Vicar Sayeedi's Blog, page 11
November 20, 2013
My Thoughts on the Writing of Literature
Dear Friends and Readers of fiction around the world -
As an author with a keen focus and interest in writing novels, I recently spent nearly three weeks studying art, architecture, history and literature in Europe. While there, I was able to view authentic and classic works of literature written by Jane Austen, Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare as well as important historical objects such as the Kohinoor diamond and Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan's challis's and personal jewelry. I find such experiences invariably lead to greater depth and meaning in one's writing.
I made numerous visits to the British Library, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Tower of London and hours walking through London and Paris absorbing the wonderful architecture. It was an incredibly enriching and educational experience that left me with much to reflect upon as I endeavor to write the finest prose I possibly can.
I felt that for my work to have the authenticity and quality that would make it worthy and deserving of the time required to read it and for it to have longevity in the literary world, it would be critical for me to immerse myself in this way. Hours and days of observation and thought eventually lead to insights and writing that for me were otherwise unattainable.
A revision of my novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" will be available soon, in time for holiday gift giving and for your personal reading, as well. I hope you'll place it high on your list of gifts to give and books to read over the holidays. Thank you.
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
As an author with a keen focus and interest in writing novels, I recently spent nearly three weeks studying art, architecture, history and literature in Europe. While there, I was able to view authentic and classic works of literature written by Jane Austen, Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare as well as important historical objects such as the Kohinoor diamond and Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan's challis's and personal jewelry. I find such experiences invariably lead to greater depth and meaning in one's writing.
I made numerous visits to the British Library, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Tower of London and hours walking through London and Paris absorbing the wonderful architecture. It was an incredibly enriching and educational experience that left me with much to reflect upon as I endeavor to write the finest prose I possibly can.
I felt that for my work to have the authenticity and quality that would make it worthy and deserving of the time required to read it and for it to have longevity in the literary world, it would be critical for me to immerse myself in this way. Hours and days of observation and thought eventually lead to insights and writing that for me were otherwise unattainable.
A revision of my novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" will be available soon, in time for holiday gift giving and for your personal reading, as well. I hope you'll place it high on your list of gifts to give and books to read over the holidays. Thank you.
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
October 17, 2013
Update - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
Dear Readers and Goodreads friends around the world -
A quick note to update you on the progress of my novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" - the revised edition will be available late November on Amazon and Apple's iTunes.
This book is a wonderful holiday gift for readers of fiction, particularly for those interested in historical fiction and Indian/Mughal history. You can preview the first three chapters of the revised edition today on Amazon and Goodreads.
If you have any questions, please drop me a note on Goodreads or on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
Thank you.
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
Vicar Sayeedi
A quick note to update you on the progress of my novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne" - the revised edition will be available late November on Amazon and Apple's iTunes.
This book is a wonderful holiday gift for readers of fiction, particularly for those interested in historical fiction and Indian/Mughal history. You can preview the first three chapters of the revised edition today on Amazon and Goodreads.
If you have any questions, please drop me a note on Goodreads or on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
Thank you.
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
Vicar Sayeedi
August 18, 2013
The State of the Novel
Dear Readers -
It's been about four months since I published my first novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne". It took nearly a year of very hard work to research and write this book and now that it's been out for a while I've been able to collect some meaningful responses from readers around the world. I am sincerely grateful for everyone's feedback.
Reader's reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and iTunes have been both encouraging and exciting but there have also been some criticisms. I've received both classes of comments with a very open mind and a sense of objectivity and now I've decided to respond in the most positive way I know how.
Earlier this month, after reflecting on all the responses, I began working on the first revision of my novel with a determination to clear any shortcomings. I currently anticipate the new edition will be available on Amazon and iTunes by early October and I'm also hoping to do an eBook giveaway on Goodreads to spur reviews of the new edition.
Once again, thank you for supporting my efforts to produce the highest quality literature for our global fraternity of readers.
http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
Vicar Sayeedi
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
An Audacious Presidency
It's been about four months since I published my first novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne". It took nearly a year of very hard work to research and write this book and now that it's been out for a while I've been able to collect some meaningful responses from readers around the world. I am sincerely grateful for everyone's feedback.
Reader's reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and iTunes have been both encouraging and exciting but there have also been some criticisms. I've received both classes of comments with a very open mind and a sense of objectivity and now I've decided to respond in the most positive way I know how.
Earlier this month, after reflecting on all the responses, I began working on the first revision of my novel with a determination to clear any shortcomings. I currently anticipate the new edition will be available on Amazon and iTunes by early October and I'm also hoping to do an eBook giveaway on Goodreads to spur reviews of the new edition.
Once again, thank you for supporting my efforts to produce the highest quality literature for our global fraternity of readers.
http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...
Vicar Sayeedi
Legacy of The Peacock Throne
An Audacious Presidency
July 24, 2013
An Audacious Presidency
A blurb about my new novel (expected in winter 2014):
“An Audacious Presidency” is a timely, thought-provoking work of contemporary fiction. The story follows a despondent but irrepressible American President and a core group of advisors as they develop a bold strategy to dismantle the entrenched political environment that now permeates and undermines all efforts to govern the Nation. At the heart of the President’s plan is an unflinching determination to leave a legacy for his presidency that matches the aspirations and hopes of millions of Americans who swept him into office only a few years earlier.
Vicar Sayeedi
An Audacious Presidency
“An Audacious Presidency” is a timely, thought-provoking work of contemporary fiction. The story follows a despondent but irrepressible American President and a core group of advisors as they develop a bold strategy to dismantle the entrenched political environment that now permeates and undermines all efforts to govern the Nation. At the heart of the President’s plan is an unflinching determination to leave a legacy for his presidency that matches the aspirations and hopes of millions of Americans who swept him into office only a few years earlier.
Vicar Sayeedi
An Audacious Presidency
July 17, 2013
A Startling Revelation
On July 13, 2013, there was a fascinating and remarkable development in the publishing industry. It seems a retired British military officer named Robert Galbraith had recently decided to launch a new career as a writer. Galbraith’s debut novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” was published by a prominent publishing house this past April and the book has since received a number of positive reviews and also some critical acclaim. In fact, literary critics were very impressed by the unusually sophisticated writing style of this first time author. Many in the publishing industry were also surprised that a major publishing house had agreed to sign Galbraith since these firms normally work with more established authors.
Prominent voices in the industry and media soon became suspicious and decided to take a closer look. Following a tip, they requested scientists at England’s Oxford University to examine the new book to see what they could find. Using pattern recognition techniques, scientists soon concluded that, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” had actually been written by JK Rowling, author of the enormously successful Harry Potter series of children’s books. They estimated the probability that their conclusion was correct to be nearly 100% and they were right. Robert Galbraith has now been exposed as a fictitious author.
Before this news broke last weekend, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” had sold only 1500 copies in three months despite strong reviews and the backing of a premier publishing house. But once the news report linking the novel to JK Rowling was published, the book immediately rocketed to the very top of Amazon’s best-seller list.
From the perspective of an author, the significance of the “Cuckoo” episode - and the shift in the commercial environment it illustrates - cannot be overstated. It now seems that the days when writers would worry about how to secure a contract with a major publishing house or would panic over reviews penned by prominent literary critics may now have passed. Nevertheless, the new challenge facing today’s independent writers may be no less daunting than the hurdles previous generations of authors had to contend with.
Perhaps the most important question authors need to ask today is: in this age of nearly instant independent digital publishing and global distribution, what can an author do to effectively cultivate a relationship with readers? After all, the “Cuckoo” episode demonstrates that the name of the author, more than any other factor, was critical to the commercial success of the book.
Interesting, well-written books in literary genres having a broad appeal will be very important along with a regular presence on social media. Blog posts and author websites may also be very helpful in developing a relationship with readers but in the final analysis perhaps an element of good fortune will still be the key. Unfortunately, even in today’s brave new world of independent digital publishing, there is still no secret sauce for getting noticed by readers.
Vicar Sayeedi
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
Prominent voices in the industry and media soon became suspicious and decided to take a closer look. Following a tip, they requested scientists at England’s Oxford University to examine the new book to see what they could find. Using pattern recognition techniques, scientists soon concluded that, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” had actually been written by JK Rowling, author of the enormously successful Harry Potter series of children’s books. They estimated the probability that their conclusion was correct to be nearly 100% and they were right. Robert Galbraith has now been exposed as a fictitious author.
Before this news broke last weekend, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” had sold only 1500 copies in three months despite strong reviews and the backing of a premier publishing house. But once the news report linking the novel to JK Rowling was published, the book immediately rocketed to the very top of Amazon’s best-seller list.
From the perspective of an author, the significance of the “Cuckoo” episode - and the shift in the commercial environment it illustrates - cannot be overstated. It now seems that the days when writers would worry about how to secure a contract with a major publishing house or would panic over reviews penned by prominent literary critics may now have passed. Nevertheless, the new challenge facing today’s independent writers may be no less daunting than the hurdles previous generations of authors had to contend with.
Perhaps the most important question authors need to ask today is: in this age of nearly instant independent digital publishing and global distribution, what can an author do to effectively cultivate a relationship with readers? After all, the “Cuckoo” episode demonstrates that the name of the author, more than any other factor, was critical to the commercial success of the book.
Interesting, well-written books in literary genres having a broad appeal will be very important along with a regular presence on social media. Blog posts and author websites may also be very helpful in developing a relationship with readers but in the final analysis perhaps an element of good fortune will still be the key. Unfortunately, even in today’s brave new world of independent digital publishing, there is still no secret sauce for getting noticed by readers.
Vicar Sayeedi
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
July 10, 2013
Shah Jahan’s Tomb – The Fable of the “Black Taj Mahal”
There is an old fable that a matching "Black Taj" had been built as a tomb for the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan. Yet, there is no mention of such a tomb in the historical record nor was any evidence of such a structure ever found.
This folktale most likely has its origins in a very infrequent astronomical and weather related occurrence. It seems that following unusually heavy rains, a void or recessed area on the opposite bank of the Jamuna River from the Taj Mahal can sometimes flood with a considerable amount of water. If we view the shadow of the Taj Mahal in this temporary pool on a moonlit night, we will indeed see a "Black Taj" in the water. Archeologists and historians have recreated this scenario in recent years using a man-made flooding experiment and have validated that such conditions do indeed create a scene of a "Black Taj".
Vicar Sayeedi
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
This folktale most likely has its origins in a very infrequent astronomical and weather related occurrence. It seems that following unusually heavy rains, a void or recessed area on the opposite bank of the Jamuna River from the Taj Mahal can sometimes flood with a considerable amount of water. If we view the shadow of the Taj Mahal in this temporary pool on a moonlit night, we will indeed see a "Black Taj" in the water. Archeologists and historians have recreated this scenario in recent years using a man-made flooding experiment and have validated that such conditions do indeed create a scene of a "Black Taj".
Vicar Sayeedi
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
June 29, 2013
A Favorite Passage - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
Dear Readers -
I'm sharing one of my favorite passages from my new novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne". It's a surreal story about the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz. I hope you'll enjoy it. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Book Excerpt - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
“Oh, I recognize those!” Khurram is suddenly taken aback.
“What are they? They look like Nikkah certificates, too. Oh, these are… These are the certificates from your previous two marriages,” Banu says with resentment. Her demeanor suddenly changes and her eyes drift downward towards the anklets adorning her feet. Her smile is now overshadowed by a wave of jealousy surging through her entire being and her excitement melts away like ice on a hot Delhi afternoon.
Banu looks up at Khurram and his expression is tinged with embarrassment. “Banu, please. You must understand.”
“Understand what? We were betrothed to one another, but you still married two women. You didn’t wait for me. What’s there to understand?”
“Please, Banu. I didn’t marry of my own accord. It is the custom of Lal Qila – I needed to marry women before I could receive title and power. I needed to have wives in order to be seen as worthy of leading other Mughal soldiers and officers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t respect me or even accept me. Banu, I’ve already given you my word, haven’t I. You are the mother of my children. Only you. I promised.”
Banu looks up and her despairing eyes meet Khurram’s. “Do you love them? Do you love these two women?” she asks with a look filled with jealousy. Khurram remains quiet and reticent. He swallows hard. “Khurram?”
“Not in the way that I love you, Banu,” he struggles.
“What does that mean?” She asks softly. Her eyes drift away and the Prince feels desperate.
“Banu, please. These women were picked as wives for me by Jahangir’s advisors. They felt it was necessary for me to marry.”
“But you didn’t answer my question, Khurram,” Banu says in a barely audible voice. She rests her shoulders against the windowsill at the end of the bookshelf and puts her head back. “I asked you whether you love them?”
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
I'm sharing one of my favorite passages from my new novel, "Legacy of The Peacock Throne". It's a surreal story about the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz. I hope you'll enjoy it. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Book Excerpt - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
“Oh, I recognize those!” Khurram is suddenly taken aback.
“What are they? They look like Nikkah certificates, too. Oh, these are… These are the certificates from your previous two marriages,” Banu says with resentment. Her demeanor suddenly changes and her eyes drift downward towards the anklets adorning her feet. Her smile is now overshadowed by a wave of jealousy surging through her entire being and her excitement melts away like ice on a hot Delhi afternoon.
Banu looks up at Khurram and his expression is tinged with embarrassment. “Banu, please. You must understand.”
“Understand what? We were betrothed to one another, but you still married two women. You didn’t wait for me. What’s there to understand?”
“Please, Banu. I didn’t marry of my own accord. It is the custom of Lal Qila – I needed to marry women before I could receive title and power. I needed to have wives in order to be seen as worthy of leading other Mughal soldiers and officers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t respect me or even accept me. Banu, I’ve already given you my word, haven’t I. You are the mother of my children. Only you. I promised.”
Banu looks up and her despairing eyes meet Khurram’s. “Do you love them? Do you love these two women?” she asks with a look filled with jealousy. Khurram remains quiet and reticent. He swallows hard. “Khurram?”
“Not in the way that I love you, Banu,” he struggles.
“What does that mean?” She asks softly. Her eyes drift away and the Prince feels desperate.
“Banu, please. These women were picked as wives for me by Jahangir’s advisors. They felt it was necessary for me to marry.”
“But you didn’t answer my question, Khurram,” Banu says in a barely audible voice. She rests her shoulders against the windowsill at the end of the bookshelf and puts her head back. “I asked you whether you love them?”
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
June 21, 2013
Confessions of an APE! (Author-Publisher-Entrepreneur)
This is the first of three blog posts on the subject of being a successful APE.
In the words of Guy Kawasaki, an Author-Publisher-Entrepreneur is now referred to as an APE! Not a terribly flattering acronym, I’ll admit, but if you’re willing to work very hard, it can be a very rewarding occupation. Once you’ve gone through all the machinations of consulting, researching, exploring, writing, editing, reviewing, publishing and promoting your work, it’s incredibly gratifying to have someone read your book and then express their appreciation, enjoyment and pleasure at what you’ve done. That is truly rewarding!
However, there are a few steps a person should consider very carefully before they take the leap (from the tree branch) and become an APE.
For the right person, being an Author is a really wonderful and fulfilling occupation - I can certainly attest to that. But you should be the right person for the job. Let’s take the “Man in the Mirror” test (a reference to the now departed pop star, Michael Jackson) to see whether you’d make a good APE or not:
1. Do you write well? Have you heard from bosses, colleagues, family, friends, teachers, etc. over the years that you write well?
2. Do you have much experience writing (blogs, essays, magazine articles, poems, professional documents, etc.)?
3. Do you enjoy writing? (I mean, do your REALLY enjoy writing?) Writing a book, fiction or non-fiction, is an extraordinarily time consuming and exhausting task and you’re unlikely to complete your project if you’d rather be swinging from tree branches.
4. Would you characterize yourself as a creative or visionary person?
5. Do you have the necessary time to commit to such an endeavor? I’ve recently read about people who have written commercially successful novels (Young Adult genre) in as little as two months but most hard working writers will probably generate approximately 10,000 – 15,000 words per month (not draft words but high quality, finished writing). Given that a good book is probably one hundred thousand words or more, you will need considerable dedication to this endeavor.
6. If you’re writing a work of historical fiction or a non-fiction work requiring background investigation, you will need to allocate considerable additional time to conduct your research. The more time you are willing to dedicate to investigation and research the more authentic your work is likely to be.
7. If you’re writing a novel, can you make the effort to visit the location or locations where your story is set? This can lend significant authenticity and “realistic feel” to your book.
8. Are you willing to do the reading, research and cross-referencing to ensure that your work is historically accurate? This dedication and effort will also reflect well on your work.
9. Do you have a circle of family and friends you can trust with your manuscript as you progress with your project? They can be an incredibly valuable sounding board and help guide you to a finely finished work.
As we can all now see, there is a considerable amount of self-assessment and reflection required before a person sets out on their journey to be a successful Author. Nevertheless, going through this assessment is a very wise thing to do because you will know in your heart whether this endeavor is for you and the sorts of challenges you can expect.
In the second of this series of three blog posts, I’ll share my thoughts about what I’ve learned on the publishing aspects of being an APE. The third post will deal with the extraordinary challenges of promoting your work. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
In the words of Guy Kawasaki, an Author-Publisher-Entrepreneur is now referred to as an APE! Not a terribly flattering acronym, I’ll admit, but if you’re willing to work very hard, it can be a very rewarding occupation. Once you’ve gone through all the machinations of consulting, researching, exploring, writing, editing, reviewing, publishing and promoting your work, it’s incredibly gratifying to have someone read your book and then express their appreciation, enjoyment and pleasure at what you’ve done. That is truly rewarding!
However, there are a few steps a person should consider very carefully before they take the leap (from the tree branch) and become an APE.
For the right person, being an Author is a really wonderful and fulfilling occupation - I can certainly attest to that. But you should be the right person for the job. Let’s take the “Man in the Mirror” test (a reference to the now departed pop star, Michael Jackson) to see whether you’d make a good APE or not:
1. Do you write well? Have you heard from bosses, colleagues, family, friends, teachers, etc. over the years that you write well?
2. Do you have much experience writing (blogs, essays, magazine articles, poems, professional documents, etc.)?
3. Do you enjoy writing? (I mean, do your REALLY enjoy writing?) Writing a book, fiction or non-fiction, is an extraordinarily time consuming and exhausting task and you’re unlikely to complete your project if you’d rather be swinging from tree branches.
4. Would you characterize yourself as a creative or visionary person?
5. Do you have the necessary time to commit to such an endeavor? I’ve recently read about people who have written commercially successful novels (Young Adult genre) in as little as two months but most hard working writers will probably generate approximately 10,000 – 15,000 words per month (not draft words but high quality, finished writing). Given that a good book is probably one hundred thousand words or more, you will need considerable dedication to this endeavor.
6. If you’re writing a work of historical fiction or a non-fiction work requiring background investigation, you will need to allocate considerable additional time to conduct your research. The more time you are willing to dedicate to investigation and research the more authentic your work is likely to be.
7. If you’re writing a novel, can you make the effort to visit the location or locations where your story is set? This can lend significant authenticity and “realistic feel” to your book.
8. Are you willing to do the reading, research and cross-referencing to ensure that your work is historically accurate? This dedication and effort will also reflect well on your work.
9. Do you have a circle of family and friends you can trust with your manuscript as you progress with your project? They can be an incredibly valuable sounding board and help guide you to a finely finished work.
As we can all now see, there is a considerable amount of self-assessment and reflection required before a person sets out on their journey to be a successful Author. Nevertheless, going through this assessment is a very wise thing to do because you will know in your heart whether this endeavor is for you and the sorts of challenges you can expect.
In the second of this series of three blog posts, I’ll share my thoughts about what I’ve learned on the publishing aspects of being an APE. The third post will deal with the extraordinary challenges of promoting your work. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
June 14, 2013
Book Excerpt - "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
Jannah carefully retreats back to her seat and draws her cloak about her.
There is now an eerie quiet within Diwan-e-Khas as Court advisors and diplomats stoically await the Maharajah’s response. Several peacocks strut across the adjacent courtyard and provide the only respite from the painful grip of tension in the counsel chamber. After a seemingly infinite pause, the Maharajah rises from his Throne and breaks the silence. “I see. Thank you, Begum Jannah,” the aging Mirza Raja acknowledges solemnly. “Everyone, please wait here – I would like to consult in private with my military officers and key advisors.”
Jannah and Prince Khurram sit quietly and observe the incredible birds as they unfurl their plumage to reveal a kaleidoscope of spectacular color. The Maharajah, his Vizier and several other Court officials recess into an area adjacent to Diwan-e-Khas. They spend several minutes in hushed consultation before finally returning to the main chamber.
“Emperor Jahangir and Emperor Akbar before him have always shown themselves to be loyal and trustworthy allies,” the Maharajah concedes. The elderly Ruler then turns towards Prince Khurram. “Please let your father know that we fully support his efforts to resolve this matter with Amar Singh and are prepared to be part of the new alliance, as well. However, if Amar Singh does not concede to Shah Jahangir’s demands, we are deploying our army as the Emperor has requested. We are bound by our alliance with Lal Qila and our army will join with yours if a siege must be laid.”
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
There is now an eerie quiet within Diwan-e-Khas as Court advisors and diplomats stoically await the Maharajah’s response. Several peacocks strut across the adjacent courtyard and provide the only respite from the painful grip of tension in the counsel chamber. After a seemingly infinite pause, the Maharajah rises from his Throne and breaks the silence. “I see. Thank you, Begum Jannah,” the aging Mirza Raja acknowledges solemnly. “Everyone, please wait here – I would like to consult in private with my military officers and key advisors.”
Jannah and Prince Khurram sit quietly and observe the incredible birds as they unfurl their plumage to reveal a kaleidoscope of spectacular color. The Maharajah, his Vizier and several other Court officials recess into an area adjacent to Diwan-e-Khas. They spend several minutes in hushed consultation before finally returning to the main chamber.
“Emperor Jahangir and Emperor Akbar before him have always shown themselves to be loyal and trustworthy allies,” the Maharajah concedes. The elderly Ruler then turns towards Prince Khurram. “Please let your father know that we fully support his efforts to resolve this matter with Amar Singh and are prepared to be part of the new alliance, as well. However, if Amar Singh does not concede to Shah Jahangir’s demands, we are deploying our army as the Emperor has requested. We are bound by our alliance with Lal Qila and our army will join with yours if a siege must be laid.”
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
June 12, 2013
An Author's Journey - The Writing of "Legacy of The Peacock Throne"
In Service of My Readers
The writing of my new novel, “Legacy of The Peacock Throne” has been an endeavor of great personal importance and sacrifice. As I researched and wrote the story, I felt I needed to provide my readers with the most authentic historical detail regarding the Mughal period and the lives of Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz Mahal as I possibly could. I was also determined to infuse the story with accurate and realistic detail for the cities in which the story unfolds.
For the historical references, I spent many hours visiting 17th century auctions and exhibitions of Islamic and Mughal art, documents and objects in London and meandering through libraries and on-line repositories to investigate and cross-reference the historical record. It was an exhausting endeavor but it was also incredibly rewarding because I gained meaningful and valuable insights into the history of my own forbears and learned much that I was able to share with my readers.
To ensure my novel would have an authentic feel, I walked the streets of some of the cities, sometimes for twelve hours in a day, so that when I’d finally sit down to write, my readers would really experience and sense the ambiance of these great cities.
It was very interesting and enjoyable to absorb my surroundings with this perspective in mind and I’m now very happy to have chosen this path. I don’t think I would have had any chance to convey the true sensibilities of so many historical places without first hand experience.
The price of this experience was, however, quite high. Before I left Chicago, I had a shoemaker line the bottom of my leather oxford with a thick rubber sole since I knew what I was planning to do would be particularly rough on my feet. But it didn’t help very much. After two weeks of “street-walking”, portions of my feet had turned a most unpleasant shade of black and blue and were acutely painful.
Fortunately, my feet have now nearly healed and I’ve accepted the bruises as the price of writing a very high quality novel that I’m now sharing with my readers. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy it. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
The writing of my new novel, “Legacy of The Peacock Throne” has been an endeavor of great personal importance and sacrifice. As I researched and wrote the story, I felt I needed to provide my readers with the most authentic historical detail regarding the Mughal period and the lives of Shah Jahan and his Empress, Mumtaz Mahal as I possibly could. I was also determined to infuse the story with accurate and realistic detail for the cities in which the story unfolds.
For the historical references, I spent many hours visiting 17th century auctions and exhibitions of Islamic and Mughal art, documents and objects in London and meandering through libraries and on-line repositories to investigate and cross-reference the historical record. It was an exhausting endeavor but it was also incredibly rewarding because I gained meaningful and valuable insights into the history of my own forbears and learned much that I was able to share with my readers.
To ensure my novel would have an authentic feel, I walked the streets of some of the cities, sometimes for twelve hours in a day, so that when I’d finally sit down to write, my readers would really experience and sense the ambiance of these great cities.
It was very interesting and enjoyable to absorb my surroundings with this perspective in mind and I’m now very happy to have chosen this path. I don’t think I would have had any chance to convey the true sensibilities of so many historical places without first hand experience.
The price of this experience was, however, quite high. Before I left Chicago, I had a shoemaker line the bottom of my leather oxford with a thick rubber sole since I knew what I was planning to do would be particularly rough on my feet. But it didn’t help very much. After two weeks of “street-walking”, portions of my feet had turned a most unpleasant shade of black and blue and were acutely painful.
Fortunately, my feet have now nearly healed and I’ve accepted the bruises as the price of writing a very high quality novel that I’m now sharing with my readers. I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy it. Best wishes.
Vicar Sayeedi
Chicago, USA
My Author page on Amazon is available @
https://amazon.com/author/vicarsayeedi
"Legacy of The Peacock Throne" is available for purchase @
Amazon in the USA @
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CEKE5XM
Apple iTunes in the USA @
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lega...
I’m also on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/LegacyOfTheP...
