MINAKSHI DESAI

ada64p@r.postjobfree.com

Mumbai ***056 +91-992**-***** www.linkedin.com/in/minakshi-desai-a1b7b133

Summary

Talented and a versatile professional writer for 18 years with experience working with print and online media. Specializing in short stories, articles of different genres such as health, beauty, travel, lifestyle, interior design, home and decor with my forte being in humor and fiction. Authored articles and covered interviews with celebrities such as Sridevi, Katrina Kaif, Asha Parekh, Malaika Aurora Khan and Sonali Bendre for well renowned publishing houses such as Good Housekeeping, Women's Era and Design Today. Authored a book “Thirteen lucky for all”. Certified qualification in creative writing from the Writer's Bureau Manchester, UK.

Professional Experience

Freelance Writer

Virtual Assistance International, http://www.virtual-assistance-international.com/index.html, 2014 - Present

Researched and wrote over 150 comprehension passages for International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exams

Wrote over 2000 articles on a wide variety of subjects like tourism, dental care, health, fitness, relationship, motivation, spirituality, affirmation, house repair, how to series on home improvement, CCTV functioning, credit score, how to save, retirement, foster care system, prisons, business structures, Kerala, Cayman islands, mortgage, surveillance cameras, finance, property, estate agents, Instagram, beauty, Satanism, human interest stories for online blogs and websites

Woman’s Era, 2004 - present

Contributed 6 articles and 15 fiction stories in Women’s Era magazine which has a circulation of 1,38,000 and readership of more than 11,75,000.

Design Today, the India Today Group, 2011 - 2013

Researched and wrote articles on architecture and interior design including the Indian architectural design festival for Design Today magazine.

Conducted feature interviews with acclaimed architects such as Shabir Unwala, Aniket Bhagat, Tushar Desai, Sonal Sancheti and Rahul Gore showcasing their architecture projects and design concepts from across India.

Good Housekeeping, the India Today Group, 2005 - 2013

Wrote over 15 articles covering topics on health, food, fitness and relationships and 12 short fiction stories

Conducted feature interviews with Bollywood celebrities including Malaika Aurora Khan, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Asha Parekh, Sonali Bendre, and Ameera Shah of Metropolis Labs.

My Doctor Magazine, 2004 - 2010

Wrote a feature article every month from 2004 to 2010 on topics including health, fitness, and parenting.

DNA me magazine,

Trail room travails march 2010

Fiction- ‘Stalker’

Fiction Gift of Love September 2007

Garden blues article July 2009

Vijay Times Bangalore

Contributed humorous articles for Vijay Times’ fitness and lifestyle section.

Article ‘butt matters.’

Article ‘Cleopatra paints the town red.’

Books Authored

Authored a fiction novel titled “Thirteen, lucky for all” which is on sale on Amazon India

Authored two novels titled ‘Paper Boats’ and ‘Perfect Husband.’ Looking for the right publisher.

Written two Children’s books titled ‘Chimsi goes to school’ and ‘The magical land of oh Gosh.’ Looking for the right publisher.

Education and Credentials

The Writers Bureau Manchester, UK, Certificate in Creative Writing, 2000 - 2007

Sir. J. J. School of Arts, Interior Design, Mumbai, 1976-1979

St. Xavier’s College Bombay, first year arts, Mumbai, 1975

Other Skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Can write in a variety of styles and voices

List of some of the Articles / Stories written:

Fiction Short Stories

Good Housekeeping, May 2013 Issue, ‘Sweet mother of mine’

Good Housekeeping, September 2011 Issue, ‘Not just dressing up’

Good Housekeeping, February 11 Issue, ‘Silver Oak’**

Good Housekeeping, July 2010 Issue, ‘Paper Boats’

Good Housekeeping, February 2010 Issue, ‘All for love’’

Good Housekeeping, April 2009 Issue, ‘The Perfect Wife’

Good Housekeeping June 2008 Issue, ‘For better or for worse’

Good Housekeeping March 2008 Issue, ‘Let go, my love…’

Good Housekeeping, September 2007 Issue, ‘Second Innings’

Good Housekeeping, April 2006 Issue, ‘A mater for Tumtums’

Good Housekeeping, Feb 2006 Issue, ‘Love is in the air’

Woman’s Era, April 2006 Issue, ‘The cherry tree’

Woman’s Era, March 2006 Issue, ‘Happily Ever After’

Woman’s Era, July 2005 ‘Chicken curry for the soul.’

Woman’s Era, May 2005, ‘The Brown paper envelope.’

Good Housekeeping, January 2005 Issue, ‘Fat on the Fire’

Woman’s Era, February 2004 issue, ‘Rajdeep’s brother.’

** Feedback from one of the readers:“Good Housekeeping truly deserves a pat on the back for their February issue. Your article “Silver Oak” was a beautiful story and since I have visited Munnar, I can easily vouch for the beauty of the serene land. This apart, your articles “Life Comes Full Circle” and “My Happy Ending” were inspiring and touching stories too. Well done”

Sujata Grover, Chandigarh

Feature Interviews as Lead Stories

Design Today, January 2013Issue, feature story interview with Shabbir Unwala about his home in Lonavala

Design Today, June 2012 Issue, lead story interview of architects Sonal Sancheti and Rahul Gore, ‘Open Spaces’

Design Today, October 2012 issue, feature story interview with architect Shabir Unwala ‘Bold Story.’

Design Today, April 2011 Issue, feature story interview of architect Aniket Bhagat and Samira Rathod, ‘Inflight’

Good Housekeeping, June 2011 Issue, Cover story interview with Malaika Aurora Khan

Good Housekeeping, May 2011 Issue, Cover story interview with Sonali Bendre

Good Housekeeping, November 2011 Issue, Cover story interview with Sridevi

Good Housekeeping, September 2010 Issue, Cover story interview with Asha Parekh

Design Today, January 2012 Issue, feature story interview with architect Shabbir Unwala, ‘Pause Here’.

Design Today, January 2011 Issue, Cover story interview with architect Pinakin Patel on his house in Alibaug

Various articles on health, fitness, lifestyle, beauty, etc

Good Housekeeping

Second time lucky Feb. 2011

I have not given up hoping March 2011

10 health concerns April 2011

Restaurant review snippet July 2011

Make a good first impression October 2011

Crafting a difference March 2010

Beating the odds March 2010

For the love of freedom August 2010

How to tackle adolescence Sept 2010

Knowing when to accept true life story of Babu Sept 2010

Eat right, be healthy October 2010

Shop for the right expert October 2010

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