The little book and me
Pallavi Guptaa - May 21, 2006
The little book and me
As some of you might know I have written a little book called When the Porrige Overflows. I wrote it seven years ago and found it a publisher three years later because the Gods gave in. I sent its manuscript to some valuable faces and writers for reviews and heard from them after several months. The little book was released in two of Bombay’s leading book stores by filmstars as insisted, got the men with the cameras (moving and still) to capture its face, and became a top-ten seller instantly. And then, a few months later, poof! It disappeared. But I really didn’t care. I had done my job. Got the daughter married. Now she was on her own. I thought the book would look after itself. It was strong, was worthy and I had no reason to doubt its own will to survive. Some journalists came home, asked questions and printed the name of my little book in some known, some unknown platforms. It made me happy, naturally. Some, well, actually quite a few people wrote in, said it was lovely and etc. and went their own way, gathering other books maybe.
But then one day, my little book came to me and burst into tears. It wouldn’t say a word. It cried and cried till the print began to drain. Why? I asked, again and again. And the only answer I could get out of it was, ‘nobody loves me’. But they do, I said. Not many know you, that’s all. No, it cried, when people came to the shop and wanted me, they were sent away. Why ever so? Because the publishers and distributors and the shop- people have fought and they won’t keep me there anymore.
So, with a heavy heart, I gave my little book a large space at home. Nevermind, I said, they will want you one day. But how could I tell the little book that the ‘one day’ was just a dream all creators of books little and big? How could I let it know that its fate depended on many things beyond my knowledge of its creation?
To ease its suffering, I arranged private sales through friends and influential people. They read it and came back for more, to gift it this time. And it made the little book so very happy. Come last Saturday, and the little one was particularly excited that I was invited for reading it. I read different passages and questions followed; about how I wrote, on my next book, and again, etc. A senior writer couple, Mr. Sylvester De Cunha and his wife, Nina made the reading far more interesting with their specific questions. . . about my words, the selection of the passage, the writing format, the short story. It made me feel like a writer after a very long time. I had forgotten its pleasure from thinking of the future of my little book.
Then, Nina came to me after the reading and asked me, if I had come across her books. I hadn’t, I confessed.
“Why? Don’t you go to the Indian writers section?” she pursued kindly.
I do, I told her, but her writing hadn’t been brought to my notice as a reader. She said that having her books published by the biggest publishing houses in India had her hoping for easier sales. In fact, she hadn’t heard from them for years or received a cheque.
“See?” I told my little book, piles of which were sitting right there, “They kicked you out, but it might have been worse had you stayed.”
How bleak the future of writers looks in India! How unprofessional the systems! I tell a friend that I don’t want to be asking the same question to a younger writer years later. The whole marketing game, he explains, whose aim is to not just have the consumer buy the book, but have the consumer leave his or her house to get the book, is for a player. The game in which a lot depends on the writer too- whether she has the ‘looks’, whether he can give good sound bites, whether they are media-friendly, if there was an award involved, is a carefully planned one. Only when all things are in place, the magic of marketing puts the mystery of its power to work and give the writers what they are most looking for- the worth for their work.
My little book thought it wasn’t worth it. So it said, everything comes to the one who waits. I explained it wasn’t that simple. That marketing was truly important to be noticed. Yes, it agreed, but it was more important to have faith in oneself. To create with intergrity and without compromise to fulfill the very desire of writing.
I sold a hundred and three copies at the reading of my little book that had obviously grown from its little stage. That took its total to nearly two thousand- without bookshops and distributors. So, I felt, sometimes you don’t get that lucky. So what? You can always fight. I believe a good product will sell. Slowly, the marketing champs will sniff it out. And the creator will learn the ropes and become a good player. I know there are writers and other creators out there who might feel discouraged by the way the world works. This is just to say, your work will grow up to teach you. Be willing to listen and learn. Just don’t give up.
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Posted by Pallavi Guptaa at May 21, 2006 11:06 PM
Comments
Hi Pallavi!
touched... deeply... with the intensity & strength of your words. I dunno why, but I felt a sense of vacuum and emptyness in my mind as I was reading... what cud that mean, I wonder? Anyways...
Its really nice of you to bring out such facts about marketing et al to us, we are indeed more informed & aware of the ways of the writing-publishing realm now. Thanks! :)
Actually all this reminds me of... the book by Arundhati Roy, "God of Small Things" that was quite simple and interesting & that went on to win the Man Booker. Was that book very fortunate, was it gr8 PR, or was the fact that the release coincided with India's celebrations of 50 yrs of independence responsible for its "success"? And then there are these 2 books by Anita Desai- "Clear Light of Day" & "In Custody"... I found both these very beautiful (simple & interesting as well). The scheme was perfect... as if God himself was revealing the story... and still no Man Booker for any of these... why?
Can anyone say something about this?
Love you, Pallavi. keep up the spirit & keep spreading ur strength & warmth @ IB.
God bless!
"everything comes to the one who waits"
Dear Pallavi,
This sentence caught my eye. Let me put this statement to the test. I'll get back to you on this.
Cheers!
Navin
Pallavi, I feel so bad for your little book. so may I buy one and may be talk to her/him/it and soothe the ache away. What is the name of your little book?? God bless.
Recently I wrote a little visual book
the Chairman of the Board gave it a look
She kindly responded to the e-mail I sent...
She liked it!
And thought it would be great especially for children!
OH MY, coming from the Chairman of the Board
writing those words...what that meant~
It simply made me feel sooo very good!
But she added that she doesn't make the who or what publishing decision
she sent it off to the CEO, who is in another division!
YIKES!
I waited and waited and sent a few e-mails to him
time passed by and the outlook was turning to looking grim
He never did send me a personal response
I get the feeling my book to him is nonchalance!
I BELIEVE in my book
I wish he would grant it a second look!
Instead, an assistant to the chairman wrote that the book didn't fit
But that's not true. It is me that they think is the misfit!
In a way I understand the CEO's point of view
about marketing and selling and making money
You see, I am a treasurer for a very successful company, that's what's funny~
I agree, when you say everything comes to the one who waits
hope happens
or a twist of fate~
it's hard sometimes to not get discouraged
but you must pull from within and proceed
give yourself strength and courage!
Your nearly two thousand impressions of your daughter are with people. They must be loving it and respecting it. I am so sure.
Your blog is very encouraging. Keep it up.
Is your daughter is going to have a sibling soon?
Regards
Red.
Well,The sibling is on its way.Great. Just red your earlier blog (REf:The meeting).
congrats.
Red
And Red there was another... Shanaya... one among the earlier born...a very beautiful story.... dig the archives, u will find that out... :)
happy reading !!! :)
Dear Pallavi,
I am with Geeta and Shami. I would like to buy a copy :)
I feel the way SANS does. I am moved 'with the intensity and strength of your words'. And the subtle beauty of the truths you insert within the storylines and characters you create.
The gods have blessed you abundantly. I am grateful.
With love,
~ Kate
Hi Donna,
I like your poem
Hey Kate :-)
Thanks for joining the bandwagon.Well Pallavi's a great writer and talented at that.Her books will definitely find their destination and thats people like yu and me.
AM planning to write a book too.And am getting the jitters thanks to the publishers wrath ;-)
Thanks Kate~
My book, One Sun, travels with me everywhere I go. Perhaps one day it will see the sun and escape the walls of the black leather book bag~
Thanks Pallavi for posting about the little book and me.
Shami, good luck with the publishers!
SPIRIT is ALWAYS!
Donna
But I want to give up, my book wants to give up and people want us to give up! I have 4 left if someone wants one I'll send it to you for free, send me your address to garyc@howsitgoinggod.com and the first 4 will get a book, I'll even pay for the shipping and handling. Me and my book just don't feel like looking at each other anymore!
p.s. Reading it will make you want to write a book of your own. A less contraversial one.
Hi Donna
Thanks a lot for ur good wishes.
Best of luck with yur book.I am sure it will see the light at the end of the tunnel.
It can be excruciating but i am sure yu'll be able to make it happen.
take care
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Shami commented on The little book and me
Hi Donna
Thanks a lot for ur good wishes. -
G.C. the Great commented on The little book and me
But I want to give up, my book wants to give up
-
Donna commented on The little book and me
Thanks Kate~
My book, One Sun, travels
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Shami commented on The little book and me
Hey Kate :-)
Thanks for joining the bandw
Hi Pallavi.
Great Post.Well the fact is that nowadays a book sells more because of the kinda marketing and advertising it gets.SO much for good literature.
I like the way you write.Its simple and easy to understand.Shall grab a copy once i get back to India.It is a sad story to see great books by good writers not flying off the shelf but some dumb ones by renowned writers doing the job.
Well i hope yu'll keep one copy for me if it goes on to become a BIG best-seller. :-D