tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78281746499665331132024-02-24T21:54:22.675+05:30A WRITER'S SITE<i><b>Always Writing</b></i>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-14398371021572545102021-01-02T17:37:00.000+05:302021-01-02T17:37:05.245+05:30A Writing Mind<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzryuYUPzQx3z-vtTZ07Pq6qCRounX5o-nLKmoPR2Kt6v9BYzxFZlWVaTniOhBkyEbSeT3EA_Jb3tjVePacj7zfa1UrWqLWYspI3lZOXpnkhhWKg-x7QWBSpqd3E0vM7e4jSASVqj0A/s452/keyboard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="452" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzryuYUPzQx3z-vtTZ07Pq6qCRounX5o-nLKmoPR2Kt6v9BYzxFZlWVaTniOhBkyEbSeT3EA_Jb3tjVePacj7zfa1UrWqLWYspI3lZOXpnkhhWKg-x7QWBSpqd3E0vM7e4jSASVqj0A/w320-h232/keyboard.jpg" width="320" /></a>Writing is a lonely job. In fact, loneliness is a prerequisite of sorts, isn’t it? At least for me, it is. Unless I am alone in my own quiet space, I find it difficult to write. Actually, loneliness is not the right word because it has a negative slant to it. The word “emptiness” describes it better…a kind of vacant feeling which takes away the clutter and noise of the outside world. The mind is opened up to all sorts of possibilities. It’s vacant. It’s as if one is in an alternate universe where anything is possible and nothing is impossible. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Physically, one can describe it as being in a vast desert with nothing in sight. Or being in a little boat in an endless ocean. </div><p>Those who can get into their writing mind-space in a noisy, busy environment are lucky or I should say that they are super motivated. These are people who write anywhere and at anytime. They are super-productive and write novel after novel after novel…makes me feel so useless. </p><p>I’ve written a lot – and I mean a LOT – in my life but just one novel, that too after struggling with it for a few years. And now I am in the midst of my second one but it hasn't gone as fast as it should have. The only satisfaction I have is that I wrote a <i>damn good novel.</i> I am proud of <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/sakal-times-coverage.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a>. There's nothing I want to change in it. In fact, if anything, I fear I may not be able to write a novel as good as my first one. </p><p>I always believed that I was pretty self-motivated…after all, going at a novel for years without knowing whether a publisher will pick it up…that requires at least a little self-motivation. But perhaps I am not sufficiently motivated. I wasn’t able to get into the right frame of mind in these covid times. I don’t want to get into the mundane details of it…but suffice to say that the time has now passed and I’m getting back on track.</p><p>I always thought not writing = not working and time wasted. I don’t put that kind of pressure on myself anymore. I write because I love it and I because I know I want to write another damn good novel!</p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>(Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/life-of-pix-364018/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=498396">LEEROY Agency</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=498396">Pixabay</a>)</i></span>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-249267903569871782020-03-19T11:15:00.000+05:302020-03-19T11:15:05.680+05:30Author Interview in Hindustan Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Hindustan Times, Pune, almost immediately after my book release (1st December 2019) but somehow I had neglected to put this up on my website. I had got so busy with a few book readings and travel that I completely forgot to post this.<br />
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Well, here it is:<br />
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Here is the text version:<br />
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1. The genre of thriller originates from the gothic which has a large rambling castle as its setting. Since Hawa Mahal is a typical Gothic building what importance does it hold to your murder mystery thriller?
Answer: There’s a character in my book called Raja who comes from a poor family. He wants to make it big and even fancies himself to be a king. He has grandiose dreams of building a palace just like Hawa Mahal. He does become very rich, and when he does, he has a building made on the lines of the real Hawa Mahal. Of course, it’s an imitation and that is the whole point. It’s actually an ugly building from an architectural point of view. So, in the novel, this building in Mumbai, called Hawa Mahal, becomes a symbol of sorts. Hawa Mahal is known as the Palace of Winds, but it can also be interpreted as castles in the air. The idea that I am trying to convey is that Raja, isn’t a success, not really.
There is another meaning to why the building is called Hawa Mahal. The original Hawa Mahal was built with hundreds of windows so that the royal ladies could look outside without being seen, as the purdah system was in place then. I am trying to convey that the main character, Smita, is trapped in the building. She can see the outside but cannot really participate in life.<br />
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2. Thriller has seen quite a resurgence in India especially with the popularity of “Sacred Games”, which is itself an adaptation of the thriller novel of the same name. So, in your opinion why has thriller made such a comeback and why did you choose to write a thriller rather than a work of any other nature.
Answer: Today’s generation likes fast-paced novels. We are in the age of cable tv, action movies and WhatsApp. But that is not the reason why I wrote a thriller. I wrote what I love to read. I love reading thrillers, always did, although of late I have been concentrating on writing. But my book is more than a thriller. I like to think that it tackles some underlying issues in this society.<br />
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3. Overcoming a bad marriage, as your character Smita does involve laying bare the vulnerability of being a woman. Why was it important for you that your character should have such an arc?
Answer: I came from a liberal family, but I am not the norm. A vast majority of Indian women put aside their hopes and dreams and follow society’s dictates. The hold of the parents is very strong. Often, women do not even want to acknowledge that they are sacrificing something, they don’t want to face it, because if they do, then their life would become unbearable. So, I created a character with high self-awareness, someone who faced her fears and tried to make sense of her life.<br />
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4. How did you get the idea of the book? Walk us through your writing process.
Answer: A part of the answer lies in the answer to question 3. I wanted to write about a middle-class Indian woman going through issues common to our society. I wanted a relatable character and relatable issues, in the Indian context. Even my other main character, Jai, goes through issues that people commonly face, a corrupt system for example. As for the story, it evolved by itself once I put my characters in difficult situations and in a particular setting.<br />
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5. How was your experience of publishing with Vishwakarma Publications?
Answer: I consider myself very lucky to have got a publisher like Vishwakarma Publications. I found the VP team sincere, helpful and friendly. I am also proud to be associated with PILF.<br />
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6. What is on your current reading list?
Answer: I have read one of Margaret Atwood’s novels and plan to read the others too. I like her writing style.
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Check out all of my <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/search/label/Author%20Interview" target="_blank">author interview</a>s on this website.</div>
Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-15075549040776959592020-03-19T10:55:00.002+05:302020-03-19T10:55:39.989+05:30Author Interview at E-Author Resources<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The <a href="https://eauthorresource.wordpress.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">E-Author Resources</a> blog showcases books and authors and also is a goldmine for authors looking for book cover artists, editors, illustrators, publishers, and website designers.</div>
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They were kind enough to feature my interview on their website. Here is a small excerpt:<br />
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<b>Did you learn anything from the project? </b><br />I had read a lot of detective and mystery novels but when I actually started to write one, I realised how difficult it is to insert clues in the right places so as to keep up the suspense. There was a lot of painstaking detailing work required and constant going back and forth. It was a learning experience for me.</blockquote>
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For the rest of the interview you can go here to the actual link: <a href="https://eauthorresource.wordpress.com/2020/03/19/interview-with-n-j-kulkarni-author-of-the-hawa-mahal-murders/" target="_blank">Interview with N.J Kulkarni Author of The Hawa Mahal Murders. </a></div>
Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-23170365163682562982020-02-08T07:24:00.002+05:302020-02-11T07:41:10.756+05:30At the Jaipur Lit Fest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I attended the Jaipur Literature Festival for the first time in January 2020. Not for all the five days, just for a day or so. It was exactly what I had been told it would be. Crowded, energising, exciting, festive...<br>
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I was there on a Sunday and the Diggi Palace venue was packed. The previous day I had been at JBM (Jaipur BookMark) at the same venue but hadn't attended any JLF sessions.<br>
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The discourses on politics like one where Rajdeep Sardesai and Sachin Pilot were spewing forth their contradictory opinions were the most crowded with deafening cheers for nothing in particular. The Front Lawn venue had <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2020/02/at-jaipur-lit-fest.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-43757638598637946292020-02-07T19:05:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:41:25.895+05:30At the Jaipur BookMark Literary Festival<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I spent a day at Jaipur BookMark (JBM) on the 25th of January. The organisers offered me a free delegate badge because I participated in the iwrite competition. I am not sure why they did because I had not been shortlisted. In any case, I had submitted a short story not a synopsis of a novel. Mostly the iwrite competitions are all about getting a book deal so I wasn't really expecting any response from them. Maybe from their point of view, offering a free delegate badge was nothing but for me, someone who was mulling over going to JLF for weeks, this was the nudge I needed. The free delegate badge I mean.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Festival Directors discussing literary trends</td></tr>
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I had no idea what JBM was<br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2020/02/at-jaipur-bookmark-literary-festival.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-4765926386530141612020-01-18T15:26:00.005+05:302020-01-18T15:28:45.103+05:30The Hawa Mahal Murders at the Delhi Book Fair in January 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It had been years since I went to a book fair. I had heard that book fairs were packed with jostling crowds but I needed to narrow the gap between seeing and not seeing. After all, my crime thriller <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/the-hawa-mahal-murders.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a>, was being exhibited at Vishwakarma Publications bookstall in Hall no.12. I had to be there! And I was, on the 12th of January, 2020. It was a Sunday and the grounds at Pragati Maidan were packed.<br />
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It was quite an exciting experience for me. Signing copies of my books, meeting strangers who were going to read my book and of course the general bookish atmosphere which I thrive in.<br />
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It was interesting to see so many young people there...students. Unfortunately, students don't have too much money in their pockets but it was good to see the eagerness to read even if most of them were looking for bargain books. There were families with children, lots and lots of them. It was middle-class India at its best and I loved it.<br />
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Related Reading: <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/sakal-times-coverage.html" target="_blank">Sakal Times Coverage.</a> and the <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2020/01/book-reading-at-quill-and-canvas-in.html" target="_blank">Book Reading at Quill And Canvas</a> or Meeting students at their <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/mitwpu-book-club-launch.html" target="_blank">MITWPU Book Club Launch</a><br />
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Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-42189303501349679292020-01-18T15:03:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:42:02.836+05:30Book Reading at the Quill And Canvas in Gurgaon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Reading excerpts from <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/the-hawa-mahal-murders.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a> at the Quill And Canvas in Gurgaon on the 11th of January 2020 was a unique experience. For one thing, I was reading excerpts from my book at a cosy art gallery and book store called the Quill And Canvas in a glitzy mall. It was the third time I was doing a book reading and I found myself slipping into the mode very easily this time.<br>
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Book readings are a way to reach readers in different parts of the country, even if huge crowds don't make it on the day itself. The flyers go out and advertise the reading and that counts for a lot. All in all, <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2020/01/book-reading-at-quill-and-canvas-in.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-28167235501792136462019-12-29T15:35:00.000+05:302020-03-19T10:56:08.343+05:30Sakal Times Coverage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was lucky enough to have <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/the-hawa-mahal-murders.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a> covered by a prestigious newspaper like Sakal Times.<br>
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They announced a Pagdandi book launch in their daily newspaper. This was a second launch of a book, at a book cafe on the 14th of December 2019. The first launch was an <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/p/coming-soona-murder-mystery.html" target="_blank">official launch</a> at the Pune Lit Fest on 20th of September 2019. This event took place at Yashada, in Baner.<br>
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<b>An announcement in Sakal Times.</b></div>
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<b>A great author interview! This appeared on the 13th of December 2019.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVvwoHpQvyeaLTLhYyGMUXM6GxDzyzUY1cs5LaeARzJxpeVLtA-EoZ3hIyLaTXpKDoLUPMgzwuVNEkLAExwpWhXCpnmSb9Q6AfCmKy82iy0tPZOwhLiDzppNfYMkMuLiGR-9YT_YH2g/s1600/Nita+in+Sakal+Times+13.12.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1600" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVvwoHpQvyeaLTLhYyGMUXM6GxDzyzUY1cs5LaeARzJxpeVLtA-EoZ3hIyLaTXpKDoLUPMgzwuVNEkLAExwpWhXCpnmSb9Q6AfCmKy82iy0tPZOwhLiDzppNfYMkMuLiGR-9YT_YH2g/s640/Nita+in+Sakal+Times+13.12.19.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<b>And finally, the review! Loved the title </b></div>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/sakal-times-coverage.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-66508070962681289562019-12-29T15:11:00.001+05:302020-02-11T07:43:11.976+05:30Reviewing Reviews<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been three months since the launch of my book, <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/book-launch-at-pilf19-with-javed-akhtar.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a>, and when I look back I have a lot to be happy about. 40 reviews on Amazon and 44 ratings on goodreads, almost all of them positive.<br>
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Pretty good for an unknown author without a famous publisher pushing out free review copies and an author without any pull to get reviews done by famous people and famous publications.<br>
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Here is a review scrapbook <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/reviewing-reviews.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-2452799932372867432019-12-16T15:38:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:43:45.548+05:30Pagdandi Book Launch and Book Reading<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An event was organised at Pagdandi, a book cafe in Baner, Pune, on the 14th of December 2019. My crime thriller <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/the-hawa-mahal-murders.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a> had a mini-launch at this book cafe, and it was accompanied by a book reading and a quiz. I had a lot of fun! This was the second book launch, the first being the <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/book-launch-at-pilf19-with-javed-akhtar.html" target="_blank">official launch</a> at the Pune Lit Fest, on the 20th of September 2019.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlEqENajstJCQvQQsdVrEX0mpwKRgREwrGpxt3Url2Ootuh9EKAlX5kkei7W6d7IQremynJBzIEa7wXE0u9rY3NWXusNagGpiZe046EkTlZFZS5Wu1k8kxOFkKVp1JkQsBOEEPzqceg/s1600/A3+Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1132" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlEqENajstJCQvQQsdVrEX0mpwKRgREwrGpxt3Url2Ootuh9EKAlX5kkei7W6d7IQremynJBzIEa7wXE0u9rY3NWXusNagGpiZe046EkTlZFZS5Wu1k8kxOFkKVp1JkQsBOEEPzqceg/s400/A3+Poster.jpg" width="282"></a></div>
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<b>These were several promos made for the mystery quiz!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMBzFVdfldWMN-EAHAlxxtN7lVxaTAQD_0T5m6SzE8fAlHGS4RBc0gfJKF1XdoLtgIHsHHiqdbsYx32eYDexGumurf5jP0HIuOLwhhBPxo2bEm4GFzQmUvSJ57TvU9crrlHER7gY7_w/s1600/all+mystery+promos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1110" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMBzFVdfldWMN-EAHAlxxtN7lVxaTAQD_0T5m6SzE8fAlHGS4RBc0gfJKF1XdoLtgIHsHHiqdbsYx32eYDexGumurf5jP0HIuOLwhhBPxo2bEm4GFzQmUvSJ57TvU9crrlHER7gY7_w/s640/all+mystery+promos.jpg" width="442"></a></div>
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I had done a book reading at the Pune Lit Fest too, but this was somehow more fun! Maybe it was because I had had the experience earlier, but I wasn't tense. I was </div>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/pagdandi-book-launch-and-book-reading.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-31591277861629281402019-12-10T09:47:00.002+05:302020-02-11T07:44:13.431+05:30Are debut novels the worst or the best of an author's work?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The dictionary calls a debut "a person's first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role." And an author is a "writer of a book, play...etc" This could be taken to mean that a debut author is one who has written a book for the first time. This is how the public sees it.<br>
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This is highly unlikely. All authors have written something or the other before their book goes out in the public eye. Some have even written and discarded novels. Therefore, when the world talks about debut authors, they aren't actually referring first time writers, they are referring to first time published authors.<br>
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But why quibble on words? As the title of this post says, the purpose of this post is to analyse whether the <i>first</i> <i>published work</i> of an author is the best or the worst.<br>
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This is what the Wiki <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debut_novel#Literary_characteristics" target="_blank">says</a> about debut works.<br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/are-debut-novels-worst-or-best-of.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-65078770641501016232019-10-24T15:40:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:44:49.351+05:30The Hawa Mahal Murders in the Crime Fiction Lover Newsletter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwV2QU6BMU8xkOSELSJBeRMVi1T1W5CqNpxuw-iNVMKctWjpzp1NhgZPKQILa0JYLOP_mYKpIFiYBdE0KWcD_6lGmmQw4E1hEBCTGwy-gj5sYsJtJibDCRiZ5KB7gapDgfpB5N1KFCQ/s1600/3D+HM+image+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="850" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwV2QU6BMU8xkOSELSJBeRMVi1T1W5CqNpxuw-iNVMKctWjpzp1NhgZPKQILa0JYLOP_mYKpIFiYBdE0KWcD_6lGmmQw4E1hEBCTGwy-gj5sYsJtJibDCRiZ5KB7gapDgfpB5N1KFCQ/s200/3D+HM+image+copy.jpg" width="193"></a></div>
I have a potential audience here in India who I can reach with my book <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/book-launch-at-pilf19-with-javed-akhtar.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a> but reaching out to an audience <i>outside</i> India is a challenge. We Indians happily read about Americans solving mysteries and going on adventures but the Americans have enough on their plate and don't go seeking Indian crime stories! If they do read anything Indian it's high brow literary stuff which goes on to win a Booker prize.<br>
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But there is another kind of fiction out there. My kind of fiction. Entertaining, racy and of course well-written.<br>
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That is why it was gratifying that a popular US site like <a href="https://crimefictionlover.com/about/" target="_blank">Crime Fiction Lover</a> mentioned my book <br>
</div></div></div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/the-hawa-mahal-murders-in-crime-fiction.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-67208282878130196922019-10-24T15:18:00.002+05:302020-02-11T07:45:25.314+05:30Appreciation is food for the writer's soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwV2QU6BMU8xkOSELSJBeRMVi1T1W5CqNpxuw-iNVMKctWjpzp1NhgZPKQILa0JYLOP_mYKpIFiYBdE0KWcD_6lGmmQw4E1hEBCTGwy-gj5sYsJtJibDCRiZ5KB7gapDgfpB5N1KFCQ/s1600/3D+HM+image+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="850" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwV2QU6BMU8xkOSELSJBeRMVi1T1W5CqNpxuw-iNVMKctWjpzp1NhgZPKQILa0JYLOP_mYKpIFiYBdE0KWcD_6lGmmQw4E1hEBCTGwy-gj5sYsJtJibDCRiZ5KB7gapDgfpB5N1KFCQ/s200/3D+HM+image+copy.jpg" width="193"></a></div>
Now that a month has passed since the launch of my book <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/a-book-launch-and-reviews.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a>, it is a good feeling to know that people are loving it. There are so far 10 Amazon reviews, all of them 5-star reviews. I had written something about <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/a-book-launch-and-reviews.html" target="_blank">reviews</a> immediately after the launch too.<br>
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While the <a href="https://www.amazon.in/gp/customer-reviews/R14U5D05VYSYS/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07WXMFF8T" target="_blank">first review</a> has remained a favourite with me, there's another one I would like to show here.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAG-KTvCuIUqGICK-ndS7_h6PM8AKReZ8r0e7ifeOo78WEeD3KsPWhUUs3wPHpz4psofpkA3p5jLp5I-PYxeiE6_T09N4qKvKtBuDNH1s1Ebl1w8d-PUpKWcl42K044gJ7x2IlQA5aw/s1600/Screenshot+2019-10-24+at+3.03.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="734" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAG-KTvCuIUqGICK-ndS7_h6PM8AKReZ8r0e7ifeOo78WEeD3KsPWhUUs3wPHpz4psofpkA3p5jLp5I-PYxeiE6_T09N4qKvKtBuDNH1s1Ebl1w8d-PUpKWcl42K044gJ7x2IlQA5aw/s640/Screenshot+2019-10-24+at+3.03.51+PM.png" width="640"></a></div>
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The Hawa Mahal Murders turned into a mini-series? Maybe a movie? Well, things are on the anvil. So it is not a pipe dream. The characters in my novel are well etched, the story is fast-paced and scenes are described vividly. And people have shown interest.<br>
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There are 5 GoodReads reviews as well <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/appreciation-is-food-for-writers-soul.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-13060857612212221322019-10-22T19:07:00.002+05:302020-03-19T11:00:25.900+05:30Author of the Month at Vishwakarma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This month, October, Vishwakarma Publications, my publisher has given me the honour of being their <a href="https://vishwakarmapublications.com/blog/author-of-the-month-nita-kulkarni/" target="_blank">Author of the month</a> for my book <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/book-launch-at-pilf19-with-javed-akhtar.html" target="_blank">The Hawa Mahal Murders</a> which was launched during the inauguration of PILF19 with Javed Akhtar.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_hRSVxy96KdRcYJeV7fmOwnI5H1SObB82i_1WQ1h89a9CoJtMolDJdVAyjDIJf-DFz56du5QzFHnDoXpC3mNLEDEMdCNKE6Duvf2jTFhJGnAxen__MAv79ryUoDLPrGovV3v5vfY5A/s1600/Screenshot+2019-10-22+at+6.57.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="849" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_hRSVxy96KdRcYJeV7fmOwnI5H1SObB82i_1WQ1h89a9CoJtMolDJdVAyjDIJf-DFz56du5QzFHnDoXpC3mNLEDEMdCNKE6Duvf2jTFhJGnAxen__MAv79ryUoDLPrGovV3v5vfY5A/s640/Screenshot+2019-10-22+at+6.57.00+PM.png" width="640"></a></div>
These are some of the excerpts from the interview which was taken by Richa Singh:<br>
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Nita Kulkarni’s book ‘The Hawa Mahal Murders,’ published by Vishwakarma Publications is a treat to thriller lovers.<br>
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<b>The genre of thriller originates from the Gothic which has a large rambling castle as its setting. Since Hawa Mahal is a typical Gothic building what importance does it hold to your murder mystery thriller? </b><br>
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There’s a character in my book called Raja who comes from a poor family. He wants to make it big and even fancies himself to be a king. He has grandiose <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/author-of-month-at-vishwakarma.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-53658983341272955522019-10-21T08:55:00.001+05:302020-02-11T07:46:47.859+05:30MITWPU Book club launch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GQuKUUvyJTdruJQlYB_m53NvIwmLxhO8VChcUyKCpV-JNDKAg5Npgxv0Qiij5rng-at2ZWDIWuldD3CKDgcFZBVT4HLPVOZMWWZmKz2wzrIQQ3t-vLcvl_ISCS99cfqONwjzA77ZOA/s1600/Screenshot+2019-10-19+at+9.39.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="603" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GQuKUUvyJTdruJQlYB_m53NvIwmLxhO8VChcUyKCpV-JNDKAg5Npgxv0Qiij5rng-at2ZWDIWuldD3CKDgcFZBVT4HLPVOZMWWZmKz2wzrIQQ3t-vLcvl_ISCS99cfqONwjzA77ZOA/s200/Screenshot+2019-10-19+at+9.39.49+PM.png" width="200"></a>On the 19th of October 2019 I was invited to speak at the launch of the MITWPU book club launch on the MIT campus at Kothrud. It was wonderful to interact with a group of enthusiastic and bright students eager to become a part of the book club.<br>
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It was a two-hour programme which started with introductions, felicitations and talks by the MIT faculty about the importance of reading.<br>
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It was an honour to be felicitated by the Vice-Chancellor and an honour to be invited. Prof. Ajay Nagre initiated <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/mitwpu-book-club-launch.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-4617375786397039142019-10-04T14:40:00.003+05:302020-02-11T07:48:02.620+05:30A book launch and reviews!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The days leading up the launch of The Hawa Mahal Murders on the 20th of September were tense as there were public appearances at the Pune lit fest. I am not used to speaking in public or going on stage. Sure, my book was a PILF contest winner but all the more reason to be nervous!<br>
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It all went off fairly smoothly, thankfully.<br>
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The moment when I actually walked on stage for the <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/book-launch-at-pilf19-with-javed-akhtar.html" target="_blank">book launch</a> felt surreal. It still does.<br>
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The aftermath wasn't as relaxed <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/a-book-launch-and-reviews.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-34074658635989485792019-09-23T11:05:00.004+05:302020-02-09T17:49:49.369+05:30Book Launch at PILF19 with Javed Akhtar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My thriller "The Hawa Mahal Murders" was launched at PILF19 with Javed Akhtar. Here he is holding my book! An honour I was lucky to receive because The Hawa Mahal Murders was a PILF contest winner!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJpkjZ7YjoqEQBGbf0NodK3NBbgByJBlND0HvEwwKB9F-xn8g2UVpU_5QRdo3-lqmd6JOPjKeu4cnElL8DJDmgGtZReCYLQ7VSeEeUAUScHuKm_0z3xDT-safOSdB6eVdXP_cgzhyphenhyphen1A/s1600/JA.+holding+book.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="974" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJpkjZ7YjoqEQBGbf0NodK3NBbgByJBlND0HvEwwKB9F-xn8g2UVpU_5QRdo3-lqmd6JOPjKeu4cnElL8DJDmgGtZReCYLQ7VSeEeUAUScHuKm_0z3xDT-safOSdB6eVdXP_cgzhyphenhyphen1A/s640/JA.+holding+book.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, the prize winner (The Hawa Mahal Murders) was launched at the inauguration of PILF. A surreal experience for me. Other eminent people were present on the stage with me including Manjiri Prabhu, a popular mystery writer, Sidharth Jain the ceo of StoryInk, Mr Vishal Soni, ceo of Vishwakarma Publications and Mrs Agarwal, from the founding family of Vishwakarma.<br />
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An extra-large poster of my book can be seen below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HqEIyNXA2U-4C_rVRY2teIeKTQC5aGzJzYdtuyWX6jXlHam3P-CE34T4Cf_fjZFOoQXP63iKALkM9z-mQgTMZuWBkUbHlRlleqOjo3R7-VQUeFsf1201xag-AIJtvbc2hRiIjLHHtQ/s1600/d4434860-68a0-4eb4-a1e0-b86af2c30b1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1152" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HqEIyNXA2U-4C_rVRY2teIeKTQC5aGzJzYdtuyWX6jXlHam3P-CE34T4Cf_fjZFOoQXP63iKALkM9z-mQgTMZuWBkUbHlRlleqOjo3R7-VQUeFsf1201xag-AIJtvbc2hRiIjLHHtQ/s640/d4434860-68a0-4eb4-a1e0-b86af2c30b1a.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sales of my book at the venue were brisk. Looking forward to some <a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/12/reviewing-reviews.html" target="_blank">reviews</a> now!<br />
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It was an exhilarating moment! More about my experiences at the PILF later!<br />
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Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-65744520778045070742019-09-12T18:27:00.001+05:302020-02-11T07:48:57.486+05:30Why Buy My Book?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a session called "Why Buy My Book?" on the 20th of September at PILF19, the first day of the Pune International Literary Festival. I have about 8 minutes to tell people why my book, The Hawa Mahal Murders, is worth a buy.<br>
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It's always a challenge to convince people to buy one's book because one has to be absolutely clear about one's target audience. Once I finish the session I will post my talk here. But one thing I must mention, something I feel I should have done before the first edition was published. I should have had a blurb at the back saying that this was a "winner at the PILF18." Why didn't I think of it? In the second edition, I shall say this and more. "Launched at PILF19." Yes, that's being very hopeful, that there will be a second edition. But there will be. I want to think positive.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2COLxxHm-x5CrhQDp6nga6f1bhvoR8sZcyKuoicBjpDfB39eJeH0DC8LCv_mAIk0DhBX8wm05EMVLM59eIBuBji7YAQjSgGBuEi9lPJD5meA3nyTWCfXjOmmxR9RTs9ijQxiSIXODPQ/s1600/PILF+-+Why+buy+my+book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2COLxxHm-x5CrhQDp6nga6f1bhvoR8sZcyKuoicBjpDfB39eJeH0DC8LCv_mAIk0DhBX8wm05EMVLM59eIBuBji7YAQjSgGBuEi9lPJD5meA3nyTWCfXjOmmxR9RTs9ijQxiSIXODPQ/s640/PILF+-+Why+buy+my+book+3.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<br>
Here is the schedule for <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/09/why-buy-my-book.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-52178946562851509832019-08-20T21:45:00.004+05:302022-08-21T16:36:07.635+05:30The Hawa Mahal Murders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's happening. My book titled <i>The Hawa Mahal Murders, the </i><i>PILF</i><i> prize winner</i> will be launched at the inauguration of the Pune International Literary Festival (PILF) on the 20th of September 2019. Now everyone is going to be able to read it. That's madly exciting, yes, but also frightening. Yes, it was a contest winner but finally it's all about the reader!<br>
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People ask: Why Hawa Mahal?<br>
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One of the characters in my story has grandiose dreams. He wants to build a modern building on the lines of an ancient castle. And when it came to ancient castles, Hawa Mahal just popped into my head. At the time I hadn't thought of it becoming the title of the book.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90IyZZD7EdplFaokdKx-xBxMnSdWzIaJPSO9IwJaRltDiMhgdofjr1ujb4r5W1xggdsYDotXGvY5ezpWC_fRJK7Oc512wWM9juT5UNMhNUi6mzo7BNvhXcnaiKw1esSkpaXmEGLBxiQ/s1600/HM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="900" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90IyZZD7EdplFaokdKx-xBxMnSdWzIaJPSO9IwJaRltDiMhgdofjr1ujb4r5W1xggdsYDotXGvY5ezpWC_fRJK7Oc512wWM9juT5UNMhNUi6mzo7BNvhXcnaiKw1esSkpaXmEGLBxiQ/s640/HM.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<br>
The actual Hawa Mahal is an ancient palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and the name literally means<br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/the-hawa-mahal-murders.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-74239869540961081502019-08-05T19:02:00.002+05:302020-02-11T07:49:45.397+05:30My writing journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSNgBBVOQyW22jpVymriOEb9tmiplFFacQc_gv5DA-x4c-GhgLA08g6_3dNVOfgawZdqz-NzBlyPbBBfvVgWoa3IgwqFGB72LNq7JWiZOLG1GO4acSi6KzqTTsUZUm6J-HcH_GDC2ZQ/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSNgBBVOQyW22jpVymriOEb9tmiplFFacQc_gv5DA-x4c-GhgLA08g6_3dNVOfgawZdqz-NzBlyPbBBfvVgWoa3IgwqFGB72LNq7JWiZOLG1GO4acSi6KzqTTsUZUm6J-HcH_GDC2ZQ/s1600/paper.jpg"></a></div>
Now that my first novel is to be published next month, it's time to look back on my writing journey.<br>
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I am not one of those geniuses who published a book at a young age. It's taken time.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBklMlXoTpf1eVWvy_8ri45orhifwYf4uCXSZYKS3ZddO9i8cauMHxZzMfHB0AdebYssFx3pgtstJS7eGXT8ES9eEsUOEGG6eLD5DQUWuaLA7k2kVSNeYsZ5a0oovHRJrsrfH0LysY-w/s1600/inland+letter+graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="174" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBklMlXoTpf1eVWvy_8ri45orhifwYf4uCXSZYKS3ZddO9i8cauMHxZzMfHB0AdebYssFx3pgtstJS7eGXT8ES9eEsUOEGG6eLD5DQUWuaLA7k2kVSNeYsZ5a0oovHRJrsrfH0LysY-w/s200/inland+letter+graphic.jpg" width="150"></a>For me, writing began with a diary. I was all of ten years old. The diary had nothing to do with the events in my life. It was an outpouring of emotion. Rambling thoughts. Conversations. It was the best writing practice. Diary writing went on for over a decade and I still have a trunk-full of my old diaries.<br>
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Writing long letters to friends was something <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/08/my-writing-journey.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-21807584112036152022019-08-01T16:08:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:49:58.785+05:30Are you young at heart?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMJHpHLdQEQqH1xG9BvEowXCgpMQB0o6G5j0twFUxNzSqg1NQcbfa1shAQw8YtlBo4zuK_yMZIDvK2ksvkUZm1BZ5-ZEw_k_bE2KiTKlKDXNbya36ekuUa14gxRGVWgtzRG5bZny5kg/s1600/cardiac-156059_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMJHpHLdQEQqH1xG9BvEowXCgpMQB0o6G5j0twFUxNzSqg1NQcbfa1shAQw8YtlBo4zuK_yMZIDvK2ksvkUZm1BZ5-ZEw_k_bE2KiTKlKDXNbya36ekuUa14gxRGVWgtzRG5bZny5kg/s320/cardiac-156059_640.png" width="320"></a><br>
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<i>This is my article as it was published in the Times of India. </i><br>
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You may have smooth unwrinkled skin but do you have that spring in your step that carries you easily up a flight of stairs? If you don't, then you may be young in years, but not in your heart.<br>
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"The process of blockage of arteries starts at birth, but the speed at which happens depends a great deal on our energy expenditure, besides the genes and diet," says Dr Shantesh Kaushik, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon.<br>
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Two major aspects determine the age of the heart: <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/10/are-you-young-at-heart.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-74290725575275087192019-07-20T21:56:00.001+05:302020-02-11T07:51:22.812+05:30Teenage Sex: It's always existed in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Szm_CD02SrrdRDlJcAcE5GH6_ZGDTzuBr4EuHdlg1KtKuSIgH8vcVz36g4yToaF1PfZnGTwZ4tN4FaAD8pRGnvdpR0uWdx632Y05T2tZLdvgsl1nbDzPwJmh5crE4Rqzbj8zwOa54A/s1600/Teenage+sex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="800" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Szm_CD02SrrdRDlJcAcE5GH6_ZGDTzuBr4EuHdlg1KtKuSIgH8vcVz36g4yToaF1PfZnGTwZ4tN4FaAD8pRGnvdpR0uWdx632Y05T2tZLdvgsl1nbDzPwJmh5crE4Rqzbj8zwOa54A/s400/Teenage+sex.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
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Dating, love affairs...and even pre-marital sex is no longer taboo amongst today’s teenagers. Not even in conservative cities. True, one may not see many boys and girls openly holding hands on the main roads or kissing in parked cars but many affairs are conducted on the sly...without the knowledge of parents. Parental disapproval and society’s contempt often drives friendship and romance with the opposite sex underground! Boys and girls from even traditional families are dating but secrecy is the name of the game.<br>
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Rohit, 18, is having a secret love affair. He comes <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/07/teenage-sex-its-always-existed-in-india.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-91367806815803913322019-07-01T07:22:00.000+05:302020-02-11T07:51:38.808+05:30Driving Made Easy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>This is a short humorous piece I wrote for Deccan Herald, Bangalore. It can be called a slice of life piece, maybe.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR0XM5mwm4brrqHCcsOzTIzOwheWgSVqV3cr5php-Ut9OzjOi3_nl05slCnAGtq-d6Er5q-bQAiF5Tg7iECwmjvPBnlZgjuWUfIsTLyNw-TuNmPX8G4MpxVo4zzUbvKHfO7zud5KhGw/s1600/car+repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="373" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLR0XM5mwm4brrqHCcsOzTIzOwheWgSVqV3cr5php-Ut9OzjOi3_nl05slCnAGtq-d6Er5q-bQAiF5Tg7iECwmjvPBnlZgjuWUfIsTLyNw-TuNmPX8G4MpxVo4zzUbvKHfO7zud5KhGw/s320/car+repair.jpg" width="320"></a><br>
There is no doubt that some men have a ‘thing’ about cars. Call it a fetish if you will. It comes close to being emotionally involved with cars. They actually "care". They listen intently to her engine and are tuned in to her every dysfunction.<br>
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‘Something’s wrong,’ my husband often said, stopping a perfectly running car on a lonely road at high noon and disappearing under the hood. It would be half an hour before he would emerge, a satisfied look on his face, oblivious to my impatience.<br>
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‘She is fine now,’ he would mutter after a while as if that explained everything.<br>
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I am not ashamed to say that <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/07/driving-made-easy.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-59276474760066404222019-06-07T18:52:00.001+05:302020-02-11T07:52:24.487+05:30The Two Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
They were two women. Who would have thought of comparing them if they were not living in the same house, eating the same food, breathing in the same air?<br>
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The younger one was prettier. Wasn't it always so? Besides, she had style, an air of sophistication. Long-limbed and graceful, her dancing eyes and gay laughter filled the house. She had not a care in the world.<br>
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The older woman was the serious one. She had a boniness about her which was etched into her very personality...as if it were going to haunt her for the rest of her life, no matter if she decided to gorge on sweets and cream (as if she would).<br>
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The eyes were deeper-set and the hollows in her cheeks lent her...what was it? A hidden depth, perhaps? Surely, her lack of good looks <br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/06/the-two-women.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7828174649966533113.post-45652295272159812132019-06-05T11:54:00.002+05:302019-06-10T20:29:53.321+05:30Why Blogger is better than Wordpress for people like me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-CzKbQ2-vWwL96Ug7MULEj8CmOTyfRXrYJwQ97j5vJtcUvURh12Ol_DsCfGJWDZ7O6CAulwcERwlXcZophjMMG31VukSmbxKQPNSULKXlYGNztAUTv1JH0f8JvGsB5Skd8TXTITDWQ/s1600/wordpress-1415678_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-CzKbQ2-vWwL96Ug7MULEj8CmOTyfRXrYJwQ97j5vJtcUvURh12Ol_DsCfGJWDZ7O6CAulwcERwlXcZophjMMG31VukSmbxKQPNSULKXlYGNztAUTv1JH0f8JvGsB5Skd8TXTITDWQ/s200/wordpress-1415678_640.png" width="125"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Pixabay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The web is bursting at the seams with positive reviews of Wordpress, many of which compare WP with Blogger. But Blogger is more suitable for people like me.<br>
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I still have four blogs at WP (free ones), although only one is being updated currently, as of June 2019. Two of these <i>used to have</i> paid hosting at WP with bought domain names. I went for it because everyone said WP is the best. Now I work with blogger custom domains. But that's another story.<br>
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I wrote my first blog (<a href="http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/">nitawriter.wordpress.com</a>) from Sep 2006 to Jan 2010. It did great, probably because there was less competition then. I have almost 1000 posts there, and scores of comments on each post, at times hundreds. I had followers in thousands. I stopped blogging because it was becoming a full-time job with zero revenue. Despite working so hard, with thousands of page views per day (684,047 views in 2010, although I stopped blogging in January of that year!), I was unable to monetize the blog on a free WordPress platform. It was too late to switch to a paid version because I would have lost my page rank.<br>
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That's a lot of views I think, although they were probably from feeds. The views continued to be quite good for several years although I abandoned the blog.<br>
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Wordpress did publish ads on my site but I got nothing. Later Wordpress started paying bloggers but it was too late for me. I had moved on.<br>
</div><a href="https://www.nitajatarkulkarni.com/2019/06/why-blogger-is-better-than-wordpress.html#more"></a>Nitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14037311140684571686noreply@blogger.com2