Sudha Nair's Blog, page 3
December 17, 2017
Behind the scenes: Research for The Wedding Tamasha
There were plenty of things that I wanted to research before beginning to write The Wedding Tamasha to help make this a believable and more realistic story.
Below are the top 3 things that I looked up during the writing of this novel:
1. About Mexican cafes
From finding out about a Mexican place in the Chicago business district that served black salsa, to checking out names and videos of the dishes I wanted Julie’s Villa Mexican cafe from the book to have, it was a lot of fun when I finally came up with what I needed for a cafe that served authentic Mexican food.
2. About the Kerala sadya or the wedding feast
It was Kairali Channel’s show called Flavours of India with Lekshmi Nair that gave me a good idea of the effort a Kerala wedding feast or sadya involved. Although I’d relished several sadyas in all these years, I had never entered the kitchen where the magic happened. I had never ever seen a sadya being prepared. The notes I took from the video about the room, the kind of vessels used, and the preparation itself gave me several great ideas on how to present that scene in my book. Here’s the video if you’d like a glimpse of what I saw. Can you feel the heat in the room like i did, just by watching the video?
To check out the novel, visit: The Wedding Tamasha
3. About chefs and the restaurant business
One of my inspirations for this book was Manu Chandra. This impressive 35-year-old chef was what I wanted for Niru to be like.
Here’s the article that caught my attention: In the Kitchen with Manu Chandra
So, that’s the story of my research in a nutshell. But like they say, less than ten percent of what you research actually makes it into a book. [image error]
December 16, 2017
Behind the scenes: Research for The Wedding Tamasha
There were plenty of things that I wanted to research before beginning to write The Wedding Tamasha to help make this a believable and more realistic story.
Below are the top 3 things that I looked up during the writing of this novel:
1. About Mexican cafes
From finding out about a Mexican place in the Chicago business district that served black salsa, to checking out names and videos of the dishes I wanted Julie’s Villa Mexican cafe from the book to have, it was a lot of fun when I finally came up with what I needed for a cafe that served authentic Mexican food.
2. About the Kerala sadya or the wedding feast
It was Kairali Channel’s show called Flavours of India with Lekshmi Nair that gave me a good idea of the effort a Kerala wedding feast or sadya involved. Although I’d relished several sadyas in all these years, I had never entered the kitchen where the magic happened. I had never ever seen a sadya being prepared. The notes I took from the video about the room, the kind of vessels used, and the preparation itself gave me several great ideas on how to present that scene in my book. Here’s the video if you’d like a glimpse of what I saw. Can you feel the heat in the room like i did, just by watching the video?
3. About chefs and the restaurant business
One of my inspirations for this book was Manu Chandra. This impressive 35-year-old chef was what I wanted for Niru to be like.
Here’s the article that caught my attention: In the Kitchen with Manu Chandra
So, that’s the story of my research in a nutshell. But like they say, less than ten percent of what you research actually makes it into a book. 
December 1, 2017
My favourite love stories and why I love them
There’s something to be said for stories about unrequited love. Although I’ve cried over them, I love them so passionately because there’s an undeniable realness to them.
While the characters that I create always triumph by fighting against odds and winning their love, I’m constantly drawn to stories which tug at my heartstrings, make me nod as I read these stories, say, ‘This is what happens to true love….,’ and reach for a box of tissues. Sadly, there’s nothing to be done except remember these stories wistfully.
Here, in reverse order, are my top three favourite love stories:
3. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
I actually watched the movie before I read the book, and then I realised how much more meaningful the love story was in the book. The thoughts of the heroine were so beautiful etched that it doubled my pleasure of the story more than the movie had, and of course, when actors like rugged photographer Clint Eastwood, and country housewife, Meryl Streep, ruled the screen time, love simply radiated through this story. I rooted for these two, and after reading about the fact that this was a real life story, and in fact, her children were the ones who wanted her story to be told, I rooted for them too. A deeply poignant story about what it is to want someone you cannot have and to cherish that love, yet forsake it forever after.
2. Me before you by Jojo Moyes
What is it about taking care of an invalid and falling in love with him that appeals to so many women out there? Either we love our motherly roles to the hilt, or we love tearjerkers. Any which way, this one was an intense story which could not have had any other ending but the one that’s out there, again calling for a box of tissues. I had the opportunity to read the book and watch the movie, and let me tell you, the visual appeal of the beautiful English village, the outfits that creative, talented and funny Louisa Clark wore, and the scenes so carefully chosen, delighted my senses and made up at some deeper level for the loss at the end.
1. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Gabrielle Zevin spun a tale that was so satisfying on so many levels that this is my number 1 choice. Not only was this book about a bookstore, books and stories — three of my favourite things in the world — but also about an obnoxious bookseller called AJ, who I came to love as the book progressed. This wasn’t truly an unrequited love story but the ending did call for a box of tissues.
On a closing note, we pine for what we cannot have, sometimes we’re lucky to have found love in this lifetime, if only to have lost it to a memory that will die only with us.
To all lovers and love stories out there, may there be love in your life always, or a memory that refuses to fade away and breathes life into your soul with every passing day.
The post My favourite love stories and why I love them appeared first on Sudha Nair.
My favourite love stories and why I love them
While I write stories that have a happy ending, I’m drawn to stories which tug at my heartstrings, make me tear up and go for a box of tissues, and wish they didn’t have to end that way. These are the love stories that touch your heart and linger on, long after you’ve read them.
Here, in reverse order, are my top three favourite love stories:
3. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
I actually watched the movie before I read the book, and then I realised how much more meaningful the love story was in the book. The thoughts of the heroine were so beautiful etched that it doubled my pleasure of the story more than the movie had, and of course, when actors like rugged photographer Clint Eastwood, and country housewife, Meryl Streep, ruled the screen time, love simply radiated through this story. I rooted for these two. A deeply poignant story about what it is to want someone you cannot have, to cherish that love briefly and then to lose it forever.
2. Me before you by Jojo Moyes
What is it about taking care of an invalid and falling in love with him that appeals to so many women out there? Either we love our motherly roles to the hilt, or we love tearjerkers. Any which way, this one was an intense story which could not have had any other ending but the one that’s out there, again calling for a box of tissues. I had the opportunity to read the book and watch the movie. The beautiful English village, the creative, talented and funny Louisa Clark, and the scenes so carefully chosen, delighted my senses and made up at some deeper level for the loss at the end.
1. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Gabrielle Zevin spun a tale that was so satisfying on so many levels that this is my number 1 choice. Not only was this book about a bookstore, books and stories — three of my favourite things in the world — but also about an obnoxious bookseller called AJ, who I came to love as the book progressed. This wasn’t truly an unrequited love story but the ending did call for a box of tissues.
On a closing note, we pine for what we cannot have, sometimes we’re lucky to have found love in this lifetime, if only to have lost it to a memory that will die only with us.
To all lovers and love stories out there, may there be love in your life always, or a memory that refuses to fade away and breathes life into your soul with every passing day.
The post My favourite love stories and why I love them appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.
October 9, 2017
INTERVIEW: Five questions -THE WEDDING TAMASHA
Hi, Let me introduce myself. I’m Terry, and I’m basically going to ask you five questions about your debut novel, THE WEDDING TAMASHA. I picked the Top 5, so I’m sure you’ll be pleased.
Me: Hey, Terry! Glad to be here. By the way, I love that name [image error]
October 7, 2017
INTERVIEW: Five questions -THE WEDDING TAMASHA
Hi, Let me introduce myself. I’m Terry, and I’m basically going to ask you five questions about your debut novel, THE WEDDING TAMASHA. I picked the Top 5, so I’m sure you’ll be pleased.
Me: Hey, Terry! Glad to be here. By the way, I love that name 
September 24, 2017
The Wedding Tamasha – Coming In October!
The Wedding Tamasha, my debut romance novel, is slated for release in October 2017.
BLURB:
A sweet romantic tale about love, family, values and traditions.
Twenty-eight-year-old Shweta Menon finds refuge from an abusive husband by working at a Mexican café in the US. She doesn’t know how to tell her parents the truth about her marriage and return to India. But then her brother’s wedding leaves her no choice.
Entrepreneur Chef Niraj (Niru) Karthik is in charge of catering for his best friend’s wedding. He isn’t looking forward to meeting his childhood crush—the one that got away—but he finds himself drawn to her again.
Shweta has only thought of Niru as her older brother’s best friend, but now she’s falling head over heels in love with him. As both try to come to terms with their true feelings, they realize that a lot more than friendship is at stake.
And then, there’s Shweta’s family, mixed up in a dilemma: an overbearing father, an over-anxious mother, and three very disparate yet close siblings.
Will Shweta get the love and acceptance she yearns for? Or will upholding the family honour be more important?
***
Stay tuned for more…
The post The Wedding Tamasha – Coming In October! appeared first on SUDHA NAIR.
The Wedding Tamasha – Coming In October!
The Wedding Tamasha, my debut romance novel, is slated for release in October 2017.
BLURB:
A sweet romantic tale about love, family, values and traditions.
Twenty-eight-year-old Shweta Menon finds refuge from an abusive husband by working at a Mexican café in the US. She doesn’t know how to tell her parents the truth about her marriage and return to India. But then her brother’s wedding leaves her no choice.
Entrepreneur Chef Niraj (Niru) Karthik is in charge of catering for his best friend’s wedding. He isn’t looking forward to meeting his childhood crush—the one that got away—but he finds himself drawn to her again.
Shweta has only thought of Niru as her older brother’s best friend, but now she’s falling head over heels in love with him. As both try to come to terms with their true feelings, they realize that a lot more than friendship is at stake.
And then, there’s Shweta’s family, mixed up in a dilemma: an overbearing father, an over-anxious mother, and three very disparate yet close siblings.
Will Shweta get the love and acceptance she yearns for? Or will upholding the family honour be more important?
***
Stay tuned for more…
The post The Wedding Tamasha – Coming In October! appeared first on Sudha Nair.
