Today's Guest is Rachna Chhabria

Today’s guest blogger is Rachna Chhabria, author of The Lion Who Wanted to Sing and Bunny in Search of a Name. Here’s Rachna to tell you about her books.

“The journey of my picture books The Lion Who Wanted To Sing, and Bunny in Search Of A Name, from conception to publication, was swift and easy, courtesy of the enthusiastic publisher. I had written hundreds of features and stories for two Indian newspapers (Deccan Herald and The Hindu) before plunging full fledge into the world of children’s fiction.

“As a child, I was fascinated with the animal kingdom, from the tiny ant to the elephant. I would stare at a line of ants crawling into the anthill; and at the zoo, I would spend several minutes before each enclosure, memorizing every tiny detail. Questions regarding animals constantly buzzed inside my head: Did they have desires? What motivated them? What did they talk about?

“The two picture books are the result of those unanswered childhood questions. Deep inside each story are embedded my own secret desires, desires of all, irrespective of age. The issues faced by the animals are issues we all encounter at some point in our lives, like Kiara the baby elephant’s body image worries, or, Casca the crow’s deception.

“Like Bunny the baby rabbit, many of us may have felt we were saddled with unglamorous names. Unfortunately, most of us lack Bunny’s spirit of adventure to venture in search of a new name. Leo the lion, too, echoes everyone’s secret desire to be more than a bathroom singer. Unlike Leo, many of us are unable to summon the courage to take up singing, or sacrifice everything to achieve that goal.

“The animals in the books are all too human. Each animal has his or her own story to narrate. Sometimes the stories overlap (ours and theirs). But ultimately the tales are uniquely their own. I have written several more animal stories, all awaiting their participation in a book.

Rachna Chhabria can be contacted at: http://liakeyes.ning.com/profile/RachnaChhabria
Her picture books, published by Unisun Publications, are available on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Wanted-Sing-Other-Stories/dp/8188234141/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267374280&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Bunny-Search-Name-Other-Stories/dp/8188234184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267374397&sr=8-1

Guest Blogger, Kirby Larson

Kirby Larson writes award-winning books, no matter what the genre. I first was captivated by her writing when friends and I read and discussed the Newbery winner, Hattie Big Sky, the story of a 16-year-old orphan who takes over a deceased uncle's homestead in Montana. Here is Kirby now, to discuss her writing:

Q: You have said that Hattie's story was inspired by your great-grandmother's life. Since her family didn't really know much about her early life, much of the story in the book was made up, based on research. The book Hattie feels so believable and real. Who did you draw on for her personality and character?
A: Great question! I would say I drew on all of the journals and diaries I read to create Hattie, but my daughter says Hattie is me. I'll let you be the judge.

Q: You have mentioned in an interview that it took you about three years to write Hattie Big Sky. In the same interview, you said it took about ten years to get The Magic Kerchief right. Why do you think a picture book was harder to write than a historical novel?
A: Oh, a picture book is so much more difficult because every single word has to earn its way into a picture book. With a novel, you have a bit of space to linger on this thought or that notion. Not so in a picture book.

Q: Do you have a special approach to writing a new book, or does each one come to you differently?

A: I wish I did have a special approach; then I would know what to do each time. So far, for me, each book has come to me differently and with its own unique and challenging set of challenges and gifts.

Q: Of all the books you've written -- and so many of them win awards! -- do you have a favorite? If so, which one, and why?

A: Ah, this is like asking Mom who her favorite child is. Easy to answer if she only has one! But honestly, Hattie is probably dearest to my heart because writing it allowed me to keep my connections to my beloved grandmother (Hattie's step-daughter) alive.

Q: You co-wrote Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival, and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle with Mary Nethery (and in the latter case, with Marine Major Brian Dennis). Both have won acclaim. Are future "true story" collaborations in the works?

A: Mary and I are eager to write a third (and fourth and fifth. . .) book together. So far, however, we have not come up with just the right story. We're open to suggestions!

Q: You have written award-winning books, taught writing courses, spoken at conferences, and presented at schools. Do you find that the latter activities have affected your writing approach in any way?

A: Everything I do that's not writing enriches my writing. . . and takes away from it at the same time. I am reminded every day of Katherine Paterson's powerful words: "The very persons who take away my time and space to write give me something to say." The very activities that take away my time and space to write, do indeed give me something to say.

Q: You have always been an avid reader. But some books affect a reader more than others. When you look back, what books that you that you read in elementary school, middle school, and high school left their “imprint” on you? Which books have changed your life?

A: I would be hard pressed to pick one or two titles. I will always treasure Alice in Wonderland, not so much for the story but for the fact that it was the first book I ever owned -- thanks to my aunt. Our family read and re-read Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen so many times, we wore it out. If only I'd bought the book when it was brand new and $4.99! When I finally went to find a copy about 6 or 7 years ago, I had to pay over $100 for it. But still, it's well worth it. There have been so many books that have left their imprints on me, it would be impossible to name them all. However, it was Arnold Lobel's Ming Lo Moves The Mountain that struck the chord in me to lead me to write children's books.

Q: Who is your first reader for a new work? Your family? Friends? Another writer?

A: My first reader is generally my good friend, Mary Nethery, or my local critique group -- Bonny Becker, Kathryn Galbraith, Sylvie Hossack and Dave Patneaude-- depending on the type of book it is and any deadlines associated with it. My family and friends read the books when they come out!

Thank you, Kirby, for sharing your thoughts. I know readers will be looking forward to your next books, as I will. I'm sure, too, they will enjoy following your blog (as I do) at: http://www.kirbyslane.blogspot.com/

Like'em and You Don't Leave'em

I subscribe to Guide to Literary Agents online, a newletter that always has good advice for writers. Today's article was about a book written by Blake Snyder, titled, Save the Cat. The point made in that book (and the article) is that a reader has to care about a character to hang around and find out what happens. Reading this was one of those "coincidence moments", because I had planned to blog about a book I'm reading now and just love.

The book I'm reading now is Billy Creekmore, by Tracey Porter, and I was charmed by Billy on the first page. He tells tall tales to anyone who will listen, and he thinks (or says) he can commune with spirits, even if he can't see them. The story opens in 1906, an era that interests me for my own book. (I am always on the lookout for a book set in the first 2 decades of the 20th century, so readers, please give me titles.) Once I started this book, I was on Billy's side immediately.

Billy lives in an orphanage when the book opens, and conditions are terrible and exploitive. But within a few pages you know that plucky Billy is going to rise above all this and have some grand adventures. It's Billy's voice that grabbed me. He may not always tell the truth, and he has bad grammar, but he's good-hearted, and his voice rings true. I'm about halfway through it, and already Billy's life is changing, but I don't want to be a spoiler and tell you how.

I couldn't help comparing it to another book I recently read. It's that matter of "voice". I believe in Billy. He's so real, I feel I could walk out my door and run into him on the street (even though it's 2010, and he's a century away.) Billy tells his story so naturally, it's as if there is no such thing as an author or narrator. You feel as if he's telling you personally his not-so-tall tale, and shaking his head at the wonder of it.

By comparison, the other book (which shall remain nameless, because I notice it's selling well, so kids do like it) had a "voice" problem for me. At least at the outset. I liked the story and the plot; and I grew to care about the character. But that took awhile, because for a few pages, his voice seemed "overdone" and it grated on me. I was too aware that a grown up was writing kid talk. It's a nuance thing, I suppose. Kids do talk the way the book character did, but not so noticeably. In Billy Creekmore, well, everything works. It just works. It's a great book, and I can't wait to get back to it.

Two Charming Story Collections for Children

Recently I had occasion to read two charming story collections written by Rachna Chhabria and illustrated by Rosei Koithra:

The Lion Who Wanted to Sing and Other Stories
and
Bunny in Search of a Name and Other Stories

These stories are gentle in tone and full of humor and quiet wisdom that never intrudes on the storytelling. The author describes them as “read-aloud books for parents and tiny tots”. They would also be appropriate as “early chapter books” for first and second graders. The first book is 39 pages, the second is 38 pages, and the stories are not too long or too difficult for an early reader.

In the first collection’s title story, “The Lion Who Wanted to Sing”, Leo pursues his dream with humorous results. In spite of scoffing friends and family, Leo doesn’t give up. “Kiara’s Diet”, explores the dangers of trying to be what you are not. In the third story, “The Promise”, a young sparrow’s act of mercy brings unusual consequences to all.

In “Bunny in Search of a Name” (the title story of the second collection), a discontented bunny finds that getting what you want has a price. In the next two stories, a small ant teaches a parrot the meaning of friendship, and a crow learns that those who admire an imposter are not trustworthy friends. The fourth story, “Chaos in the Jungle”, is perhaps the funniest. Again, it deals with the danger of granted wishes, especially when those wishes are based on envy.

All of these tales are charmingly told by Chhabria. Koithra’s spirited illustrations capture the animals’ personalities as they go through their various adventures.

Purchase information: The books are published by Unisun Publications and are available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Wanted-Sing-Other-stories/dp/8188234141
http://www.amazon.com/Bunny-Search-Name-Other-Stories/dp/8188234184

A Terrific Site for Anyone Who Likes Children Stories

Not a lot of time to blog today, as I'm back at work on Granny's Jig. But the following site is a must-go-to for anyone who likes to read or write children's stories. Check it out, you can read them for free! http://www.freechildrenstories.com

The Food of South India

This is probably my last blog about India for awhile. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention South Indian food.

Until I met my husband, I didn't realize that the Indian food I was used to was North Indian, or even that there was regional cooking. True, all over India many of the same spices and herbs are used: coriander leaves, cumin, fennel, turmeric, saffron, to mention just a few. But the north specializes in breads and wheat-based pastries (think of the wonderful naan in a Tandoori kitchen or those delicious samosas.) In the South, though, rice is the staple, and most dishes use rice or a variety of lentils, or both. (I should mention in passing, though, that more and more interchange goes on, so that many North Indian snacks are popular in the south, and vice versa.)

My husband comes from a very large family, one full of fantastic cooks, so from the very first trip (I've been to India 6 times), I started hounding them for their recipes. I also have two sisters-in-law and two nieces in the states who are generous with their recipes. So now I have a huge binder (marked "Family Recipes") with well over 100 great dishes--all vegetarian.

What kinds of dishes? Well, the main dish is usually some kind of sauce over rice with a dry "curried" vegetable on the side. The term "curried" here simply means that a combination of spices have been used, and they are quite distinct from the "curry powder" that most markets carry. The sauce can be a kuttu, a sambar, or a rasam.

A kuttu is a sort of vegetable stew made from lentils (and there are different lentils to choose from) boiled with a diced vegetable, along with several seasonings which may or may not include coconut, but will certainly include dried red chilies. (South Indian food is hot!) A wide range of different vegetables can be used.

Most sambars have a tamarind base (although one sambar does have a buttermilk base instead). Sambar is also cooked with lentils and comes out like a well-seasoned gravy, swimming with vegetables, to put over your rice.

The rasams, too are cooked with lentils and spices, some with vegetables and some not. Rasam is more like a flavorful soup to go over rice as a second course. We sometimes have it as a soup. As for the vegetable side dishes, the possibilities are endless. Often vegetables are combined together, and all are seasoned to bring out the best in the vegetable.

Then there are the savories and sweets. This is where you can get into "suffer cooking". Many of the savories involve soaking rice and lentils for hours, grinding them for a long time,and letting the dough rise over night. Then portions are deep fried, sometimes with special seasonings. Or the dough/batter may simply be spooned into compartments in a special utensil and steamed as small cakes, served with a condiment, like coconut chutney.

The sweets, too, involve long periods of time at the stove. Maybe stirring a lentil flour, laden with cream or ghee (a clarified butter), until it's of a texure to melt in your mouth. Maybe soaking shredded fruit in a mixture (again with ghee or cream or milk) and stirring it forever. But, if it is done right (and my inlaws really do it right!) it's oh-so-worth the wait! There are also pastries that have been soaked in sweetened milk or a sugar syrrup. These are the kinds of things served at tiffin, with a sweetened cup of dark rich coffee--the perfect "go-with".

And so I must close for now on this wonderful interlude of my life! I have other writing to do, guest bloggers to schedule. Besides, I need to go check on my dough!

Traffic in Chennai

Traffic in Chennai deserves a post of its own. Like all major cities in India, people flocking in for opportunities have flooded the streets with traffic they were not meant to serve, despite upgrades, road widenings, and lane markings. On my first trip to India, the traffic reminded me more than anything of an immense game of "chicken", where opposing teams composed of trucks, autos, auto rickshaws, bicycles, motorcyles, taxis, all rushed toward each other at top speed, daring the other side to blink first. A friend of my husband's described it this way: "In India, we drive by intuition."

True, that's how it seems. To take a ride in India is to truly live in the present moment. After awhile, I learned to simply relax and just take it all in. Those drivers do know what they are doing! They have incredible skill and dexterity, as they veer to avoid some vehicles, swoop in front of others and miss others who are trying to do the same.

In Amercia, honking your car horn is a display of irritation--often of road rage. In India, it's crucial to survivial. It's imperative for everyone to know everyone else's intentions. Consequently, a trip through Chennai seems like listening to a cacaphonious symphony written by a crazed composer: horns, beeps, toots, blats, jangles, whistles, and bicycle bells are all accompanied by the percussive rumbles, coughs,grunts, growls, and put-a-put-puts of motors. Even with all of that, there are moments of gridlock, where no one can move. And it is not unusual to see, in the midst of assorted vehicles, an ox-drawn cart moving along, placidly. At such times, traffic just seems to magically part and flow around it, then rush on.

If time matters, or if you hope to have presentable hair on arrival, it's probably best to take a taxi. But I prefer the auto rickshaw. The auto rickshaw is a boxy little metal vehicle with two wheels in back and one in front, a vinyl top (like on old convertibles), and a windshield that wraps around the dash. Passengers in back are separated by a bar (handy for holding on) from the driver, who navigates with handlebars similar to those on a motorcycle.

The auto rickshaw, open-sided, and low to the ground, puts you in a "you are there" mode as you watch the city rush by, burning itself into your retina, leaving after images: Brightly painted mansions next to delapidated buildings; gardens and parks with coconut palms, neem trees, nettu lingam trees, flame of the forest trees, bougainvilla in all colors; women in bright saris or salwar kamiz, their silk and chiffon-like shawls flowing behind them as they walk; fruit and vegetable stalls and peddlars with blankets heaped with wares; coffee kiosks, and deep,rectangular caverns of shops; cows and goats running loose on side streets; dogs, both pet and stray, sunning themselves in front of gates; corner shrines with ornate sculptures. And over it all, a permeating heat.

I can never get enough of it when I'm there. And, when I return, for weeks afterwards, some small thing will trigger a moment of plaster compound walls, mosaic tile floors, banana trees, the scent of jasmine, and it's all there for me again.