Preeti Shenoy's blog.

Hi there,

How have you been? Has the festive season brought cheer? It has for me--there is such a lot happening in my life! (which is a good thing I suppose even though I miss my own company which I enjoy a lot)

I have just got back from a WONDERFUL family vacation at Singapore. My mother loved it.



That is my favourite snap from the vacation. Clicked at Orchid Garden, where my mom transformed into a little girl, seeing the orchids in full bloom. I think she is more beautiful than the orchids that she admired.



I haven't forgotten that the results of TOUCH Thursday no.4 had to be announced. It is just that I managed to touch base with Westland(my publishers) only yesterday.
And the winner of TOUCH Thursday No.4 is

Anoptimistic whose winning entry is

http://anoptimistic.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/a-lonely-evening-on-beach-a-perfect-date-250-words/

Congratulations! (please mail me your postal address on ps(at)preetishenoy(dot)com andWestland will send you the TOUCH mug.

This morning when…

Hi there.

This is a quick post typed in under ten minutes from Singapore (where I am currently on vacation)  using the complimentary hotel wi-fi with a speed so good, you would think you are in a GTA game, driving a Mc.Laren F1, the scenery whizzing past in a blur, zooming from 0 to 180 in 8 seconds flat, adrenaline coursing through your veins with heart pounding madly. I could shift to Singapore, just for the Internet speeds.

The Book launch of 'The One You Cannot have' (on 6th December at Royal orchid Bangalore) went off marvelously.  It was a memorable event--easily one of the best book launches I have ever had. Every single person who attended it, would agree. There was warmth, camaraderie and a spirit of celebration.

Dr.Shyam Bhat (Psychiatrist and Integrative Medicine specialist)  and Vani Mahesh (founder of Easylib) were in conversation with me, about the book. They were both splendid and gracious.


A few readers, who attended the launch  blogged about it. You can read …

So,  the Forbes India Celebrity 100 Nominees List for 2013is just out.

 Only 10 authors  have made it to the longlist including, yours truly.

A question I keep getting asked is 'How does it feel'?
I do feel proud and happy and also very grateful to all who read me. I also feel a sense of achievement .That's about it! How else am I supposed to feel ? :)

In the other news, TWO of my titles were in the Nielsen Top ten. The One You Cannot Have opened at No.2 !



Thereviewshave been fabulous (also read the reviews on goodreads) and the mails praising the book have been pouring in. Many people are telling me that it is a 'must-read' for anyone who has broken up. They tell me that it feels like their story. I am delighted that it has struck a chord.

My publishers came up with this poster!



Indigo 91.9 fmwhich is Bangalore's only English radio station (I listen to it a lot--they play some awesome music)  are putting me on air tomrrow between 11 and 2. I will be in convers…

'Preeti, the books have arrived. Around 3000 copies will reach your home at 5.30 pm. It's a request--could you please sign 1500 copies by tomorrow morning? Because they have to be dispatched to places all across India.'

This was the regional manager of Westland speaking to me, on Monday afternoon.

I was flabbergasted. How in the world would I be able to sign 1500 copies by next morning?
It was excessive pressure on me. It seemed like an inexecutable task.
I told him that I will do as many as is humanly possible.

The boxes arrived. There were about 50 of them.


I called up Satish at work and told him my predicament.

"Don't worry. You can do it. I will come and help you,' he said.

He was true to his word. He came early from work to help me unpack the boxes.

"How will I sign so many by tomorrow morning?" I asked, still skeptical.
"If it has to be done, it has to be done. Just think, so many people are waiting to read this. Let's just do it,&quo…

"Mom, now that I have finished my studies, can I have the i-pad that you put away?"

"I'll just give it to you."

15 minutes later.

"Mom, can i have the i-pad?"

"Yes. Wait."

10 minutes later.

"Mom , you said I could have the i-pad. Can you at least tell me, where you hid it?"

"I will give it to you."

12 minutes later.

"Mom, please can I have the i-pad?"

"Yes. I will. Will do it in a bit."

10 minutes later.

"MOM--are you even listening to me? Or are you in a zombie mode?"

"Shhh..I am reading. Let me finish this"

5 minutes later

"Mom--are you done? I pad please?"

"I am not yet done. 5 minutes. I promise."

5 minutes later.

"Mom--five minutes are over."

"Oh is it?  Just coming."

"MOM- I  want the I-pad. PLEASE!"

"Now you know exactly how I feel when I ask you to clean your room."

"AAAAAAAAAARGH."





Round one to preeti s…

Hi all,

Apologies for being unable to update yesterday. There were a couple of personal emergencies which cropped up and had to be taken care of. (and hopefully all will be well soon)

Meanwhile, we have been getting a lot of requests for moving the contests to Facebook--as many people want a chance to win the TOUCH mugs and they find the writing prompts hard.

Since we have already done four Touch Thursdays, by popular demand, the contests for TOUCH mug are now moved to my Facebook Author page.

(Recently we crossed a 20,000 likes. A milestone of sorts)


The results of  TOUCH Thursday number four will be announced soon.
All the winners will get a TOUCH Mug and the winning entries will be showcased on the Westland blog, as well as the links will be tweeted by Westland.

A hearty congrats to not only the winners, but to everyone who took part! I am certain you all had fun. (I sure did, reading all the posts).

I shall write again soon. (The books are to arrive at my home soon! The pre-order…

A little while ago when I was browsing on Facebook, a post titled'Girl you wear shorts? :-O ' caught my attention. The emoticon at the end of the title struck me as particularly thought provoking.

After I read the piece I couldn't resist writing a comment.  (click on the above link to read the piece as well as my comment).

It took me back to a time when I was 23. I had just met Satish. We were to get married soon. Among the many things that I asked him, I remember this the most.
"There is something I want to ask you."
"Do ask," he said. (He would tell me many years later that, by the seriousness  of my tone and demeanor , he presumed I was going to confess that I already had a boyfriend)
 "Is it okay if I wear shorts?"

Reading the post took me back to that time---the time where I was conditioned to think that what I wore had to be *approved* by the guy I was getting married to. It wasn't about my choice--it was about whether he thought it…

Hi there,

So here are the results of TOUCH  (The One You Cannot Have)Thursday Number 3. If you are new to this blog, check out THIS post which tells you all about Touch Thursdays.

The winning entry which gets the TOUCH mug is

http://lovingthysoul.blogspot.in/2013/10/what-women-want_21.html

written by Megha Sinha

Hearty congrats Megha! please send me your email id and Westland will get in touch with you.




The other entry which got a special mention (as it came very close to winning)  is

 http://geevika.blogspot.in/2013/10/thats-like-my-man.html

written by Geevika Bhatia.

All the others scored more or less the same marks.

One of the things that the judges (from Westland) observed is that nobody had anything new to say other than trust and unconditional love.(which is what are the foundations of any loving relationship--so I guess all of you were bang on there).



One of the things I observed this time, was that very few men took part. :) I wonder why :)

 In case anyone wants to read what I…

Often there are no dramatic moments in life. It is the mundane, the little things, the routines that go on to comprise a patchwork, which knits itself into a day that passed. A date on the calendar.

I like to notice little things that make each day special. I write about them (in a private journal) and sometimes I write posts like these--to share things that are made me happy.




 When the weather is gloomy outside, the best way to spend the day is being curled up on the couch :)




On a gloomy day, red can work wonders :)



And yes--these are growing in my garden. Gives me so much joy.



And finally a walk with my 3rd baby. We walk about 3.5 kms every day. She stops to explore the little things.  I notice so much when i take her for a walk--things that I would have otherwise missed.

I am not sure who enjoys it more--she or me.

And even though this was a Wordless Wednesday post, I had to write a few things.
Sometimes, pictures just don't suffice.
__________________________________________…

The last two days, I was single parenting as Satish was travelling on work. Handling a hundred things, I realised that i had forgotten to withdraw money from the ATM and I was now out of cash. Not only that, I had selected a 'Pay cash on delivery option' for an online purchase, which would be delivered in the next half an hour.

I told my daugther that I had to rush to the ATM and was grumbling that I was short of time and really tired.

"Don't worry Mama, I will lend you money and it will save you a trip to the ATM," she said. I had forgotten about her 'secret stash'--the money she has been saving from birthday presents and tooth fairies.

"Oh, thank you. Can you lend me Rs.500/-? I shall give it back to you soon,' I replied, relieved and happy at her offer.

"You will have to pay interest." comes her reply.

"No way, You don't pay interest for such a short period of time. I will return back the money, this evening."

"In…

And here it is..TOUCH (The One You Cannot Have) Thursday Number 3.

If you are new and want to know what TOUCH Thursdays are, read this post which has all the details.

First the winner of Touch Thursday Number 2..

The winner is

Sumanth Naik.

Here is the winning entry: http://sumanthnaik.blogspot.in/2013/10/an-advice-to-mark-about-our-country.html




Sumanth gets the TOUCH mug which can be personalised with your picture. Please send me your e-mail and  Westland will get in touch with you.



Special mentions (the people who came very close to winning)

Aayush Goyal (he heft his entry as a comment on the post)

Ruminating Optimist: http://ruminating-optimist.blogspot.in/2013/10/writing-prompt-mark-coming-to-india.html

Kavya Mysore: http://kavyamysore.blogspot.in/2013/10/touch-thursday-no2.html

Thank you all for taking part. I really enjoyed reading ALL the entries. (I even left a comment on a few)

Here is the writing Prompt for TOUCH Thursday Number 3.

Anjali is a character in the book. She has dat…

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Thursday again!

Yes-- I know, you have been waiting for the winners of TOUCH Thursday No.1. A big thank you to all who took part. I read each single one, and each one was forwarded to Westland.
The ones that did not carry the banner were also forwarded but not considered.


The results have just come in.. And the winner of TOUCH Thursday No.1 is

SEEMA !!  Here is her entry:  http://myendeavours.blogspot.in/2013/10/touch-thursday-no1.html

Seema--Please send me your email id and Westland will get in touch with you and send you the TOUCH Thursday mug (which can be personalized with your picture).





The following people get a special mention:

Aayush Goyal.   (he had left his entry as a comment on my previous post as he does not have a blog)

Kajol Bramhadande:  ( She has  left her entry  as a comment on my previous post)

Preeti Venugopal : http://tulipsandme.blogspot.in/2013/10/my-forever-friend.html



A big BIG thanks to all who took part! I enjoyed reading your thoughts and I hope you enjoyed ta…