 1960s and 1970s. Om International Publishers, Delhi, has picked it up for publication. My third book, presently named “The Remaking of Professor Bobbins”, is searching for an agent or publisher. No success as yet.
Author Bio
Cedric Saldanha resides in Melbourne, holds a law degree, a management degree, and a doctorate in Public Sector Management. Cedric specializes in public policy and governance. He worked 18 years with the Asian Development Bank (sister organisation of the World Bank) with experience across 15 Asian countries. Cedric has recently published “Quest for Freedom”, a book which focuses on the issue of violence against women. A second book, “The Monk and The Don”, is a thriller about the underworld drug wars in Bombay in the 1970s. It is in the process of publication in India.
