Chitra’s Comments (group member since Mar 26, 2009)

Chitra’s comments from the Q&A with Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni group.

Indu wrote: "Or have you ever thought of writing a book from the standpoint of "someone like me": born and brought up in the U.S. during a time when there weren't a lot of other kids who were "like us." My par..."

Thanks Indu--that's a great idea. i'd love to write that.

Anand wrote: "HELLO Mrs. Divakurni
I LOVED CONCH BEARER AND IT WAS AWESOME
SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT LANGUAGE DO U SPEAK IN INDIA"

Thank you Anand. you have the same name as my hero in Conch! I speak Bengali

Salma wrote: "Hello Ms. Divakaruni,

I'm an American-born and raised Bengali woman, so I was excited to find your book "Arranged Marriages" years ago- that was my first introduction to your writing and I stil..."

Hi Salma,
Glad you enjoyed Arranged Marriage. Thank you for your comments!
Put a manuscript aside for a month.
Writers conferences can vary in quality. if they allow you individual conferences, then they are more helpful. see who is teaching.
i write my scenes start to finish, but then sometimes i move them around.

Jon wrote: "Hello Chitra - im just starting Mistress of Spices, i notice theres a commendation from Amy Tan on the front cover, i love 'Thejoy luck club' have you read any of her work?

Do you have a top 5 c..."

Yes, Jon, I have read and enjoyed Amy Tan. I love these writers (among many others): Amitav Ghosh, Louise Erdrich, Tim O Brien, Cristina Garcia, Maxine Hong Kingston.

Hima wrote: "Hi Mrs. Divakaruni!!

My name is Hima, and I am a 6th grader a Miller MIddle School in CA. I really love your Conch Bearer duo, and was ecstatic to find out that there was a third one while scrolli..."

Thanks, Hima. Sorry I was so busy at that time. I am so glad you are liking the books.

Lashanae wrote: "Hello Chitra,
I have only read ne of you books but it was so awesome i loved it so much and I cant wait to get my hands on the others I read "The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming", now i have to go back..."

Thank you, Lashanae!

Ariyani wrote: "Hi,
I am also from Indonesia, only few of your book already translated to our language...but I realy-realy admire your work...and look forward to have your book translated to Bahasa...

BTW I am..."
Thank you, Ariyani!!

Rachel wrote: "That's funny you reference LOTR. When I've told teachers/parents about Conch Bearer I have said it's a cross between Harry Potter and LOTR :)
Definitely hope you get to have more imput this time ar..."

(smile)

DMD wrote: "I've been a huge fan since I read Arranged Marriage Stories back when I was in college. It was the first book I had read with characters with which I could identify and I actually feel that it imp..."

thanks, DMD, and thanks for sharing my work with friends. i still do write poetry. there's a (funny?) poem about my dog on my website, http://www.chitradivakaruni.com. i'm not sure what has directed my writing path, or where my ideas come from. it's quite mysterious & wonderful.

Carol wrote: "I find young adult fiction to be much more enjoyable than modern adult fiction. I am impressed with your style of writing and have enjoyed the 'conch bearer' series. You are from Texas? We just ..."

Thanks carol! yes, houston is very cosmopolitan & i hope to use it as a setting soon

Margaux wrote: "Hello, Mrs. Banerjee-Divakaruni.

I'm an eleven-year-old homeschool girl, and I loved Mirror of Fire and Dreaming. I actually read that books before The Conch Bearer, but I thought the second bo..."

Hi Margaux, So glad you enjoyed the Conch & Mirror. the 3rd book, Shadowland is available in stores & on Amazon now.
1. you might want to start with stories. i wrote many short stories before i started writing novels.
2.get someone else to read & suggest edits--it really helps to get another opinion. then you'll be able to do it, too. that's why we teach in the workshop format in creative writing programs at most universities.
3. a good cliffhanger ending is just fine. you don't have to have a sequel.
good luck with writing!

Rachel wrote: "Hi,
I'm a mom of an 8 year old girl who loves to read, and reads well for her age. So, I spend a lot of time reading books for her (trying to gauge what is written at an 8th grade level but approp..."

Hi Rachel
I'm so glad you liked the Conch Bearer & Mirror. CB has been optioned, so keep your fingers crossed! I think I would love for a magical, humorous but not overdone film--my all time fantasy film favorite is Lord of the Rings--so something like that. I thought The Golden Compass was also well done.
with the movie of Mistress of Spices, I was an informal consultant. I'd like to give a little more input for this one, if possible.

That's a lovely compliment, Alison. thank you.

jo wrote: "cool and brave feminist literature in a time when such things are no longer quite "fashionable." way to go!"

Thanks Jo. It's important for me to keep writing stories with women at their center.

Nadiah wrote: "Hi,

I'm a big fan of yours, from Indonesia.

The first one I read was "The Unknown Errors Of Our Lives." And, I fell in love right away.

Not only can you write beautifully, but you also create su..."

Thanks, Nadiah! I will think of some tips and put them on my blog soon at http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/blog, but meanwhile: read widely and carefully--that's the 1st step to becoming a good writer.

GoldenjoyBazyll wrote: "Hi Chitra!!!!!

While I have read many of your books both for young readers as well as adults I have a question about your young readers series-

What motivated and inspired your ideas for Conc..."

hello N,
thanks for the good words and for sharing my books with readers. i recently wrote a blog post on how i started writing for children, "Happy Birthday Shadowland" on my blog, Amazing Things, http://www.chitradivakaruni.com/blog/.
much of my interest in women came from the commnity work i did in domestic violence. i agree, friendships among women are really important--that is a major theme in Sister of my heart.
And yes, kindle 2 is great--i have asked my publisher to provide all my books on it.

Diane wrote: "Hello Chitra,

I absolutely love your writing. Your bring such life to your characters. I am wondering if you know how your novels will end when you start writing? Do you work off an outline that p..."

Hi Diane--thanks! no, i usually don't know exactly how the book will end though i have some possibilities in mind. i let the book unfold & discover it as i go along. i do start outlining about 1/2way into the book--by then things become clearer. my writing is very character based. i have to understand a character before i can write. i do 4 or 5 drafts, sometimes more because i'm an obsessive reviser.

Mishti wrote: "Hello,
How long does it take you to write a novel, disregarding the editing process? Whenever I attempt this, my plot is usually burned out in under 15 pages... How can I prevent this? "

hi Mishti--it takes me a year to two years. Palace took me 4 because of the research. try to outline a plot before you start--and make sure you have a story that's interesting --that might keep you going.

Lokesh wrote: "Hi Chitra,
This is one of the life time opportunity I am having to be able to talk to you. I first book was Palace of Illusions, and I was so impressed by the same. And I read rest of ur books bac..."

Hello everyone! I'm so glad to have discovered goodreads and to have become a goodreads author. I'm looking forward to chatting with you. If you have a question or comment about my books or my writing process, please post it here. It might take me a few days to get back to you as I'm traveling--my new children's fantasy novel, Shadowland, just came out. But I'll definitely get back to you.
Happy reading!