Magical Madness - that's the only way to describe these past some days. After launching Govinda: Book 1 of the Aryavarta Chronicles in both Delhi and Bangalore (and feasting on some great food in the process - details of the road trip to follow) its back to reality, the computer, and Book 2 - though an air of excitement still remains.
For one, Govinda has made it to the Asian Age's top ten bestsellers lists (and I'm personally uber-kicked to be in the company of Jeet Thayil and "Narcopolis")
The Asian Age has also carried an interview, in which I manage to sound (IMHO) not very dorky, so that went well.
More stuff is sent to happen over the next couple of weeks - am doing my first Singapore reading tomorrow (the 11th of August) at Select Books on Armenian Street. I will be part on an exciting line-up that includes Vincent Clay, Stephanie Ye, and Heng Siok Tan.
Also, The Aryavarta Chronicles now has its own Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thearyavartachronicles
Note also the new website: www.aryavartachronicles.com
No wonder I'm still reeling :-)
For one, Govinda has made it to the Asian Age's top ten bestsellers lists (and I'm personally uber-kicked to be in the company of Jeet Thayil and "Narcopolis")
The Asian Age has also carried an interview, in which I manage to sound (IMHO) not very dorky, so that went well.
More stuff is sent to happen over the next couple of weeks - am doing my first Singapore reading tomorrow (the 11th of August) at Select Books on Armenian Street. I will be part on an exciting line-up that includes Vincent Clay, Stephanie Ye, and Heng Siok Tan.
Also, The Aryavarta Chronicles now has its own Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thearyavartachronicles
Note also the new website: www.aryavartachronicles.com
No wonder I'm still reeling :-)
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20 comments:
Read your book and loved it. Waiting for the second one. Also, wrote a review on the book for a website i work for. Hope u like it.
http://www.thepunekar.com/book-review/the-aryavarta-chronicles/
I hope to be a writer, and you are an inspiration.
Thanks so much for you feedback, Phantom! Hope you enjoy the next book too. Thanks also for reviewing the book :)
All the best with your writing endeavors, and I look forward to reading your work in due course.
Congratulations on the success of your book! I read a review on Zafar's blog, and am keen to get my hands on it.
Hi Damayanti! Thanks so much for your wishes. Look forward your feedback once you read it :)
loved it.... admired it...
Bought the book today. Read it in one sitting. Loved it! Looking forward to your next one already. :-)
Wow! Thanks so much, am glad you enjoyed it :) Thanks also for your encouragement - makes me want to work even harder on the next one! Cheers :)
Thank you for a great book!! But please do not make the wait for the next sooo long. I know good thing you have to wait for but hey here I am running out of breath, so Pleasee!!!
Thanks, Rahul! Am working as fast as I can on the next one :) Glad you enjoyed it!
From childhood days we heard Krishna is Lord, but when asked why, answer was always why you are questioning.Whatever limited interpretion I can make was "Krishna was a Great visionary, Greatest yogi and best manager".Reading your novel was very enlighting, interesting(especially part of Divine weapons- brahmastra etc and wonderful potrayal of grey shades of characters).Looking forward for the next part.
Thanks a ton, Manas. More weaponry and character shades coming your way soon in The Aryavarta Chronicles Book 2: Firewright. Thanks again for your support - cheers!
Thanks for bringing a very realistic view of Mahabharata era.Waiting eagerly for second book!!
Publish the next book, or i'll torture you to no ends.
Thanks 'Elusive!'
Errr, thanks, Vishaka? (I mean, I'll take it that you liked it :D) As for torture - have mercy, I'm typing as fast as I can - (the big thing there is the space bar, right?) LOL!
Liked the book a lot, read it some time back. Have already read it twice. Was late in writing to you.
Amazing book got me completely hooked.
Thanks so much, Arvind! Its totally awesome to hear that you like it so much! Cheers :)
Hey Krishna, I am amazed by the political, economic, social angles in the book. The characters are really well etched and interesting and the motivations for each of the major events in the original MBH, are interesting with the logical / rational angle rather than the divinity angle.
I was a little disappointed as the polyandry angle was not explored, as I wanted a more comprehensive look into the ramifications of that marriage on the characters and on their relation dynamics. I wonder you have read Bhimsen by Prem Panicker?
Also, I'm a bit surprised to the dismissing of the arjun-krishna relationship, and also the watering down of all the pandavas, who are a bit dumbed down.
Krishna and Krishnaa is wonderful and interesting and the theme of unrequited yet complete, manipulative yet sincere and above all the clashes between their slightly differing brands of political views is amazing. Panchali seems to be eternally a step behind in understanding the motivations and actions of the two puppeteers in the story.
Loved the emphasis on the Kingmaker aspect of Govinda, esp the slaying of Jarasandh
I wonder if your fascination for these Krishnas was because of your own name? :) Which Krishna were you named after?
Anyways, when can we expect a definite date for book 2?
HI!
Thanks, am glad you liked the premise! It was something I was working hard to bring out - the sense of a larger socio-eco-political tale that is complex but more real.
I have read Bhimsen, and enjoyed it too! Having said which, the polyandry, while definitely remembered as one of the notable features of the Mahabharata as we conventionally know, is debatable as fact. I lack the expertise to declare one way or another with finality, but I do tend to the opinion that it was not likely, even though it does give more color to the story as a whole.
Arjuna-Krishna relationship. It is special. At the end of the day, its central to the war, the Gita and all such. The reason why you dont see that much of it in book 1 is that such a bond has to develop, over time and with good reason. Book 2 will tell you why Govinda develops such affection for Partha, and it has do with more than them being brothers-in-law. On that note, Book 2 is expected by September 2013.
I was named for Krishna @ Govinda Shauri - the cool dude (No, my parents didn't think I was a boy, they wanted a girl!)
Thanks again for your comments and your support!
Re-reading the book and I see that it is sub titled as "adi". Now waiting for your version of my fav. sabha parva of MBH (even though Rajasuya, Shishupal, etc are already done), esp how you write the vastra haran scene :)
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