Anju Gattani's Blog, page 6
July 13, 2012
Jhumpa Lahiri
Hi,
A friend 'pinged' me on Facebook 2 nights ago to tell me she'd read DUTY AND DESIRE and had a review running on her blog.
This took a while to sink in. I clicked on the blog link and learned the book was the 'Book of the Week'. Not only did she love the characters and get absorbed in the story, she compared my work to Jhumpa Lahiri when we chatted later.
OMG! Jhumpa Lahiri!! She's a NYT Bestselling author AND a prize-winning author.
Here's the review... I'll let you decide for yourself while I continue to sit in shock!
http://www.susanbkason.com/2012/07/11...
A friend 'pinged' me on Facebook 2 nights ago to tell me she'd read DUTY AND DESIRE and had a review running on her blog.
This took a while to sink in. I clicked on the blog link and learned the book was the 'Book of the Week'. Not only did she love the characters and get absorbed in the story, she compared my work to Jhumpa Lahiri when we chatted later.
OMG! Jhumpa Lahiri!! She's a NYT Bestselling author AND a prize-winning author.
Here's the review... I'll let you decide for yourself while I continue to sit in shock!
http://www.susanbkason.com/2012/07/11...
July 11, 2012
Book Tour Turnaround!
Hi,
Just when I couldn't get over last week's reader Tweeting in real-time her thoughts on DUTY AND DESIRE... I received a phone call 2 nights ago from another readers.
She wasn't just a reader this time... but 1 of 2 women who interviewed me for the community channel in my Connecticut book tour 2 weeks ago. Sandy read DUTY AND DESIRE from 8pm - 4am one night and similarly the next night. She said she "couldn't put the book down" and wanted to discuss some aspects of the book and issues in the novel.
I listened to what she had to say and we chatted for a while. Then she had more questions, shared more of her thoughts with me and I was surprised how deeply she had dissolved in the story. For 9 years... now running 10... I thought I was the only one who cared enough to sit back and think about issues in DUTY AND DESIRE. But it turns out I'm wrong. The readers are taking to the story more than I had ever dreamed of... and they want to discuss it.
Sandy suggested we have an on-air book club discussion once others in her group have read the book.
I am truly speechless. I am in shock. I am over the moon. :)
Just when I couldn't get over last week's reader Tweeting in real-time her thoughts on DUTY AND DESIRE... I received a phone call 2 nights ago from another readers.
She wasn't just a reader this time... but 1 of 2 women who interviewed me for the community channel in my Connecticut book tour 2 weeks ago. Sandy read DUTY AND DESIRE from 8pm - 4am one night and similarly the next night. She said she "couldn't put the book down" and wanted to discuss some aspects of the book and issues in the novel.
I listened to what she had to say and we chatted for a while. Then she had more questions, shared more of her thoughts with me and I was surprised how deeply she had dissolved in the story. For 9 years... now running 10... I thought I was the only one who cared enough to sit back and think about issues in DUTY AND DESIRE. But it turns out I'm wrong. The readers are taking to the story more than I had ever dreamed of... and they want to discuss it.
Sandy suggested we have an on-air book club discussion once others in her group have read the book.
I am truly speechless. I am in shock. I am over the moon. :)
July 9, 2012
DUTY AND DESIRE
Hi,
It was an interesting week, last week. A reader was reading DUTY AND DESIRE and keeping me up to date with where she was in the book and her impressions of the scenes on Twitter.
It was a moment indeed! After 25+ rewrites and 9 years of perseverence... to hear what someone else has to say about the book made me realize that it wasn't just my story any more. It is finally a product I am able to share with others.
But the hope is that the story of DUTY AND DESIRE will help readers understand that they don't have to be 'boxed' in a situation. That alternatives do exist and all they have to do is think outside the box to find a solution to their problems.
That's just a hope. A big hope. But then what do I know? I'm just a writer with a heart.
It was an interesting week, last week. A reader was reading DUTY AND DESIRE and keeping me up to date with where she was in the book and her impressions of the scenes on Twitter.
It was a moment indeed! After 25+ rewrites and 9 years of perseverence... to hear what someone else has to say about the book made me realize that it wasn't just my story any more. It is finally a product I am able to share with others.
But the hope is that the story of DUTY AND DESIRE will help readers understand that they don't have to be 'boxed' in a situation. That alternatives do exist and all they have to do is think outside the box to find a solution to their problems.
That's just a hope. A big hope. But then what do I know? I'm just a writer with a heart.
July 6, 2012
Realistic fiction
Hi,
Have you ever wondered about the truth at the heart of fiction? I have. And it makes me wonder where authors get their story ideas from.
A clipping from the news. A scene on the TV. A commercial. A snippet of dialogue. An incident at the gym. These are all components of our lives. Little bits and pieces that shape our experiences and make us who we are.
And what about those people who write stories that run parallel to lives that real people live? Is that classified as fiction? Realistic fiction? True fiction? Is it even fiction anymore.
I wonder....
Have you ever wondered about the truth at the heart of fiction? I have. And it makes me wonder where authors get their story ideas from.
A clipping from the news. A scene on the TV. A commercial. A snippet of dialogue. An incident at the gym. These are all components of our lives. Little bits and pieces that shape our experiences and make us who we are.
And what about those people who write stories that run parallel to lives that real people live? Is that classified as fiction? Realistic fiction? True fiction? Is it even fiction anymore.
I wonder....
July 3, 2012
Perspective
Hi,
It's been a while since I last blogged and I have plenty of excuses. Family from overseas, the Coke factory, visits to the mall, shopping, etc... you get the idea :)
However, the work, characters, plot, pacing of the novel and edits don't go away. They're always... just... there.
What does change is perspective. Getting away from the manuscript. Thinking of issues and juggling them in my head for a while... then looking at the words with a fresh pair of eyes makes the page appear different. Well, not the page... the words.
I see things that the copy editor outlined in red, pink/magenta, and commented in blue and can step back, away from the manuscript, and see clearly.
Was I not seeing clearly before? I was. But now the distance - physically and emotionally - away from the manuscript, has given me a new perspective with which to see.
What's your perspective?
It's been a while since I last blogged and I have plenty of excuses. Family from overseas, the Coke factory, visits to the mall, shopping, etc... you get the idea :)
However, the work, characters, plot, pacing of the novel and edits don't go away. They're always... just... there.
What does change is perspective. Getting away from the manuscript. Thinking of issues and juggling them in my head for a while... then looking at the words with a fresh pair of eyes makes the page appear different. Well, not the page... the words.
I see things that the copy editor outlined in red, pink/magenta, and commented in blue and can step back, away from the manuscript, and see clearly.
Was I not seeing clearly before? I was. But now the distance - physically and emotionally - away from the manuscript, has given me a new perspective with which to see.
What's your perspective?
June 26, 2012
Journey to CT
Hi,
So after all that worrying and fretting over the author events scheduled for the weekend in Danbury and Southbury, CT... I returned, thrilled, that I'd worried and fretted... You see I had every right to.
My Friday 3:25pm flight delayed to 9:30pm take off. I landed in White Plains at about 12am or so and found that the car rental had left a monstrous Chevy Tahoe for me to drive.
There were no trolleys to help carry my check-in baggage and a nice lady suggested I pick up my vehicle first, call on her cell... then she brought the bag in a wheel chair AND helped me load it on the vehicle.
After fiddling with knobs and switches for a long time to try and figure out what's where... I started the wind-shield wipers (by accident), couldn't switch off the indoor lights and finally got some help from an elderly couple :)
But little did I know what to expect at 10:30am on Saturday at the Danbury event. So stay tuned!
So after all that worrying and fretting over the author events scheduled for the weekend in Danbury and Southbury, CT... I returned, thrilled, that I'd worried and fretted... You see I had every right to.
My Friday 3:25pm flight delayed to 9:30pm take off. I landed in White Plains at about 12am or so and found that the car rental had left a monstrous Chevy Tahoe for me to drive.
There were no trolleys to help carry my check-in baggage and a nice lady suggested I pick up my vehicle first, call on her cell... then she brought the bag in a wheel chair AND helped me load it on the vehicle.
After fiddling with knobs and switches for a long time to try and figure out what's where... I started the wind-shield wipers (by accident), couldn't switch off the indoor lights and finally got some help from an elderly couple :)
But little did I know what to expect at 10:30am on Saturday at the Danbury event. So stay tuned!
June 20, 2012
Prep for author event
Hi,
So I've been prepping for 2 author events this weekend and feel so much better now!
I started last week not knowing what route I'm supposed to take to get to my goal. I was confused, busy reading, researching and trying to find the way. I was sure the topic 'What It Means To Write Multicultural Fiction' was bound to fail.
I've learned so much in the process. Realizations from my childhood, culture clashes I never understood at the time... and moreso the balancing act... I was busy with 24/7 all my life. Including the time when I moved to India and struggled to find the balance again.
I'm hoping the event will go well this weekend. I'm hoping to learn from the attendees too.
So I've been prepping for 2 author events this weekend and feel so much better now!
I started last week not knowing what route I'm supposed to take to get to my goal. I was confused, busy reading, researching and trying to find the way. I was sure the topic 'What It Means To Write Multicultural Fiction' was bound to fail.
I've learned so much in the process. Realizations from my childhood, culture clashes I never understood at the time... and moreso the balancing act... I was busy with 24/7 all my life. Including the time when I moved to India and struggled to find the balance again.
I'm hoping the event will go well this weekend. I'm hoping to learn from the attendees too.
June 18, 2012
Novel Ideas
Hi,
I was just Tweeting with another author, the wonderful RITA HERRON (Yes, Rita Herron!!) to be precise and realized that something I take as 'normal' in my everyday life - is actually strange for so many.
I'be been asked so many times now... where my story ideas come from. Do I imagine them? Do I take them from real life? Do I get them from something I read?
The truth is ideas for novels come to me in my dreams. Yes, my dreams. I usually (yes, it's become normal now) see the end of something first. It's usually a dramatic scene, a do-or-die situation, and I wake up with my heart racing.
It never hits me instantly... it takes a while for things to sink in and for the realization to dawn, that this is another scene, usually THE END, to another fiction novel.
Where do you get your ideas from?
I was just Tweeting with another author, the wonderful RITA HERRON (Yes, Rita Herron!!) to be precise and realized that something I take as 'normal' in my everyday life - is actually strange for so many.
I'be been asked so many times now... where my story ideas come from. Do I imagine them? Do I take them from real life? Do I get them from something I read?
The truth is ideas for novels come to me in my dreams. Yes, my dreams. I usually (yes, it's become normal now) see the end of something first. It's usually a dramatic scene, a do-or-die situation, and I wake up with my heart racing.
It never hits me instantly... it takes a while for things to sink in and for the realization to dawn, that this is another scene, usually THE END, to another fiction novel.
Where do you get your ideas from?
June 15, 2012
Feedback
Hi,
It's Friday again... and somewhat a relief. With kids out of school summer weather it's ideal to be outdoors - when the sun isn't out in full bloom.
But something interesting came up earlier this week. I got back the edits on Bk II from the copy editor and read her overall feedback. Then we had a lengthy phone conversation and I listened to what she had to say about scenes that needed to be tweaked, rewritten and revised.
At first I tried hard to understand. Then I heard her feedback about my characters, their relationships and their inner fears... and I stopped to think hard. How could I not have known these things about my characters when I'd lived with them for 10 years? How could I have not seen it coming.
Obviously I haven't. And the beauty is that others who do, can tell me more than I thought I knew.
It's Friday again... and somewhat a relief. With kids out of school summer weather it's ideal to be outdoors - when the sun isn't out in full bloom.
But something interesting came up earlier this week. I got back the edits on Bk II from the copy editor and read her overall feedback. Then we had a lengthy phone conversation and I listened to what she had to say about scenes that needed to be tweaked, rewritten and revised.
At first I tried hard to understand. Then I heard her feedback about my characters, their relationships and their inner fears... and I stopped to think hard. How could I not have known these things about my characters when I'd lived with them for 10 years? How could I have not seen it coming.
Obviously I haven't. And the beauty is that others who do, can tell me more than I thought I knew.
June 12, 2012
Inspiration
Hi,
I had a great interview with 'Voices' newspaper, CT, yesterday evening and among many of the topics discussed, one remained with me long after the conversation was over.
The writers and books that inspired me.
I hopped over to the 'bookshelf' on my website: http://www.anjugattani.com/?page_id=501
and skimmed over the books that I've loved. Authors: Amy Tan, Lisa See, Jhumpa Lahiri, Khaled Hosseini, Anita Shreve and Philippa Gregory are just some of the many who have influenced me over the years.
But the 2 authors who influenced me long before I even knew I wanted to write: Sidney Sheldon and V. C. Andrews are the authors who took me to places and worlds I had never dreamed of.
Who are your favorite authors and what's your favorite read?
I had a great interview with 'Voices' newspaper, CT, yesterday evening and among many of the topics discussed, one remained with me long after the conversation was over.
The writers and books that inspired me.
I hopped over to the 'bookshelf' on my website: http://www.anjugattani.com/?page_id=501
and skimmed over the books that I've loved. Authors: Amy Tan, Lisa See, Jhumpa Lahiri, Khaled Hosseini, Anita Shreve and Philippa Gregory are just some of the many who have influenced me over the years.
But the 2 authors who influenced me long before I even knew I wanted to write: Sidney Sheldon and V. C. Andrews are the authors who took me to places and worlds I had never dreamed of.
Who are your favorite authors and what's your favorite read?
