The best dreams are the one which keep you awake at night...
The last few weeks, some of my very favourite dreams have kept me awake... The Sun rises really early in Germany, I know, coz I have been sleeping at 4 in the morning, consistently, for the last few weeks...
Getting your book published is like nurturing a baby. You hav
e to keep it in wraps... nurture it... and one day when it's ready, lead it out to the world..
I am generally calm about everything but lately, I have been a little jittery. I keep thinking about the book... There is just too much work actually. Sometimes the cover is not right, sometimes there is a problem with the cover, sometimes the website wont load, sometimes the flash file that I am working on crashes.... There are times when I get up at 5 in the morning, go to the kitchen and wonder why I came there in the first place.... I return back, and then I realise that I was thirsty! I go to sleep anyway...
I have kept you guys in the dark enough... But today is the day I unveil the cover of my Novel.
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Now there's an interesting story about the cover.
You see, the cover that was sent to me by the Publishers, though lovely, looked like a out of a Mills&Boons novel. There was this couple kissing and stuff. My mother and sister saw the poster and were slightly scandalized. I knew the cover had to go. Ever since my kid sister started bossing me around, I have decided, never do anything that the sister doesnt like. I like to be safe. Period.
So, my editor called me and said that if I were to reject that cover, I had to come up with a new one within a night.
I worked on it for some time. What I came up with was almost as Milly&Boony as the previous cover. I realized that this was the work of a real nerd. Someone so nerdy, that his life would revolve around Sci-fi movies, Autocad software and Cartoon Network.
In Pushkar Sheth, I found that nerd. The weird thing about guy friends is, that you dont really have to ask/request them to do stuff... You just tell them. We worked on the cover in the night (in different rooms on different continents) and by morning we had 2-3 nerdy covers, with the above mentioned cover being the nerdiest of all...
My European friends have asked me what does the cover mean... I explain it here :)
The HOW has a square sign, indicating that getting his girl back, wasnt that straight forward. The 'i' is an imaginary number, implying lack of confidence in the guy.
The girl is presented as Girl++, like the programming language C++, implying his failure to understand them.
The heart is the best part. The heart has what we engineers like to call - dimensioning. Dimensioning is used to measure things. Here, the guy is trying to measure his heart and thus, the feelings that it embodies!
Deep no?
I hope you guys like the cover. Do let me know what you think about it in the comments section.
I have also been working on the Flash Teaser for the novel. Most of my friends who have seen the teaser, like it... I am currently also working on the website where you can have more information about the Novel, like excerpts, Q&A with the writer, synopsis, the works you know...
I can show you the teaser, but I am too shy to show the website. The teaser came out pretty well, but the site, though informative, isn’t what you call dhinchak! The reason for that being than neither me nor my friend is a computer engineer. And I don’t really have the money to hire people to do this. So the website might take some time before I learn some stuff about making a website.
Anyway, here is the flash teaser I was talking bout... http://www.swfcabin.com/open/1276689382
If you like/dislike it, you let me know...
My friends in India as well as in Germany have been asking me for signed copies once the book comes out. Everytime someone asks me for a free copy, I feel bad that I get only 10 complimentary free copies. Yes, that’s right. Only 10. If you are Salman Rushdie, then you might get 10 dancing ladies with hundreds of free copies... But I am not him, not even close, so no dancing ladies for me. And only 10 copies.
What I can do is, I can get you guys a discount so instead of the market price, you will get it at a cheaper price, but that’s all. If you stay in India and read The Time Pass of India, do send me a mail across at arshat.chaudhary@gmail.com. I will make sure you get your pre-launch copies at cheaper prices.
Some dreams are good. They give you that tinkling feeling in your belly. The kind you got when you were about to kiss for the first time.
Some dreams are not so good. They give you the chills. The kind you got when were caught copying in the 4th grade. Sometimes I dream that no one is buying my novel. I dream that - I ask the publisher when he’s coming out with the second print, and he says no one has bought a single copy from the first print. Sometimes I feel my friends will not buy my Novel because they expect me to send them one. And it’s out of my control to buy so many of my own copies and ship them all over the world.
I couldn’t have asked for better friends. My friends at ESCP, MDI(Gurgaon), SPCE(Mumbai) and Siemens(India) have been more than encouraging. All my friends in Berlin, Indians, Germans and from all over the world have been extremely supporting. The foreigners (actually I myself am a foreigner in Germany) have been so excited about the whole thing. I guess they see a bit of bollywood in the teaser.
Rahul Sindal, my roommate has seen me change from calm, composed, confident man to someone who became pretty unsure of himself. I have always admired the ease with which he cheers everybody up around him. I am really happy he was around this time. Alright now, a man shouldn’t give more than 3 lines of praise to another man. It just gets too awkward.
Now that I am in the zone, I would like to get over with all the senti stuff quickly. Pushkar Sheth has been the creative mind behind a lot of things. I find it difficult seeing my book published on time without him being in the picture. I also hope after reading such praise about a fellow human being, one of you pretty girls will go over and approach him. He’s a nice guy, only too technical. Thanks Pushkar, I know you don’t read my blog coz you find the stories too senti, but one day your daughter will come on this blog and read good stuff about you, and she will think you are more than an android sent from the future :P
I also want to thank Sameer Thombare for doing what even professional designers find difficult to do. You did a better job than them, you did it faster than them. IIM B has waited too long for you :)
I thank Harsh Snehanshu(Oops I fell in Love) for patiently answering all my questions. I thank Sachinn Garg(The Sunny shady life), my senior at MDI, who constantly pushed me to work more on my novel. I hope you read the novel and like it. I also thank N Sampath Kumar (Love on the velocity express) for keeping up my spirits when I was down.
I wanna thank Purnima Gopalkrishnan. She did what girls like doing the most, which is, finding a man's mistakes. The time and energy she put in reading my manuscript and finding out 1027 errors is commendable. The quality of the novel really improved coz of her efforts. I can go praising her, but I don’t wanna spoil my chances with other girls. : )
I hope I cover everyone from my blog friends to the people I work with when finally I say – I thank my friends for being there.
The book comes out on July 10. That is my birthday. I am entering that phase of my life where one has to hide his age. So I will not be mentioning it here.
The book will be available for Rs.125. It was priced higher. I had to fight and fight with the Publishers to bring it down to Rs.125. The slightly higher pricing when compared to other publishers is acceptable because the binding and the print quality of Pustak Mahal is far too superior.
The novel will be available at all leading book stores all over India come July 10, 2010. It can also be bought online.
Novel:
How I got My Girl Back...!
A nerd’s guide to dating
Arshat Chaudhary
Publisher:
Pustak Mahal
Price:
Rs.125
P.S.
1. Please do join the community of How I got My Girl Back...! on facebook : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125312997504438
2. Also there on orkut : http://www.orkut.com/Main#Community?cmm=102975754
3. If you wish to be updated about the book, please do follow me on twitter : http://twitter.com/arshatchaudhary
4. Dont know if you have noticed... This blog just reached 1,00,000 hits!!! (check out the number of copies sold on the column on the right)
To my readers - Thank you for everything!
Editor in chief Arshat Chaudhary
Current Issues: arshat, author, escp, How i got my girl back, mdi gurgaon, novel, SIEMENS, SPCE
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Dave said...
Congratulations and Wishing you best of luck.
Kiran said...
Wait a minute, you're writing a book? WOW - how cool is that! You know who'l be rushing to the stores once it is out :)
BTW, when do you expect that to happen?
And oh - congrats on being close to getting this dream fulfilled. It is my dream, too, to write a book. Hope your success inspires me!
Pavitra said...
Hey..I'll definitely read your book...I too want to write one..Its kinda like the goal i set "When I turn 40 kind"
Anyways, the cover is really innovative..
All the best!! I'm sure its gonna be a success!
Take care..
Cheers!
Pushkar Sheth said...
Arshat, one has moved far beyond AutoCAD..
dad taught me AutoCAD when i was in 6th standard...oops....6th grade as you like calling it....
Ab AutoCAD is bachcho ka khel for me...
sajad said...
Hey Arshat,i dont know you personally, but your writings are really awesome.You are a genius. i would wish you all the luck, i will get a copy myself.cheers..
Aman Arora Brand Comm said...
Oh! I loved The Time Pass of India dude!! And believe me I my self certainly wont take a free copy from the publisher wil rather buy buy it. Ofcourse we expect our friends to buy it! Luck :-)
Aman Arora
Nupur said...
Am I gonna be getting a free copy?!? Remember...I had read the word doc last year!!!!
Anyways, on a serious note, like I promised, yours will be the first book I'll purchase and not rent!
Abhishek said...
Hi dude,
the cover is awesome. I'm going to blog for sure about it (though not many ppl visit it still..i'll do my bit)
waiting for the book..
i will buy it..not an issue..but i need it to be autographed by the author..hope you would oblige me for the same..
Best of Luck!
Urvashi said...
the cover is really nice n when u described the meanings of all signs i ndetail...it seemed really gr8..
the title is really catchy n I would surely read it..!!
Good Luck.. n keep dreaming the best dreams..... :)
Thoorika said...
All the best! As i said waiting for the books to hit the stand! and dont worry.. i will Buy You book and read! :D take care
Akansha Agrawal said...
*stands on the chair and applauds*
Awesome work...really really cool... I won't ask for a reduced price, just wish you get all the success... :) and yeah, friends rock!
And the cover is just perfect!
Congratulations... :) dil se...
Uniquely the same said...
Hey..cover is cool...I dont want any discount..yeah..signed copy would have been cool..but since you are in Germany, I cant expect it...I m going to buy it on the day of release..Good Luck :)
Arshat Chaudhary said...
@Dev: Thanks man!
@Kiran: Thanks.. I hope your dream gets fulfilled too..
@Pavitra: Thanks.
@Pushkar: It was expected that you would comment on this post.. you nerd..! :P
@Sajad: Thanks for the kind words.. I am sure you will like the book too..
@Aman:
Wow! Thanks Aman. :)
@Nupur: And you will not regret it :)
@Abhishek: Thanks for mentioning it on your blog. I appreciate it..
@urvashi: Waiting for the cover to come out in hard copy. Cant wait to touch it.. :)
@Thoorika
Thanks... It will come out soon :)
@Akansha
Wow! thanks for all the praise :)
Hope you love the book...
@uniquely the same
Thanks... If I come to your city.. I ll definitely sign it for you :)
s4n705h said...
Did a bit a google-ing and found your books website. The Excerpt is true ARSHAT CHAUDHARY. Kudos Mate. Nice one.
s4n705h said...
And yeah just let me know if they are selling the book online. If yes than where?
Shamika Chindhade said...
Arshat Dude! All the best for your book. I am sure you are gonna make it big! I will definitely read ur book.
All the very best.
Sumit said...
Hey , nerds do not get girls to have a chance to get them back, do they? Ask me. I mean I am not a nerd, but still u can .
All the best for the sales. And dont you worry about the free copies. I will get the book made into an e-book and make it available for free download.
Worried, are you? Now may be you will not refuse my free complimentary copy.:P
Deep C said...
Innovative and Interesting Cover ...
I hope content of your book will be gripping too ...
All the Best for your Book and Keep up the Good Work !!
enchantinganki said...
I dont want a free copy but surely want a signed one from one of my favourite blogger! Dude you rock...so waiting for ur book! and cover is awesome!! :-)
Best luck aand take care!!
commited to life said...
bestta luck for the book
loved the cover.. its interesting.. and err shows u r an engineer.. lolz
will be waiting
Reema said...
congrats!! i have always loved ur blog..will read ur book too!
Anonymous said...
wow!! you wrote a book! now thatz such a great news..
congratulations!! wish u luck for a bestseller beginning..:)
Arshat Chaudhary said...
@Santosh
You are THE tech guy arent u!
I ll let you know bout the online books.
@Shamz
Thank you for the encouraging words yaar :)
@sumit
You are all sunshine mate :P
@Deep
Thanks :)
@enchantinganki
I hope you like the book :)
@Commited to life
Thanks... I AM an engg :P
@Reema
Thanks.. I hope you like the book too :)
@wishes Galore
Yes, I did :)
Thanks
Anonymous said...
brinkka2011 says: Just wanted to say your Blog is in my rss you got a way with words.. Cheers,
I am, venkateswara rao.k said...
I have read your book recently, i found some glitches in the plot- when dev takes Akshay along to present a bouquet to Prita, he says i own a decent pulsar-150.But, when he follows Saurabh's benz-c class, he mentions his bike as hero honda splendor+. Do you have an explaination for that..??