2021: An odd year that was
Last year, I was so enthusiastic about writing about 2020. This time, I am not able to pen the year that was, but I still will do what any writer would do. I will plod and plough, searching for words that would make sense in the end.
So read on.
‘A City Full of Stories’ happened.
Some of the manuscripts that I held were blog extracts. It took a while for me to realise that there was material worth for a book. The book evolved into a series of short stories. Considering the stories were of different lengths, we broke the stories up into three volumes.
I wrote a novella as Volume 3 of the book. The title was ‘Cupid over Coffee’. It was the story of a Bengali Army daughter who has two love proposals — one when she is young, naïve and flirty, and the second, when she is mature, older and self-assured. The ending is what I loved the most — the declaration of self-love and letting go.
That is my first novel, but packed in a book of short stories. I did not realize that the model of packing stories into a single book will put the long story on the sword, but I loved the way it came out. Of course, the book is selling in single digits but the feedback is interesting and invigorating for me as an author.
Ponder 2020 happened:
Shwetahitesh is a wonderful poet. Her words thrive on pain and chaos, deep from heart and soul. One of her poems ‘touch’ prompted me to write a poem review and then another, and another. I ended up with doing 14 reviews of 24 poems with 11 poets, both India and abroad.
I make poet friends and I am evolving in my appreciation of poetry. As a writer I love my writing; but to appreciate other’s writing needed me to wear a different lens. But once I got into it, it was the best wine I have ever tasted.
I named the book ‘Ponder 2020’ reflecting the slow, seductive submergence of my mind and soul into the depths of the poetry, pondering over the words and meanings of the verses.
The book is a tribute to contemporary poetry and the poets. As I write, I am ready with the first draft of Poetry 2021. More on that later.
First manuscript of ‘A City Full of Stories -2’ is ready.
The manuscript was born under tragic circumstances. As my mother fell sick and was counting her last days, I spent my time with her, and whenever she slept, I wrote the stories. Some days I wept, some days I was delirious, writing the stories sitting in my car with rain thundering outside, as she lay in the Intensive Care Unit.
The coincidence is irony. When my mother breathed her last, the manuscript was born. The signature of my last moments together remains.
The book is intense as each story searches a community in the City of Joy, from Anglo Indians to Chinese and Muslims, to stories of the river Hooghly and Rabindra; and it goes beyond — to a tea shop in heaven. I aim to get the book published by 2022 end.
Ponder 2021 — the blogs happened:
Given the tumults in my personal life between March to May, then September to December, writing poem reviews became difficult. But my discipline held fort for me, and I could finish 14 reviews of 20 poets across 5 continents.
The poetry reviews received appreciation and accolades from the poets, giving me the motivation to finish the blogs. Now they will become part of the manuscript of Ponder 2021. I thank all the poets for inspiring me in the toughest year of my life.
The Delta Impact:
When Delta came hunting, it got my entire family barring my son infected. It has long lasting effect — physical tiredness and mental fatigue, vulnerability to throat infections and others.
My father-in-law developed complications and passed away. From March to May, my world had come to stand still. Some of the family equations were redrawn.
Mother passes away:
She was in the hospital in January and February, and then from September to November. Each time her conditions got worse, but her zeal to live was immense. She was in brother’s care, and I visited her, because of logistical reasons, but she would call me every day when I was not around.
Her condition worsened in the last two weeks and finally when she breathed her last, I was not there, but she was there with me through my life and will be there forever. The most important person in my life is no more, and without my parents, I am an orphan.
That gives a new perspective of life. As the new year dawns I am an orphan, but with all the life lessons my parents have given me. It does not matter how old we are, parents are always the barge pole that you want to hold on, when life sweeps you away in its swirling waters.
Looking Ahead:
My second poetry collection, and first with Shwetahitesh will be published by Highbrow Scribes Publications.
I have three manuscripts on the anvil.
a) Ponder 2021 — Collection of Poetry Reviews of 2021
b) Retold — a working title for my manuscript retelling stories inspired by Ramayana, the epic
c) A City Full of Stories — 2: Stories from the City of Joy
I am figuring out which path to take — self publish, publish only on Kindle, go with a publisher or partner with a literary agent. This year will be a significant year in my journey as a poet and author.
Wishing you all a great 2022! Take care.
~Ashok Subramanian
