Author Asha Elias shares a personal preview of her second scandalous novel, The Namaste Club.
Photo Courtesy of Asha Elias
Asha Elias (@asha.sue.elias) is back with another salacious tell-all offering a unique Floridian twist on decadent escapism. Situated around a luxury Treasure Coast yoga retreat, a cast of wealthy and whacky female characters unravel their inner and outer truths. Led by influencer Shakti and yogi apprentice Daniel during Transcendence Week, the writer illuminates some startling truths about human (mis)behavior.
Does Florida inspire The Namaste Club?
Florida is almost the main character in this novel. I wanted to try my take on the infamous Florida woman/Florida man stereotype but from a local perspective. The Sunshine State provides fodder for the entire country. We tend to live out loud, and people love to poke fun at our more colorful characters. When I envisioned this novel, I wanted to take control of that satirical narrative, to say, ‘If anyone is going to make fun of us, it should be a resident.
Photo Courtesy of Harper Collins
What is different about a second novel?
A first novel is rarely written with the expectation of publication, which is liberating in many senses. However, a sophomore attempt comes with pressure to succeed. Luckily, The Namaste Club is my third attempt (the second novel is unpublished), and I treated it as my opportunity to say everything I wanted to say without holding back.
Are any characters autobiographical?
Characters are always somewhat autobiographical. Authors draw from our experiences to truly understand the identities we create. For this book, I can’t say any one character draws a direct correlation. I can understand and empathize with all of them…except for maybe Daniel.
Is there a lesson?
I hope readers come away with a sprinkling of insight and a storm of entertainment.
Photography by:
