Why I sign 'with love'

If you have ever got a signed copy of my books, you would notice that I always sign the books the same way. ‘With love, Preeti Shenoy’. I do not know why most people shy away from expressing love. For me, when I say ‘with love’ I do mean it. Always.

 I have put in my best efforts in my book. I have told a story that is close to my heart in the best possible way that I can. You as a reader are spending time and money to read my story. For me, it is an honour. And when you ask me to sign a book, how can it be with anything other than love? For me it is so important to express it. And it is sincere and from the heart. I get tonnes of mails expressing gratitude. I reproduce one such (with the permission of the writer of course) that moved me deeply.

(I had blogged about how I had signed a 3000 books. And of course, they were all signed 'With love'.)

Here is the that mail which made me feel that my efforts--they are all worth it:


Hi Preeti 

I am Rachesh. I work for an IT company and I am on deputation in US now. 

Birthdays are special days for each one of us. And I take pleasure in being with my family during that day (mine is on 22-January) and make it a point that whichever part of the world that I am in, I be home on my Birthday. What makes it more special is that my sister has her Birthday, a day before mine, which is 21-January.
 This year, unfortunately, I just could not be at home. This assignment had to be extended (it was till December-2012, initially) and I cannot make it home. I really did not have a choice, felt helpless and more than any, sadness spread over since last week. I had to get out of this and I went ahead and ordered a gift for my little sister (she is doing her 2nd semester at a Chennai based Engineering college). I wanted the gift to be special and I ordered "The Secret Wish List" for her. It was gift wrapped and delivered to her, today and do you know what she found on the main page - your sign "With Love". Trust me, it made her day and mine too. Your pain is warranted but the happiness that you have passed on to my sister and me, who is so far away from her, cannot account within our limited vocabulary. 

Thank you! I still remember that blog entry where you had mentioned the pain that you had gone through in signing them (http://justamotheroftwo.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-i-signed-three-thousand-books.html). It’s like eating gooseberry and then drinking water – the sweetness just spreads all over. I have been silently following your blog since 2007 (we used to have blog access in office during those times) and I have read every single blog entry of yours.

 I have read all your 3 books except “The Secret Wish List”. There is so much to say about each blog entry of yours that if I start, pages wont suffice. But, they have made an impact to me. I am an amateur photographer and your entry on Manjadikuru had prompted me to take snaps of them and add them as my cover photo snap in FB. After reading your entry on how to say No, I have found difference in life. Above are just few examples, there are many more throughout these 6 years that I have followed. I check your page everyday, whichever part of the world that I have been to. You are special, your gift and talent is special. I secretly wished, long back, that you would collate your thoughts into a book and trust me when “34 Bubblegum’s and Candies” was released, my happiness had no bounds.

 Please do write more because you really do not know, whom you are changing in what part of the world because they always say one thing – Pen is mightier than the Sword. I wish you the best in life. May Satish be happy, always and Purvi & Atul taste the best of flavours in their lives. 

Sign,
Rachesh 

 So, the next time you see my book signed 'with love', please know that I mean it. From the heart.

And yes--thank you for reading me :)
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