RANTS & DOODLES

Tranquility

(Charcoal & Pencil)

Something everyone searches for in their lives but only a blessed few truly find.

Night-Jungle

(Acrylic on Canvas )

The dark beauty of a jungle at night....

A SWEET NOTE

4th Oct' 23

I recently had a strange, but very sweet experience during my book promotion tour in Bangalore and I wanted to share that experience with you.

We writers are generally very comfortable and at home, in our writing process. Be it continuing an ongoing WIP or plotting the rough mind-map of our next work. That is our happy place. At least when we have just started our journey, like in my case. The toughest part is "Marketing" the book once it is published.... especially so if you have self-published your work in India 😅. I know many of my fellow Indian authors will agree with this.

So there I was, being a busy-bee and approaching people with my debut novel A SENSE OF BETRAYAL and telling them about it and trying to find readers who might be interested to give it a try. This was in a mall in Bangalore during a recent #lockthebox event and I had left my phone on my table for charging. When I returned to pick up my phone after a while, I was very surprised to find a folded chit under it. My heartbeats suddenly sped up with feelings of apprehension and curiosity and I picked it up nervously not knowing what I was gonna find inside. ....

And this is what I found......I am sharing the pic of the written note over here. I was overwhelmed with the kindness of this compassionate stranger who understood the effort it took me, to do what I was doing. His/her sweet note was such a boost of motivation to me that I don't have enough words to express my gratitude. So, I am writing this piece to express my happiness and also gratitude for his or her compassion and kindness in motivating me, when at times it's really hard and disheartening as the "promotion" of one's book is not going as planned.

Thank you for the beautiful note dear kind "stranger.

WHAT'S UP THESE DAYS...

12th July' 25

I know it's been a while since I have updated anything much in this section. So, what's up with me these days, you ask??? Well, struggles of a newly self-published author, what else?

No....No...please don't misunderstand my intent from the above statement. I am enjoying the whole process of learning the self-publishing gig. I proudly claim to have managed each aspect of my new release (2nd book) A Sense of Belonging. Starting from finding beta readers to an editor, a cover designer or an interior designer and last but not the least a printer (Pshshsh: Amazon doesn't allow or provide the paperback facility to us Indian authors 🙄🤪)

But, what the heck, like I am gonna let it stop me. 😁....no siree....

I strangely even had to battle (one of patience & wits) with the ISBN dept. to get the ISBN issued for my book....as they had some specific rules for authors with Pseudonyms. But, as I said before....each step teaches me a new thing about the process and gives me deeper insight, bringing me that much more closer to my goal & dream of penning down more & more stories and being able to capture my readers' attention.

The most daunting and tiring of all is trying to get my books noticed and self-promoting. Especially for a new author like me, whom no one knows and whose work is also as of unknown to the reading community. It is all the more tiring as it takes me away from what I love to do the most..... WRITING MY CURRENT WIPs (yep there are 2 on the way).

But, then it is ....what it is. I am still hopeful that I can continue with my writing once a little initial promotions are done for my existing books. For, it might seem tiresome now, but let's face it.... what's the use of writing more, when no one knows me or my work, right??? So, for now a little more of the promotions......

I leave these words here like that 'note in the bottle' (you know from the ship-wrecked or marooned guy) in the hopes that someone finds me here and takes pity and looks at my books....😜(Just kidding guys)

So, stopping for today....I think I succeeded with quite the decent bit of "rambling" here......as long as the section of 'Rants & Doodles' doesn't get lonely...