Thursday, September 05, 2013

The Good News. The Bad News.

Note: I must tell you right away that the 'Good News' has nothing to do with babies :-)

Image courtesy: ebharat.in
Let me get 'the Bad News' out of my way first. I have often declared my absolute love for the Indian edition of the international celebrity magazine 'PEOPLE'. Well folks, apparently, only I have been reading this magazine; and they decided even if I subscribe it for the rest of my life, it is not going to be profitable enough.So, I get a message that the magazine has been discontinued and the subscription money has been converted into gift voucher. Now, what will you buy with an Outlook Group's Gift Voucher? Outlook Magazines! I thought I would subscribe to Marie Clare atleast, and then I started imagining how it was fate leading me to this magazine, and how I will fall so much in love with this that I will completely forget about PEOPLE. Nothing of that sort happened because even Marie Clare India has been shown the door. So, I was left with only Outlook, Traveller, Business, Money or Hindi options. Marta Kya Na Karta, I decided to go ahead with the Outlook. There is far more chances of reading Outlook than any other of its sister magazines. To be honest, I read the last few pages usually - the movie review, the book excerpt, Glitterati and last page. 

Now 'the Good News'. Well, few days back I received an email from Indu Sundaresan
Image courtesy: GoodReads
herself. Her 'the Feast of Roses' and 'the Twentieth Wife' are my absolute favourite books. She gathered that I had reviewed both these books on my book blog and she wanted to check if I would like to review her latest book 'the Mountain of Light', which is due to be released in October. Needless to say that I jumped at the opportunity. Would you believe that I added her books to my wish list on GoodReads, the same day? Anyways, another embarrassing thing was that apparently she had also read my impulsive outburst on the news of 'The Twentieth Wife' getting made into a TV-serial called Malikaa. But I hope she understood that it was only my love for the book that made me so skeptical. She assured that this particular series is time-bound and not expected to spiral into never-ending drama, and it has also been produced well. The best thing about books getting translated into serials or movies is that it improves book's sales.

20 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:55 AM

    Congrats for good news :-) It feels really great when your fav author contacts you :-)

    Have your subscribed to any kids magazine also..i have recently subscribed to "Highlights High Five Magazine " and angel liked the first month copy :-)

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    1. Yes Rashmi, I was in Cloud 9. I have received author mails earlier but this was special, coming from an accomplished and much revered author. I have been in awe of her.

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  2. wow!!! Thats cool!!! U know I am yet to read any of her book? I need to correct that ASAP...

    Lets do one thing I will courier u my Vish Puri series and u send me these books...what say?

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    1. Thank yous. It is so sweet of you to offer me that Smita, and that would be really sane and logical thing to do. But you know, mm, I want to keep these books for some more time. I am yet to make up my mind to 'let go' these. But please message me your address in FB, I have something special for you.

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  3. Wow! Intrigued to read Twentieth Wife for sure!

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    1. If historical fiction is your thing, must read. Indu Sundaresan writes beautifully. And for the first time, history appealed to me :)

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  4. I have never read Indu Sundaresan. THank you for introducing me to a new author :)
    Pratibha
    http://pratsmusings.com/

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    1. You must, if you are like historical fiction. Noorjahan and Jahangir's story is fascinating, and written very well. Thank you for dropping by :)

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  5. Outlook traveler is good. It has helped fix my travel destinations.

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    1. I am a pseduo-traveler :) though I love reading travelogues and travel books, I don't read much of Travel magazines, I have checked out a few issues of Outlook Traveler though. Actually, I like it but I don't think I will be reading it on a regular basis. So I thought I would be check out their website to read about travel destinations.

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  6. Wow, that's really impressive to be contacted by her! Congratulations!

    Roshni
    http://www.indianamericanmom.com

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    1. Thank you Roshni. That truly made my day :)

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  7. am not much of a PEOPLE reader. It feels always good to get a book from author no ?!
    Have fun reading it and true abt that increasing sales thing coz when Slumdog millionaire came Q and A sales shot up like anythng :)
    good day

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    1. Oh Afshan, now you would never know what a treat it was :(
      I get mails from authors for reviews but this was a treasured experience. I am looking forward to the release in October. It is on my Oct-review list.
      Yeah, I know Q&A hit bullseye, though I did not really love Slumdog Millionaire. It was OK.

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  8. OMG...How fabulous Reema,you must be on cloud nine by getting a invitation for reviewing latest book from one of your fav author.

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    1. Absoluely Anu. She is the author I have been in awe of. You know, when you want to be able to write like that, and then when she asks you to review your book....well, I was super-thrilled of course :)

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  9. Isn't it anabsolutely amazing feeling when receive that email from your favorite author. I was so elated when Indu Sunderesan emailed that I had to go back n re check if this was happening or I was just hallucinating :D I even thought someone was playing a prank on me!! Can't wait to read Mountain of Light

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    1. Ha ha same here Shweta. I did absolutely the same thing. I am also waiting to get my hands on her latest book.

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  10. So which is the magazine that you recommend for Indian women?

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    1. Definitely Femina. It is improving with age :-)

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