hello again from the little red dot

the return of the novelist, and other mildly impressive news

I had big plans for this year, one of which was to write here regularly. Of course the first two weeks have gone by and I don’t have a single post to show for it. But positive psychology and so on, let’s put down some words.

All told, 2024 was like any other year for me, except for one big shift. It marked my return to writing novels. 17, Morris Road was released and oh, the joy of holding a new book in my hands. It never gets old. Not for me. A part of me identifies as a hassled corporate slave, you know, 300-slide PowerPoints and endless client calls and unexpected field crises (Madam, gaon waalon ne client ko bathroom mein band kar diya hai, anyone? No? Just me then.) And that part is perpetually in disbelief that I can write and get published and even receive reader mail (DM’s these days but what are you gonna do about it?)

I even attended my first big lit fest at Bangalore. Not counting the local ones I went to in Mumbai, including very memorably the one in Andheri where the panel was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Jimmy Shergill but that’s a story for another day (or for the next post, if you drop in a comment). Bangalore Lit Fest is like a cricket match in Chennai, knowledgeable crowd, and readers better read than authors, and so on. I got to meet so many inspiring writers, and spent some quality time gawking shamelessly at my heroes. There is a picture for posterity of me looking very pleased at being seated next to Ramachandra Guha at the book-signing counter. Of course, the queue for Guha’s autograph stretched to Mysore. And for those signed by me is still conceptual, should come into effect soon.

Much chuffed by the success of 17, Morris Road – which is a fine, fine book and you must buy twenty-one copies immediately – I’ve written another story, a funny one this time because the whole nostalgia business led to some insecurity regarding the funny bone. Happy to report that it seems to be working just fine, and gods and publishers willing, I should be making a humble-brag post announcing its release on LinkedIn soon. So blessed.

Otherwise, life carries on. A birthday looms on the horizon, and I’ll soon be turning 48. That used to sound like a grand number in the prehistoric era known as my teens, but now that it’s almost there, I don’t feel any different than I did at 28, or 38 – except, of course, for the fact that I’m a little thicker around the middle. That’s where all the wisdom goes.

And, what’s your news, dear reader? Tell me, I’m listening.