Tulika Books are based in Chennai, India. It is my home-town. Well, it is a coastal city. When I started writing picture books in earnest, my first ambition was to be published by Tulika. One of my writer acquaintances had got a book with them and then I found another. I was jealous and I was green with envy. All in a good way of course.

Although I had started publishing in magazines and with a Singapore publisher, getting a picture book in print was a hunger that wouldn’t go away.

When I started writing “Where is Gola’s Home?” I was more watching the US picture book market. I lived in Singapore at that time and the libraries had more US and Australian books. Tulika’s Books were not readily available in Singapore.

Where is Gola’s Home? Stuck in my notebook and wouldn’t let me go. I think it was rewritten at least 50 times and I did get some really good feedback from Little, Brown USA. I kept sending it out and when I sent one of the versions to Tulika it was 1000 words long. Unheard of nowadays. Some of the picture books I write is hardly constructed with 250 words.

Although long picture books were a norm, Tulika were launching a bi-lingual imprint and they wanted something short. The book was in consideration for almost a year and then I got the good news that they had accepted it. By then I had moved to London and was unpacking my study. Literally.

My wonderful editor Deeya at Tulika had revised the whole book and asked me if I could edit it – pronto! It was less than 300 words long. I was amazed. My first master-class in editing and picture books I should say.

Where is Gola’s Home? Has been a moderate success in India. It came out in 5 Indian languages along with English.

OUP Pakistan has recently bought rights and I’m guessing they would do a bi-lingual edition in English-Urdu.

But since that book was published, I have not been able to write something that tickled the fancies of my editors at Tulika. Although they patiently read every submission I sent them. 6 years later, last June, I sent them a book about Balu and his basket.

When I enquired about the status of the book late last year I was told it was in the shortlist and I had to wait to find out. I think I have mastered the art of waiting. But still I think I definitely pestered the editors for an answer many a times.

Balu the name was based on my maternal uncle, Balaji. He was from Chennai too. He was one of my early fans, along with my dad. Sadly before I knew if the book would be published or not, my uncle passed away last September in a sudden illness. The book became even more of a passion for me. But I am seasoned enough to know about publishing that what you want and what you get are two different things.

I finally let go the chasing and got back to writing some picture books for the  UK market. This is February, the month of PB Marathon and I’m doing a half marathon – so I am busy writing new ones.

I wrote to my editor this week on a different topic and then asked her if she knew the status of my book. And she said YES! We have scheduled it. It’ll be out this year.

What a surprise! Balu and his basket will now be a picture book from Tulika and I’m delighted to say the least.

This is my second book from Tulika and I can’t wait to see it come out.

I am hoping to be in India in July and I can thank my editor in person for her support.