Mohan K.'s Blog
July 25, 2015
Musing on free beer and eBooks: Ten Similarities between Indie book publishing and Homebrewing
It has been a few months since my eBook “The Bounce!” was published on Amazon, joining the rank of nearly 10,000 indie books published every day. Like most other indie authors, I have been learning about “marketing” of indie eBooks, ever since I (self) published “The Bounce!”
Last weekend while at a friend’s bar-b-que, one of the guests came in with a crate of his Homebrewed beer, bottled and labeled with his self-designed-logo! He began making his way around the group, offering his beer to an intrigued group of guests. Many of us in the group didn’t know this gentleman and were amused, and a few guests even perplexed. Some of us tried to be polite, and when offered a bottle, were trying hard not to offend the brewer who was naturally proud of his ‘product.’ Many took a more direct approach and refrained from making eye contact, politely declined the offer of free beer.
That evening, after logging into my computer, I sat reviewing my email. Most of the unopened mails were from mailing groups of fellow indie writers that I have subscribed to. Among them were dozens of woeful appeals from fellow authors requesting download of their “free” eBooks. At that moment the similarity between the hobby-brewer guest at the lunch who was desperately offering his homebrew to random guests, and the email appeal to download free eBooks just jumped out.
1.Passionate hobbyists, some of whom dream of profiting from their hobby. Wikipedia defines “Homebrewing is the brewing of beer on a small scale for personal, non-commercial purposes.” While much of the Homebrewing may be for “personal purposes,” many enthusiasts secretly harbor bigger aspirations. The same holds true for indie publishing. Most indie writers start with the simple goal of gaining “egoboo,” for their craft, while some secretly aspire to get their book/s to the bestseller status.
2. Limited, or no barriers to entry. To brew at home, all one needs is a “Homebrewing kit” that one can make or buy. Same goes for ingredients like grains, hops, malt etc. One is only constrained by one’s imagination and the money one is willing to spend on the kit, ingredients and recipes. Likewise, writing an eBook is only limited by one’s imagination, access to a computer with internet, and the amount one is willing to spend on the production process.
3.Existence of a well-developed cottage industry to support hobbyists. There exists a complex offline and online network to support Homebrewing enthusiasts. In the same manner, an entire cottage industry has sprung up during the past decade or so, supporting indie writers. Self-proclaimed specialists/experts are available to guide aspiring writers through the entire ‘self-publication’ process, starting from proof reading, copy and content editing, beta reading through the ‘production’ including cover design, formatting and also “publishing” on forums like Amazon’s KDP. And each step of the way, the “experts” charge their share of fees that can add up to a sizeable amount of dollars.
4. Consumer tastes matter: Most of us want a nice, consistent experience while entertaining friends or for the odd weekend drink: an experience that generally is promised and delivered by branded beer. When it comes to homebrew, we might only pretend to be adventurous when pestered by a hobbyist friend. The same holds true for a friend’s self-published indie book.
5.Brand matters: Consumer tastes also dictate the brand preferences. Most home-brews struggle to stand out against the brand and marketing muscle of Anheuser-Busch and the like. The same holds true for most indie published books that don’t have a chance against big name publishers and authors. (Notice the hype over bestselling author Harper Lee’s new novel?)
6.Find it especially hard to take criticism: Homebrewers and Indie authors alike find it especially hard to take criticism. The fact remains some Indie books are certainly better than others. But this fact is hard to accept.
7.Eating one’s mistakes: Homebrew serves one distinct purpose: a customized/personal beer that one can take pride in and enjoy oneself. If one makes a few mistakes while brewing, one has to eat one’s pride and ‘enjoy’ that too or pour it down the drain. Indie writing, likewise serves a key purpose of honing one’s writing skills.
8. The long tail is really, really long: The market for beer and books are cornered by large brewers and publishing houses. The bulk of beer in America comes from Anheuser-Busch and likewise, the bulk of trade published books come from a few large houses. Most, if not all Homebrew beers and Indie eBooks struggle to find a place at the very end of the really long-tail.
9.One’s personal brand is intertwined with that of “product”: Most hobbysts and home-brewers try to ride on the coattails of the individual’s network (if any). Indie writers, likewise struggle to market their work and try and leverage the personal and professional networks to ‘market’ their indie works too
10. David doesn’t stand a chance against the Goliaths. The bottomline is simple: most homebrewers and indie writers just don’t stand a chance either against fellow Indies or against mainstream brewers and publishers. A few Homebrew recipes graduating to a micro-brew or getting bought out by Anheuser-Busch is a stuff of legends, just like a few indie success stories like that of Jen McLaughlin or Darcie Chan make every one of the 10,000 or so authors self-publishing their books every day dream big.
Bottomline: Getting a decent product out, that family and friends will appreciate can be time consuming and expensive. The rewards, in most cases may be just a pat-in-the-back from family and friends or “egaboo” as the currency of open source is called.
Last weekend while at a friend’s bar-b-que, one of the guests came in with a crate of his Homebrewed beer, bottled and labeled with his self-designed-logo! He began making his way around the group, offering his beer to an intrigued group of guests. Many of us in the group didn’t know this gentleman and were amused, and a few guests even perplexed. Some of us tried to be polite, and when offered a bottle, were trying hard not to offend the brewer who was naturally proud of his ‘product.’ Many took a more direct approach and refrained from making eye contact, politely declined the offer of free beer.
That evening, after logging into my computer, I sat reviewing my email. Most of the unopened mails were from mailing groups of fellow indie writers that I have subscribed to. Among them were dozens of woeful appeals from fellow authors requesting download of their “free” eBooks. At that moment the similarity between the hobby-brewer guest at the lunch who was desperately offering his homebrew to random guests, and the email appeal to download free eBooks just jumped out.
1.Passionate hobbyists, some of whom dream of profiting from their hobby. Wikipedia defines “Homebrewing is the brewing of beer on a small scale for personal, non-commercial purposes.” While much of the Homebrewing may be for “personal purposes,” many enthusiasts secretly harbor bigger aspirations. The same holds true for indie publishing. Most indie writers start with the simple goal of gaining “egoboo,” for their craft, while some secretly aspire to get their book/s to the bestseller status.
2. Limited, or no barriers to entry. To brew at home, all one needs is a “Homebrewing kit” that one can make or buy. Same goes for ingredients like grains, hops, malt etc. One is only constrained by one’s imagination and the money one is willing to spend on the kit, ingredients and recipes. Likewise, writing an eBook is only limited by one’s imagination, access to a computer with internet, and the amount one is willing to spend on the production process.
3.Existence of a well-developed cottage industry to support hobbyists. There exists a complex offline and online network to support Homebrewing enthusiasts. In the same manner, an entire cottage industry has sprung up during the past decade or so, supporting indie writers. Self-proclaimed specialists/experts are available to guide aspiring writers through the entire ‘self-publication’ process, starting from proof reading, copy and content editing, beta reading through the ‘production’ including cover design, formatting and also “publishing” on forums like Amazon’s KDP. And each step of the way, the “experts” charge their share of fees that can add up to a sizeable amount of dollars.
4. Consumer tastes matter: Most of us want a nice, consistent experience while entertaining friends or for the odd weekend drink: an experience that generally is promised and delivered by branded beer. When it comes to homebrew, we might only pretend to be adventurous when pestered by a hobbyist friend. The same holds true for a friend’s self-published indie book.
5.Brand matters: Consumer tastes also dictate the brand preferences. Most home-brews struggle to stand out against the brand and marketing muscle of Anheuser-Busch and the like. The same holds true for most indie published books that don’t have a chance against big name publishers and authors. (Notice the hype over bestselling author Harper Lee’s new novel?)
6.Find it especially hard to take criticism: Homebrewers and Indie authors alike find it especially hard to take criticism. The fact remains some Indie books are certainly better than others. But this fact is hard to accept.
7.Eating one’s mistakes: Homebrew serves one distinct purpose: a customized/personal beer that one can take pride in and enjoy oneself. If one makes a few mistakes while brewing, one has to eat one’s pride and ‘enjoy’ that too or pour it down the drain. Indie writing, likewise serves a key purpose of honing one’s writing skills.
8. The long tail is really, really long: The market for beer and books are cornered by large brewers and publishing houses. The bulk of beer in America comes from Anheuser-Busch and likewise, the bulk of trade published books come from a few large houses. Most, if not all Homebrew beers and Indie eBooks struggle to find a place at the very end of the really long-tail.
9.One’s personal brand is intertwined with that of “product”: Most hobbysts and home-brewers try to ride on the coattails of the individual’s network (if any). Indie writers, likewise struggle to market their work and try and leverage the personal and professional networks to ‘market’ their indie works too
10. David doesn’t stand a chance against the Goliaths. The bottomline is simple: most homebrewers and indie writers just don’t stand a chance either against fellow Indies or against mainstream brewers and publishers. A few Homebrew recipes graduating to a micro-brew or getting bought out by Anheuser-Busch is a stuff of legends, just like a few indie success stories like that of Jen McLaughlin or Darcie Chan make every one of the 10,000 or so authors self-publishing their books every day dream big.
Bottomline: Getting a decent product out, that family and friends will appreciate can be time consuming and expensive. The rewards, in most cases may be just a pat-in-the-back from family and friends or “egaboo” as the currency of open source is called.
May 22, 2015
Why read 'Depressing' Books?
Laurie Uttich has an interesting column “In Defense of 'Depressing' Books” in Huffington Post today, that made me reflect on a couple of 'Depressing' books I read recently. One is Marina Mander’s "The First True Lie" and another is "Family Life" by Akhil Sharma. Both are critically acclaimed, and Akhil Sharma’s book is even a “NYT bestseller.”
I got around to finishing Marina Mander’s
"The First True Lie" in a single sitting in a couple of hours. The story is actually summarized in the blurb; nothing more, nothing less. There aren’t too many surprises or twists in the plot besides the main theme of Luca coming to accept the death of his mom while attempting to keep it a secret from his circle of friends and others in school. Although the story is flat and rather morbid, Marina’s evenly paced narrative keeps the reader engaged.
I decided to read Akhil Sharma's "Family Life" after I came upon his essay in Sunday NYT. The book is semi-biographical and expands on essays Mr. Sharma has chronicled in NYT so I was prepared for a sorrowful narrative of the Sharma family saga. Much of the book focuses on the travails and tribulations of immigrant Sharma family seen through the eyes of the protagonist, Akhil. He wallows in self-pity while taking us through experiences of an Indian immigrant family in New York. And despite all odds, does well academically and is accepted into Princeton. The rest – a well paying job in investment banking etc follow.
No doubt Akhil and family were dealt a lemon, but as the adage goes ‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’ Admirable that Akhil turned his lemon into a story, a bestseller at that!
I didn’t go looking for a “depressing” book when I picked these up. And to be fair, a scan of the blurb warned me. So, why did I read them? I can relate to Laurie Uttich’s comment “I want a book that has the potential to change my life in a series of small, important ways.” I am always seeking books that give a ‘glimpse’ of life; and sometimes the glimpses are gloomy, morbid or depressing.
In many cases, the authors blend melancholy or depressing events with other upbeat anecdotes or events to show the ebb and flow. To highlight that life is not all a downward spiral.
This was also my attempt in my recently published book "The Bounce!" where I attempt to take readers through the peaks and troughs, rather than focus on a singular tragic event. Sometimes tragic events can take us into a downward spiral, but how we stay ahead is perhaps more inspirational, an aspect that adds character to the story, and perhaps shows life in entirety; even while highlighting a slice.
I got around to finishing Marina Mander’s
"The First True Lie" in a single sitting in a couple of hours. The story is actually summarized in the blurb; nothing more, nothing less. There aren’t too many surprises or twists in the plot besides the main theme of Luca coming to accept the death of his mom while attempting to keep it a secret from his circle of friends and others in school. Although the story is flat and rather morbid, Marina’s evenly paced narrative keeps the reader engaged.
I decided to read Akhil Sharma's "Family Life" after I came upon his essay in Sunday NYT. The book is semi-biographical and expands on essays Mr. Sharma has chronicled in NYT so I was prepared for a sorrowful narrative of the Sharma family saga. Much of the book focuses on the travails and tribulations of immigrant Sharma family seen through the eyes of the protagonist, Akhil. He wallows in self-pity while taking us through experiences of an Indian immigrant family in New York. And despite all odds, does well academically and is accepted into Princeton. The rest – a well paying job in investment banking etc follow.
No doubt Akhil and family were dealt a lemon, but as the adage goes ‘We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.’ Admirable that Akhil turned his lemon into a story, a bestseller at that!
I didn’t go looking for a “depressing” book when I picked these up. And to be fair, a scan of the blurb warned me. So, why did I read them? I can relate to Laurie Uttich’s comment “I want a book that has the potential to change my life in a series of small, important ways.” I am always seeking books that give a ‘glimpse’ of life; and sometimes the glimpses are gloomy, morbid or depressing.
In many cases, the authors blend melancholy or depressing events with other upbeat anecdotes or events to show the ebb and flow. To highlight that life is not all a downward spiral.
This was also my attempt in my recently published book "The Bounce!" where I attempt to take readers through the peaks and troughs, rather than focus on a singular tragic event. Sometimes tragic events can take us into a downward spiral, but how we stay ahead is perhaps more inspirational, an aspect that adds character to the story, and perhaps shows life in entirety; even while highlighting a slice.
May 7, 2015
Salman Khan, Bollywood and Forgiveness in the Indian culture?
This morning while driving to work, I heard with fascination NPR’s analysis of the Indian Bollywood Superhero, Salman Khan being sentenced for a Hit-And-Run Case that happened several years ago (Morning Edition link: Bollywood Star Sentenced To Prison In Hit-And-Run Case).
The commentator, David Greene, talked to a Calcutta based journalist Sandip Roy for an Indian perspective. Among the questions that came up was the concept of “Forgiveness” in Indian culture.
David observed how the man who broke his leg in the accident “apparently forgave” Salman Khan. His question was pointed and reflective “What does say tell about Indian society? “
Sandip replied something to the effect that it highlighted a “skewed view of celebrity culture in India,” and how Indians are willing to “Forgive even the most blatant transgressions of celebrities.” Sandip went on to observe the double standards and how a “party animal” like Salman khan would be a “no go on a matrimonial site.” No parent would want their daughter married to Mr. Khan.
This got me reflecting on my own anger and the process of redemption after a tragic incident on board an International flight. This happened in 2008 while I was traveling from Toronto to Delhi with my family. (Some of the details are chronicled in my recently published novel “The Bounce!").
Notice how I use the term Redemption rather than Forgiveness?
The choice of the term is intentional. The reason I draw a distinction between Forgiveness and redemption is simple: redemption is what helps me move forward and forgiveness may (or may not) be a part of such redemption. Although I have lived in western countries for a good part of my working life, I still draw on my Indian values that I grew up with back in India. I draw on these at times of personal crisis, or while reflecting on life.
Did I forgive the airline or the ground crew or staff? Sure, I was very angry and upset over the incident. However, the thought of redemption and reflecting on my Karma, perhaps helped my wife and I move forward. To be sure, this wasn’t instantaneous. It was a gradual process.
Back to the Salman Khan case, I think the man who broke his leg in the accident may have been seeking redemption, especially since there was a celebrity involved here. By this act, the victim was able to move forward, perhaps aided by some reflected glory of this news being in the headlines and some monetary compensation from the superstar. (Whether the victim forgave Mr. Khan is another matter)
Footnote: “The Bounce!” is scheduled to be available for FREE download on Amazon from 8-10th May 2015. Please download and review the book and let me know if you agree with my view on redemption vs. forgiveness
The commentator, David Greene, talked to a Calcutta based journalist Sandip Roy for an Indian perspective. Among the questions that came up was the concept of “Forgiveness” in Indian culture.
David observed how the man who broke his leg in the accident “apparently forgave” Salman Khan. His question was pointed and reflective “What does say tell about Indian society? “
Sandip replied something to the effect that it highlighted a “skewed view of celebrity culture in India,” and how Indians are willing to “Forgive even the most blatant transgressions of celebrities.” Sandip went on to observe the double standards and how a “party animal” like Salman khan would be a “no go on a matrimonial site.” No parent would want their daughter married to Mr. Khan.
This got me reflecting on my own anger and the process of redemption after a tragic incident on board an International flight. This happened in 2008 while I was traveling from Toronto to Delhi with my family. (Some of the details are chronicled in my recently published novel “The Bounce!").
Notice how I use the term Redemption rather than Forgiveness?
The choice of the term is intentional. The reason I draw a distinction between Forgiveness and redemption is simple: redemption is what helps me move forward and forgiveness may (or may not) be a part of such redemption. Although I have lived in western countries for a good part of my working life, I still draw on my Indian values that I grew up with back in India. I draw on these at times of personal crisis, or while reflecting on life.
Did I forgive the airline or the ground crew or staff? Sure, I was very angry and upset over the incident. However, the thought of redemption and reflecting on my Karma, perhaps helped my wife and I move forward. To be sure, this wasn’t instantaneous. It was a gradual process.
Back to the Salman Khan case, I think the man who broke his leg in the accident may have been seeking redemption, especially since there was a celebrity involved here. By this act, the victim was able to move forward, perhaps aided by some reflected glory of this news being in the headlines and some monetary compensation from the superstar. (Whether the victim forgave Mr. Khan is another matter)
Footnote: “The Bounce!” is scheduled to be available for FREE download on Amazon from 8-10th May 2015. Please download and review the book and let me know if you agree with my view on redemption vs. forgiveness
April 28, 2015
Author Media Interview: Bouncing back!
Mohan, an IT professional from North Carolina has strong roots to India. He has moved and lived across three continents in five countries and visited dozens others. In a candid interview with India Empire’s Assitant Editor, Misha Singh, Mohan talked about his journey, experiences and his debut book The Bounce!: A Story of love, loss and the life of a global Indian
This is your first book. What inspired you to write the book?
I have written and blogged extensively on technology and management topics, but this is my first fictional book. I had been reflecting on an incident, back in 2008 when we lost a healthy, bouncy child while on a Jet Airways flight from Brussels to Delhi. My wife and I were relocating back from Toronto with a five and half month old child when tragedy struck. The book is an attempt at redemption, especially as writing has been very cathartic for me.
By talking about my story, I am also hoping to provide some inspiration to others facing life’s challenges on bouncing back, as the title suggests.
This is a semi-autobiographical novel, what can the readers expect from the same?
Much of the story depicted in the novel is mine. I decided to write a semi-autobiographical novel since this format gave me a bit of artistic liberty to stretch my imagination while basing the outline on facts as I remembered them. A few accounts, and names have been fictionalized and I rely on the dialog style that a fiction can accommodate more than a biography.
What was your goal when you wrote the book—was it to just finish writing or getting it published and reaching out to the world?
My goal in writing “The Bounce!” was simple. I had a story that I thought must be told. It is also an attempt to show a human face to globalization and people in the dynamic global outsourcing industry who travel around the world.
How did you begin writing this book? What do you wish to convey with the book?
I began writing the book in 2012. After attempting to write it as a biography, I switched to a semi-autobiographical format earlier in 2015. There are a couple of key messages I feel I am conveying in the book.
Growing up in an Indian Air force officer’s family, I was used to hearing the adage “join the navy and see the world.” This has perhaps been overshadowed by the reality “Join the Indian IT and see the world.” My journey is an example of living this adage, and wanted to share my life’s journey and the dynamic nature of outsourcing industry with readers.
The key message is about redemption. The theme of “The Bounce!” is all about the ability to bounce back, especially after unforeseen tragedies in life.
What authors do you like to read? Do any of them influence your writing?
I firmly believe in the adage “he, who reads more, writes more”. My reading habits are eclectic and include fiction and nonfiction books on business and technology.
‘Elizabeth Gilbert’s cheerful narrative “Eat, Pray, Love” highlighting how she overcame her life’s challenge was an inspiration at the time in life when I needed one.
Please tell us something about you and your connect with India?
I grew up moving across India when my dad served in the Indian Air Force. After completing my masters from an Engineering college in Mysore, I joined a British software firm in Bengaluru. I worked with Infosys for nearly a decade and now live the Indian-American dream in North Carolina with my charming wife Sujatha and adorable kindergartener Vijay. My parents live in Bengaluru and my in-laws in Delhi and I try and make an annual trek back there with my family. The intent is also to ensure Vijay bonds with his grandparents and cousins while retaining his Indian-ness.
Link to interview with India Empire
This is your first book. What inspired you to write the book?
I have written and blogged extensively on technology and management topics, but this is my first fictional book. I had been reflecting on an incident, back in 2008 when we lost a healthy, bouncy child while on a Jet Airways flight from Brussels to Delhi. My wife and I were relocating back from Toronto with a five and half month old child when tragedy struck. The book is an attempt at redemption, especially as writing has been very cathartic for me.
By talking about my story, I am also hoping to provide some inspiration to others facing life’s challenges on bouncing back, as the title suggests.
This is a semi-autobiographical novel, what can the readers expect from the same?
Much of the story depicted in the novel is mine. I decided to write a semi-autobiographical novel since this format gave me a bit of artistic liberty to stretch my imagination while basing the outline on facts as I remembered them. A few accounts, and names have been fictionalized and I rely on the dialog style that a fiction can accommodate more than a biography.
What was your goal when you wrote the book—was it to just finish writing or getting it published and reaching out to the world?
My goal in writing “The Bounce!” was simple. I had a story that I thought must be told. It is also an attempt to show a human face to globalization and people in the dynamic global outsourcing industry who travel around the world.
How did you begin writing this book? What do you wish to convey with the book?
I began writing the book in 2012. After attempting to write it as a biography, I switched to a semi-autobiographical format earlier in 2015. There are a couple of key messages I feel I am conveying in the book.
Growing up in an Indian Air force officer’s family, I was used to hearing the adage “join the navy and see the world.” This has perhaps been overshadowed by the reality “Join the Indian IT and see the world.” My journey is an example of living this adage, and wanted to share my life’s journey and the dynamic nature of outsourcing industry with readers.
The key message is about redemption. The theme of “The Bounce!” is all about the ability to bounce back, especially after unforeseen tragedies in life.
What authors do you like to read? Do any of them influence your writing?
I firmly believe in the adage “he, who reads more, writes more”. My reading habits are eclectic and include fiction and nonfiction books on business and technology.
‘Elizabeth Gilbert’s cheerful narrative “Eat, Pray, Love” highlighting how she overcame her life’s challenge was an inspiration at the time in life when I needed one.
Please tell us something about you and your connect with India?
I grew up moving across India when my dad served in the Indian Air Force. After completing my masters from an Engineering college in Mysore, I joined a British software firm in Bengaluru. I worked with Infosys for nearly a decade and now live the Indian-American dream in North Carolina with my charming wife Sujatha and adorable kindergartener Vijay. My parents live in Bengaluru and my in-laws in Delhi and I try and make an annual trek back there with my family. The intent is also to ensure Vijay bonds with his grandparents and cousins while retaining his Indian-ness.
Link to interview with India Empire
April 9, 2015
Musing on books by Indian American writers
During the past few months, I have been conducting an informal research on the works of Indian American and South Asian - a.k.a Desi or Non Resident Indian (NRI) - writers. For my review, I decided to move past the top-tier works of writers who have long been under the mainstream media spotlight.
Much of our thinking on Indian American genera, until a few years ago, had been shaped by the works of Pulitzer Prize winners like Jhumpa Lahiri Interpreter of Maladies, Arundhati Roy (Man Booker Prize winner - The God of Small Things), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni The Mistress of Spices and a few others. To be fair, we have had a long history of South Asian writers going back to the likes of V. S. Naipaul and the revered Salman Rushdie (Midnight's Children,The Satanic Verses). And in the past few years, writers like Akhil Sharma (Family Life) and Sonali Deraniyagala (Wave) and Anita Raghavan (The Billionaire's Apprentice) have shot to the top of New York Times and other “best seller” lists, generating buzz and renewed interest in Indian American and South Asian genera.
There is another reason the Indian American genera is capturing the attention of mainstream media, reviewers and bloggers: the influx of Desis who migrated West (to the US, Canada and Europe) during the IT boom, in the past fifteen years or so. Another generation of global-desis calls India “home” but continues to Criss-cross the world, thanks to a vibrant career in the Offshoring Industry. With a sizable population of over two million in the US alone, the Desi diaspora is a visible minority. The American public is rightfully curious about the desi mindset, and is beginning to explore English literature and books by authors from this community.
Thanks to self-publishing platforms like Amazon’s KDP (for Kindle), Createspace, Lulu, Smashwords and others, it is especially easy for wannabe writers to get their Indie - Independently published, a.k.a self-publishing - books out to a wide readership. Not surprisingly, this generation of tech savvy Indian Americans, many of them continuing a day-job of Physicians, Engineers and Lawyers, are comfortable moonlighting as indie writers. Thanks to social media tools at their disposal, Indian indie writers are also comfortable reaching out to a wide network of family, friends and associates to share their published works.
In the few weeks since my book (The Bounce!) was published – yes, an indie – I have been trying to get familiarized with the Amazon ranking of books, especially under “Literature & Fiction > United States > Asian American” where “The Bounce!” ranks. Not surprisingly, more than a dozen or so books by Indian and South Asian authors consistently appear in the list. These include
•Jay Antani' The Leaving of Things
• Sujata Massey's The Kizuna Coast, The Floating Girl
• Anish Majumdar's The Isolation Door
• Simi K. Rao'sThe Accidental Wife, Inconvenient Relations
• Aditi Chopra's Mr. Imperfect Series
• Malika Gandhi's Freedom of the Monsoon
•Sowmya Gali's A Jewel in the Sunset
• Vivek Shraya's God Loves Hair
• Monica Bhide The Devil In Us
• Shilpi Somaya Gowda's Secret Daughter
• A.X. Ahmad The Last Taxi Ride
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited is yet another tool I plan to leverage as I continue to explore and review the Indian American genera, especially as many of these self-published works are also enrolled in Amazon’s KU Program. Along the way, I am also hoping to sample these and dozens of other hidden gems.
Note: This is an informal list based on my eclectic search of Asian American genera on Amazon. Feedback welcome as I build my reading list
Much of our thinking on Indian American genera, until a few years ago, had been shaped by the works of Pulitzer Prize winners like Jhumpa Lahiri Interpreter of Maladies, Arundhati Roy (Man Booker Prize winner - The God of Small Things), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni The Mistress of Spices and a few others. To be fair, we have had a long history of South Asian writers going back to the likes of V. S. Naipaul and the revered Salman Rushdie (Midnight's Children,The Satanic Verses). And in the past few years, writers like Akhil Sharma (Family Life) and Sonali Deraniyagala (Wave) and Anita Raghavan (The Billionaire's Apprentice) have shot to the top of New York Times and other “best seller” lists, generating buzz and renewed interest in Indian American and South Asian genera.
There is another reason the Indian American genera is capturing the attention of mainstream media, reviewers and bloggers: the influx of Desis who migrated West (to the US, Canada and Europe) during the IT boom, in the past fifteen years or so. Another generation of global-desis calls India “home” but continues to Criss-cross the world, thanks to a vibrant career in the Offshoring Industry. With a sizable population of over two million in the US alone, the Desi diaspora is a visible minority. The American public is rightfully curious about the desi mindset, and is beginning to explore English literature and books by authors from this community.
Thanks to self-publishing platforms like Amazon’s KDP (for Kindle), Createspace, Lulu, Smashwords and others, it is especially easy for wannabe writers to get their Indie - Independently published, a.k.a self-publishing - books out to a wide readership. Not surprisingly, this generation of tech savvy Indian Americans, many of them continuing a day-job of Physicians, Engineers and Lawyers, are comfortable moonlighting as indie writers. Thanks to social media tools at their disposal, Indian indie writers are also comfortable reaching out to a wide network of family, friends and associates to share their published works.
In the few weeks since my book (The Bounce!) was published – yes, an indie – I have been trying to get familiarized with the Amazon ranking of books, especially under “Literature & Fiction > United States > Asian American” where “The Bounce!” ranks. Not surprisingly, more than a dozen or so books by Indian and South Asian authors consistently appear in the list. These include
•Jay Antani' The Leaving of Things
• Sujata Massey's The Kizuna Coast, The Floating Girl
• Anish Majumdar's The Isolation Door
• Simi K. Rao'sThe Accidental Wife, Inconvenient Relations
• Aditi Chopra's Mr. Imperfect Series
• Malika Gandhi's Freedom of the Monsoon
•Sowmya Gali's A Jewel in the Sunset
• Vivek Shraya's God Loves Hair
• Monica Bhide The Devil In Us
• Shilpi Somaya Gowda's Secret Daughter
• A.X. Ahmad The Last Taxi Ride
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited is yet another tool I plan to leverage as I continue to explore and review the Indian American genera, especially as many of these self-published works are also enrolled in Amazon’s KU Program. Along the way, I am also hoping to sample these and dozens of other hidden gems.
Note: This is an informal list based on my eclectic search of Asian American genera on Amazon. Feedback welcome as I build my reading list
