Preeti Shenoy's Blog, page 22

What my first set of wheels taught me. Post 5

Hi there,

How has December been so far for you? I am always excited in December--the Christmas spirit, the celebrations, the new year round the corner, and also my birthday month! I don't think anyone is too old for birthday celebrations. Many people feel depressed that they are having a birthday as they grow a year older. But me? I love it, as I am grateful to be alive and healthy--a privilege denied to many.
I love the weather too, this time of the year.

When I used to live in UK, I absolutely loved the Christmas decorations, and the general cheer and bonhomie, the hot chocolates with marshmallows and the snow. I loved the snow!
Here in India, I miss that kind of celebration.

Today, I was featured in the Hindu. It was an interesting column, about my first set of wheels and it is also about my life as a student. :)


You can click on the above to enlarge it, or you can read the online version by clicking  HERE.
 I enjoyed giving this interview to the journalist Harshini, from The Hindu, as it was a nice trip down the memory lane. What the article doesn't mention is that I topped the CBSE exams in my class 12, and was among the top 2% of the successful candidates, all over India. I think I was second in my school (I don't remember my exact rank). I was a good student--diligent and disciplined, and was  a teacher's delight :)

I have been reading all your comment on my previous posts and  have been replying too, if the comments are received, before I publish my next post.

If there are any topics you like me to blog about, or if there are any questions you want to ask me, please do so by leaving a comment in my comment box, below this post.
I enjoy hearing from you.

 Till then, stay positive.  

Love
Preeti 
_____________________
ps: buy my books at great prices: http://preeti.io/amazon 

 

Photo by Ruslan Bardash on Unsplash



Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

A quick and easy DIY for clearing charger clutter. Post 4

Hello!

How are you doing today?

The one thing I dislike very much is clutter. Clutter bothers me, and messes with my mind. I am a huge fan of the Konmari method. If you do not know what that is, and you want to get rid of clutter in your life,  do read Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying. I highly recommend it.

Here's what I did today.
 


Neat, isn't it?

It isn't hard at all. I made it myself. This is how I did it.

Step 1: Find a suitable box. I used an amazon box.



Step 2: Make a neat slit in the side.



Step 3: Place your extenion plug inside the box, and take out the wires through the slit.


Step 4: Decorate the box! I used washi tape for the edges to make them neat.




And oh--I also made extra hole for the phone charger wires to come out.


Since that side is against the wall, I didn't bother to decorate it, as it is hidden.


I was mighty pleased with it. :)

Like it? Tell me in comments.
_____________________________
buy my books: http://preeti.io/amazon



Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

Daughters are so special. Post 3

 Hello dear friend :)

This is my third post in this blog marathon. Those of you who are  here because of my Instagram post do hit subscribe that you see on top of this page, and you will receive my posts in your inbox.


Writing this like a letter, feels very nice. It is as though I am pulling up a chair, sitting down in front of you and having a chat with you. I read all your comments in my last two posts, and I have replied too! I think that is the nice part about blogging--that we can connect one-on-one, through our words.

A picture of my daughter and me, in Singapore.

Today, I went out with my daughter, and we had an amazing time.When she and I go out, I always drive my car and she plays her choice of music. It's a girls trip, and we cherish this time that we spend together. (you can see stories of our day on my Instagram handle)

I come from a family and background, where women never worked or drove a car. My mother has never worked, neither had my grandmother nor had my great-grandmother. None of my aunts-- either on my mother's side or my father's side---are employed. None of them can drive. I am the in the first  generation of women in my family to work and earn and drive. My background is very humble and  very middle class. I was educated in Government schools (Kendriya Vidyalayas).

My father taught me to drive in an Ambassador car when  I was sixteen! I love to drive, and have now been driving for over three decades. I have never had an accident. Touchwood.


Today, as we were driving back, I asked my daughter 'How does it feel to have a mother who drives a car?'
She said 'I guess I am used to it. I have always seen you drive!'

When I was growing up, I did not have any woman role model. I knew that I wanted to be financially independent and I also knew that I did not want the life that my mothers and my aunts led.

Today I am happy, that my daughter  grows up seeing a very different scenario from what I did. I am happy to be where I am today. It hasn't come easy! I have worked hard for it.

I always tell people 'If you can dream it, you can achieve it.' I believe greatly in hard work, and the power of manifestation through positive thinking.

Work hard. Believe in your dreams.
And in case they do not come true, trust me, the universe has a different path--an even better path for you!

Another post tomorrow.
Leave me a comment, so I know I am not talking to myself, and that you are in the chair opposite me :)

Love
Preeti
________________________________
ps: If you like this post you might like my books: http://preeti.io/amazon






Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

A wonderful evening at Delhi at #timeslitfestdelhi . Post 2.

Hello there,
If you have read my post yesterday, you know that I have started a blog marathon, and that I will be blogging every single day, whole of this month. So hit subscribe (if you haven’t already) to get my posts in your inbox.
Yesterday, when I had signed off from the blog, I was leaving for my session at Times Lit fest at the India Habitat Centre. My session went off splendidly!


I was mobbed for signatures on books, as well as autographs. I was overwhelmed with all the love that you guys showered on me; Delhi---you ROCK! I absolutely enjoyed being with my genuine readers. Many of you expressed how much my writing meant to you, and how it had helped you. While I do get many mails saying this, hearing it face to face is a different feeling altogether. It is indescribable. So a heartfelt thank you to each one of you who turned up yesterday and made me feel so loved. I am so grateful for this.

I have shared a few pictures and these pictures from the launch speak for themselves.



Yesterday, I had blogged while I was 35000 feet up in the air. Today too I am doing the same! The only difference is that yesterday I was on a flight to Delhi, and today I am flying back to Bangalore.

For the rest of December, I will not be travelling. I turned down many invited that I received for December; I have worked very hard the whole year, and now will be taking time off to spend with my family. My children (both of them study overseas)are home for the holidays, and the one thing I look forward to is ding stuff with them. And that is exactly what I will be doing.
Those of you who want to see photos of what I am up to, please do follow me on Instagram, where I post stories of whatever strikes my fancy. I am very regular there.
I will also be spending time with my closest friends, and catching up on some personal work. Of course, I will be drawing a lot, and blogging too. I used to blog when no one was reading me. I still blog today when thousands read me; I do not make any money from my blog. I refuse to put ads or do any kind of product endorsement on my blog even though I have been offered lakhs of rupees for the same. Some things just cannot be equated with money.
I blog because I love to connect genuinely with you!  I say whatever I want to say here. It’s straight from the heart.  I blog because it gives me joy to express myself hear, and interact with you. Nothing has changed!

I shall be posting this when I get back home, and get connected to wifi.
 December is my favourite month of the year. Tell me in my comment box,  what your plans for December are.  I would love to know.
And it is always more fun, when I hear what you have to say :-)
More tomorrow.Till then, smile. You are beautiful, my friend !
Love
Preeti

Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

Greetings from Delhi! Blog marathon begins. Post 1

with my author friends at Kolkata Hi all,
This is my first post for my blog marathon that starts today. Many of you, wait for my blog marathons, and have written to me telling me how you like to start your day with my posts. I feel happy to be connected to you, and become a part of your daily lives! Thank you for the privilege.
I am typing this from the skies—from 35,000 feet above sea level. I shall post this later today, when I get a wifi connection.  I left home at 6.45 am this morning and I am headed to Delhi for the times lit fest which is taking place at India Habitat Centre. The other authors in my panel are Ravinder Singh (who is also a friend), Andaleeb Wajid and Seema Anand. The great thing about litfests for authors is that we get to meet our fellow authors.  But for events like these, we would be cocooned in our solitary writing wells.


Travel is exhausting. I had just got back from a wonderful session at Kolkata. From Kolkata, I had flown directly to Kochi, where I was the chief guest at the inauguration of  a book store by Mathrubhoomi books. I also met a wonderful Malayalm writer there. His name is Santosh Eychikal. He has written many stories, poetry and also movie scripts. He gave an excellent speech and I loved listening to what he had to say. He promised me that he would send me his stories translated to English.
Regional language literature is very RICH, compared to English literature. The language I am most comfortable in, is English. I studied in different schools, as my father had a transferrable job. Hence English was the default language. Hindi was a second language, and Sanskrit was the third language. So I never had a need to learn any other language apart from these three. (And I think  reading ad writing three are aplenty!)
 However, I LOVE to read translated works from other languages—be in German or Malayalam or Hindi. I recently read Mridula Garg’s The Last Email which was translated from  Hindi and I LOVED it.



At the mathrubhoomi event, imagine my delighted surprise when I was gifted the English translated books of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer and Sankunni.  I had heard a lot about both these writers. They are award winning, world class writers. However since they wrote in very high literary Malayalam, I was unable to read them. Now, thanks to the translations I could!


So that’s just what I did. I  finished Vaikom Muhammed Basheer’s  Childhood friends  (Balyasakhi) in one single sitting. He book wrenched out my heart! What a brilliant story it is. ( I felt the translation did not do justice in certain places---but one can never get the full flavour as for certain words, there simply is no English equivalent!) I was totally in love  with the book, and the story. Even days after reading it, I am still thinking about it. It deeply moved me.
I shall post again tomorrow, when I will have more news for you!
I have just checked into my hotel at Delhi, and I am leaving for my litfest now.
Please leave me comments! I love to read your comments, as otherwise it just becomes a one-sided monologue from me. With your comments, we can make this  a dialogue.
Are there any translated books you have loved? Do you like translated books too? Also, do you know that many of my books have been translated to Tamil, Malayalam and Turkish?
Reply to me, in the comment box.Bye and take care!Till tomorrow, keep happy thoughts.
LovePreeti



Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

Meet me in Kolkata and Kochi! (25th and 26th November 2018)

Hey there!

How are you doing? How is life treating you? More importantly how are YOU treating LIFE? :)


It's been a while since I wrote. I was buried in writing my next book--and have now emerged from my cave, much like Rip Van Winkle.

This is a quick post to let you guys know that I will be in Kolkata on 25th November  and in Kochi on 26th November.



I have two sessions at the Kolkata  Tomes Lit fest. For all of you who want to get published, do attend the second session, where I will be in conversation with Amrita Mukherjee.




For the first, Ravinder Singh, Seema Anand and I will be in conversation with Dipankar Mukherjee.

Here's a nice pic of Ravinder and me, clicked when we last met.


I will be in Kochi on 26th November. (I am flying out of Kolkata to Kochi, early morning. Groan!) It is a grueling schedule, as I leave Bangalore (which is where I am based) at 5.30 am tomorrow! (which means I wake up at 4.00 am)
So you can see how punishing it is. But hey, if it means I get to meet my genuine readers and my author friends, I am willing to do it :)


Those of you in Kerala, will definitely be able to read the above!

But for others, I am the chief guest at Mathrubhoomi bookstore inauguration, on 26th at 3.30 pm.
Do meet me at the book store, express Gardens, Kaloor-kadavanthara road.




Needless to say, I will be happy to sign your books (you can bring the copies you have !)

We shall also click selfies :)

If any of your friends are in either of these places and want to meet me, please do pass on this invitation!

ENTRY IS FREE (for both events) and YOU ARE INVITED! :)









Come! I will be so happy to see you.

Love
Preeti




Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

5 easy and useful tips to help you achieve your goals.

Dreams are goals with a deadline. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. I am a huge believer of these two statements.

Many a time, I have been asked this question
'How do you do so many things? How do focus on your goals? How are you so dedicated?'

Many have written to me asking me to share my routine/ time-management/how I organise my day. So here goes:

Currently I am doing a challenge called Intkober where you do 31 drawings in Ink, in 31 days. The prompts are given in advance. Click on the link to know more. Thousands of artists all over the world do it, each year. I post my drawings on my Instagram art handle.

This is in addition to my writing which I do daily. I also make a portrait every single day, apart from Inktober.

I guess, to most people who see this, it looks like a LOT of things and they wonder how I manage it. Here are five  things I do, which help me. (and I hope they help you too)

1. Define the goals.

 At the beginning of each month, I write down (in a diary) what I want to achieve that month. For me, this month, it was to draw every day for Inktober, to read every day, and to write every single day.

A drawing I did for Inktober where the topic was 'clock'


2. Break down the goals into small time bits.

 Now the above goals, while they are defined, are not broken down. So what I typically do is break it down into executable bits. Thus, every day, from 9.00 am to about 4.00 pm, I write.  Again, it is not continuosly that I write. I might write from 9.00-10.00. Then I might research something related to my writing, Then I might wander for about 10-15 minutes in my garden. Then I might come back to my writing. Thus, short breaks rejuvenate me, and make me want to write more. At around 4.00, I take a break. I walk my dog, I have a cup of tea. Then I draw. I find drawing as my 'me-time'. It is a reward/ treat for me. So I look forward to it.
I might go back to my writing around 7.00 pm or so.



3. Schedule 'down time'.

 I think this extremely important. By downtime, I mean time off from the social media. The latest ios update has something called 'screentime'. If you don't have an iphone you can easily install an app which checks this for you. When I discovered, how much time I was pending on social media, I was shocked! You will be too, if you track it. So right now, what I have done is
a. disabled all apps from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm
b.Disabled notifications on whatsapp (so I am not tempted to check)
c. Put my ringer off. So i am not disturbed by calls. (I anyway do not pick up calls from unknown numbers)




4. Add an extra hour by waking up early.

 I can't tell you how IMPORTANT this is. Initially I found it very hard to do. But you will be surprised how quickly, your body gets used to it. I set my alarm for 5.00 am these days. But most days now, I am awake even before my alarm rings. I then cycle for an hour daily.  I have an app that measures how much I cycle. I am sharing a screenshot below (edited out my location details for obvious reasons):


Many of you who follow me on Instagram know that I post 'good morning' messages daily. These are mostly clicked when I am walking my dog, or cycling.(I stop to click whenever a stunning scene catches my eye)

Pic I shared on my Instagram stories recently

5. Add reminders.

 I use Alexa to remind me for my tasks! Be it to drink water, or to get to my drawing, or to read. You could use Google assistant, or set up your reminders in any other way. I find that audio reminders work best for me. Sometimes, even when we know things, we need that VOICE calling out to us.


Another pic from my Instagram stories

I hope these tips help you.

If you find it useful or if you have tips to add , let me know, in comments.
Also please let me know what topics you would like me to blog on. I am getting back to regular blogging, as many are writing to me telling me they miss my posts.

Thank you for all the love <3Stay always happy



Love
Preeti.
__________________

Buy my books: http://preeti.io/amazon

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

Why you are making a mistake if you don't speak up about #MeToo

The last few days have been tumultuous for everyone in urban India. If you are a working professional, or have worked at some point in your life, or if you strongly believe in gender equality,  it is hard to not get affected by the #Metoo movement. The #Metoo movement has taken off in India, like the  metaphorical snowball. I too, like many of you,  have been following closely, in shocked silence, as it has been unfolding. I can't tell you how happy I am that women in India, are standing up in solidarity, taking back their dignity.

Several  powerful men have been named. The stories have come POURING out.
I shall not go into details of the men named or the incidents here, as it is all over the media.

When something happens in your field of interest, it is natural that it affects you more than the incidents that happen in other fields. For me, what has been particularly disturbing was that the names from the field of literature that were coming out as well.

Earlier, in press interviews, whenever anyone asked me who my favourite Indian writers were, I would usually name Kiran Nagarkar, along with Shinie Antony and Anita Nair.

 Many years ago, at the Pune International Lit fest,  I remember being so excited when I spotted him. It was a complete 'fangirl' moment for me, and for the first time in my life I understood why people get excited when they see me, and they want to click photos with me.
I walked upto him and told him how much I admired his writing. He thanked me and  asked if I wanted a picture and of course I did. This was the ONLY time I  have clicked a picture with someone I totally admired, but didn't know. His writing was brilliant and I considered him a 'literary great.'

But no more. I will not be reading any further books of his. I was disgusted when the allegations against
Next to be named was Chetan Bhagat. I was  a part of the first #WriteIndia campaign along with Bhagat and 9 other writers.




 I am friends with all the writers you see in the above video, except Bhagat.


Here's a pic of all of us.


If you want to see more pictures from that event, you can go HERE. 

I must at this point, clarify that I have nothing against Chetan Bhagat. 
In fact, I  have also defended Chetan Bhagat , in my column in Financial Chronicle, when accusations of plagiarism came up against him. (I still stand by everything I have said in that column.)

However,  now after the latest series of allegations against him have come out, I am so glad, I have never been friends with Chetan Bhagat and  never met him.

What disturbed me more than the allegations, were his two notes of explanation which he released on Facebook.  In the first, where he was responding to screenshots of a conversation that was released between him and a lady he met,  he apologised to his wife, clarified that he was only human, and he felt things which probably he shouldn't have felt. I let that go. The screen shots which were shared could be dismissed as flirtations. They revealed nothing. He was being honest. It was between him, that lady and his wife. I let it go.

Then another sprung up which could not be termed anything but harassment related to work.


Surprisingly, the above one also was dismissed. To me, it appeared a clear cut case of work harassment. People arguing that she could have refused, she should have walked away and not sent him a photo etc, are missing the point. She is a journalist who had to get that interview. It was WORK, for her.

Then there were allegations by Sanjana Chauhan who in addition to being a News anchor and editor, is also an erotica writer.
I was shell-shocked by Bhagat's response.

You can read his whole response here:



What disturbed me, (and continues to disturb me) is how Sanjana's character was being questioned, by quoting some lines from her erotica story, which she sent Bhagat. How is it relevant or fair or right to do this? She can write what she wants---they are not a reflection of her morality or her character! Just because a woman writes erotica or even porn, how does it give anyone any right, to ask her such awful questions?
It is the equivalent of taking some lines from a sex scene in my books , and asking me if I did that in real life. I found it downright disgusting and creepy.

I found myself  in agreement with many who found the statements released by Chetan Bhagat, utterly ludicrous, like this well written one here.

Then yesterday, Ira Trivedi, came out with her piece.
I urge you to read what she says.. It is chilling, horrifying and it left me feeling sick.

Here is the link:  https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/metoo-chetan-bhagat-suhel-seth-harassed-me-author-ira-trivedi/318258


Of late, a whatsapp forward by someone named Geetanjali Arora is doing the rounds, where Ms.Arora says that strong women should have slapped the person immediately, and should have spoken up instantly.

It is  not only insensitive but also demeaning to the many women who are coming forward.
Here is why:




I completely agree with all that  Madhuri says above.

For all of you still skeptical about #Metoo here are four questions about #METOO which answers all the queries you may have (about misuse, about what is okay and not etc)
(Click on highlighted link to read).

Now while the film industry has quickly swung into action, made rules, and a lot of people have pulled out of projects and a lot of people have spoken up, the publishing industry is yet to take a stand. I am yet to see a statement about this from the publishers or the organisers of Literature Festivals.

It is VERY Important for ALL of us, whether we are men or women or transgenders, to SPEAK UP. (By speaking up, I mean supporting the movement; Not sharing your personal stories which you may or may not be ready to)
There is strength in numbers. For the first time, the Indian woman has found a strong voice. Be with her. Stand by her. BELIEVE her. Do not question her, even if she is speaking up after YEARS. In our patriarchal society, the change can happen only if each one of us, expresses solidarity. They are just two little words ME TOO. Yet, they contain the force of a thousand gale storms.

Only if we speak up, will we be making it safer for the next generation of younger girls, who will have to work shoulder to shoulder,  in a professional capacity with men like these.

 My women writer friends, Madhuri Banerjee, Kiran Manral, Kavita Kane, Jaishree Mishra, Meghna Pant , Vani Mahesh , Suma Rao,  Nikita Singh,  Vinita Dawra Nangia--have all been strongly supporting the movement. So have women from other fields like RJ Zeishah . We expressed solidarity. So have thousands of others.

All of us  also stand by all the women who have spoken up.

If you feel about this as strongly as I do, speak up about the movement. Tweet about it, post on facebook, twitter, speak to friends, co-workers. Spread awareness in every way you can.
It is high time we put a STOP to this.
It is high time we BREAK the unspoken rules.

Love and warmth to you.
Stay strong, stay positive, stay happy.
Preeti Shenoy.

  _____________________
PS: Leave me a comment, and tell me your thoughts; I am listening

Photo by Mihai Surdu on Unsplash
Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

Why you are making a mistake if you don't speak up #MeToo

The last few days have been tumultuous for everyone in urban India. If you are a working professional, or have worked at some point in your life, or if you strongly believe in gender equality,  it is hard to not get affected by the #Metoo movement. The #Metoo movement has taken off in India, like the  metaphorical snowball. I too, like many of you,  have been following closely, in shocked silence, as it has been unfolding. I can't tell you how happy I am that women in India, are standing up in solidarity, taking back their dignity.

Several  powerful men have been named. The stories have come POURING out.
I shall not go into details of the men named or the incidents here, as it is all over the media.

When something happens in your field of interest, it is natural that it affects you more than the incidents that happen in other fields. For me, what has been particularly disturbing was that the names from the field of literature that were coming out as well.

Earlier, in press interviews, whenever anyone asked me who my favourite Indian writers were, I would usually name Kiran Nagarkar, along with Shinie Antony and Anita Nair.

 Many years ago, at the Pune International Lit fest,  I remember being so excited when I spotted him. It was a complete 'fangirl' moment for me, and for the first time in my life I understood why people get excited when they see me, and they want to click photos with me.
I walked upto him and told him how much I admired his writing. He thanked me and  asked if I wanted a picture and of course I did. This was the ONLY time I  have clicked a picture with someone I totally admired, but didn't know. His writing was brilliant and I considered him a 'literary great.'

But no more. I will not be reading any further books of his. I was disgusted when the allegations against
Next to be named was Chetan Bhagat. I was  a part of the first #WriteIndia campaign along with Bhagat and 9 other writers.




 I am friends with all the writers you see in the above video, except Bhagat.


Here's a pic of all of us.


If you want to see more pictures from that event, you can go HERE. 

I must at this point, clarify that I have nothing against Chetan Bhagat. 
In fact, I  have also defended Chetan Bhagat , in my column in Financial Chronicle, when accusations of plagiarism came up against him. (I still stand by everything I have said in that column.)

However,  now after the latest series of allegations against him have come out, I am so glad, I have never been friends with Chetan Bhagat and  never met him.

What disturbed me more than the allegations, were his two notes of explanation which he released on Facebook.  In the first, where he was responding to screenshots of a conversation that was released between him and a lady he met,  he apologised to his wife, clarified that he was only human, and he felt things which probably he shouldn't have felt. I let that go. The screen shots which were shared could be dismissed as flirtations. They revealed nothing. He was being honest. It was between him, that lady and his wife. I let it go.

Then another sprung up which could not be termed anything but harassment related to work.


Surprisingly, the above one also was dismissed. To me, it appeared a clear cut case of work harassment. People arguing that she could have refused, she should have walked away and not sent him a photo etc, are missing the point. She is a journalist who had to get that interview. It was WORK, for her.

Then there were allegations by Sanjana Chauhan who in addition to being a News anchor and editor, is also an erotica writer.
I was shell-shocked by Bhagat's response.

You can read his whole response here:



What disturbed me, (and continues to disturb me) is how Sanjana's character was being questioned, by quoting some lines from her erotica story, which she sent Bhagat. How is it relevant or fair or right to do this? She can write what she wants---they are not a reflection of her morality or her character! Just because a woman writes erotica or even porn, how does it give anyone any right, to ask her such awful questions?
It is the equivalent of taking some lines from a sex scene in my books , and asking me if I did that in real life. I found it downright disgusting and creepy.

I found myself  in agreement with many who found the statements released by Chetan Bhagat, utterly ludicrous, like this well written one here.

Then yesterday, Ira Trivedi, came out with her piece.
I urge you to read what she says.. It is chilling, horrifying and it left me feeling sick.

Here is the link:  https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/metoo-chetan-bhagat-suhel-seth-harassed-me-author-ira-trivedi/318258

My women writer friends, Madhuri Banerjee, Kiran Manral, Kavita Kane, Jaishree Mishra, Meghna Pant , Vani Mahesh , Suma Rao,  Nikita Singh, have all been strongly supporting the movement. We expressed solidarity. So have thousands of others.

All of us  also stand by all the women who have spoken up.

Of late, a whatsapp forward by someone named Geetanjali Arora is doing the rounds, where Ms.Arora says that strong women should have slapped the person immediately, and should have spoken up instantly.

It is  not only insensitive but also demeaning to the many women who are coming forward.
Here is why:




I completely agree with all that  Madhuri says above.

For all of you still skeptical about #Metoo here are four questions about #METOO which answers all the queries you may have (about misuse, about what is okay and not etc)
(Click on highlighted link to read).

Now while the film industry has quickly swung into action, made rules, and a lot of people have pulled out of projects and a lot of people have spoken up, the publishing industry is yet to take a stand. I am yet to see a statement about this from the publishers or the organisers of Literature Festivals.

It is VERY Important for ALL of us, whether we are men or women or transgenders, to SPEAK UP.
There is strength in numbers. For the first time, the Indian woman has found a strong voice. Be with her. Stand by her. BELIEVE her. Do not question her, even if she is speaking up after YEARS. In our patriarchal society, the change can happen only if each one of us, expresses solidarity. They are just two little words ME TOO. Yet, they contain the force of a thousand gale storms.

Only if we speak up, will we be making it safer for the next generation of younger girls, who will have to work shoulder to shoulder,  in a professional capacity with men like these.

If you feel about this as strongly as I do, speak up. Tweet, post on facebook, twitter, speak to friends, co-workers. Spread awareness in every way you can.
It is high time we put a STOP to this.
It is high time we BREAK the unspoken rules.

Love and warmth to you.
Stay strong, stay positive, stay happy.
Preeti Shenoy.

  _____________________
PS: Leave me a comment, and tell me your thoughts; I am listening

Photo by Mihai Surdu on Unsplash
Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/

The Rule Breakers by Preeti Shenoy, Out in stores now! Also let's meet in these cities! :)

Yesterday, my eleventh book The Rule Breakers went out into the world!

It was a proud and a happy day :)






I had an interview at Red FM, and in the video above, you can see me, along with RJ Zeishah, and she loved the book. It was wonderful discussing the book with her.

The book is out in bookstores now.



So, you don't have to wait anymore, if you wish to read it :)

The story is a COMPLEX one. It begins very simply and easily. It is the story of Veda.
But after she gets married (at 19) to a guy chosen by her parents, and shifts to Pune from Joshmath, new people enter her life.  The timid, shy Veda must now carve her own path.

Here are a few characters from the book:



Follow Veda's story, as she goes through life, and find out for yourself, who the REAL rule-breakers  are in this book!

Get it from your local bookstore or order online and pay cash on deliver:  http://preeti.io/trb


Folks in Pune and Ahmedabad, I am coming to your city! Folks in Ahmedabad--it is a closed event on 20th September, which needs an RSVP and you can request me for an invite by mailing me on ps(at)preetishenoy(dot)com.

Those in PUNE, it is an OPEN even on 22nd September! Please feel free to bring as many people as you like. I would LOVE to meet you if you are in Pune :)
Please treat this as a personal invitation from me.




I will also be visiting a few bookstores in Mumbai on 21st!! If you are in Mumbai, you can meet me. The schedule will be put up soon on my social media pages.


If you have read it, please leave me reviews on amazon and good reads. I look forward to reading your reviews!
Grab It's All In The Planets: http:/preeti.io/3
http://preetishenoy.com/