A Hundred Little Flames. How I signed 3000 copies!

In the past, I have blogged about how I signed 3000 copies of my previous novels, The Secret Wishlist, The One You Cannot Have and also It's All In the Planets.
(Click on each one to read about the signing of those books)

I have also written about why I sign my books 'With Love, Preeti Shenoy'. (Do read the post)

It is that time of the year again, when I sign my pre-orders. I have just got back from Manipal, utterly exhausted with knotted shoulder muscles, numb finger tips and a feeling of wanting to sleep for a hundred years. I am bone-dead tired.

I left for Manipal, on 25th which has one of India's finest and most advanced Printing press. To reach Manipal, you have to travel to Mangalore, and then go by road, a journey about an hour and a half. My flight was late, and by the time I reached Manipal it was about 7.30 pm. I checked into the hotel, and knew I had two long days ahead of me.

The next morning, we reached the press at 9.00 am.

Pic credit Yugal Tamang

This picture was clicked just before I went in.

The advanced massive machinery  that this press has, and the volumes that this Press handles have to be seen to be believed. I cannot show you pictures, as it's not allowed on the shop floor. There are many important international assignments handled here.

I went inside, and saw my new book A Hundred Little Flames for the very first time. As always it was a very moving moment, a culmination of my years of work, and I had a lump in my throat, a flutter in my belly and joy in my heart, as I held the book.
You can see the rows and rows and rows of books stacked up behind me. All of them are A Hundred Little Flames. I would be signing ALL of this!

Pic credit: Yugal Tamang

I sat down and began signing. I met Madhav and Sanket from the Manipal Press who handle sales. They would open each book, and give it to me, as I sat and started signing. They would take over from each other, see that I was kept well hydrated, and they kept me company through the long hours, along with Yugal from my Publishers side.

Pic Credit Madhav Kini

Many many hours passed. I took breaks only for tea and for food. On one such break, I made a facebook live video. I am embedding it here, so you can see what it was like. to see 3000 books piled up. (turn up the volume on the video by moving the volume button with the mouse, to listen to what i am saying)

By the time I finished for the day, it was 7.00 pm. I stopped only because I could barely move my hand!

I came back to the hotel room, and I could barely sleep as I had press interviews to answer. I typed out all my answers, and sent them. I was very restless. It was all the adrenaline that had kicked in, and I also knew I had to sign more books the next day.

We started the day at around 9.30 am. Once again Madhav, Sanket and Yugal kept me company.  I was signing ceaselessly.

Pic credit: Yugal Tamang

They made me laugh, talked to me, and we got along so well. We were talking about marriages, game of thrones, interesting movies, past life regression, college madness and many many more fun things.
Here is a picture of all of us.

And here's a photo of me with the entire Manipal Press team.

Finally when i finished signing all the books, it was a FANTASTIC sense of achievement. You can see how tired I look, yet how happy I am.

pic credit Yugal Tamang

If you wish to order a signed copy, please do so now, as it is only the pre-orders which will be signed.

Link for pre-order: http://preeti.io/fb

The book has been steadily climbing the best-seller charts, and is now in the top hundred bestseller on Amazon.

Thank you folks, for your support and love. Thank you very much for continuing to read, the stories I write. So grateful for all of this!
Love
Preeti