Books & Authors
The Cover Story: Author of ‘A Year of Wednesdays’, Sonia Bahl, on what went into the beautiful, minimalist cover
Author Sonia Bahl has always spoken about her cherished collaboration with the editor of both her novels: Pooja Dadwal, Deputy Managing Editor—Fingerprint! Publishing. We asked both of them to take us behind the scenes and unravel some of the workings of how A Year of Wednesdays came into being.
This is what Pooja Dadwal had to say.
Someone impossibly wise once said that knowing that now is all there is, and living every now for the rest of all your nows, is all there is to it. And if you do this now right, the rest will follow suit.
The story of A Year of Wednesdays began on one such now. But not between the characters. Not yet. The first now happened hundreds of Wednesdays ago, between the writer and her editor.
The editor who had collaborated with the writer on her first book. The writer who had never thought of writing a second one. And yet she did. The first book introduced the two, the second solidified their collaboration. But there was that in-between—there always is, isn’t it?— in which the editor, one fine February afternoon, finally coaxed the writer to send her anything, even a paragraph, of what she was writing next. No, not one of her screenplays, she said. (The author writes for the screen too. Or mostly for that.)
The writer wasn’t, not on paper anyway—but aren’t we all writing stories in our minds and hearts always. And so the writer humored her—with an opening line sent in the space of a few minutes. Which the editor gulped down in a moment and asked for second helpings. Legend has it that the writer humored her editor again. And again. And again.
Lines, paragraphs, chapters, shared initially over WhatsApp, soon gave way to mail. The length increased, the story continued, but both never mentioned publishing. Not that it was a foregone conclusion—it wasn’t. Even though both now belonged to the same universe of books, publishing the story as a novel had never formed part of their conversation.
The story which had started as a message in February came to its conclusion in November. Only, it couldn’t. For that’s the other glorious thing about being in the now. After living in every now you manage to gather so many of them that they shine brighter than a thousand suns. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Specially so in the case of A Year of Wednesdays. It is the most superlative testament of the writer’s genius. And her heart.
And so the editor, who understood the literary weight of what lay in her hands, asked the writer if she’d consider bringing this out as a book. The writer, Sonia Bahl, agreed, eventually. And so started the formal literary journey of Seat 7A and Seat 7B, two strangers who meet on a flight from New Delhi to New York and end up talking through most of it. Actually all of fifteen hours and thirty minutes of it. Touchdown, and they go their separate ways . . . only, something stays. Something that refuses to leave. There are some knots which cannot be untied. Some bonds which cannot be explained away. All you can do is honour these. A Year of Wednesdays explores this very rarefied bond between people.
Heart aching and achingly familiar, the story gently manages to fuse itself not only into your thoughts but also into the very spaces between your thoughts. And in the bargain leaves you with an incredible wealth of emotions. Of being human. Of being alive. Indelible marks on ephemeral us. 🙂
A Year of Wednesdays: Behind the Cover
We asked author Sonia Bahl how the stunningly simple and Zen-like cover came into being.
“If the process of writing is a dream, the book cover represents the awakening.”
- Jhumpa Lahiri, The Clothing of Books
The cover for A Year of Wednesdays was a protracted, meandering, getting-lost-more-than-found journey. Here I must acknowledge the design team at Fingerprint! Publishing for working with me to find my way home. We started at point A, skipped point B, forked into dramatic detours, screeched into dark alleys, changed direction, and finally reached a destination we had definitely not anticipated when the journey began.
The book held so many themes. A moment in time when two unlikely people, from polar opposite worlds and world-views, are hermetically sealed in a common world for fifteen hours. A long haul flight. A forced interaction due to a bizarre, near-absurd reason. It’s an amalgam of crackling moments of stiletto-sharp bantering and a brazenly honest sharing of what matters and why. Mostly, an uncanny, inexplicable connect that is entirely borderless. Age, time, place, religion, childhood, financial status, marital status, likes and dislikes don’t matter when you are sealed together for fifteen hours, never to meet again. The big one, which you don’t realize until it is much too late: the person will stay with you forever . . . maybe even change you incontrovertibly. Unconsciously paying homage to the Japanese notion of ichi-go ichi-e. Every encounter comes just once in a lifetime. No one encounter can ever come back. But it could last forever.
The cover art’s journey was almost as multi-diverse in thought as the journey of the two protagonists. It began with images of the sky. We worked relentlessly to communicate why it means much more than just the literal meaning of a plane in the sky. No matter which way we visualized it, it lacked in the richness, the fullness of the story. There were obvious, sometimes unimaginative, attempts to play with seats on a plane. Or a plane window juxtaposed with an unexpected view. Everything ended up being uni-dimensional, showing exactly what we were saying. Unable to create the perfect equation where one plus one will add up to the ah-ha of three. Seat 7B’s favourite number. Still, it felt imperative to acknowledge the sky. How could we not? There was such an undeniable role played by stars in their lives (without revealing too much). So we kept clocking up miles, kept moving down the star-studded flight path. The arresting beauty of a night sky, a stylised star map, a view of the changing skies across a long haul flight . . . all visually staggering. Some covers looked clichéd, others looked like they were textbook pictures for celestial lovers. We acknowledged it was time to opt for a dramatically different change in direction to get out of the loop we’d gotten stuck in.
Where was our true north? It’s A Year of Wednesdays. What can organically and emblematically embody the moving of time: one whole year? A year can contain multitudes. The passage of time, transformation, the cyclical nature of life, the ups and downs, the routine, the unexpected curve balls in the routines, birthdays, celebrations, important dates, daily minutiae, love, loss, redemption. And the inevitability of things.
Nature. It says it every day, every month, every year. Naturally, eloquently, immutably. An artist’s impression of a leaf changing through the year became the understated, poignant symbol of all that we wanted to say. A subtle grey background, gave us the minimalist, Japanese aesthetic. A quiet nod to ichi-go ichi-e. The gold signature by the author, a suggestion from the editor, was used instead of typical font, to make the intimate story even more intimate.
We had landed. Home. To use Jhumpa Lahiri’s words, again: “The right cover is like a beautiful coat, elegant and warm, wrapping my words as they travel through the world, on their way to keep an appointment with my readers.”
Books & Authors
‘Revenge shows that you are weak, It’s a sign of a weak person.’ | Ravleen Sabharwal and Amit Dubey (Exclusive Interview)
Ravleen Sabharwal and Amit Dubey are two accomplished lawyers who have co-authored the gripping novel “Revenge Instinct”.
Ravleen Sabharwal, a lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, and Amit Dubey, a lawyer in the Bombay High Court, have used their legal expertise to craft a narrative that delves deep into the themes of family, loyalty, and revenge.
Their ability to create complex characters and explore their relationships in a realistic and relatable manner has garnered them critical acclaim. In this interview, we have the opportunity to hear from Sabharwal and Dubey about their inspiration for “Revenge Instinct”, their writing process, and their experiences as authors.
Some glimpses of our conversation with Ravleen Sabharwal and Amit Dubey.
What inspired you to write a book on the topic of Revenge Instinct?
Ravleen: As lawyers, we were discussing a case one day and realized how people often fall prey to revenge in various situations. This sparked the idea of writing a book on the topic.
Did you conduct any research or interviews to gather information on the subject of revenge and its effects on individuals and society?
Ravleen: We based our book on our observations of how revenge can drive people to commit big crimes for various reasons. We did not conduct any formal research or interviews.
What challenges did you face during the writing process, and how did you overcome them?
Amit: The biggest challenge was staying on the same page and sticking to the same plot. As lawyers, we have many things to discuss, and we often had to delete or scrap our previous ideas. However, it was also fun to write a book.
Do you believe that revenge is ever justified, or is it always a negative force in human relationships?
Ravleen: To sum it up, revenge shows that you are weak. It’s a sign of a weak person.
Can you give us an overview of how you divided the work, from writing the manuscript to publishing?
Amit: We sat down and discussed and made points, and sometimes divided the chapters based on the plot we had jotted down before. Each chapter starts with a saying of a well-known personality that reflects how that saying is apt, introduced by Ravleen and later developed by me.
How did you balance writing and work, and manage to find time for both?
Ravleen: As lawyers, we have a very hectic schedule, but we made time for writing by prioritizing it and working on it whenever we could. It was a challenging but rewarding experience.
What message or lesson do you hope readers will take away from your book, and how do you think it can help them in their own lives?
Amit: We hope readers will understand that revenge is never a solution to any problem and can only lead to more harm. One lie can lead to another and it’s never-ending, especially when it comes to revenge or anything that is not good for a person. We recommend that everyone read the book at least once.
Buy Book
We are back again this month with a new list of books by amazing authors that you should add to your TBR this month. So be it romance, be it poetry, be it leadership, be it self help we have it all.
So go ahead and add them to your bookshelves.
Here are 10 books that you can definitely add to your reading list this month. 🙂
1. Smiling in my Sleep by Ramachandran Rajasekharan
“Smiling in my Sleep”, like the poet’s earlier book, “Dewdrop and Banyan Tree”, presents the realities of our world.
The sensitivity of the poet’s thoughts and emotions as they ‘fly back and forth as birds breaking frontiers and bring to life experiences plucking at the heartstrings and making music of them.’ resonates with the reader with ease.
These poems are an intellectual delight, revealing the reality around us as images that convey stories of love, warmth, compassion, and empathy, crafted with a keen sense of observation in powerful and absorbing lines that would leave lasting imprints in readers’ minds.
2. Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan
Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor. But over the next decade, as a vicious civil war tears through her hometown of Jaffna, her dream takes her on a different path as she sees those around her, including her four beloved brothers and their friend, get swept up in violent political ideologies and their consequences. Desperate to act, she must ask herself: is it possible for anyone to move through life without doing harm?
V. V. Ganeshananthan is the author of Brotherless Night and Love Marriage, which was longlisted for the Women’s Prize and named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post. Her work has appeared in Granta, The New York Times, Read More..
3. A Bounteous Gift by Niharika Singh Sharma
Zoya has a perfect life.
A happy marriage, loving children, and a satisfying career.
She never pondered how things could have been different until a sudden disaster struck. A disaster that trapped her between life and death, in a realm where the past and the present exist at the same time.
There, she is compelled to come to terms with the ghosts of her past—an infant she lost in childbirth, a romance, and a secret that was so traumatic at the time of its occurrence that it remained submerged for many years. Reliving these memories Read More..
4. Neuro Hack by Debjeet Das
This book is a fascinating look at the human brain. The brain is the most complex and enigmatic organ in the human body. It is the source of our thoughts, emotions, memories, and experiences. It is responsible for every action and decision we make, and it plays a crucial role in shaping our identity and defining who we are.
This book is a journey into the mysteries and wonders of the brain. It is an exploration of the various functions and processes that make up this remarkable organ and a celebration of the marvels of the human mind.
5. Karnali Blues by Buddhisagar
Karnali Blues, by Buddhisagar, is the most widely read Nepali novel to have appeared in the last twenty years.
As it recounts the evolution of a father-son relationship-a son’s search for approval, a father’s small acts of kindness and forgiveness, and a son’s fears for his father’s dignity as his fortunes and faculties begin to fail-the reader is deeply drawn into young Brisha Bahadur’s world. His father is kind and idealistic; his mother, though she is kind too, is often frustrated and irascible.
The characters in this book are some of the most carefully drawn and authentic in all of Nepali literature.
6. Delightful Delicacies-Demystified by Pinky Kedia
Delightful delicacies demystified is your key to easy Soulful food that you and your loved ones can Savor. The recipes are flavourful and fancy while also being easy to cook even for beginners.
Every recipe is explained in great detail to ensure one does not go wrong. this book has flavourful recipes for various world-class cuisines in the form of various soups; salads, appetizers, main courses, and desserts.
The idea behind this book is to remove the anxiety and uncertainty around cooking hearty vegetarian food at parties and even on daily basis.
7. Etch Your Name In Time by Pearl John
This book is a practical, powerful, and propelling guide for you who aspire to be a person of influence creating a lasting impact on your world. This is not for the faint of heart. It is for those who are committed and passionate about making your life count today and tomorrow.
It offers actionable advice on how to leave a legacy that is consistent with your values, purpose, and passion.
The author of this book is a Servant Leadership Evangelist and a sought-after leadership coach who serves as the Executive Director of Logos Management in Mumbai. Before Read More..
8. Ghee Rice & Dhal Fry by Krishna Ramachandran
A man on the verge of suicide, reclaiming his life and his business, a man rushing to the office stopping and reprioritizing his life, a relationship that tries to sustain a breakup, a food blogger on the lookout for tasty food, a man struggling to balance between 2 things he loves the most, a man looking at settling scores in a unique way, a brother getting over trauma in his own way, a lady making a fool of herself just to have her favorite food.
Read about all these people and a little more in this diverse collection of 18 short stories set up in everyday environments based on everyday characters
9. Marriages Not Made in Heaven by Vathi Agrawal
‘Marriages not made in Heaven’ is set in Delhi and is a generic tongue in cheek reflection on upper middle class Delhi households. The story revolves around the Chopras.
Mrs. Nita Chopra’s sole ambition in life is for her three daughters to be settled in happy matrimony, preferably in rich households. With no help from her husband, Anand, she goes about securing suitable grooms for each of her daughters. Her eldest daughter Payal, who is more interested in running her own business than being someone’s wife, sees marriage as her ticket to pursue her dreams. Simran, the middle one, is courting a fellow doctor with the fond hope of fleeing the country (and her family). Read More..
10. Anthill by Vinoy Thomas
Bounded by dense Kodagu forests on the south and west, and rivers on the north and east, Perumbadi, at the border between Kerala and Karnataka, has hidden from the world. Its very isolation has attracted varied settlers from south Kerala over the years. The first settler on this land, Kunji Varkey, was fleeing the opprobrium of getting his own daughter pregnant. Those who followed had similar shameful secrets.
hails from Nellikkampoyil, Iritty, in north Kerala. A schoolteacher by profession, he is one of the most promising young writers in Malayalam. His short-story collections include Ramachi, Mullaranjanam and Adiyormisiha Enna Novel. His Read More..
Book Prices
| Smiling in my Sleep | Rs.49 (Kindle) |
| Brotherless Night | Rs.475 (Kindle) |
| A Bounteous Gift | Rs.106 (Kindle) |
| Neuro Hack | Rs.99 (Kindle) |
| Karnali Blues | Rs.324 (Paperback) |
| Delightul Delicacies-Demystified | Rs.1250 (Paperback) |
| Etch Your Name In Time | Rs.307 (Paperback) |
| Ghee Rice & Dhal Fry | Rs.199 (Paperback) |
| Marriages Not Made in Heaven | Rs.175 (Kindle) |
| Anthill | Rs.269 (Kindle) |
(Prices and availability are subject to change without notice.)
Image Courtesy: Nathan Franklin on Unsplash
Are you looking for a great book to read this month? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 books that we recommend you check out. From heartwarming family dramas to thrilling page-turners, there’s something for everyone on this list. 🙂
1. The Stardust You Left Behind by Jayakrishnan Sureshbabu
In his collection of poetic verses, Jayakrishnan takes us on a journey through the realms of love, highlighting the intricate shades of emotions attached to it. From the ecstasy of being in love to the agony of loneliness and separation, he illustrates that sometimes all we need to do is believe in magic – that stardust called love.
The author of this lives in Hyderabad, India, and writes on his Instagram Page @ thepoeticsoulspeaks. His short poems on love, life, loss, and intricate human emotions have touched the hearts of Instagram users across the globe. He is a seasoned IT Professional who loves traveling, reading, writing, Read More..
2. What to do if there is a Murderer in your Family? by Veer Devgan
An eye on the ground.
A green-eyed boy who popped out of nowhere.
A very obese and murderous uncle.
Krish’s life has never been normal. He lost his memory when he was barely seven and the only thing he can remember is the stench of ashes and a poor boy whose eye he almost gouged out. His life is turned upside down when he finds his mother lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen, surrounded by her family.
What will he do now? The mysterious boy seems to be exceptionally friendly with his brother who is hiding Read More..
3. Shadows by Pradeep Gulati
SHADOWS can be driven away by a single ray of light shining at the correct angle.
Rishi, a marine engineer, sailing on ships braving the forces of nature, piracy and onslaught of rules and regulations of ship operation, had never expected to be drawn into a web of corruption, bribery, deceit and sex, when he shifts to a shore based managerial job. Nor had he expected to become the proprietor of a leading escort agency.
Dissanee, a small town girl from Thailand, leading a simple pious life ingrained with family values, dreaming of taking care of her mother and brother, and being the best nail artist Read More..
4. Muawza by Sanjiv Priyadarshi
“Muawza – The Compensation and Other Stories” is a collection of eleven stories which will take you to a long journey of intense emotions and diverse facades of human values. Intricately woven around the people around us; the stories travel from the undying spirit of a forlorn mother ousted from her world to a desperate father deprived of his son’s love, to the bliss of true friendship and grandeur of the poorest of poor’s hearts; opening myriad vistas of feelings and scooping out convictions buried in deep caverns of our hearts.
The stories; some based on real life experiences, will leave you spell bound and craving for more; forcing you to seek Read More..
5. Regrets by Hema Chhetri
It is a tragic love story about two characters who meet and fall in love at first sight in school. Their intrusive shyness and feeling of belonging bring ultimate romance also making one go through their practical and painful side in the journey which creates a high drama. How fate turns them into friends but by heart, they were almost married. How they call themselves two incomplete stories that are waiting to be completed finally before they have to part ways forever.
The author of this book was raised in the Northeast and began writing during her service as a staff nurse. Her passion for writing made her pursue MA in Journalism and earned her awards. She has appeared in commercial ads and continues to Read More..
6. Dialogues of a Different Kind and Other Poems by Annam Ragamalika
Dialogues of a Different Kind and Other Poems is Annam Ragamalika’s first volume of poetry written over the years. The poems reflect myriad emotions and feelings which are relatable. You can read them as you sip your coffee, ensconced in your favourite chair or enroute work or on a patch of green. or anyway you like.
The poems will take you on a trip down memory lane, anchor your experiences and determine your poetic journey. The collection is divided into three sections namely My Tribe, Of Moods and Memories and Mindscape. My Tribe focusses on people, the second section delves on emotions and nostalgia Read More..
7. Cancer Biology by Dr. Navdeep Singh
C for Chess
C for Cancer
C for Checkmate
Treating Cancer patient is like winning a chess game with the best possible moves.
Cancer Biology. Choosing investigations wisely go a long way in helping checkmate Cancer with the best possible moves.
The author of this book has a vast experience in treating cancer patients for more than twenty five years. He always puts his heart and soul in providing the best possible evidence Read More..
8. Eleven Inches Away by Khushagra Singh
The mentally ill murderer of this book lived a short but hateful life devoid of empathy, warmth or love. Having turned his back on the world, movies were only solace. Now that only eleven Inches stand between him and certain death, he must team up with Nic Cage to direct the greatest movie the gods have ever seen. As the two learn more about morality and philosophy in the afterlife, their skills to rip off the best films will decide whether our hero can sneak his way into heaven.
The author of this book wrote Eleven Inches Away while being completely isolated from the world, living alone in a small room and this was years before the lockdown. Khushagra Read More..
9. To the Moon and Back by Revathi Bala Sabbella
Priya Malhotra makes a shocking discovery: Her father’s death isn’t an accident. She always have the doubt, but because of her memory loss she believed what was said to her. But truth always have a way to return. She wakes up one evening from a blackout with her lost memories and to find the murderer standing freely in front of her, smiling without any remorse.
Enter her enigmatic boss, Abhay Sinha, with whom she is in love with. He is there for her when she needed him. She discovers he and his family also suffered at the hands of the same evil.
As the misty clouds become clearer, Priya decides to Read More..
10. The What If Romance by Payal Dedhia
Meera Dhavan gets an invitation to attend her reunion, and she goes, hoping to enjoy her school days again. She doesn’t expect to see him there. Yet he is here, standing, looking all handsome and dashing.
Gautam Chauhan is living one day at a time, missing the love of his life. He never understood it was a crush or love or something more. But it all becomes clear when he sees her at the reunion.
Two best friends fall apart only to come face to face after ten years. Will this reunion offer a chance to mend their differences and get back together, or will it give them closure to find someone else?
Book Prices
| The Stardust You Left Behind | Rs.89 (Kindle) |
| What to do if there is a Murderer in your Family? | Rs.105 (Kindle) |
| Shadows | Rs.179 (Kindle) |
| Muawza | Rs.89 (Kindle) |
| Regrets | Rs.205 (Paperback) |
| Dialogues of a Different Kind and Other Poems | Rs.323 (Paperback) |
| Cancer Biology | Rs.175 (Paperback) |
| Eleven Inches Away | Rs.327 (Paperback) |
| To the Moon and Back | Rs.199 (Kindle) |
| The What If Romance | Rs.99 (Kindle) |
(Prices and availability are subject to change without notice.)
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Books & Authors1 week agoTop 10 Books of The Month | March [Editor’s Choice]
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Books & Authors7 days ago‘Revenge shows that you are weak, It’s a sign of a weak person.’ | Ravleen Sabharwal and Amit Dubey (Exclusive Interview)
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News2 days agoJustice Served: UP Gangster Atiq Ahmed and 2 Others, Sentenced to Life Term for Kidnapping