Namaskara fellow travelers,
India Catch-Up
This note is a brief book-related update from my recent visit to India. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some of the places I stayed: Bangalore, Tulunad, and Bombay. All three feature in Bella & Rami.
Bangalore: A City of Readers
In Bangalore (Bengaluru), I visited local bookshops to get a better sense of the city’s reading culture. Church Street is a bibliophile’s delight, lined with several venerable stores. The highlight was Blossom Book House: three multi-storey shops packed to the rafters with books old and new. Its owner, Mayi Gowda, sat quietly behind the counter, helping customers choose their next read, just as he has done since he began selling books on Bangalore’s pavements thirty years ago. Bangalore truly is a reader’s city.
Tulunad: Final Interior Checks
In Tulunad, I once again stayed on the farm where much of Bella & Rami was written. While there, I worked through the book’s interior design and compiled a list of corrections. Thankfully, it was a very short one. Almost there!
Bombay: Marketing Conversations
In Bombay (Mumbai), I met with Asha Seth, also known as Miss Book Thief, who will be helping me market Bella & Rami. It was wonderful to finally meet her in person and discuss the preliminary marketing plan. Her business has grown from a passion for all things bookish, and the energy and creativity she brings to it are impressive.
Moving Closer to Publication
By the time I left India, the book had moved several steps further along its journey. I had also met many interesting and creative people: readers, writers, illustrators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, IT professionals, marketers, and creators. Talking with them about Bella & Rami gave me an extra dose of heart as publication draws closer.
The encouragement I received from them, and from you, means a lot to me.
Thank you once again for travelling with me on my writing journey.
Isobel
P.S. I have just approved the full cover and interior design for Bella & Rami. The next step is to review the print copies, which should arrive in a few weeks. I can’t wait to hold one in my hands!
Photo: IDB