Acceptances Galore!

Posted on By csoundar

When I got the email today from my editor at Karadi Tales with the contract – I felt elated, accomplished. It felt good. But I also wondered about why this year? None of the books I placed this year were written earlier. None were revised year after year like the story of spider I’m trying to place for years.

So what was the magic all about?

Firstly, I think I studied each of these publishers closely. I didn’t have access to their books in the UK as two are Indian publishers and the other is from US. But I read their guidelines, went through their catalogue, asked them questions about what they are expecting to see.

Then the second most important thing I did was pick the story that fits the audience – I knew the target audience of the publisher. I knew what stories I wanted to write. I religiously incorporated features the editors would like.

For example, all the 4 topics I wrote about – a clever camel, a flying umbrella, a cumulative trip, a market trip – were topics close to my heart. I like journey stories, I like stories where the protagonist meets lots of interesting characters on the way. I like clever tales, with a funny ending.

Once I wrote and revised many times, I incorporated some of the things the editor might like. For example, Pratham Books were going to translate the book into many languages. So I chose the language carefully. Nothing complex. I also knew they wanted a cheerful character. They absolutely loved it and sent an acceptance ahead of their review calendar.

For Farmer Falgu’s first book with Karadi Tales, I wanted to bring out the music elements. Not in the first few drafts – but I got an opportunity to edit. The editor wanted changes and gave me some overall feedback. But when I rewrote it, I also incorporated the music elements. I did some overt rhymes and rhythms. Because the publisher is primarily an audio producer, I knew the book stood a chance with those elements.

I loved the character I wrote for Karadi Tales. Farmer Falgu stuck in my head and wanted to go on a trip again. This time instead of sending  him on a mission, I sent him to the market. But it turned out to be an eventful trip and Farmer Falgu conquers his problems at the end and comes out succesful.

Again I got great feedback, but some edits as well. And I loved the edits the editor had made. I understood more of what they want and how they liked some of the words, structures etc.

So, after I sold my first picture book in 2006, I’ve had 1 with GAP (As I Watch) since then and then a few e-books. But this year has been a bumper crop. Acceptance parade! And I think that’s because I’ve matured as a writer. I am able to acknowledge my strengths and weakness and play on the strengths more.

This is nowhere the end of the story. It has just begun. I want to place some picture books in the UK and some chapter books too. Have you read “A Dollop of Ghee and a Pot of Wisdom?” I want the next book now! This came out in 2009 and I want a few more to be published here.

If I wish for it loud enough, work for it hard enough, I’m sure that too will come!

 

National Poetry Day – My Tribute to Poet Suratha

Posted on By csoundar

Today is National Poetry Day and the theme is STARS. Perhaps I was no different from a small child growing up in England. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was one of my first English poems – although I did grow up with folk songs and poems in Tamil.

We weren’t really taught poetry or taught to like it. I remember we memorized “I Remember” by Thomas Hood. Ironic. I don’t remember the lines – but I remember that I learnt the poem by heart at that time.

But my real love for poetry that has lasted so long and still makes me yearn for words, language and rhythm, came from a great poet in Tamil – Poet Suratha.

surathaHis real name I am told is Rajagopalan. I had never heard of him until I was in a Tamil Class that was too young for me. In India you had to learn a minimum of two languages other than English. So I studied Hindi at school and in a special course. But I also had to enroll for Tamil. I learnt Tamil at home, I was reading ever since I was four or five and the Tamil class was literally a way to pass the grade. I could have taken French – but then I had to study and learn. So I decided school was hard already, at least in Tamil, I can pass without trying.

In one such class, where kids who couldn’t read Tamil were struggling to read, they discussed a poem by Poet Suratha. The teacher said Suratha is a famous poet, he wrote for adults and kids. He wrote lyrics for pop songs too. And he lived not far from the school.

I loved the poem – although I can’t remember which one was it now. I loved the rhyme in  it and the usage of words. I wanted to write just like him. So after school, without telling anyone, I went looking for his house. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to him when I found him. But I wanted to see the person who had written the poem.

I found the house eventually and knocked on the door. Ignorance and Brute Force,  I reckon. A lady opened the door and said the poet was inside, would I like to come in. Wow! They didn’t turn me away. He was there in a chair in the living room. The room was dark. He was silhouetted against the light from the backyard.

I blurted out that I read his poem in class and I loved it and I want to write like him.  He acknowledged me. He asked me to show the poem and he said there is so much more to read. And then I should write.

I was inspired beyond imagination. The lady was not amused that a kid was visiting her famous husband. They didn’t live in a big house. I guess poets in ant age and any country didn’t make a lot of money.

I wrote every day. I filled a notebook full of Tamil poems. I still have them. My Tamil teacher was impressed. She read it and critiqued it and there I was the first poet in my family.

I am grateful to that man who didn’t turn away a shy, gawky insecure teenager who turned up at his doorstep. I am grateful that I attended the simple Tamil class and got to read his poem.

Here is to poetry day. Reach for the stars.

This Year’s Picture Books – The First One -Ramu’s Red Umbrella

Posted on By csoundar

If you are friends with me on facebook or follow me on Twitter or hang-out with me on Google, you will know that I have placed three picture books this year. They are all with independent publishers who have a niche and are extremely passionate about what they do.

The first picture book of the year was with Pratham Books, based in Bangalore, India. Their mission is

At Pratham Books, we believe that every child has the right to enjoy good books.  And we believe they should have stories set in surroundings familiar to them and in a language close to their culture. We believe that to make books accessible to every child, the price points have to be very low. Pratham Books is a brand of story books as Indian as the children who read them. As a not-for-profit publisher, our dream is to see a country where every child wants to read, is able to read, and has something good to read.

I emailed the editors a couple of times to understand what they were looking for. An idea about an umbrella and the monsoon had been in head for so long. I also wanted many Indian characters in the story. That’s how Ramu’s Red Umbrella was born. I had to find a simple Indian boy’s name and I used my Dad’s nickname. His official name is very long – but his parents and siblings call him Ramu. This book was intended as a tribute to my Dad who has been proud of my writing ever since I started.

Pratham Books were not on a reading schedule, but when they saw Ramu’s story, they loved it. The editor said I got 4/5 in their editorial meeting. What that 4 means, I am not sure. But I am glad I got it.

The brilliant thing is – this book will be published in several Indian languages and will be in the hands of thousands of kids. I can’t wait.

 

Comic Books – Is it serious reading?

Posted on By csoundar
I was a child of Amar Chitra Katha – Chitra meaning pictures –  just a coincidence with my name that refers to a star I was born under.

The company that produced Amar Chitra Katha – literally meaning Immortal picture stories – that’s what they were to me.

I read a lot of picture books, story books, even English text books and Readers Digest even when I was 6 or 7. But the books that fed my voracious appetite were the big bound volumes of the comic series ACK.
ACK told mythology stories, stories from India’s culture, history and legends. Every Indian mythology and classics I know today is from these – it was simplified, adapted and there were pictures to guide me. I learnt about heroes, warriors, kings and comedians. I learnt about the history of our fight for freedom.

I did read a lot of western comics too – Archie, Tintin and Asterix. Sounded foreign to have boyfriends, travelling across the world. But it opened up the world to me. I did read a lot of Enid Blyton too and recent figures shows Indian kids still read a lot of Enid Blyton. I learnt about muffins, coves, tides and caves from Famous Five series and my love for detective stories came from the Secret Seven and Nancy Drew series.

In my family, reading was revered.

Somehow  my parents assumed that I was out of trouble because I had a found a secret corner in the house and I had a stack of books next to me, reading. But they didn’t know how it fed my imaginations. I was always in trouble in my head. I was one of the Famous Five or the Secret Seven.

Reading was considered not only safe, but also crucial. Why don’t you read a book? Was my mum’s standard response to “I’m bored.” In a way I think I overdid it –because I lost interest in sports and I regret that still. But on the other hand, at least I developed the love for stories that made me write.

My first manifestation of being a writer was going up to the school assembly of 500 kids and telling a story. I didn’t have a script. All I did was decide on the story with my aunt. I told her the story in my own words and that’s it. I walked up without a paper. Dumb courage. I narrated the story in English – which to this day I can’t decide if it is my first language or second. I didn’t think it was strange for a seven-year old to tell a story to a school full of kids in a second tongue. Well, I still cherish the first prize I won – it was a Enid Blyton picture book.

That’s perhaps another reason for reading when I grew up – schools always gave books as prizes. And in a country where English books were expensive to buy, I cherished every book I received and still have them all.

I digress – lets come back to comic books. Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle and so many more still do the rounds in India. Now they have a modern format, come in electronic form and have been turned into animation series for both Indian and foreign TV companies.

I used to go to a lending library in town, that had 10s of racks of bound volumes of the comic books. Each book had about 20 issues in them. And I would 10 of those bound volumes for each fortnight and come back to read them after school.

These books taught me characterisation, dialogue and pace. The comic strips encouraged reading box by box – no wonder I am more interested in 12 spreads than a 60,000 word novels still.

Anant Pai the creator of ACK sadly passed away last year. But his spirit lives on as the company is now owned by a private investor. The kids who are now parents and today’s kids still love reading these comics is a testament to a man who had vision and  courage.

Do you read comic books now? Did you read them as a child? Do you let your kids read comics?
www.chitrasoundar.com

India

Posted on By csoundar

My colours are painted
By its coastal palms,
Sugarcane beets
Bright summers
Juicy mangoes.

My music notes are from
Noisy oceans
Rough monsoons
Chatty neighbours
Urban cattle moos.

My emotions are built on
Joint families
Vacation sleepovers
Boy-girl rules
Arranged marriages.

My anger is borne out of
Its unrelenting humility
Callous selfishness
Flexible morals and
Misfit superstitions.

I’m an honest Indian.
Sometimes thankful,
Sometimes ashamed.
Sometimes hopeful,
Mostly proud.

www.chitrasoundar.com