About the Book:
Are your Spidey senses tingling?
At 17, Samira Joshi has only one dream in life. She wants to be a spy. And why not?
Spying runs in the Joshi genes.
Her great-grandmother was famous for sticking her nose in everyone’s business. Her grandmother had a flourishing side-business of tracking down errant husbands and missing servants. Her parents are elite intelligence agents for RAW.
Yet, they want their only daughter to become a doctor.
When she sees a college friend being trapped by a pimp, Samira does some spying of her own, and discovers the existence of a secret sisterhood of teen spies — The Spyders. And, she wants in!
The question is, do they want her?
To find out, read this fast-paced, gripping YA novel by brand new author, Apeksha Rao.
Book links:
Rapid Fire with Samira Joshi
When and where were you happiest?
I was happiest as a child, when both my parents were training me to be a spy. Things changed when I was fourteen. Baba lost faith in my skills and it felt like he gave up on me and our relationship.
What is the quality you most like in a person?
Fairness and honesty. I can’t abide people doing something unfair, and I will fight them on it, as evidenced by my fight with Baba.
What is your greatest fear?
That my parents are right, and I don’t have what it takes to be a good spy.
What is your greatest regret?
That I didn’t face my fears earlier.
What is your motto?
When in doubt, always revert to sarcasm.
Advance praise for Along Came A Spyder:
"A thrilling read with several nail biting moments. Will keep you hooked till the end."
~ Andaleeb Wajid, author of The Legend Of The Wolf
"A fantastic spy story, keeps you on the edge and you can't stop till you finish the book. A fantastic debut book. Look forward to reading more from the author."
~ Kanchana Banerjee, author of Nobody's Child and A Forgotten Affair.
"Witty, snarky and a thorough entertainer, Along Came a Spyder is a welcome addition to India's YA genre."
~ Shilpa Suraj, author of Love, Marriage and Other Disasters, Saved by Love, and, Driven by Desire
"Apeksha Rao writes a taut espionage thriller with a twist-a-minute narrative that is sure to get all readers hooked. The language is flawless, the characterization spot-on, and the plot is filled with rich details. It is the kind of story that you'd leave all your other work aside to read. Be warned!"
~ Neil D'Silva, author of Haunted, Yakshini and Maya's New Husband
About the Author:
Apeksha Rao fell in love with words very early in life.
While other kids of her age were still learning to spell, she was already reading her older brother’s books and comics.
She wrote her first story at the age of seven and submitted it to Tinkle, a very popular children’s magazine.
Writing took a backseat, as she established a thriving medical practice.
But Apeksha rekindled her love affair with words, while on maternity leave.
She would tap away at her keyboard while rocking her twin babies to sleep, as sleep deprivation stimulated her dormant creativity.
She wrote numerous short stories, that she published on her blog.
Apeksha has been lauded for her taut and gripping stories, that always come with a twist at the end.
In addition to Along Came A Spyder, she has written The Itsy Bitsy Spyder, a prequel novella to the Spyders series.
A Mumbaikar, born and bred, Apeksha comes from a family of doctors.
At the ripe age of thirty-four, she wound up her practice and moved with her family, to Bengaluru.
She is now a full-time writer.
She is also a die-hard foodie, who’s still trying to find the best vada-pav in Bengaluru.
She has twin boys, who keep her on her toes.
Apeksha’s husband is her inspiration to write, as well as her biggest critic.
