Friends, A belated Happy New Year to all. May it bring us peace, prosperity, good health and joy. And of course, many excellent books to read! Happy Pongal/Sankranti and related festivals to all who celebrate this special time.

I cooked pongal, my mother-in-law's recipe, which is a family favorite. Here's how it turned out.

My new book, my first work of nonfiction, is out! It reveals to readers the early, relatively unknown years of Sudha (philanthropist & writer) and Narayana Murthy (Infosys co-founder). It is filled with anecdotes told to me by the Murthys and is at once funny, surprising, touching and inspiring. I loved writing this book and hope that you will enjoy reading it. It is titled AN UNCOMMON LOVE: THE EARLY LIFE OF SUDHA AND NARAYANA MURTHY.

In India, it is available in bookstores & on Amazon. https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353456444

In USA, it is available on Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Love-Early-Narayana-Murthy-ebook/dp/B0CPXZC89N

Below is my brief overall India itinerary—what I have so far. The event on January 26 in Chennai is at 2:30 PM, in Sir.Mutha Concert Hall.

I'll post more details, once I have them, on my social media, especially my public Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni, which is accessible to all. Please do check it and let friends know about the events.

An Uncommon Love has been receiving great attention and I've done several interviews. I am very grateful for the positive reception. I've put up some links/videos on my FB page, Twitter (X) and Instagram--please check them out.

Additionally, the paperback of my historical novel about Partition, titled Independence, is now available in India. https://www.amazon.in/Independence-Chitra-Banerjee-Divakaruni/dp/9356996067

The paperback of Independence will be available in USA in late February. Meanwhile, the hardcover is on a special sale on Amazon--45% off--great for gifts! https://www.amazon.com/Independence-Novel-Chitra-Banerjee-Divakaruni/dp/0063142384

And finally, my novel One Amazing Thing has been optioned for a film!

It's very exciting. Fingers crossed that all goes well. I will share more info when I am allowed to announce details.

Hope to see many of you when in India!

Please share this newsletter with friends. Thanks, as always, for your warm support.

Chitra

Dear Friends.

Happy Holidays! This is my last newsletter for 2023, so I wish you and your dear ones a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2024 filled with many good books.

My big news is that my new book, my very first book of nonfiction, will be out later this month from Juggernaut Books.

Titled AN UNCOMMON LOVE, it is the untold story of two iconic Indian figures, Sudha Murty and Narayana Murthy--before they became famous as entrepreneurs and philanthropists and (in the case of Sudha) a very successful writer.

The book traces their early life with all its joys and sorrows, struggles and triumphs. It is a love story as well as the chronicle of founding a company long before the dawn of the start-up culture. I had a great time spending numerous days with them as I gathered material for this book--including things they'd never discussed with interviewers.

I am convinced that readers will find their lives fascinating and inspirational. I certainly did.

A short video about the book is on my FB page, https://www.facebook.com/chitradivakaruni

The book will come out in a couple of weeks but can be pre-ordered now in India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9353456444

There is an option on Amazon USA to buy the book, but they will ship it from India, so it's kind of expensive. (You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Uncommon-Love-Early-Narayana-Murthy/dp/9353456444)

If you read it, please let me know what you think.

In other news, my children's picture book, Grandma and the Great Gourd, is now out in paperback. Based on a Bengali folk tale my grandfather used to tell me, it is one of my favorite books. Many parents and grandparents have written to me to tell me how much fun they and their young ones had reading the book. Here's some more info: https://www.amazon.com/Grandma-Great-Gourd-Bengali-Folktale/dp/1250895286

Thank you, dear friends, for all your ongoing support of my work.

Chitra

Blog: Amazing Things