Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The rise and fall of the big 'E'

"Wait-a-minute!!" The grimacing smart-alec from a decade old marriage (eleven years to be precise, and still counting) said to me in between chomping through dinner. "Are you sulking?" This was followed by a grin that looked like the Cheshire cat playing the role of Voldemort.

The dignified, mature, well meaning indivdual that I am, I chose the best form of revenge known to womankind  - Silence. But the TV remote seemed to have suddenly, mysteriously disappeared - only to surface AFTER an eventful cricket match. I am sure The better half is still appreciative of the few kilos shed between all manual channel surfing.

You bet I am sulking! It all began with a short story competition that led to a bewildered me (read that as me pinching myself every 5 minutes to see if I was awake!) dreaming night after night of signing books (not unlike the dashing Castle and that wicked smile of his - just imagine the female version.....ummm..... yuck! on second thought, make it more like Beckett!) and finally being hailed as the answer to today's Sheldon ... or maybe even Edgar Allan Poe....

What? A girl can dream, can't she?

Well, lets just say the book got published. And then a co-author and I were just whining that there aren't any reviews for OUR book (among various theories was that the cover did not have a beautiful lady, and that probably was why) when kabam! ... in flow the reviews! And what awesome reviews they were. If the reader remembers (I insist on calling you that - so what if I am not a famous author?), I had, in an earlier post, voiced my fear of being singled out as the worst story teller ever, in that collection. Well, lo and behold! I have discovered another talent in the already too-talented-for-my-own-good self! I now can predict future....

Every review spoke highly of so many stories.... You would think a few of them would feel pity on me too, right? No way - where have all the be-nice-even-if-you-didn't-like-it people? The good news is that Urban Shots Bright Lights seems to be a voice to reckon with. Do read the reviews here to find out for yourself. And ofcourse, my good friend Dr.Roshan (oh yes! the name dropping was on purpose! He most certainly is on his way to being Castle... ! ) does get oppurtunity to hog the limelite here (which, by the way  is well deserved. But not that I intend forgiving him for it.....)

As if this wasn't enough, there were reviews that spoke about some stories (very rare) that were not too impressive in the collection...... you would think I would have made it to THAT list atleast. No. Nada. Zilch! I deserve a little sulk time, don't you think?

I was just my own, sulky self one day, when I recieved a phone call that made me grin like a monkey with a first time shot of tequila. Turns out, one of my stories have been selected by another publishing house for publication... and they want me to read a para at the book launch next month.

Now, let me not give you any wrong messages - I am, in all sense of the word, blowing my own trumpet here! And please do tell me you want to know which publication, and which date and all that... (which, shhhh! is still confidential for another yet week...)

Sigh! Looks like I will be having visions (yet again) of autgraphing my books to a long winding queue of excited fans - till the next review at least

24 comments:

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    1. hehehehe... I told you I was blowing my own trumpet! But believe me, it does wonders to reduce one's sudden addiction to gooey chocolate cake!

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  2. Wow! You will be popular! I am sure your visions will come true this time :)

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    1. Thank you so much.... I really haven't been much of a writer these days - even on the blog!

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  3. Another publication and a book reading more than makes up for the missing reviews. And the reviews couldn't be far behind....patience is something you never had anyways.

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    1. By God! I didnt know this was you!! till I went back to your profile! Hehehehe.... yup! Patience and I can't see eye to eye.

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    2. Thought so, when I read your reply on my last comment :D

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  4. when where how ... :) congrats on that offer and I wish and hope the reading goes very veyr fine ...

    congrats once again

    Bikram's

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    1. Soon... as soon as the publisher gives me the go ahead - I shall blow the trumpet some more! :-) Thank you for the kind wishes!

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  5. yeeesssss !!! Awesome news :) And no shame in blowing our trumpets ... You.Are.An.AAAAAUTHORRRRRRR!!!!!

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    1. Thanks Roshan .... I meant what I wrote in there - some day soon, I am sure I'll be queueing out to get a book signed by you :-)

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  6. Fantastic!! Congrats...do post pics some place. :) This is great news.. :D

    Psst..will you be doing any signing/reading in Bangalore? Maybe 'yours truly' will have the humble opportunity to meet a celebrity finally (and blow his trumpet that he knows an author) :P

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    1. Thank you so much!! Delhi for now .... might need to divorce the hubby if I start travelling for book launches (already travel for work!) ;-)
      Promise to let you know details soon.

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  7. ....And it's also time for a gentle, gentle reminder...the celebrity author has not visited my humble abode for quite a while..

    Fed up of the same ol' stuff already, huh? Can't blame you.. heheh :P

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  8. I keep saying this all the time...Dreams have a tendency of becoming reality...and thats exactly what you are seeing happening ...Congratulations...:) and cheers to those visions!! And with more book signings means Gaurav wont have to hide the remote and can sulk as India lose yet again..:)

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    1. yup... the sulky me becomes mean... and he definitley likes to keep out of my way then. Thank you so much for the wishes - seems this one should be available in the great 'gelf' as well ;-)

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  9. Waah, You have a book reading to do. Its official then - I know a CELEBRITY.

    Great going and needless to say congratulations are in order.

    Cheers :)

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    1. Thanks - lets count the chickens when the eggs hatch, shall we? All my dates with lady luck have been quite disastrous ;-)

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  10. Wohooooooooooooooooooooo..Congrats Congrats..I'm so proud of you..muah...

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    1. Muah to you too.... and really, really appreciate the nice stuff you guys say!

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  11. My dear, please go ahead and blow your trumpet, for this is all a blogger dreams of and it has come true for you! You deserve it gal. Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you, I got the book and promptly skipped to your story first. It was really a nice read. I don't know why it wasn't being talked about in the positive reviews, but surely I know why it wasn't in the negative ones. Very beautifully woven tale!

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    1. Yay!!!!! My first positive rewiew! Thanks - suddenly a bighter world! yay!

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  12. Good luck for this one...and wish you many many book autographing years!!

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    1. Thats like the awesome-est wish EVER! Thank you so much

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