I published my first book today! Available as ebook and paperback on Amazon. Available as paperback in India on Notion Press.
Many moons ago, when I was a student reporter with Bangalore Mirror, I got an opportunity to cover book releases for the features section. It was exciting and a welcome change because it meant I got to meet some well-known writers. The chance to interview and get a free signed copy was a bonus!
Now, most book releases were on a Thursday evening after class. I clearly remember taking the BMTC bus route 36 to Majestic (Kempegowda Bus Station) and then hopping on to a red colored, air-conditioned bus to the Mayo Hall bus stop. While the bus to Majestic was almost always crowded, the quieter one to Mayo hall gave me a chance to think about what I’d ask this new writer.
After I went through the standard set of questions, you know, the ones that make up a story’s core, I’d get to the ones I was curious about.
How did you get the idea for this book?
Did you face any writer’s block?
Did you sketch an outline for this book before you started writing?
How did you think about the characters?
None of these made it to print.
You see, I was looking for stories of my own to tell. Just like this writer. But telling a story isn’t as easy as it may seem.
Strange though it may sound now, as a journalist, I was trained to be a ‘fly on the wall.’ This meant, my job was to observe and report, as is, while keeping my opinions to myself. Over the 3 years of reporting, I’d lost the ability to tell a story.
Added to this was the struggle to go beyond the 600 words limit. Most stories in the newspaper were between 400-600 words and I had gotten used to sticking to this limit. So, a 20,000-word + story was out of the picture.
But once an item gets on your checklist, can you really let it go?
Short stories from the Gulmohar Days is about life in Bengaluru in the 90s. Most 90s kids like me will remember the days when we walked along the boulevard on MG Road eating ice cream and tagged along shopping sprees with our mothers to Safina Plaza. When we were not riding bikes or playing Dangerous Dave video game or trading coins with our friends, we visited Cubbon Park for the train ride.
The idea to work on this specific theme was a result of conversations with my friends from school. Like many of you, these COVID times gave me a chance to catch up with them and we never ran out of stories to recall, share and laugh about. And thanks (?) to the quarantine life, there was no option left but to ‘break’ the 600-word limit barrier. Its not like I could run away to the outdoors like before.
Thanks for choosing to stay thus far. I hope you enjoy this light read.
The amazing cover art by Seema Misra
Links:
Ebook and Paperback on Amazon:
Paperback on Notion Press (available in India only):
https://notionpress.com/read/short-stories-from-the-gulmohar-days