FOUR NEW BOOKS + 10 BACKLIST TITLES COMING BACK INTO PRINT – AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!
Literally on the last day of the year, I received the formal offer from my publishers for the last two books in the Ramayana Series as well as the first two graphic novel adaptations.
We’ll probably take a few more weeks to iron out the details, but basically, it’s now official: Penguin Books India will be publishing VENGEANCE OF RAVANA: Book 7 of The Ramayana Series and SONS OF SITA: Book 8 of The Ramayana Series. I can also confirm that there will be no further books in the series and that these two will tie up all loose ends – while also leading the reader directly into the twin pathways of The Krishna Coriolis as well as The Mba.
The graphic novels will be PRINCE OF AYODHYA: The Graphic Novel and SIEGE OF MITHILA: The Graphic Novel. As some of you know already, the graphic novel versions are not merely adaptations of the books but original comic scripts conceived and written by me and illustrated lavishly by Argentinian artist Enrique Alcatena. At some point in the near future, I’ll post some samples of his beautiful art here.
So the Ramayana Series will end at last, as well as have a new beginning!
A fitting way to close 2008 and start 2009!
As for the backlist titles mentioned above, they will be released under my own imprint, AKB Books, which I’m launching especially because of the constant demand and enquiries from readers around the world, for my previously published books that now happen to be out of print. There will also be a couple of collections of previously published (but never before published together in book form) stories and essays by me. More news about this soon!
Right now, here’s wishing you and every single one of my estimated 1 million plus Ramayana Series readers around the world (although I know by now that most of you are fellow Bharatiyas!) A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May you start your year as happily as me! 
Still here, still writing…
Just another quick note to say that all is well with me and mine.
In fact, 2008 has been perhaps one of the best years of my life and career. And 2009 promises to be even better still.
If there’s really a recession going on, it hasn’t hit me yet and hopefully will pass me by. The publishing biz in India is not just solid, it’s one of the fastest-growing in the world. In contrast with the US, UK and other developed countries where publishing usually keeps pace with GDP and has a growth rate of 3 to 4% annually, Indian publishing companies are growing at phenomenal growth rates of 25% to 30%!
Sales are increasing, the number of titles published are growing exponentially, the market is maturing, readers are buying more titles, spending more money each year, and each new bookstore or bookstore chain helps grow the market.
To give you an example, 15 years ago, when my novel Vertigo was published, I received a decent advance from its original publisher.
Today, the reprint of Vertigo, still selling 15 years later, brings in a royalty exceeding that advance every six months!
And Vertigo sells barely a tenth of a single one of the Ramayana Series books, all six of which remain strong backlist sellers, which itself is very unheard-of in this country.
So while I may seem quiet here on this blog, there’s actually a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes. The results of which you’ll start seeing from mid-2009 onwards, as several books begin to release at last.
As most of you know, I work for several years on several books at a time, then start submitting to publishers. Because of this practise, it often seems as if I’m writing new books incredibly fast, while in fact the opposite is true. It’s just that I store up the manuscripts for years at times until I’m happy with them, and only then show them to my editors.
Among the highlights to look forward to in 2009:
The Ganesa Palindrome series begins.
The Ramayana Series concludes.
The Ramayana Series graphic novel adaptations begin.
The Vortal series begins.
Almost a dozen of my previously published books return to print in brand new editions with specially written new material, extensive introductory essays (like the one in the Ramayana Series books, ‘Retelling the Ramayana’) on my craft and life, and compilations of never-before published short stories, essays and novellas by me.
And the Mahabharata draws closer each year…Ab 2011 dur nahin…
Sold out on pre-order! 
Available only from me directly. 
Available only from me directly. 
Available only from me directly. 