A Real Friend

There are a few things people should do. Not everyday we are published internationally. I was. Turns out I am a bad marketer. But today I decided to do the ammends. One of the short stories which Bennett Parrish of Circulogian Publishing edited and proofread and also published by him. Here is short excerpt from story:

The next day, her father saw Srikala who was in turn watching her friends who were now only boys playing cricket. Her father could not bear the sadness in her eyes. He retraced 10 steps back. He looked at Srikala, who was still watching the game and said, 

"Oh, you are home, you didn't go out to play." Srikala looked back puzzled. 

Her dad said, as if reading her mind, "If you are OK playing with boys, I don't mind." 

Srikala had gotten more than she had asked for. 

Download link: http://bookstore.thecirculogian.com/download-page.html

Do we need more books

"I want to buy more books!" I told Mom while I scanned through my collection of books at her place. She has been insisting me to take these books to my ‘home’. This isn't a small collection of Novels I am talking about. It’s much, enough to tell my mom that it’s a test of our relationship. The space these books take up is the space she gives me in her heart. Not that my current home doesn't have space to accommodate them but I need space for more books!!! But this post isn't about books and space they occupy and how Kindle is answer to my problems; it is about what my mom said after that -

"But, now you are writing your own book, why do you need more books?"

 I never told mom that I am writing a novel. My family doesn't even know what book I am writing; neither do my close knit circle of friends - friends who attended my wedding.  We don't hold such discussions. I don't tell them what are my character's dilemma are or what new catastrophe my protagonist is facing. I don’t, I am too shy to hold such discussions.

But one day, out of the blue I will be ready. The cover design will be in place. The draft would be final and edited. That day I will shout from top of the voice, from top of my building terrace - The book is Ready! Please read. That day someone is going to tell me what my mom said -

"Do we need more books?"

  That day I will sulk. I will rant about people want my work to be free. At least that day is not today.

Character Sheet

I began a project during NaNoWrimo, wrote 18000 words till date and now my characters talk to me. They ask, shouldn't you tell the reader that I failed my exams, other says isn't it important to tell my relatives deserted me at an early age and there is one more who says - it is time you created a sketch of me, give me color, shape and age.

Frankly, when people said their characters talk to them, I would laugh secretly and think come on aren't these people imaginary even if drawn from real life. Then one day I murdered two characters in my story and I felt I had blood on my hand. Slowly, the novel began to consume me. They followed me, walked with me, nudged me  to tell their stories. Tell their stories as if they are main characters however small role they played on the larger canvas I was building. And today, After much deliberation with online friends I finally embark upon journey of creating character sheet:

Hopefully, it won't be last of it.

PS: If this page is seeing less of me that is because I am either reading or writing or working.

PPS: Those who do not know what is NaNoWrimo, visit here.