Yes, there was a Novel Update – I and it came out in February. You can read it here – https://mashedmusings.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/novel-updates/
My life has always followed a pattern. Every fabulous news is accompanied by a disaster. It is God’s way of telling me that I cannot have it all, that he will never ever let me have a perfect day. For example, if I have decided to take a week-long holiday two months later, there will be a sudden avalanche of work two days before I go on that holiday. It will be God’s way to squeeze out every ounce of pre-holiday happiness out of me. I am sure this happens with everyone but every fucking time?
So, last Friday (two days before Diwali), I was gung-ho about spending the weekend with my family. It was also Anika’s first Diwali. Now add to it the fact that a few days back, I was shocked to see a letter from a publishing house in my inbox stating that they would like to publish my novel. I was eagerly waiting for the agreement letter from the publishing house before they could change their mind. Diwali and an agreement with a Publishing house – now this was too perfect to be true. “Hmmm, let’s do something about it,” God said.
Now my office has an air conditioning system that no own knows how to operate. It stays at 21 degrees and there is no power that can budge it from there. We phone and phone the guys at the facility and they promise to save us from dying. To fulfil their promise, one of them appears with a futuristic machine in his hand to check the temperature (as if we were lying) and once he is satisfied that it is actually freezing, he unsuccessfully tries to increase the temperature.
It so happened on Friday that my wife called me to tell me that the agreement has arrived. I told her amidst chattering teeth that it was a great news and I was not feeling well because of the cold. By the time I reached home, I was coughing and sneezing to glory and had a look at the agreement with watery eyes. Some harsh medicines and a wasted Diwali later, I signed the agreement and sent it over.
You might call me a pessimist. You might say that getting a novel published should have overshadowed everything in my mind. And you are correct. It was just a bloody cold. I just wish that things would have been perfect. I am tired of paying a price for my happiness. Believe me, it is irritating when you have done this throughout your life. Sometimes I am scared of an impending happiness thinking of the baggage with which it will come.
Anyway. Let me stop being a blithering idiot and share my happiness with the readers of this blog. Most of you have already congratulated me on Facebook but those of you who haven’t and those of you who would like to repeat the act, please feel free to use the comment box.
Let me end by saying that all of you have given me courage. I would not have gathered the confidence to write a book if all of you would not have encouraged this blog. I hope my book(s!!!) live up to your expectations and I am able to entertain you. I will keep you updated with the proceedings. Hopefully the book will be out next year. Thank you everyone and I will need your support in this new adventure, to make it perfect despite you-know-who’s alternate plans.
p.s. It gives me joy that I will change my blog header very soon. I am going to strike off that ‘trying to be’.
This is great news…. Congratulations!!! 🙂 I am glad I am logged in right now to read this post…. I am so happy for you. 🙂 🙂 See, I told you in February, that I can see publishers following you everywhere. That’s going to be a fact soon. And yes, you were already a writer, even before this novel happened, a great writer infact. Congrats… 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
You have too much faith in me and thank you for this great comment. 🙂
Heartiest Congratulations on seeing your dream come true 🙂
May you write many more books for readers like me love the way you write 😀
Thanks My Era. 🙂
Amen to that.
This is such a good news Amit. Finally, your hard work is paying off. Congratulations !! 🙂
Waiting for the book release 😀
Thanks Dauntlessdaisy. 🙂
Yeah, me too. I hope it is not a long wait. 🙂
Awesome sauce 🙂 Congrats man… this is your calling !
Thanks Roshan. 🙂
I was happy to read your status message. Really happy. Although it is a virtual world, it feels like one of us is making us proud. All the best! And consider this a gift for all the hard work, not a stupid price that you have to pay. Understand the difference Mr.Trying-to-be-a-Writer, er, Mr. Writer!
Thanks Nisha. 🙂 I know, I am just being an idiot but sometimes you want to be just happy with no strings attached. That seems to never happen with me. Anyway, thank you very much for the encouragement. It means a lot. 🙂
This is good news, by when do you expect the novel to be out on the shelves by, and btw, which publishing house is this?
Thanks Mahabore. I have no idea. I think everything is in very initial stages right now. So, let me have a meeting or two and things will be much clear. I will share the details of the publishing house soon.
Awesome even with the baggage you had to bear ! Hope u r feeling better now imagining the crispy pages of yr novel
All the best 🙂
Yes, it is awesome even if it is with all the baggage! 🙂
Thanks a lot.
Best wishes amit 🙂 continue to keep rocking 🙂
Thanks Priya. 🙂
Congrats Amit.! Well you were always a writer and now going to a published writer 🙂
All the very Best!
Thanks Seena. 🙂
Common cold is, well, common. Getting your book published is not. Congrats Amit. Happy for you. Anika is lucky for you.
Haha! Yeah, I was being melodramatic. 🙂
Thanks Alka.
Congratulations, again! And I totally agree with Alka’s comment above this!
Thanks Rickie. I like drama in life. 🙂
Congrats once again! Look forward to reading your novel. There is something about Diwali and falling sick with cold and cough. I also fell sick.
Thanks Rachna. I don’t remember the last time I had cold. This is one of its rare appearances for this special occasion. 🙂
Awesome Amit.. many many congratulations to you.. *** watching out for the book *** Do keep us updated.
Thank you and yes I will keep everyone updated. It is far away right now. 🙂
Congratulations once again Amit? Eagerly waiting for a signed copy! 🙂 Hope you are better? Take care!
Thanks Sreetama. I am still trying to get better. 🙂
FANTABULOUS news!!! 😀 😀 Hearty congrats!!
And by the way, I get hit with that too… I mean the whole bad news with the good news bit. I look at it differently…. it kinda makes me stay grounded and not get carried away with the happiness and excitement.
I guess if that happens to you every single time, you might lose your patience…. I don’t blame you. But for the moment, enjoy 🙂
Thanks Ash. 🙂
Haha! But I am not the getting-carried-away types. I really don’t need those reality checks.
Yes, I am enjoying this new phase. There have been a lot of new phases lately. 🙂
My comment wasn’t meant to hint that YOU need the reality checks 🙂 was just pointing out to way I see it thats all
Awesome ! Congrats Amit ! Waiting to read the book.I am sure it will be splendid.
Freezing ACs – Tell me about it @@.. If I could, I would wish away ACs-blasted things designed to give me a runny nose the moment I come within a mile of it 😦
Thanks Moonstone. Yeah, I hope the book is received well.
I called up the AC guy today and gave him a piece of my mind. There has been some respite after that.
Congratulations once again! We all are here to promote your book… 🙂 should you need us.
Thanks Maddie. Yes, I will need everyone. 🙂
Congrats Amit…You rock…waiting for your book….Office A/C s……I always have an extra sweater in my cabin…
Thanks RH. And yeah, I am learning about all those hidden secrets about tackling ACs. 🙂
Yayyy….congratulations, Amit!!! Really very happy for you..so, when am I getting an autographed copy?:-) and btw, I will be first in a disaster following happiness…:-)
Thanks Latha! 🙂
super.. congrats again.. :).. so i would get a free author signed copy right??..
talking about AC.. i hate my place, which is just under AC inlet. after complaining for long, i realised the best solution is to keep a sweater in my draw . :D.
Thanks Ashreyamom. Yeah, my seat is also right below a duct and that is why I fell ill in the first place. I had a heart to heart with the AC guy today and things were fine after that. 🙂
Congratulations!
Thanks Pepper. 🙂
btw, the room we sit is forever freezing and each of us had bought our own personal heaters…with all the heaters turned on, the power tripped and no work in the morning!!!! Then there is this huge guy sitting next to us, who is like 6 foot 4 inches wears three layers and his heater is on irrespective of being cold or not…and the headache the heater gives us…oh..that needs a post..:(
Congratulations! Although, I have to say, coming from a country known for its winters, I’m laughing at your misery with the air conditioning. 🙂 Still, good work on getting published!
Thanks A. 🙂
Believe me, this is an ordeal that happens every year. We have to beg and plead to stay alive in the office.
Congrats ji.. 🙂
Thanks Bhavia. 🙂
Late late as usual, but super congrats :):) thats like the most awesome news I heard 🙂
Thanks R’s Mom. 🙂
omg.. congrats congrats congrats 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Congratulations! That is such wonderful news! I, for one, can’t wait to read your book!
Thanks Smitha. 🙂
Congratulations and the bestest wishes for your book 🙂
can’t wait to read it!
Thanks Celestialrays. 🙂
Wow congratulations 🙂
Thanks Swaram. 🙂
Congrats again, Amit!
Thanks Suresh!
Big big big wala congratulations. I would say thank god it was just the cold, you scared me in that first para.
Ever since I have started reading you, I always wished you come up with a book. And now when it’s happening I can’t wait to get a copy. Next year it is, all the very best with everything Mr. Writer :).
Haha! It was just a bit of a drama. 🙂
Thank you very much! I hope everything goes well.
Amit!
So happy for you and this post. I look forward to reading your book 🙂 Wishing you the best always 🙂
Thanks Kismitoffeebar. 🙂
Congratulations 🙂 Many more successes to you. May the next publisher’s email announcing the next book not be announced to chattering teeth 😀
Thanks IHM.
That would be perfect. 🙂
Wow… Congrats. Waiting for the book. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Congrats. Looking forward to reading your book and enjoy it as much as your posts. 🙂
Thanks Kanthu. 🙂 I hope you like it.
wow! Congratulations! Its about time to remove the trying from the header 🙂
Thank you. Well, it will take a while before it reaches the market. It is a long process. 🙂