Sunday in Seattle

There's nothing like spending a sunny afternoon with good friends.

Last Sunday, my husband, two friends and I spent a wonderful afternoon exploring Seattle. We took the Foster Island trail from the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) toward the Washington Park Arboretum. The trail is a haven for urban wildlife. We saw a duck sheltering six fuzzy ducklings, right on the trail! And the last time we walked the same route, we saw a muskrat chomping on a lilypad. But beware -- in the spring, the trail can be muddy. We also discovered Fireworks, a fabulous store full of unusual gifts, including garden art and clocks made of salvaged tools, purses made of old license plates, toy snakes made of old bicycle chains, genuine miniature crank music boxes, fragrant soaps and candles, chocolate, cards, and more. Fireworks has five stores in the Puget Sound area.

Books that I'm currently reading and enjoying: BETTER, by Atul Gawande, THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD (re-reading), the second volume in John Christopher's Tripods Trilogy, HOW DOCTORS THINK, by Jerome Groopman, M.D., and THE WEATHER MAKERS, by Tim Flannery.

Kahani magazine wins Parents' Choice Award

Kahani--a wonderful literary magazine dedicated to empowering, educating, and entertaining children of South Asian descent living in North America--has won a coveted Parents' Choice Award for 2007.

My short story, Princess Priya, appeared in the February 2005 issue of Kahani. You can download this sample issue by clicking here.

Mr. Pusskins: A Love Story

I loved this funny, moving story of Mr. Pusskins, a sourpuss who takes Emily, his human guardian, for granted. "The girl's constant babbling, 'Blah-de-blah, blah, blah,' bored his whiskers off. He wanted more than this dull life."

But when Mr. Pusskins runs away, joining a cat gang and living on the cold, damp streets, he soon begins to miss Emily. I can't tell you what happens next, or I'll give away the ending (try not to read the reviews on Amazon), but Sam Lloyd has created a poignant, funny story. The illustrations are a hoot, too. Just look at the cover! And even better, you can hear Daniel Pinkwater and Scott Simon read the book aloud on NPR here (click "Listen"). Mr. Pusskins is a picture book for ages 4-adult.

Grand & Humble

I recently finished reading Brent Hartinger’s young adult novel, Grand & Humble, a suspenseful story with an unusual ending. From the book description: “Harlan’s a popular kid and Manny’s a geek But something strange is happening to both of them. Harlan is slowly losing his grip because he’s plagued by panic attacks he can’t control. And Manny has started having nerve-racking nightmares that leave him exhausted and terrified. In this complex and original novel, popular author Brent Hartinger takes us on an intense psychological journey as Harlan and Manny struggle with a fear they can’t name. It’s a journey that eventually leads downtown, where a secret lies at the intersection of Grand and Humble.” Brent writes in an unpretentious, accessible style, and I found myself anticipating free moments when I could return to reading this book. Brent takes certain risks with the plot, and I think this novel shows his versatility as a writer. And, I’m honored to know Brent personally. He’s a wonderful, warm person. Read his books (and read mine, too, while you’re at it!).

To Catch a Mermaid

Watch for my friend, Suzanne Selfors’ debut middle grade fantasy novel, To Catch a Mermaid, due out in September 2007. It’s a wonderful, imaginative story about a boy named Boom Broom who finds a foul-tempered merbaby.

Welcome to my Blog!

So much to say, so little time!

Here’s where I’ll post thoughts about writing and life in general, interviews with authors, reviews of my favorite books, and an eclectic mix of other fun stuff. I’d love to hear from you, too.

I’m coming down from Cloud Nine – my feet have just touched the ground after my two presentations in the Microsoft Auditorium at the Seattle Public Library. My talk, “A Writer’s Journey from India to the Pacific Northwest,” was part of a series of lead-in events related to Seattle Reads, in which the whole city reads Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, The Namesake. I discussed my family/cultural background and my journey from unpublished to published writer. The first presentation to 150 students, was fabulous. One astute little boy asked, “In Maya Running , why did you choose Ganesh (the elephant-headed Hindu god) instead of one of the other gods, such as Shiva?” The question took me aback. I concentrated on answering it, when I should’ve said to this boy, who stood about three feet tall, “So, which university will you attend next year?”

I met some wonderful Indian immigrants and their bright youngsters, including a lovely girl named Priya who has read my books and wants to know whether I’m writing a sequel to Maya Running. I’m sad that my talks are all over – I was growing to love the Microsoft Auditorium, the Children’s Library and my new friends at the Central Branch of the Seattle Public Library.

My novels Maya Running and Looking for Bapu are on the list of recommended reads for children in the Reading Group Toolbox for Seattle Reads.
More to come soon!