Neelima

Interview: Writing Haiku, Haiga and Haibun with Salil Chaturvedi

We had the opportunity to chat with Salil Chaturvedi, author of love and longing in the anthropocene.

Salil Chaturvedi is the author of short fiction and poetry and dabbles in photography. His stories and poems have been published in various journals and anthologies. He loves creating haiku, haiga (a combination of a visual and a haiku) and haibun ( a short prose piece, combined with haiku), which have been published in international journals dedicated to the Japanese forms. His poetry collection, In the Sanctuary of a Poem was published in 2017 and is available on Amazon. In 2019 he was conferred the Hindi Seva Samman by the Hindi Academy, New Delhi, for his collection of Hindi poems, Ya Ra La Va Sha Sa Ha. He lives in Chorao, Goa.

Pothi.com: Tell us about your writing process.

Salil Chaturvedi: It’s quite a messy and reiterative process. Once the first draft of something is down on paper, I tend to look at it from many angles, trying out different ways of saying it, different voices and viewpoints, so that I frequently end up with quite a few versions of a piece, complicating my life. But when one finds such joy in working with words it is a welcome complication. I can happily spend a day fussing over a single word in a poem, or a punctuation mark! The way things sound plays an important role, too. For some poems, their shape on the page becomes exceedingly important. But there are enough of those times when things happen in a more spontaneous manner and any fiddling would only spoil things.

Pothi.com: How did you develop an interest in haiku, haiga and haibun? Please tell your readers about how these forms of Japanese poetry differ from each other and which one is your favorite?

Salil Chaturvedi: Let’s tackle the forms first:

A haiku is a short poem, usually juxtaposing two images to find a leap of meaning, and in English, about 10-12 syllables long.
A haibun is a short prose piece, written imagistically and usually in the present tense, with a haiku attached, though there are other variations to it. A haiga is an image, traditionally a monochrome ink painting, with a haiku attached to it in such a way that they expand each other’s meaning.

I had known about haiku for a long time, but my serious engagement with the form began after reading Basho’s classic The Narrow Road to the Deep North. It’s a book I return to regularly. I honed my skills through reading haikus of the masters, the various online journals dedicated to Japanese forms and books. There are plenty of educational resources online, especially on the Modern Haiku website, such as essays that explore various dimensions of the form, its historic development and other finer points. Since I like taking pictures, haiga, where a haiku is juxtaposed with an image, was a natural progression.

Amongst the three, haiku remains my favourite form.

What I like most about it is how it hones your attentiveness to the world. If poetry can be imagined as a net made out of words, I think of haiku as a finely meshed net that is ideal for capturing the littlest of mundane things. As Basho said, for haiku the interest is not duck soup, but vegetable broth. For me, the single most important aspect of the haiku is the kigo (the season word) which is a nod to the larger world in which all the happenings take place. In that sense, Ecopoetics runs in the DNA of haiku. I am reminded of the feminist scholar and philosopher Donna Haraway who says: The biotic and abiotic powers of the Earth are the main story.

Overall, I can sum up my encounter with haiku thus:

thunder
inside a curled leaf
a cocoon shifts

Pothi.com: You write in Hindi and English- how different is it writing in different languages?

Salil Chaturvedi: That’s an interesting question. One doesn’t make a conscious choice, of course. The poems seem to choose a language of their own accord. I guess my Hindi roots are still alive and their tentacles seek out some vernacular nutrition. On rare occasions, I translate a poem from one language to another, but otherwise, it’s an automatic process. The Hindi poems seem to say things that I can’t possibly say in English because the idioms are so different. Taking the first few lines of a poem, Kuch Hai—

Kuch hai hawa me is vakt—
Dopahar ke sapno ki svarna lahar

Gilahariyon ki chulbul cheekhein
Baadlon ke maylon ke dholak

I wouldn’t know how to say it in English and maintain the same cadence!

I do write haiku in Hindi as well, just so your readers know that that’s possible. In fact, there are a few of them in the Hindi book Ya Ra La Va Sha Sa Ha available at Pothi.com.

Pothi.com: Tell us about how you arrived at the fascinating title: love and longing in the anthropocene.

Salil Chaturvedi: It just popped into the head! There are three sections in the book, and ‘love and longing in the anthropocene’ is the first section which brings together the body, love, techno-science, nature, refugees, wars, runaway capitalism, disappearing species…in short, everything that marks the consumptive and polluting Anthropocene era. The work was born from a dream in which I wrote a short poem, the only time I have written a poem in a dream. It was an erotic/love poem. I woke up and wrote it down immediately, and for about six months after that, I kept writing these poems to an imagined lover where the body (and the earth as an extension of the body) takes a central place. So, yes, it was a fascinating and intense process in which I seemed to be taken along for the ride. Later, I realized that the title forms a nice acronym — LALITA, meaning, pleasant, playful.

Pothi.com: How do you put a book of poems together- what is the glue that holds your poems in a certain order? Is the ordering of your poems planned or organic?

Salil Chaturvedi: So, this is how it works—I will struggle with the sequencing and arrangement of the poems for weeks, trying out many combinations. I will see myself as a reader and read through the work noticing how a poem on a page reacts with another on the facing page. I will also pay attention to the way the tone of the book develops, what moods are evoked. I will play with all this. It’s a thrilling sort of game. The poems will keep shifting and changing places and then, one day, will come together. Then I am ready to publish. After publication, I will find that I might have wanted to do it slightly differently. So, it goes! That doesn’t mean that all the thinking has been a waste, just that there is always scope for improvement.

Pothi.com: Writers are usually apprehensive about publishing their poetry. Could you advise aspiring poets about which avenues they should consider for publishing their poems?

Salil Chaturvedi: I think the best way to go about it is to first send poems to journals that accept poetry. There are a plethora of online journals these days. The advantage is that you get some feedback on your work from editors and readers. While it is easier to publish through self-publication options, including with Pothi, I feel that many people rush to publish their work. I have had a few aspiring poets who have sent me manuscripts, and my advice generally has been to take a little longer to publish, allowing the work to gestate and mature. I’m just passing on the advice that I have received from seniors.

Pothi.com: Tell us about your experience self-publishing with us.

Salil Chaturvedi: The process is easy and smooth. The staff is ultra-professional and accessible. The author dashboard is a great feature that lets you track your sales and royalties. But, one drawback of self-publishing remains marketing. While some writers are good at it, most that I know, including myself, would rather write than promote their work. But, that’s a whole different conversation. Also, self-publishing means that mainstream publications do not review your work and you have to work harder at developing your market and finding readers.

Pothi.com: Your favorite poet.

Salil Chaturvedi: That’s an unfair question, but for now, I’ll say Arun Kolatkar.

Pothi.com:Your favorite beverage.

Salil Chaturvedi: Sikkim Temi Tea.

Pothi.com: Future projects you are excited about.

Salil Chaturvedi: Right now, I’m looking forward to bringing out a short story collection which is titled The Inexact Room. It should be ready by March-April, if all goes well. Apart from that, I have a vague idea for a collection of haibun.

Thanks for the informative session, Salil! Wish you all the best for your writing!

India Public Domain 2022: Twelve Indian Authors whose Works are Entering the Public Domain in 2022

Some of our regular readers asked us if we would be publishing our yearly list of authors whose works have come out of the public domain. We usually publish it early in January but this time, it got delayed a bit.

Every year on January 1, the copyright of a number of creative works expires and they enter the public domain in India and in other countries of the world. The criteria for creating this list for 2022 is that the author died in the calendar year 1961 and the work was published before his death. In case the work was published after the author’s death, it will only come out of copyright after 60 years from the date of publication.

These are the Public Domain Lists we have created in the previous years: 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021

A book in the public domain is now free to be republished, translated, and converted to different formats.

Our primary source is Wikipedia but we do consult other secondary sources if we come across them. Let us know if you think we have made any errors and also feel free to comment on any author we may have missed out.

Saralabala sarkar (1866- 1961)

Saralabala Sarkar was a politically active Bengali novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet who served as a Member of the Women Satyagraha Samity of the Satyagraha movement in British India. Her books of poetry include Prabaha in 1904 and Arghya in 1938. Her memoir, Harano Atit, was published in 1953. Her works were published in journals like the Antahpur, Bharatbarsa, Jahnabi, Prabasi, Suprabhat, Sahitya Pradip, Utsaha, etc.

Sachindranath Sengupta (1873 – 1961)

Sachin Sengupta was a prominent Bengali playwright and the producer and director of theatrical plays in Calcutta, India. He traveled all over the world as part of the non-governmental troupe. His famous plays include Raktakamal, Rashtrabirohi, Desher dabi, Sirajdullah. Like many writers of his era, he was involved in the nationalist movement and his plays are replete with nationalistic fervor. You can listen to the radio play – Yug Yugantar by Sachindranath Sengupta here.

Chandradhar Barua (1874 – 1961)

Chandradhar Barua was an eminent writer, poet, dramatist and lyricist from Assam. He was inspired by the literary works of Michael Madhusudan and is remembered for his kavyas like Meghnad badh, Ranjan, Bidyut Bikash, Kamrup Jiyari and Muktaboli. What stands out in his writing is his satirical stance. He was the second president of the Assam Sahitya Sabha in 1918 and was the founder secretary of Asam Sahitya Sabha Patrika. He also represented India at the Round Table Conference held in London in 1930.

Bhupendranath Datta (1880 – 1961)

Bhupendranath Datta’s reputation is often overshadowed by his brother Swami Vivekananda. He was an erudite scholar, revolutionary, sociologist, anthropologist and writer. Datta studied in Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution and later joined the Brahmo Samaj. He joined the Bengal Revolutionary Society and served as the editor of Jugantar Patrika during which time he built a strong rapport with Sri Aurobindo. He was imprisoned for a year and then left for the US where he indulged in political activities, later relocating to Berlin. He returned to India and immersed himself in political activities. A famous book by him is Swami Vivekananda : Patriot-Prophet. Other Bengali political books by him include Aprakasita Rajnitik Itihas (1953) Bharater Dvitiya Svadhinatar Sagram (1949), Jati Samgathan (1928-29),Yuga Samasya
(1926-27), etc.

Nalam Krishna Rao (1881 – 1961)

Nalam Krishna Rao was an accomplished Telugu writer, magazine editor and social activist. He founded Gowthami Grandhalayam at Rajahmundry in 1898. His famous works include Sri Krishnaraya Andhra Vignana Sarwasvamu and Jateeya Lokoktulu. The Nalam Krishna Rao Memorial Award is given to the Best Woman Writer in Telugu.

Charu Chandra Bhattacharya (1883 – 1961)

Charu Chandra Bhattacharya was a science teacher and Bengali science writer. He was a brilliant student and ended up doing his Masters in Physics at the University of Calcutta. One of his mentors was none other than Jagdish Chandra Bosu. When he wrote, he preferred the simple dialect Chalit Bhasha. In 1939, he joined the publication department of Visva Bharati, Shantiniketan. He published the Rabindra Rochonaboli (Collected works by Rabindranath) and aided Rabindranath Tagore in publishing a series of books to promote literacy. He then started writing more books of the Bishwa Vidya Songroho series and his books featured mostly science. He edited several Bengali magazines and even wrote textbooks. Here is a book by him: Bidyapati O Chandidas: Buy Bidyapati O Chandidas.

Shaukat Ali Khan Fani Badayuni (1883 – 1961)

Shaukat Ali Khan or Fani Badayuni was an Indian Urdu poet. He graduated from Bareilly College in 1901, studied law at Aligarh Muslim University, and started composing poetry in his twenties. He moved to Hyderabad when he was appointed in the department of education. His first collection of poems was published in 1917 by Naqib Press. His other published works include Baqiyat-e-Fani (1926), Irfaniyat-e-Fani (1938), etc.

Rathindranath Tagore (1888 – 1961)

Rathindranath Tagore, son of Rabindranath Tagore and Mrilanini Devi, was an educationist, agriculturist, carpenter, architect, writer, painter and teacher of genetics. He studied at Shantiniketan and then after a stint in Japan moved to the US. Later he returned to India and served as the first vice-chancellor of the Visva-Bharati University. To know more about this eclectic character, read this account of him by his foster son.

Some books by him are available here: Pitrsmriti and On the Edges of Time.

Suryakant Tripathi (1896- 1961)

Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’ was truly unique. With a background in Bangla, he ended up being a Hindi poet, novelist, artist and essayist. His life was punctuated by several tragedies- an unhappy childhood, a short-lived marriage, the death of his daughter and a subsequent bout of schizophrenia.

He made a mark with his verse and was the pioneer of the Chhayavaad (Neo-Romantic) movement of Hindi literature (a movement that also included Jaishankar Prasad, Sumitranandan Pant and Mahadevi Varma).His craft was not reserved to poetry- he also wrote novels like Nirupama, Prabhavati, Choti ki Pakad, and Kulli Bhat. There are several stories woven around this poet- for instance, American novelist and translator David Rubin praised Nirala’s poem Saroj Smriti, which was dedicated to his daughter Saroj, and when Gandhi complemented Nirala by calling him the Tagore of Hindi literature, he was not flattered.

R. P. Sethu Pillai (1896 – 1961)

R. P. Sethu Pillai was a Tamil scholar, writer and professor at the University of Madras. He studied law and after a short political stint began teaching. He ended up becoming the Head of the Tamil department. In 1955, he won the first-ever Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil for his series of essays titled Tamil inbam. He was awarded a D. Litt degree and he wrote over twenty-five books. His famous work is the biography of Bishop Robert Caldwell titled Caldwell Aiyar Sarithram. He was also involved in the creation of the Tamil encyclopedia and the last volume of the Tamil lexicon. He wrote prolifically in English as well.

Vattikota Alwar Swamy (1915- 1961)

Vattikota Alwar Swamy is the first Telugu novelist. He had humble beginnings but his love for books led him to fight against the Nizam. A famous book by him is Jailu Lopala about his experience while being imprisoned. His other novels include Prajala Manishi (People’s Man) (1952) and Gangu (1940–45). he established Deshoddaraka Granthamala and published 35 books. He also published a newspaper called Telangana.

Nalin Vilochan Sharma (1916 – 1961)

Professor Pandit Nalin Vilochan Sarma taught Hindi Literature in the University of Patna. He was born to a scholarly family and is credited with having started the Nakenwad movement in Hindi literature. He was heavily influenced by trends in European literature and his erudition had no parallel at the time.

Professor Nalin Vilochan Sharma believed that diction in poetry mattered more than content. He believed in simplicity and found the phrases of the literature at the time too cumbersome. He was also a well-known dramatist and critic. Some works by him include Bibbo ka Bibbok, Drishtikon, Jagjivan Ram: A Biography, Naken ke Prapadya, Swarna Manjusha.

If you have links to any other work of theirs for download or for purchase, please leave a comment.

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Interview: Conan Karchang Doley Writes About Love and Dreams in Delhi

We caught up with Conan Karchang Doley , the author of I Don’t Think Straight.

Conan Karchang Doley was born on November 14, 1992. He completed his graduation and post graduation from Delhi University. He lives in Majuli Island, Assam, where he was born. He spends his time reading, writing, and taking and bringing his seven-year-old younger brother to and from school.

Pothi.com: Tell us about what inspired you to write the book I Don’t Think Straight. You could tell us if you were inspired by campus life or if any book/movie set your pen rolling.

Conan Karchang Doley : The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger inspired me to write I Don’t Think Straight. I read it when I was sixteen and the experience was mind-blowing. I instantly wanted to write a book like that. The character Omo is somewhat like Holden Caulfield—I was very happy that I could include a chapter where Omo visits her favorite teacher in her apartment, just like Holden Caulfield does in The Catcher in the Rye. I love Holden Caulfield and I think I can understand him, just like the millions of individuals who have read The Catcher in the Rye—and as an adult I am still sad, in a way, that he never looked forward to growing up—and that’s one of the reasons I love him so much—so I changed that in I Don’t Think Straight. Towards the end of Omo’s narrative, she is not afraid to grow up. Her final words are: “I have no clue where my life is headed, what lies ahead is a vast unknown. All I know is that there is going to be some love and compassion in it.”

Pothi.com: Do you plan the story in advance or do you plot it out beforehand?

Conan Karchang Doley: So far I haven’t plotted it out beforehand. There is a theme, an idea to begin with, and then the rest happens as it happens. I Don’t Think Straight is my second novel so I consider myself pretty new to writing novels. I am not good at it, in my opinion.

Pothi.com: How much has the city Delhi influenced your story? Are there any passages in the book that talk about life in Delhi?

Conan Karchang Doley: Delhi has influenced the book a lot. One of the titles I had considered for I Don’t Think Straight was ‘A Pilgrim in the City’ and another was ‘Love and Loathing in New Delhi’. (I thank you for asking this question, it’s like a load has been released from my shoulders.) Yes, there are passages that talk about life in Delhi; one reader beautifully put it in her Amazon review, “The book isn’t just about the journey of two people, it’s a heartwarming read that will take you on the roads of Delhi, the metro and the protagonist’s world.”

Pothi.com: Tell us a little more about Omo and Domo.

Conan Karchang Doley: Omo and Domo are the two protagonists of I Don’t Think Straight. They are similar in that they are both attracted to people of the same sex. And different in that Omo comes out of her loneliness and frustrations at the end of her narrative, while Domo is pretty much stuck in a rut till the very end. His final words are: “I thought that I was happy but I had a keen sense that I was stuck in a rut.” This self-knowledge that “he is stuck in a rut” although hints that there is something taking place inside him. We all know the old adage ‘Know Thyself’ and Domo suddenly arrives there at the end of the novel.

Pothi.com: Your favorite books.

Conan Karchang Doley: I love everything written by—someone, who probaby does not want to be named. (I think he does not want to gain any kind of authority or become famous in any way so I would rather not name him. But his books are my favorite.) Apart from his books, there are the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa, Pow! by Mo Yan and recently I chanced upon a novel, In Custody by Anita Desai, at a friend’s place—some writings can make you breathe like a dragon, Mo Yan for example and Anita Desai’s writing can make you fall in love, be in love, become love itself.

Pothi.com: Your favorite beverage.

Conan Karchang Doley: Tea and Coffee both.

Pothi.com: What has your experience with Pothi.com been like?

Conan Karchang Doley: I came to Pothi.com because their website said, ‘Writing is Hard. Publishing Should be Easy.’ Something about it attracted me when I saw it the first time. Then I read about their service. I agreed with what they were doing and I especially loved that they were not providing any ISBN but were telling us how to obtain an ISBN for free. And flashforward to one year later: I self-published a novel with Pothi.com.

Self-publishing I Don’t Think Straight with Pothi.com was not so easy for me- the process was not a smooth ride for me, I was trying to get things done quickly and got too anxious when the process got stuck. But every problem was sorted out step-by-step by the Pothi.com Team, which I found very satisfying. I am happy about the way things worked out and I am currently self-publishing my new book with Pothi.com again. The Cover Designing is being done as I speak.

Pothi.com: Your advice to aspiring writers when it comes to writing, publishing and marketing the book.

Conan Karchang Doley: If you know that you have something important to discuss then discuss it through your writing. It could be anything.

If you have self-published a book and want it to sell a lot then you have got to market the book, because no one is doing the marketing for you. But if you are happy with five readers enjoying your book then don’t bother about marketing, and begin writing your next book because those five readers of yours are waiting for your next book.

Pothi.com: Your next project?

Conan Karchang Doley: My next project, (not the one whose cover is currently being designed—it is almost ready) is about an island where people know how to disappear. I began writing it as a homage to the The Invisible Man and the Harry Potter books.

Pothi.com: Thank you so much for talking to us, Conan 🙂 We wish you lots of luck for your future writing journey!

Interview: Sakshi Sharma- Fiction and Children’s Books Author

We caught up with Sakshi Sharma, the author of two books at the Pothi Store: Maya Wants to be a Baker and Kismat and Karma.

Sakshi Sharma is a finance professional with past experience in companies including Johnson & Johnson, Penguin Random House and Columbia University Press in New York City. She is passionate about writing and reading and has a 8k+ subscriber base across her media platforms (@mere_meer on Instagram). As a mother of a three-year-old, Sakshi was very keen to enter the children’s book space. Maya Wants to Be a Baker is her first children’s book.

Pothi.com: Tell about how you zeroed in on such a unique topic for your children’s book ‘Maya wants to be a baker’.

Sakshi Sharma: During the pandemic, my husband did a lot of baking and I saw my three-year-old daughter taking great interest in baking donuts and chocolate cakes with her father. She really enjoyed being his sous chef.
This inspired me to write a book to introduce young minds like my daughter to unique career paths. Through this book, I wanted kids to feel that they have the freedom to become what their heart so desires, even if it is something non-traditional like a baker.

Pothi.com: You’ve written an adult fiction called Kismat and Karma. Tell us about the transition from writing books for adults to writing for kids. Why did you make this transition?

Sakshi Sharma: My daughter, Meera, loves reading new books and I’ve always wanted to pen a book for kids. Though my overall passion is writing fiction and creating new stories centered around women, I was also very keen to pen a story with a little girl as the protagonist.

Pothi.com: Tell us a little about Kismat and Karma.

Sakshi Sharma: Kismat and Karma is a modern take on the Bhagavad Gita. It is about two women, Kismat and Karma, who attempt to answer an intriguing question: “Are we resigned to our fate, or can we change it through our noble actions?”

Kismat and Karma hail from opposite sides of India. They have varied, yet almost parallel experiences of immigrating abroad (New York/London), finding love (arranged and unrequited) and facing loss and trauma. Destiny brings them together in New Delhi.

Essentially, Kismat and Karma is a women’s take on Krishna and Arjuna, wherein one woman mentors the other, but both play an essential role in shaping each other’s life.

Pothi.com: You’ve spent a larger part of your work life in the corporate space. What made you migrate to writing?

Sakshi Sharma: I’ve always wanted to be writer. I studied finance and worked as an Analyst and Accountant for several years in New Jersey and New York City.

But writing is for the soul. Some of my poems have been published in Hindustan Times and I also wrote poetry for my University magazine.
Ms. Catherine Sameh, one of my University Professors at Rutgers New Brunswick, awarded me the only “A” in her Writing class. She confided that she typically did not award A’s but that I merited the grade with the final paper I submitted to her. I still have that essay with her notes and markings. That set the foundation for me to actually think I could be a writer someday.
In 2013, I started my own blog/website when I was still working in the corporate space in the States; penning short stories, poems, and humour pieces about love, marriage and motherhood. Today, I have two published books and I am working on a thriller next!

Pothi.com: What has your experience of writing and collaborating with an illustrator been like? As a writer, how do you best advise children’s writers to collaborate with illustrators?

Sakshi Sharma: My husband connected me to Supriya, who is an extremely talented illustrator. She created sample illustrations of Maya and her baking adventures. The pictures came out better than I could ever imagine.

Writers can connect with illustrators on platforms like Reedsy, Upwork and Pothi. Another great source is to directly connect with budding illustrators on Instagram. You can see their work and engage with them directly. Look under appropriate tags like #childrensbook and #illustratorsofinstagram etc.

I was able to find a wonderful illustrator for my fiction book Kismat and Karma. He was able to create the cover for my book exactly to the specifications I wanted. He created the silhouettes of two women, one in modern and the other in traditional attire; highlighting my two female protagonists. In addition, he hid the word ‘Krishna’ in Hindi in nine different places in the front cover. The number “nine” is quite symbolic in my novel as well as the significance of Krishna as my book pays homage to the Gita.

Overall, it is important to effectively communicate your expectations with your illustrator and understand the kind of output you will be getting for the price quoted by the illustrator.

Pothi.com: What is your advice to every aspiring writer who is hesitant to self-publish?

Traditional publishing is a dream avenue for many, but there are many roadblocks to it. For example, it can take months, or even years to get a solid response from a literary agent who can then pitch you to a leading publishing house. The turnaround is slow and you may lose out on the freshness of your story.

I would advise aspiring authors to develop their own brand by creating a blog/website/media page and posting engaging and quality content regularly to build an audience base. When their manuscript is ready, I would encourage them to hire a quality editor to refine their story. Once it is edited and ready for publishing, they can easily self-publish and market their book in their circle and social media handles. There are plenty of authors who have been picked up by traditional houses because of the success of their published work!

Many years ago, authors did not have such opportunities and they suppressed their dreams of becoming published authors. I would encourage every author to self-publish. The feeling of seeing my daughter reading my own book is priceless.

Pothi.com: What has your experience with Pothi.com been like?

Sakshi Sharma: The Pothi team have been instrumental in helping my fiction novel and children’s book become available for paperback printing in India. The Pothi website is extremely user-friendly and has easy-to-follow instructions. Whenever I had any queries and issues in uploading my files, the team responded quickly and addressed my concerns. They have a cool Cover Creator which helps any novice create/edit their own book cover. During this pandemic, I really wanted to launch Kismat and Karma and Maya Wants to Be a Baker for everyone to read and Pothi made that dream a reality for me. Highly recommend Pothi to all aspiring authors!

Pothi.com: Thanks so much Sakshi Sharma! We wish you luck on your publishing journey!

Catch us chatting with Sakshi Sharma on IG Live on Nov 25 at 4 pm IST! Our insta handle is pothidotcom.

Interview: Nick Ponter- Author of Fantasy

We got chatting with Nick Ponter last month and he had quite a few tips about writing to share with us. You can check out his book on the store here: Connor Jackson and the Memory Thieves | Pothi.com

Nick B. Ponter was born and brought up in Windsor, England. As soon as he finished school, he decided it was time to see the world and do different things. He first did an apprenticeship as a carpenter, did military service, spent six years as a diplomat in Bangladesh and Pakistan, became a business English trainer and is now an author.

Pothi.com: Tell us about your character Connor Jackson. You mentioned he was a civil servant- you have worked in the foreign service- how far has your experience helped you craft your character?

Nick Ponter: Connor Jackson is a quiet, unspectacular man who has a boring civil servant job. In reality, he is an analyst for a secret government department but nevertheless remains quite unexciting. My experience in foreign service gave me some ideas for the character but Connor is really quite fictional. There are elements of my character which come out in the story and Connor’s behavior.

Pothi.com: Describe your writing journey- from the time you won a prize till you started publishing your own books.

Nick Ponter: I never had the intention of writing a book and the feeling came to me about eight years ago. I won a school prize in English at school and always enjoyed writing articles and handwritten letters. However, I didn’t know there was an author lurking below the surface, something my teachers in school obviously recognized.

Pothi.com: Tell us about your writing routine.

Nick Ponter: I have a very busy, full-time job so I do not have a dedicated writing routine. I spend a lot of time daydreaming and note taking which at some stage moved to more detailed planning. The writing itself is normally completed in short bursts when I go away to places where I can relax and feel inspired. I actually write by hand which means I can put pen to paper wherever I am.

Pothi.com: Share a picture of your writing space for this book.

At sunrise from the author’s tent in Polle at the River Weser in 2016

Pothi.com: What essential advice should fantasy writers follow?

Nick Ponter: Allow yourself plenty of time and space to come up with your imaginative ideas. For me, the most important phase is just thinking and note-taking rather than the writing itself. The main element of a good book must be the story itself with the writing style remaining quite individual to the author.

Pothi.com: Your favorite books?

Nick Ponter: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Danny, the Champion of the World

Pothi.com: What do you do when you are not writing?

Nick Ponter: I am a business English trainer and spend most of my time teaching English in the corporate environment. Outside of work, I listen to heavy metal, go hiking, canoeing and riding my motorcycle.

Pothi.com: Tell us about your experience with publishing. What should aspiring authors remember when they want to share their book out there and market it?

I advise aspiring authors to be as active as possible on social media as it allows an international audience to become engaged. Do not be scared of approaching book reviewers.

Pothi.com: What book are you working on next?

Connor Jackson and the Quest for Azoth is the follow on story to Connor Jackson and the Memory Thieves. It is finished and currently being privately edited. I have also started note-taking for my third book and already have a good outline of the story.

Thank you for talking with us about your writing journey, Nick! We wish you all the best. If you want to see more of Nick, catch our Instagram Live session on Nov 3, 2021 at 4 PM IST/10.30 AM GMT.

World Vegetarian Day: 5 Vegetarian Cookbooks at the Pothi.com Store

World Vegetarian Day is observed by vegetarians world over on October 1. It was established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978. The aim: To promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.

We found a couple of vegetarian recipe books at the Store.

VEGETARIAN DELIACIES VEGETARIAN DELICACIES by Bridget White | Pothi.com

Soups, salads, curries, stir fries, rice dishes, casseroles and bakes all featured here with easy instructions. The book also highlights the nutritive value of each vegetable and its role in helping cure ailments. Bridget White is a Cookery Book Author and Food Consultant. She has authored seven recipe books on Anglo-Indian Cuisine. Read her interview here.

The Vegetarian Diet Guru | Pothi.com

The Vegetarian Diet Guru is a nutrients-based menu planning guidebook with 150+ recipes that explains and provides strategies to design diets that meet nutritional specifications according to individual requirements.Dr. Shanta Kumar has authored several articles and books on Nutrition and a 3-in-1 Diet Cookbook. The purpose of this book is to provide individuals with the information necessary to plan a healthy and balanced vegetarian diet based on specific criteria. A scientific approach to diet planning is used primarily to aid weight control, diabetic management as well as normal health.

ALL-INDIA Vegetarian Cookbook | Pothi.com

Over 150 recipes with both American and European measurements, this book draws its great-tasting recipes from throughout India. A corporate chef and a past participant in OCLD, Zubin D’Souza has worked all over the world and traveled much of India to showcase regional recipes that he has refined.

Indian Grandmas' Secret Recipes Indian Grandmas’ Secret Recipes | Pothi.com

This is a book of authentic recipes by 16 Indian grandmothers from all over India- Assam, West Bengal, Punjab, UP, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala.

BAKE WITH KOTHARIS (B/W version) BAKE WITH KOTHARIS | Pothi.com

The science of baking eggless recipes of cookies, cakes, muffins, breads, buns, pizzas, and more… free from preservatives, stabilizers, bread improvers, calcium propionate, and harmful chemicals.

Are there any vegetarian cookbooks that you would recommend? Tell us in the comments.

International Translation Day: 5 Translated Books at the Pothi.com Store

Today is International Translation Day!

On this day translators are celebrated all over the world. It’s held on September 30, on the day of the feast of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators.

We located a couple of translated books at the Pothi.com Store:

Select Translations of Rabindranath Tagore: Volume I | Pothi.com

Five of the best short stories written by Rabindranath Tagore and a play all translated into American English. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a storyteller, mystic poet, composer, playwright and philosopher, all rolled into one.

Gulliver’s Travel (Assamese Translation) | Pothi.com

We have an Assamese version of Gulliver’s Travels at the Pothi Store. Have you read this bizarre story of a large man in a land of the smallest people?

Translations of Mankutimmana Kagga | Pothi.com

This book is a tribute to the great Kannada Philosopher-poet D. V. Gundappa popularly known as DVG. Translations of his best-known work: a collection of quadruplet verses on life known as Mankutimmana Kagga is an effort to let know the non-Kannada readers of this gem of Kannada literature. DVG’s verses are short but powerful.

Siddhartha By Hermann Hesse (Translated Tamil Edition)(Colour Print) | Pothi.com

This is a Tamil translated version of Siddhartha, a 1922 novel by Hermann Hesse. The book, Hesse’s ninth, was written in German, in a simple, lyrical style.

Sivakamiyin Sabadham – An English Translation (Volume 1) | Pothi.com

A masterpiece by Kalki Krishnamurthy, recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, ‘Sivakamiyin Sabadham’ is a historical Tamil novel set in seventh-century South India. The story deals with the battle for supremacy between the Chalukya Emperor, Pulikesi II, and the Pallava Emperor, Mahendra Varmar and at a later stage, his son, Narasimha Varmar.

You can also check out Volumes 2 and 3 to read the entire series.

Tell us about any translated works that have made a great impression on you.

Interview: Vivek Hattangadi- Author of Pharma Brand Management Books

It was World Pharmacist’s Day last week on September 25. We got an opportunity to speak with author Vivek Hattangadi, author of several pharma-brand management books at the Pothi.com Store.

You can reach Vivek Hattangadi at vivekhattangadi@theenablers.org for brand management consulting, and training.

Pothi.com: You have been invested in the pharma field for several decades. Tell us how you decided to start writing books.

Vivek Hattangadi: That’s a very interesting question.

I have been inspired by my students and mentees.

Often after brick and mortar Learning and Development sessions, I was loaded with questions on email from my students. Some were very tough questions and I had to run to the British Library and rummage through the books from my small library at home, before I could respond satisfactorily.

On one occasion, my student from Kathmandu, Arpana Dangol, said, “Sir, when you write, you make even the complex topics so lucid and simple. Today, there are no books specific to pharma brand management. Why don’t you write one?”

I thought over this, started writing and even completed one:WHAT THE PHARMA CEO WANTS FROM THE BRAND MANAGER.

But who would publish it? That’s when I started looking for a publisher and learnt about self-publishing. And then Pothi.com.

I really loved the name पोथी which in Sanskrit has a lovely connotation. Since then, I have been using Pothi as my platform for self-publishing.

Pothi.com: You have published several books on our platform. What do you like about self-publishing?

Vivek Hattangadi: Oh! There are several things which I like, but the most important thing about Pothi is the high level of professionalism, integrity and even punctuality during normal times. I don’t have to look outside for copyediting, proofreading or formatting. All done under one roof.

I don’t have to worry about the logistics part too and availability on e-commerce sites.

And most importantly, Pothi is very cooperative and helpful.

Pothi.com: That’s really heartening to hear. Tell us about your writing routine.

Vivek Hattangadi: I wake up at ब्रह्ममूहूर्तम (Brahma muhurtam) and commence writing at 4.00 am continue till 6.30 am. That’s the time I can fully focus – totally undisturbed. And that’s the most suitable time to think.

Then by 9.30 am, I am back to my usual work. As my guides, two books are always on my tableside: Roget’s Thesaurus and the Oxford Dictionary. I rarely use online dictionaries.

Pothi.com: What should a writer remember while writing a non-fiction book?

Always try to make the copy conversational and articulate as a story. When you do this, you engage your readers.

Have plenty of case studies. That helps the readers in retaining what they have read.

Use simple language which even a 10-year-old can understand. Using jargon is a sin. That alienates you from the reader.

Avoid writing in the third person or else, you create a deep chasm between you and the readers. Use the second person.

Pothi.com: What books have influenced you the most?

Vivek Hattangadi: Obvious Adams written way back in 1916 by Robert R Updegraff. The lessons in brand management are relevant even today.

Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilivy. To me it is like the Bible of advertising. Everything he has written is after thorough research. Anyone in advertising or brand management should internalize the lessons from this book.

The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert Bly. It is a guide to copywriting, especially for the greenhorn writers. This is a book for everyone who writes and wants to enhance their writing skills.

Pothi.com: Tell us about the Covid impact on the pharma industry and on your pursuit of writing.

Since pharma produces drugs, many which are life-saving and boost immunity against viral infections, this industry hasn’t been affected significantly.

An interesting phenomenon during the lockdown period: strong brands became stronger because of accessibility, small brands suffered a lot. That’s a big lesson for pharma – invest in building brands.

Covid turned out to be a boon for me. I had to stop travel – which on an average used to be a fortnight every month. And there’s one book I completed in record time – 51 LESSONS FROM VIVEK HATTANGADI: PHARMA BRANDING, SALES AND LEADERSHIP – within less than three months of the lockdown.

Pothi.com: What are you working on now?

Currently, I am working on my seventh book DOCTORS AS BRAND ADVOCATES: Make Your Brand the Darling of Doctors and Patients.

In this book, in 21 steps (chapters) I have elaborated on Philip Kotlers’ thoughts on Human-to-Human Mindset (H2H Mindset). This forms the basis of the patient-centric approach in pharma marketing. Patient-centricity in marketing, which is a natural outgrowth H2H Marketing principles, will be the new marketing model for the 21^st century.

Pothi.com: Our readers would love to hear you read an excerpt from one of your books.

Vivek Hattangadi: Sure! Here’s an audio clip from one of my books:

Pothi.com: Thanks so much for talking with us and sharing your delightful audio clip! Wish you all the best for your future projects!

9 Travel Books from the Pothi.com Store on World Tourism Day

Today is World Tourism Day. During an era when travel has receded into the shadows of the pandemic, we thought we would talk about some of the travel literature available at the Pothi.com Store. There are quite a few books as self-publishing is an ideal medium for travel bloggers and explorers.

Travels of an Indian backpacker girl by Munia Pakhi| Pothi.com

Thirty-something Munia was always an explorer and her wanderlust leads her to Europe. She knew no one there but with a lot of careful planning she managed to travel on a shoestring budget. ‘She got lost in forests in Germany, became witness to a road accident, got scammed under the Eiffel tower, drank glacier water, walked on an active volcano, swam in the Mediterranean, saw celebrities, lived the history of places and saw spooky things in Austria. Eight different countries, 5 different languages, 42 days.’

Traveling To An Enchanted Land Of Castles: Facts And Information On The Castles Of Britain by Herbert Howard| Pothi.com

Herbert is a travel enthusiast with a long alphabetical list of castles on his itinerary- Allington Castle, Ashby Castle, Barnard Castle, Barnwell Castle, Bedford Castle, Beeston Castle, Berkeley Castle, Berkhamsted Castle, Berry Pomeroy Castle, Brancepeth Castle, Buckden Palace, Caister Castle, Canterbury Castle, Carisbrooke Castle, Carlisle Castle, Castle Rising, Chester Castle, Christchurch Castle…….

BEYOND SOUVENIRS by Amrutha Langs | Pothi.com

Amrutha Langs is an explorer. In this travel book, she provides useful information for any explorer who is out on a world tour. Her knowledge snippets may benefit anyone who is trying to get a headstart in a new land.

Everest by Almond Syiem and George Tetlow| Pothi.com

Singer-songwriter and poet Almond Syiem and George Tetlow, book designer, illustrator and lecturer synthesize poetry and artwork based on the Himalayas in a beautiful book.

Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) For Beginners by Krishnakumar T K | Pothi.com

A detailed travel guide about several Pallava era monuments of the historic Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) town. The author is a traveler and blogger.

One Man Gets the Sack by Ketan Joshi | Pothi.com

A travel fiction filled with adventure and humor. Ketan Joshi is the author of the ‘Three Men on Motorcycles’ series and the ‘One Man Goes Backpacking’ series.

REGARDING LUCKNOW by Syed Rizwan | Pothi.com

A collection of essays on the city of Lucknow from a historical perspective. The author has majored in History. His book talks about the culture and etiquette of the place.

An Indian Goes Around the World – II: WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY THIRTY-DAY EUROPEAN ODYSSEY by M. P. Prabhakaran | Pothi.com

M. P. Prabhakaran writes about the tour he undertook through ten countries of Europe in the summer of 2009

‘The 2009 tour, he says, opened his mind to various aspects of European cultures he had been quite ignorant of until then. It cleansed his mind, he adds, of the many misconceptions he had about peoples and events that shaped the destiny of Europe. It convinced him, once again, that bookish knowledge is no substitute for the knowledge one gains from the people he interacts with, events he witnesses, and things he gets exposed to during his travels to new places.’

TALES OF KURLA STATION by Debashis Mitra | Pothi.com

A collection of short stories set in one of the oldest stations of India. ‘To ones that have had the dubious fortune of having traveled the trains of Mumbai, the stories easily relate to their personal observations and compels them to ponder.’ Debashis Mitra is an architect with an eye toward fiction.

Tell us about any travel literature you have enjoyed recently. If you have traveled and want to self-publish your travel fiction, get in touch with us

Talk to Us Today!

World Pharmacists Day: Six Pharma Books at The Pothi.com Store

The World Pharmacists Day commenced at the FIP Council 2009 in Istanbul to encourage activities that promoted the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world.

We have a large number of books at the Store that have to do with the pharma field:

PHARMA FIRST-LINE LEADER TO CEO: THE ROADMAP TO SUCCESS | Pothi.com

A roadmap to success and brief autobiographies of four eminent persons from the Indian pharmaceutical industry who have risen from medical representatives to managing directors / CEOs. The author, Prof. Vivek Hattangadi has put in over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, beginning his career as a medical representative, later working in brand management and rising to the position of Head of Sales and Marketing in India’s topmost transnational pharmaceutical house. In January 2004, he started his own consultancy firm The Enablers that specializes in pharma brand management & training.

HOW TO GET DOCTORS ADDICTED TO YOUR BRAND – 13 UNSHAKABLE LAWS OF PHARMA BRANDING | Pothi.com

Another book by Vivel Hattangadi, here the author talks about the 13 virtues that Benjamin Franklin advocated and the 13 laws of pharma branding. The author focuses on Good Marketing Practices and each law is the culmination of observation and experience.

WHAT THE PHARMA CEO WANTS FROM THE BRAND MANAGER: OVERCOME THE TOUGH CHALLENGES OF PHARMA BRANDING (Edition III) | Pothi.com

The Chinese bamboo tree is the miracle that all brands can learn from. It doesn’t grow until after five years of nurture but when it does it shoots up extremely high. What happens in the five years of watering the bamboo is that it grows an elaborate network of roots. So keep working on the brand and it will come into the limelight eventually.

CONCEPTUAL PHARMACY | Pothi.com

Like many books at the Store, this one is academic and designed for the candidates who are preparing for competitive examination. This book contains important portions covering almost all major areas of Pharmacy subject such as Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Forensic Pharmacy and Microbiology to some extent.

Indian Pharmaceutical Regulations by Dr. Premnath Shenoy | Pothi.com

The book explains key Indian pharmaceutical regulations in an easy-to-understand presentation. The book targets Pharmacy and Life sciences graduates seeking to make a career in Pharmaceutical Industry. It is also beneficial to key professionals and startup sector in the pharmaceutical industry to ensure compliance. Dr Premnath Shenoy has nearly four decades of rich experience in the area of Pharmaceutical Research, Quality, Regulatory affairs and compliance.

Pharmacology for Nurses: Pharmacology Study Checklist, Questions and Rationales to easily Pass the NCLEX test | Pothi.com

The book provides ample practice for the NCLEX. 15% of the NCLEX test plan comprises pharmacology questions. The aim of this book is to provide an NCLEX pharmacology study checklist that highlights the most important topics.

Go to the Store for more titles.