Only a blind belief that I can do it spurred me on

Announcements:

For watchers of this space...
Eight months and still waiting for the verdict on my two books. I don't know what's wrong, if I should contact the publishers and find out if they are at all interested in them. This wringing of hands, this eternal anxiety, this indecision, to say the least, is killing. An author invests a lot of time and money on a book and to find it is not acceptable could be devastating, one can simply stop writing altogether and go into a shell. Nothing of that sort is happening to me, as I am still active literary boards, blogs and writing comments and criticisms. This keeps the juices, sort of, flowing. As Lokmanya Tilak said when he was convicted for sedition, "There are bigger things that govern the destiny of man." He is a hero, no mean writer himself, and I believe his words. Also my latest short story Seats, Red Spit and Being Steve Smith featured in my short story blog Unendingstories has got good reactions from the boards.

Recently, I was invited to attend the "Kritya International Poetry Festival" organized by Kritya in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala. Those two days in Kerala were like a peek into a transient heaven. Like all heavens, it also passed in seconds. Pictures of the festival can be viewed on my photoblog Johnclicks.

Penguin-Sulekha "India Smiles" Short Story Collection Is Out!

"India Smiles" the collection of short stories that won Penguin-Sulekha's global short story contest has recently been published by Penguin India. This is what the book jacket looks like. Do buy it if you see it in stores. It features my short story "Flirting in Short Messages."

What's New...

My Poetry Page...

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The Auto Ride

My Short Stories...

Resources for writers

Editors & Preditors
You can check who is a good literary agent and who is an editor or predator here. Regularly updated.

Caferati
Caferati is a network of Indian Writers in English. They are set to redefine Indian Writing in English, so go here to where the coffee is hot and the discussions, well, hotter.

Shakespeare & Co
Actually, the name of a Parisian bookshop where one could sneak a peek at literary luminaries like Hemmingway and James Joyce from behind the bookshelves. This network is actively and well moderated by Pragya Thakur and the writing is excellent. Take a look.

Bartleby
The ultimate source of literary references and ready access to poems, prose, authors, in fact, anything literary. Worth a peek.

South Asian Writers in English
Hopefully, is what it says. I intend to take a look after this page is uploaded and promise to remove it if it isn't what it promises to be.

Literature Awards
After you have written your magnum opus, you go here to find out what award you can win. Good luck!

Award for Fiction
And, if you have written fiction, this is the shortcut to fiction awards.