A reading of poems from Ink Dries at Lamakaan on 20th March

My fervent apologies for being out of action here for so long. Thing
is that too many things have been happening (or not happening) in the
last couple of months and since I am more or less chronologically
challenged -- I haven't been able to write about all of them in time.

Maybe I will, soon.

Speaking of chronology, in a couple of hours from now, there is a reading
of poems from Ink Dries at Lamakaan. Truth be told, this is something I
have been trying to set up for more than two months and failing to.

But then, all good things happen in their own time I guess.

So today evening (finally) it is Lamakaan for me and Ink Dries
as I will be in conversation with, and my poetry will be read
by the one and only Vijay Marur. I know it is very, very short
notice but if you are seeing this in time and are based in Hyderabad
please do come over.

Lamakaan is in lane Adjacent to CBay, Opposite GVKOne, Road No 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

The reading is from 6.30 onwards.

Book Launchitis and some trivia about Ink Dries

Since I had been through the whole process of a Book Launch / Release
earlier (with Moving On), I was a lot less expectant and (looking at
something relatively low-key). Since I am still kinda cussed about
not forcing my poetry on anyone, I also did not go around personally
inviting those close (or at least those I think are close) as if the event in question was my marriage.

And all in all, it was a good event; a book of poetry came out / was launched /
got released and since U was there as my interpreter (typing up questions
-- asked by the audience -- for me to read on GTalk and respond to) there was
a fairly good interaction too. I guess this is a template I can use down the
line too.

I don't know if it shows me in a better or a worse light, but any
interaction with readers / prospective readers is good for the book. And,
considering that I did almost nothing for Moving On, its a sea change
for Ink Dries, something that this book does deserve.

Umm...what exactly is Launchitis, you may ask?

I cannot exactly explain it, lets say I have just coined another word and it
refers to a peculiar sense of ennui / estrangement / withdrawal (?) or a
peculiar trepidation resulting out of "what next" now? But then, its there,
or was there...for the first 2-3 days following the launch / release.

Maybe I won't feel this next time around, or maybe it will be even acuter
as I write poetry that "says" more, who knows...

Now for some trivia and a bit of this and that about Ink Dries.

The book has some 75 odd (need I count and be exact?) poems with two of
them long poems. It also presents some poems that I had written some 10
years or so back and lost; but were safe with U...

The book also has some poems that deal with the logophile part of me;
my innate love for words immaterial of their meaning and context and
how I keep making them do what I want them to do. And the worship of
pith -- as poet and copywriter.

The editing was done at the seventh floor flat of my editor, G, over
two sessions, and the second time we had sat down to it, I could see a
black kite at eye level through the balcony :-) That was one surreal
experience and I really envy G for getting to see black kites in
the eye on a fairly common basis.

Quite a few of the poems in Ink Dries deal with nature; in fact while
describing myself for the only writer workshop that I had applied to
in 2011 (the application was late by an hour), I said "I am primarily
a poet of nature" and it shows in these poems too; poems that weren't
easy to write or pin down and perfect, but poems that I am happy
and thrilled, came to me.

As I write this, I am all set to visit Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary
tomorrow, for a day long session of birding. And I know there will
be much more than photos on offer tomorrow, I know more poems will
come too. I just hope I can write them all down!

Oh, here's the last bit -- I am utterly cured of Launchitis now
and its been one full week of hectic travel and the thrills of
being out on the road. What fun, in fact!

Ink Dries -- Book Launch at Akshara

As book launches and releases go, it wasn't much, with around 25
people making up the numbers, counting the little man and my family :-)

But it was an amazing evening all the same, in terms of quality,
interest, involvement etc. and because I was able to interact with
those present thanks to the "interpreting" of U, I did not feel
the usual fears either.

In retrospect, maybe Sunday was a wrong day; in retrospect, maybe I
should have personally invited everyone I know. In retrospect...

Anyway, that's me with Professor Subbarayudu



And here are some photos of the audience






And here is one of the reading by Priti :-)



All in all, it was a good event and thus now Ink Dries is officially released (as of 22nd January). Thanks a lot to all who came a fair distance on a Sunday to attend the event. And special thanks to Akshara Bookstores!

Pre-order your signed copy of Ink Dries at Flipkart

Yes, Ink Dries is now available on Flipkart.

On a pre-order basis, at a cool discount of 25%.

And these are signed copies :-)

Get your own copy here.

Ink Dries -- Book Launch at Akshara Books on 22nd January

Do come on over :-)