Hello, Friends!
I'm delighted to share with you the news that my new novel, Independence, has been optioned for a film by Temple Hill Entertainment. It's a long way, though, between an option and an actual film, so please send the book some good-luck wishes!
Both Amazon (USA) and Amazon (India) currently have Independence on a special sale, 43% off in USA and 35% off in India. I'm passing on the information in case you--or any of your friends--are interested. Here are the links:
You probably noticed that the covers in the two countries are very different. It is always a mystery to me as to why a certain publisher designs a particular cover. If you have any ideas, let me know!
Which of these covers is your favorite?
I was invited by Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia to give the 2023 Jagdish Sheth Lecture in Indian Studies--a big honor. They asked me to speak about Independence and the Freedom Struggle in India, including my own family's involvement. Here is the link to the talk.
For the event, I wore a kantha embroidered saree. (The same one in the photo below, which I wore at the inauguration for the novel at Jaipur Literature Festival.) This particular folk art is important in the novel and enables my heroines to survive when the family falls on hard times.
Of special interest to Book Club members: The Reading Guide for Independence, with discussion questions, is now available here, on the HarperCollins site. I hope you like it and find it helpful.
The audiobook of Independence is now out. You can listen to a sample here.
I was also invited to be the keynote speaker at the Akshaya Patra fundraiser in Boston. It was a big honor--and we raised a good amount of money to feed midday meals to schoolchildren in India. In many families, this meal is the main reason why children are allowed to remain in school rather than being put to work at a young age. You can find more information on Akshaya Patra here. An added bonus: I met many fans at the gala. Below is a photo with three sisters. Thanks to Anu Chitrapu for the photo.
And finally: Parenthood. A topic that I find endlessly fascinating and love exploring in my books. There's so much complexity in that relationship. So here's a poem for all of you parents--and all of you who are children. (I guess that covers everyone!) I hope you enjoy it.
