I wrote HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? when nobody asked me to do so. Nobody was waiting for this story. There were enough stories in the world. There was no urgency from the universe itself. Nothing depended on me finishing a story.

Yet, I reached for the blank screen, filling it with words that were bad and made no sense when strung together. My sentences were long and badly shaped.

When I came across an article that detailed the news about a missing adult person in India, I could have moved on. Numerous articles come out, and this one was as ordinary as it could be.

I asked myself – what might happen if the person’s mother went looking for him? What might my own mother do if one of her children went missing?

To find answers, I began writing. The answers didn’t come right away. In fact, months later it wasn’t just about the questions. Something big took over.

My character Usha took residence inside my head and wouldn’t stop until I wrote her story.

Many writers describe the feeling as being possessed, occupied, or even driven. I can’t pick one single word because it was all of it.

While I raised my family, I stole pockets of time to write the story as best as I could.

Over time, it was just Usha and me trying to unearth the story, night after night, removing and adding words, working around characters. I felt my protagonist guiding my way on days I felt stuck and alone.

If you happen to get a copy of Have You Seen Romit? in October, I hope that you enjoy spending time with Usha as much as I have!

Good News:

I was recently awarded a grant through the Delaware Division of the Arts and the Delaware State Arts Council Grant Program. This funding will be used to celebrate the launch event (Oct 3^rd) of my award-winning novel, HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? with my local audience in Delaware, as I wrote most of my novel from my home and my local libraries.

Would you like to be a part of my launch team? What is a launch team, you ask?

It’s just a group of people who are excited about HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? and want to help spread the word by:

1. Asking your local library to place an order for Have You Seen Romit?

2. Share graphics on social media or reshare my posts.

3. If you know of venues that would be interested in interviewing me, or if you’d like to interview me, let me know.

4. If you have a friend who would love to be on my launch team, please let them know.

5. Lastly, if you’re reading an advance copy of my novel, please leave a review the day the book publishes (Oct 1^st).

Reach me at chitalmehtajey@gmail.com or dm me on instagram

And if you’re here, reading this, or even if you just know me, thank you! Writers thrive on support, so thank you for just being here!

What I am consuming:

1. I have started reading a kids’ version of The Ramayana and Krishna with my daughter.

2. I am currently reading Flesh by Daniel Szalay and Scavengers by Kathleen Boland. I am also reading Abundance by Hafeez Lakhani (What a stunning cover!).

3. I recently watched Cocktail 2, a Bollywood romantic movie. I loved the songs and a few scenes! We also watched The End of the Oak Street. Really cool jump scares! If you’re into dinosaurs, it’s a great movie to watch. Anne Hathaway shines throughout!

Events:

1. I’ll be at Kirkwood Library, Delaware, on a panel to discuss marketing strategies. (August 22nd, 1 pm to 3 pm ET)

2. I’ll be joining Darcey Gohring on The Writer’s Corner to talk about rejections. September 21, 2026 at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST - In this conversation, we’ll discuss why rejections are precious and need the same treatment as acceptances, how they make us better writers, and how we can learn to embrace them. She has a great lineup of other events for writers. Highly recommended!

3. If you’re a Delaware local or if you live close by, look out for my book launch details, which will come soon for Oct 3rd, 3 pm at Huxley and Hiro Bookstore, Wilmington. It would mean the world to me if you could come. I promise you a signed copy of my book and goodies! Kids are welcome! In fact, we’ll have something fun for the little ones too.

Preorder links + Gift

Preorder links to my novel HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? are active. You can use the discount code 6AF26 to get 40% off when you order from my publisher. You’ll get the copy in your hands once the book releases on Oct 1st, 2026. Preorders help booksellers know a book is in demand, so they’ll place more orders, which is a good way to help authors.

If you can submit your invoice (email: chitalmehtajey@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram), I’ll gift you a monthly subscription to Jeffrey Yamaguchi’s Substack, Book Publishing Brick by Brick, recommended by Jane Friedman. I learned a lot about author mindset, publicity, and marketing without losing my mind and doing things that give me joy.

Recipe:

I’ll share a recipe for each food item that appears in my novel. Mostly because these are the foods I have enjoyed eating or because they take me back to a place in my childhood.

Thepla

My mom makes amazing theplas. In school, my friends raved over my lunch, and I would hardly get any for myself! Till date, my friends still reminisce about my mom’s Theplas!

Here is a link to a recipe for thepla.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

On Monday, August 3rd, I took an early train to Baltimore to attend the Indie Press Author Reception at the New Voices New Rooms Conference, created by NAIBA (New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association) and SIBA (The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance) for booksellers (held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront).

Upon reaching the registration desk, I met Kit Little, NAIBA’s executive administrator, who was warm and friendly. A good start to the day!

After breakfast, I attended panels that were focused on booksellers. I sat through events/programming/marketing panels. Sitting in that room (I was probably the only author) among booksellers, I was reminded of a dialogue from the Bollywood movie, 3 Idiots.

First year or fourth year, it’s knowledge. Just grab it.

The panels gave me a window into the lives of booksellers and the amount of work that goes into opening a bookstore, organizing book events, ensuring readers get the books they want to read, maintaining inventory, etc.

This conference gave me an insight into how booksellers and publicists communicate to make things happen. I developed a newfound respect for booksellers, for they work so hard!

Lunch was delicious (I was sooo hungry!). Pasta, cheesy bread, green salad, tiramisu, and blueberry tart. After lunch, I went out for a stroll to get some afternoon air.

Towards evening, authors lined up for the Indie Press Authors Reception. Booksellers streamed in around 5 pm. I gave my elevator pitch (My book is about Usha, a middle-aged mother who goes in search of her missing son in the forests of Southern India) to each bookseller who stopped by my table. I signed galley copies for them so they could get a taste for my book and stock them in their stores. Swag items: bookmarks, business cards, stickers, tea bags.

I also made some really cool author friends. Check out their books, and please support them! They are on my current reading list!

War Boys by Jason Prokowiew

70,000 by Lenna Jawdat

Notes From A Wayward Son by Adrian De Leon

Hamantaschen for Hanukkah?! by Maurice J. Elias

Saltwater Cowboys by Elizabeth Jewett Becker

By 6.30, I had repeated my elevator pitch a hundred times. If you’re a writer working on your book or if you just signed a book deal, get used to practicing your pitch until it comes naturally to you.

I am grateful to Eileen Dengler, Hannah Oliver Depp, Carolyn Godavitarne, Kit Little, and Linda-Marie Barrett - several board members whom I met with and who were gracious and kind. Special thanks to my publisher (University of Nebraska Press) and my publicists (Jeffrey Yamaguchi and Tayler Lord) for making this happen!

When I boarded the train back home, I was tired but the good kind of tired.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

I am super blessed to be in the stage of parenting where I am not constantly supervising kids so they don’t kill themselves. Yet, this also means that I’d have to actually have to start an exercise routine.

There are days when the routine is thrown across if a kid needs me. But most days, I make sure I move enough.

1. In the morning, I do some yoga stretches for about 20 minutes, mainly to strengthen my back.

2. I walk around the neighborhood for about a mile each evening.

3. At my local Y, I hit the treadmill. Isn’t there something fun about working out with other people?

4. I also ride my bike with my kids, as it helps me connect with my kids on a new level.

I’ll be honest. Moving around is a luxury. It can be very difficult when your to-do lists require you to be at the screen for longer amounts of time.

Hit reply and write what worked in your routine that helps you return to your desk, feeling energized.

Sneak Peek into my writing process:

The truth is I don’t have a writing process. As a parent to two young kids and me being a stay-at-home mom for many years, writing happens in the crevices of life. I steal time, the time that I could have spent cooking, cleaning, playing with my kids, or doing self-care. Even if it’s just ten minutes in a day!

The kitchen timer is my best friend. So are blank notebooks and pens. Oh, also the notes app on my phone. I heard from a writer who wrote her entire draft on her phone! That can never be me, but I do use the notes app to take down little reminders/character traits/ scene details. To-do lists. I never thought I’d say this, but when it comes to writing, I am a list person. I make lists and lists to get writing done.

Preorder links to my novel HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? are active now. You can use the discount code 6AF26 to get 40% off when you order from my publisher. You’ll get the copy in your hands once the book releases on Oct 1st, 2026. Preorders help booksellers know that a book is in demand, so they’ll put in more orders for books, which is a good way to help authors.

Would you like to be a part of my launch team? What is a launch team, you ask?

It’s just a group of people who are excited about HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? and want to help spread the word.

Anybody who is excited for HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? is welcome to join. I’ll share social media assets about the book—things you can share on your own social media pages if you’d like. Or you can make your own and share them.

No requirements to preorder. No requirements to post. Just do what you feel like doing to help launch this book into the world. If you’re interested, reach me at chitalmehtajey@gmail.com or dm me on Instagram.

If you’d like to review my early copy, my book is available on NetGalley.

Updates:

• I recently appeared on a podcast called The Deep List where I spoke with the host about my upcoming novel, rejections, and motherhood. Check here.

• On August 3^rd, I’ll be at the New Voices New Rooms conference in Baltimore to meet with booksellers and authors. I am nervous and excited.

• I am on a panel for the Margins conference (virtual) to demystify the querying process on August 8th, 1.45 pm to 2.45 pm ET. More details here.

• I’ll be at Kirkwood Library in Delaware on a panel to discuss marketing strategies. (August 22nd, 1 pm to 3 pm ET)

• If you’re a Delaware local or live nearby, look out for my book launch details coming soon for Oct 3rd at Huxley and Hiro Bookstore in Wilmington, 3 pm ET. It would mean the world to me if you could come. I promise you a signed copy of my book and goodies! Kids are welcome! In fact, we’ll have something fun for the little ones too.

What I am consuming:

• I am currently reading Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange and Scavengers by Kathleen Boland. Enjoying both so far!

• For bedtime, I am reading the Daisy Dreamer series with my 7-year-old. These are actually super fun. Oh, also, we are doing the summer reading challenge that Usha Vance began this summer.

• We met a local author, Mark C. Collins, whose books, Wuff! and Witch Switch, are absolute favorites at home!

Recipe:

I’ll share a recipe for each food item that appears in my novel. Mostly, because these are the foods I have enjoyed eating or because they take me back to a place in my childhood.

Here is a recipe for my favorite comfort food, Khichdi made from moong dal, ghee, cumin, and other good stuff. I have placed an Instagram link to a simple recipe to Khichdi.

Link to Khichdi recipe on Instagram – Mindy Naturally

It’s super easy and healthy! My mom is visiting me currently, so I get to eat it often these days.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

I called back, thinking they were calling to thank me for participating and being a finalist, over which I was already on the moon.

I could hardly breathe when the editor said that I’d won the AWP’s novel award. Tears came instantly. My kids and my husband were first confused, but then cheered when they learned more. I barely ate through my meal as I waited for the editor to call and tell me, “Oh, we made a mistake. It wasn’t you!”

I must tell you why the call made my heart full. I had queried 140+ agents since June 2024 for “Have You Seen Romit?” Some agents gave valuable feedback but eventually passed. I was on the brink of losing it all. Despair filled me as I hit my lowest. I picked myself up and kept querying while putting my energy into a new book.

In my head, I had bid a tearful goodbye to Have You Seen Romit? which is why it was emotional when the call came.

The seed of an idea from a newspaper article had led to this, a book that consumed me for years. For a long time, I felt as if I were carrying a storm inside my head.

GOOD NEWS! I received my advance reader copies (uncorrected proofs) a few days ago. Holding my book in my hands for the first time was deeply emotional. I wrote this story because I was excited by the energy of my protagonist, Usha, and I hope you feel the same way when you embark on a journey with her as she goes to look for her missing son in the forests of Southern India.

Preorder links are active now. You can use the discount code 6AF26 to get 40% off when you order from my publisher. You’ll get the copy in your hands once the book releases on Oct 1st, 2026.

Would you like to be a part of my launch team? What is a launch team, you ask?

It’s just a group of people who are excited about HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? and want to help spread the word.

Anybody who is excited for HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT? is welcome to join. I’ll share social media assets about the book—things you can share on your own social media pages if you’d like. Or you can make your own and share them.

No requirements to preorder. No requirements to post. Just do what you feel like doing to help launch this book into the world.

If you’re interested, reach me at chitalmehtajey@gmail.com or dm me on instagram.

Events:

• I’ll be at the New Voice New Rooms conference for the Indie Author Reception. Baltimore on August 3rd, 5.30 pm ET.

• I am on a panel for the Margins conference (virtual) to demystify the querying process on August 8th, 1.45 pm to 2.45 pm ET. More details here.

• I’ll be at Kirkwood Library, Delaware, on a panel to discuss marketing strategies. (August 22nd, 1pm to 3 pm ET)

• If you’re a Delaware local or if you live close by, look out for my book launch details that will come soon for Oct 3 at Huxley and Hiro Bookstore, 3 pm ET, Wilmington. It would mean the world to me if you could come. I promise you a signed copy of my book and goodies!

What I am consuming:

I am currently reading Every Happiness by Reena Shah. It follows the story of two friends, Deepa and Ruchi. It centers around themes of friendship, family, and jealousy. I am enjoying Reena’s prose. I am also reading Brawlers by Lauren Groff, an amazing short story collection.

For bedtime, we are reading Danny Goes to School.

I started watching the Netflix series, I Will Find You. I love the dialogues!!

Recipe:

I’ll share a recipe for each food item that appears in my novel. Mostly, because these are the foods I have enjoyed eating or because they take me back to a place in my childhood.

Rice pudding or kheer – This sweet is quick to make and is my absolute comfort sweet because it’s so easy to make with basic ingredients.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

The first draft is a scary, exciting phase. Usually, you will write the first word of the draft after a mixture of ideas churn inside your head. Your fingers begin to throb. You want to hit the keyboard or grab a pen and paper. But you might stop yourself. You might let the idea dissolve. Or, you might just let the force of inspiration hit you.

Reasons why you might stop yourself –

1. You don’t know if this is an entire story.

2. You don’t know what the first word should be – Once upon a time or She threw the cup or He picked a knife or It was a rainy morning.

3. You are terrified

I get the last part! It’s terrifying to write a draft, knowing nothing might come out of it. After all, time is money. Who wants to spend their time on words that you’re going to throw away anyway? Yet, these words, half of which you’ll eventually throw away, are so important.

It’s you peeling the layers to get to the core, the story that will become your final draft. But that’s in the distance. The first draft is the messy phase. The Play-Doh phase.

When I wrote my first draft of Have You Seen Romit?, there were days when I only wrote a single sentence. I was heavily pregnant with my second child. I’d take an Uber to my local library in Worcester, where I’d pull out my Chromebook and write shitty words for a couple of hours. By the time I delivered my baby girl, I had a really bad draft. I wasn’t happy with it back then. Now that I think about it, the messy draft laid the bones for my award-winning book, HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT?, which will release this October.

Consider signing up for Jami Attenburg’s 1000 words a day. It’s an amazing program where thousands of writers come together to write 1000 words a day. They can be messy, yucky, and nobody needs to see them. Watch out for her Substack for the next 1000-word-a-day program.

Here is a small excerpt from Unstuck by Ramona Asubel.

Our job is to trust the mess. To trust the dust storms and the mud bogs and not rush on toward premature order. Order only matters if it contains something real. Sure, you can write a novel that follows a set of very clear rules and expectations, but you will have written a container, not contents. You will have a harness but no dog. Don’t skip the mess, because that’s where the magic lives.

Also, I listened to a free class on Brad Listi’s DeepDive, by Steve Almond Joy, where he talks about the emotional pain and uncertainty you encounter when you write a book. Take a listen here.

Book Updates (Preorder link is active!):

Advance reader copies of Have You Seen Romit? will soon arrive at my doorstep! I’ll share more exciting updates on that front. Preorder links are active now. You can use the discount code 6AF26 to get 40% when you order from my publisher. You’ll get the copy in your hands once the book releases on Oct 1st, 2026.

Why should you preorder, you ask?

Preorders help bookstores know how many copies of a book to buy, contribute to week-one sales, drive momentum that helps a book get on bestseller lists, and tell the publisher that people will actually buy the book.

Events:

Last weekend, I went to the local author fair in my city, Delaware. I met a number of wonderful authors. It was a beautiful sunny day to buy books and meet the authors.

First 5 pages critique giveaway:

My book comes out in 4 months. To celebrate this, I am giving away a free FIRST 5 pages critique of a short story, a novel, or an essay. I’ll do it for people who reach out to me by June 6th. The best way to reach me is to write me an email here: chitalmehtajey@gmail.com. We might end up reading for each other!

What I am consuming:

Reading: A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmed, a riveting thriller set in Mumbai and New York. I also came across this interview by Megha Mujmdar. At bedtime, we are reading the school yearbook and Krishna stories, which my mother brought from India.

Recipe:

I love Paneer butter masala made from cottage cheese and a blend of spices. Interestingly, it was a dish I hated as a kid. Thankfully, my kids relish it. It’s also a dish that appears in my book for an Indian wedding scene. Here is a link to a recipe that has worked well for me.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

I wrote my novel with interruptions throughout, even putting it away for six months when the pandemic hit. Moms are known to be doing multiple things at a time. A skill that isn’t learned but is honed with time.

Sometimes, it comes by throwing yourself into the pool and learning to swim. There are multiple videos doing the rounds on Instagram that show the mental math a mom does before stepping out of the house.

It’s intense inside a mom’s brain. I am surprised how we have come to normalize a mom’s superpower.

When my kids were little, I prayed for the day when I’d get an entire day to write. That happened in 2024 September, when my youngest started kindergarten. I had 7 glorious hours to write. But the moment I faced my computer, I was terrified by the amount of time that lay ahead. It felt like a guilty luxury to even consider writing. I wrote for an hour, but not much.

As much as I love the idea of writing for hours, I work best under pressure. The clock ticking. The school bus arriving in an hour. This is what gets me going. Hopefully, one day I can appreciate writing for hours. Until then, 10-min writing sprints and my kitchen timer are my best friends.

Book update:

My page proofs have arrived. My last chance to read the book before it goes to the press. My last chance to spend time with my characters before they start living in a real home, a real book!
Unless one of the kids falls sick or is hungry, I’ll be spending my time proofing pages of HAVE YOU SEEN ROMIT ? and sending them back to my press in the coming days.

Freebies for Moms:

(I am not affiliated with these, and I am sharing here because I simply love these)

Rituals: I am all for rituals! The kind that gets my brain working for a good writing day. I feel best when I am reading with my first cup of coffee. I feel relaxed when I end my day with my kids, snuggled up with a book. These small rituals help me feel calm and much more prepared to tackle the day. Here is a great resource by Susan Dennard on crafting rituals.

Printables with little ones: I love this website that has great free printables for little ones to do coloring on Mother’s Day.

Guided Meditation: My kids and I love doing this on days when we feel overly stimulated. It’s short and helps us focus on breathing.

Journaling prompts: I love journaling. It helps me pause and reset my brain, which I must do every so often.

Pick a paper, a notebook, or even your notes app to write a few sentences on how you feel

I am upset because…

I would be happy if only…

I am grateful for the three things in my life –

What I am consuming:

1. I am reading Story Genius by Lisa Cron and Flashlight by Susan Choi. Both are wonderful reads. I am devouring these books.

2. I attended a marketing webinar hosted by The Writer’s Bridge. High energy. Brilliant ideas. Check out them on YouTube!

3. At home, we watched Secrets of the Bees. Stunning camera into the intimate lives of bees. By the way, they are the most important animals on the planet!

4. For bedtime, we are reading Danny and Darla books, which help learn about the Power to Choose.

Recipe:

I’ll share a recipe for each food item that appears in my novel. Mostly, because these are the foods I have enjoyed eating or because they take me back to a place in my childhood.

All you need is yogurt, sugar, cardamom, almond chips, and saffron strands!

Here is a link to making Shrikhand, a dessert made from beating plain whole-milk yogurt.

Subscribe to my newsletter if you haven’t. It’s free, and it’s the best way to support authors.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

Those months, as I waited for the baby, I wrote a shitty, messy draft that looks nothing like the version that will come out soon. After the birth of my daughter, my writing habits have changed over the years.

Literary agent Erin C. Niumata shared a great post on the writing habits of accomplished writers. I loved reading them, although my process is way different from any of those writers.

My writing habits with two children lurking around me:

• I carry a notebook when I take my kids to the playground so I can write a few scenes.

• I write as my daughter makes crafts. Maybe a few minutes of writing sprints.

• I write while doing the dishes. Mostly, this is me thinking about my characters (Oh, in the shower too)

• I write in the car while waiting (This is especially good because of the limited space a car provides, which means no distractions)

• I also use a device called ‘Alpha Smart’, which I purchased from eBay. Very useful while writing the messy draft.

• I have written in the bathroom of a host’s house, where I sneaked in my tiny notepad to take notes.

• The notes app on my phone is an amazing feature. I hated this idea for years, but I have come to love it. I have heard people write entire novels on phones. That’s not me. But I do write little notes.

For years, this was my writing desk, which a friend had passed on to me after I gave away a crib to her. I wrote about my writing life when my kids were much younger in this essay, which appeared in Mutha magazine.

Book updates:

I am currently awaiting to read the proof copy of my novel after which it goes into production. In my previous post, I shared about the process that went into the cover design. Check here if you missed it. I wrote an essay about my drafting and the rejection process for The Writer’s Chronicle – April issue. Read here.

Event recordings and published piece:

My essay about rejections, Oiling Your Armor - On Rejection and Remembering Why You Write appeared in The Writer’s Chronicle – April issue.

Check out here (Pen Parentis event) and here (Rejection class) for recordings of my virtual events.

What I am consuming:

1. I am reading an early copy of Yu-Mei Balasinghamchow’s Names Have Been Changed, which releases this June. It’s a fast-paced novel about Ophir, who gets on a podcast to tell all about her crimes from the years she travelled to Tokyo, London, Colorado, and beyond. I highly recommend this novel! I am also reading Jane Friedman’s The Business of Being a Writer, which is filled with valuable information for writers of all stages. I think every writer must have this book by their bedside table!

2. I am listening to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast, in which they share great tips for writers.

3. At bedtime, we are doing hardbound books from National Geographic Kids, First Book of Why, and Amazing Animals.

Recipe:

Chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt

My husband has been making us this pudding from the last two weeks. For someone who doesn’t experiment with food, this actually took me by surprise. It’s a yummy morning snack. His recipe had some variations, and he ended up adding frozen blueberries, coconut flakes, almond flakes, and dark chocolate chips to the yogurt mix.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

It’s a surreal feeling to finally have a face for the story that consumed my mind for years!

My thoughts on the cover

I wanted the cover to convey Usha’s uncertainty and her inhibitions about entering the forests where her son may or may not be. The book explores themes of family, identity, female empowerment, and adventure; the cover reflects this by placing her at the edge of a dense forest, looking out over the trees with a sense of both determination and longing. The forest represents the unknown territory she must navigate, both physically and emotionally.

I love the designer, Kari’s choice of the woman’s silhouette, which perfectly captures her hesitation toward the wild. The grey hues on the mountains depict the dark and dangerous journey she must undertake—one that will pull her miles away from the quietness and comfort of her home.

What my designer, Kari Andreson, says:

The typeface has quite a range of emotions: urgency, desperation, and fear. All the feelings I imagined Usha having as she clung onto the hope of her son. Usha is also a different texture from the environment. She’s out of her element. I hope this design will pull readers into this gripping journey so they can discover the unexpected answers that lie in the forests of Sholai that the cover subtly evokes.

What my marketing manager, Rosemary Sekora, says:

With this large typeface, we directly ask every reader, “Have You Seen Romit?” —whether that’s scrolling social media, browsing a bookstore, or shopping online. You can clearly read the title and decide if you want to answer the question. The background is void of any distracting details, allowing the woman to be the main focus as a crucial piece of this cover.

Here is a pre-order link. If for whatever reason, you can’t preorder, please request the book through your local library’s request form.

My events:

1. I’ll be talking about writing and parenting with other parent writers in an upcoming online Zoom session on April 14^th, 7 pm EST. It’s free. Register here.

2. Sharing a link to a YouTube recording of a free class on ‘Embracing Rejection’ which I taught a few days ago.

What I am consuming:

1. I am reading Outside Women by Roohi Choudhry (I met her at AWP!) and All This Could Be Different from Sarah Thankam Mathews.

2. For kids’ bedtime, we are reading The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and What Should Darla Do?

Recipe:

Here is a recipe for cha, or more famously, chai! Although I am cutting down on my tea intake, I find myself brewing cha almost every day before school ends. My protagonist, Usha, doesn’t go a day without her cha ever. Her relationship with cha is more like meeting up with a friend. You’ll know more when the book comes out.

No links here, just my simple recipe.

- Place the pot on the burner, fill it with half a cup of water

- Drop some tea dust, cardamom, and ginger

- Bring it to a boil and add milk and sugar as needed

- Boil it more and strain it!

There are so many variations to this that if you’re a chai expert, you might disagree with my version! This is what works for me at this point.

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

The things that made me nervous - boarding an AMTRAK, living in a hotel room alone, meeting people at the conference, and feeding myself in a new city! These things might be mundane for you, but for me, they really were similar to achieving milestones!

I sat through the feeling of discomfort and nervously packed my bags and boarded the train! Imagine my surprise when I disembarked at the right station, and a super-friendly Uber driver dropped me at my hotel! Nothing bad happened (my over-functioning brain was disappointed!).

The conference itself was an illuminating experience. It was a whirlwind of events, but a surreal experience to see writers in the flesh, to see people caring for art.

Top row, left - I met my Substack friend, S. Salazaar, who has a beautiful book of poems called Raíces, Relics, and Other Ghosts.

Top row, right - I met Jai Chakrabarti, who graciously reviewed my advance copy! His work has been a catalyst for my writing!

Center row, left - This was magic. I met Vauhini Vara, the author of Searches, who signed a free copy at the book fair!

Center row, right - I met Tonya Todd, who gave amazing tips during the plot panel.

Bottom row, left - Allison Williams is an energetic woman whose energy is contagious. She helped me practice my pitch!

Bottom row, right - I bumped into.. You read that right, I actually bumped into Courtney Maum! I couldn’t believe it, but she was right next to my chair in the cafe. Her newsletter is a must-read if you’re a writer!

I met more wonderful folks!

Top left, I met Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, who has been an amazing mentor and gives me pep talks when I get anxious about my book. She has an upcoming release, Names Have Been Changed!

Top right, I met Kali White, my MFA professor. She was the first person to read my draft seven years ago! It felt like a full circle to finally see her.

Center left, that’s Maurice Carlos Ruffin, who is a powerhouse of resources for writers. His Substack is wonderful with tips.

Center right, I met Vesna Jaksic, who, like me, is a parent writer. We connected virtually years ago and finally met!

Bottom left, I met Nancy Reddy and her friends, hours after reaching Baltimore. I was super nervous until then, but after meeting them, I felt relaxed. Her book, The Good Mother Myth, is a must-read.

Bottom right, this woman needs no intro. I met Jane Friedman, a coach for writers. Her website is filled with so many tips. Don’t miss it!

I walked around the downtown area of Baltimore. The weather was cold, but it was three days filled with excitement, chaos, and events!

Overall, it was a great experience to connect with other writers and stroll through the book fair! I’ll be in Chicago next year to attend AWP!

Free Class:

I am teaching a free class called Embracing Rejection on March 19th, 4 pm EST. Click here to register. If you can’t make it live, it will be posted on Blue Stoop’s YouTube channel. Although this class is specific to writers, I strongly believe that rejection comes to us through various channels, even if you’re not writing. We’ll talk about techniques you can use to allow rejection to be a way of life and find a way forward.

I’ll keep this short for now! About my book, I am working on putting a marketing and publicity plan together while also making time for my next book. It makes me want to pull my hair at times, but I am learning. Slow but learning!

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

These are times when I realize that art makes everything survivable. For me, it is writing in my journal, working on my story, reading a book, listening to a podcast, watching a movie, coloring with my daughter, and working on a science project with my son! Did I forget music? I know it feels futile to turn towards art when things are not going anywhere. Still, art will bring peace and joy even when things are not going well.

This is an image of a fireplace from a recent family trip! Found a few moments of calm in the midst of chaos.

Free Class:

I will be offering a free class called Embracing Rejection on March 19th, 4 pm EST. Click here to register. If you can’t make it live, it will be posted on Blue Stoop’s YouTube channel. Although this class is specific to writers, I strongly believe that rejection comes to us through various channels, even if you’re not writing. We’ll talk about techniques you can use to allow rejection be a way of life and find a way forward.

AWP:

If you’re attending AWP this week, feel free to connect! I will be there to meet my favorite writers and cheer recent AWP winners!

What I am consuming:

1. My friend, Abhijith Ravinutala, recently appeared on a podcast. He mentions some really great points about being yourself in the age of AI!

2. I am in the middle of a great book called Audition by Katie Kitamura. She has a great way of exploring marriage through a woman’s lens!

3. We are in love with kids’ magazines from the National Geographic Channel! They are amazing for bedtime.

Recipe:

I have started incorporating a dry fruit smoothie after breakfast. In a cup of milk, I soak chia seeds, almonds, cashews, apples, dates, and walnuts. It’s been a great energy boosting drink. Have you been incorporating anything for energy? Would love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading Stumbling Yet Writing. Please pass this newsletter to someone you think will enjoy hearing from me!

The sick days are behind me. But I don’t take good health days for granted.

Book Updates:

The copyedit review of my novel, Have You Seen Romit?, is complete. I also got a chance to peek at my book’s cover. I can’t tell much, but I am waiting until I can reveal the face of my book. It’s like meeting a person who only lived inside your head but is finally getting a face for real. Pre-orders will be up soon!

Events:

I am also looking forward to the AWP conference in Baltimore in March. It will be my first in-person conference in seven years! I am truly excited to see writers in person and meet them. I am keeping my fingers crossed because it’s never truly possible to execute ‘plans’ with kids in the mix.

What I am consuming these days:

1. I am reading The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei. Love her prose!

2. I am watching Jim Gaffigan’s stand-up comedy. I absolutely love his take on parenting.

3. I am listening to the 7 am novelist podcast. I love the writer interviews and always find them to be illuminating.

4. At bedtime, we do Captain Underpants and Tickle Monster! Both are huge hits with my kids.

Recipe:

I am sharing a link to a recipe that helped me this winter. Turmeric milk is a powerhouse of ingredients. If, like me, you savor the taste of turmeric and pepper, do give this a try! It’s what all mothers in India swear by! I do hope my children appreciate the goodness someday.

Stay warm if your place is cold! If not, enjoy the sun!

Writers had warned me about the slow progress in publishing, so I decided I’d learn from their lessons. I didn’t waste time and got to work on my next book. I was diligent and churned out enough words for a shitty draft. This month , I read too much about publicity and marketing. I heard too many podcasts about how writers need a checklist before their launch. So much needs to be done at least 6 months ahead of the release.

And if, like me, you don’t have a huge budget, you could hire freelancers and even try a DIY marketing plan. There is a ton of information out there. My head was filled with checklists. Author portraits. A shiny website. ARC’s. Blurbs. Pre-orders. Social media engagement. Tours. Cover reveal posts. Reaching out to influencers. Writing guest essays. Pitching those essays. Pitching podcasts. Pitching local media. Creating an email list…. the list must be longer!

And also, writing the next book!

I’ll be honest. All about writing the next book vanished once I pr stuff filled my head. Anxiety set in! What if I don’t do enough to ensure that my book reaches the right hands? What if enough people don’t know that my book exists when the times comes? What if my book doesn’t get enough reviews? What if it makes a foggy existence and disappears before the sun comes out?

Last night, I told myself this - For two years, I struggled to find an agent for my book. I had given up to work on the next book. And then, one day, I got a call that my book won the James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel. R. O. Kwon picked my book from a shortlist of ten manuscripts. I often remind myself that it was my MC Usha’s doing. She chose me to tell her story. If my book had made it this far, it would find its way to its audience.

Sure, it will need my help just as it needed me to write it down. There will be things out of my control. There will be things about marketing and publicity I may not be good at. I’ll do my best as humanely possible to get the book to my audience.

But I need to be in this business, not just for selling books. Writing is my first job. Today, before losing myself in the world of social media and podcasts and pitches, I set my timer aside for 20 min and dived into the world of my new characters, enjoying their flaws, and learning to talk with them. I probably got just five sentences down, but that’s something! That’s the world where it’s just me and my characters because, for now, I am their only audience. I tell myself, no matter where my signed book reaches, my current draft deserves my attention, too.

20 precious minutes!

Did you know that finding a path which is your life’s destiny doesn’t happen by chance? Did you know that being passionate about a dream doesn’t happen to most of us? Yeah, not everybody has a dream. Reality check!!! You have known people of having dreams but not pursued them, but what about those who do not have a dream at all? Imagine how plain and boring their lives must be. So, if you have a dream and yet are still not able to pursue it, just pat yourself on the back because it takes courage to have a dream.

Now that you realize that you are one of those fortunate ones who have chanced to treasure a dream, do not let life’s battles ignore your dream and dump it away in some box of mess. It definitely takes a considerable amount of willpower and willingness to realize a dream; of course, the challenges depend on the kind of dream that you want to achieve.

The good news is that, no matter how hard or impossible your dream seems to be, there have been people in the past and in the present, too who have achieved great heights that you thought were impossible. And guess what, they are simple human beings just like you and me. Whoa, you have heard that one before, and you say, yes, I know that. So what?

Well, two things are clear. Your dream is not impossible, and it can be realized because crores of other people have made it happen. Of course, you will be warned beforehand that the path is not going to be easy, so that you are mentally prepared for the obstacles. But with profound faith and hope, you actually can make it happen. I keep telling this to myself daily because now and then, my faith shakes as well, but at the end of the day, I usually come around to it and restore it again.

So, treasure your dreams because they are yours and they need you the most to realize them.

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