My latest book is The One Who Swam With The Fishes.

"A mesmerizing account of the well-known story of Matsyagandha ... and her transformation from fisherman’s daughter to Satyavati, Santanu’s royal consort and the Mother/Progenitor of the Kuru clan." - Hindustan Times

"Themes of fate, morality and power overlay a subtle and essential feminism to make this lyrical book a must-read. If this is Madhavan’s first book in the Girls from the Mahabharata series, there is much to look forward to in the months to come." - Open Magazine

"A gleeful dollop of Blytonian magic ... Reddy Madhavan is also able to tackle some fairly sensitive subjects such as identity, the love of and karmic ties with parents, adoption, the first sexual encounter, loneliness, and my favourite, feminist rage." - Scroll



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8 August 2008

How much of my fifteen minutes have I used up already?

This week I have been mostly posing for pictures as the pre-book media builds up. It's really quite cool, this 'being famous' thing, except I'm still all overwhelmed and taken aback and all, 'Really? You want to talk to me? Really?' So far, we have done HT Delhi, Elle, Tehelka and an email interview for the Asian College of Journalism. I'm feeling most la-di-da and celebrity like, so much so, that last night, when I was invited to a birthday party at Olive, I put on my fancy-with-a-belt slutty secretary Mango dress and added a string of pearls. I was that chick, dudes. The one who wears pearls. And says presumably. And the whole while I was in the rickshaw, I felt like a little girl all dressed up for a costume party, so I took off the pearls because I kept thinking someone was going to call me on them, going, "Why are you looking so dressed up?" Or, "Why are you pretending to be grown up?" But when I entered, I counted THREE strands of pearls on other people's necks so I very happily pulled mine out of my bag and put it on. The rest of the evening I spent periodically putting my hand up to my neck to see whether they had fallen off.

I should really wear my pearls more often.

But other than that being famous doesn't really feel very different from not being famous. It's all very exciting yes, but no one stops you in the street and asks for your autograph or anything. And your friends roll their eyes when an acquaintance comes up to you and says they saw you in something or the other. And I'm getting good at answering questions. I even use words like 'umbrage'! Also, I now know the frequently asked questions down pat: a) do you feel uncomfortable putting your personal life up on the internet? and b) How much of Sex And The City/Bridget Jones/whatever is your writing influence?

I go off to Delhi on the 15th (yay!) to stay till the 24th. Launch is on the 22nd at Agni in the Park Hotel, so please come if you're in the city. It should be a fun do, hopefully someone will keep away the alco till after I'm done talking because when I'm nervous I drink faster and then I will be at the mic going, "Woooooooohooooooooooo, writing a book totally ROCKS and I lurve you ALLL!" It won't do wonders for my image, no. Before you ask, the Bombay launch will be at the end of the month and other cities haven't been confirmed yet.

And I have learnt two new things. 1) I can actually look good in pictures even if my hair's not straight and 2) Undone eyebrows are in! (True story, I got it from an excellent source, which means no more pain. Now if only hairy legs were in, I'd be a happy camper.)

47 comments:

  1. Congrets eM,on the new book.,.we all are rly lookin fwd to it.Infact,am one of ur die-hard fans who hpnd to get into blogging after I saw you in NDTV this past jan.And blv me..,tht one was inspiration enuf for so many bloggers like me and I am quite thankful to u..

    YOU ROCK!!! :)

    Cheers... :) :)

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  2. congrats em....m realllyy luking forward to ur buk...its gonna be gr8...!!
    i will surely be present at the buk launch!!infact i might jst be emceeing it!!
    congrat again....really luking forward to it!!

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  3. Hey Congratulations & Best of Luck eM :)

    Btw are hairy arms in? Also nice to know that I have been fashionable for the past ten days when I didn't go get my eye brows done

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  4. Hey Congratulations & Best of Luck eM :)

    Btw are hairy arms in? Also nice to know that I have been fashionable for the past ten days when I didn't go get my eye brows done

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  5. A book launch at Agni? Why not just have it at Elevate and be done with it! Way to go, though.

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  6. Hey...!

    "Blog and eM...
    Pearls and eM...
    Secrets and eM...
    eM book and eM...
    eM AND eM..."

    all the best 4 the book launch...
    plz do some pramotions in hyderabad too...

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  7. Hi, I got the first chapter after registering with penguin via email. Really liked it, and will be buying the book. But, the newsletter link is forwardable! Is that OK? Is your first chapter published online or elsewhere already? Do you want to post the first chapter on your blog too, if it isn't already?

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  8. pearls already huh!! way to go!! good luck!!

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  9. oye sahi... ur new book is releasing... and i can just about attend the book release... yaar... am in delhi till the 17th... but i guess seeing you in person will ruin this whole element of mystery and enigma and all that jazz... chalo, badhiya hai... aish karo... all the best! and pls dont get drunk before your speech

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  10. Undone eyebrows? Wow that is awesome, since I never have to do my eyebrows! Yippie!!!
    And, can't wait for your book! I'm sure it will be legen-wait or it-dary!!

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  11. Awesome! Congrats and besta luck on the launch. Wish i was in Delhi!

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  12. http://cuteboysmakemenervous.blogspot.com/

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  13. post reminds me of Anne Hathway character in Devil Wears Prada!!

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  14. really looking forward to ur buk... asked Landmark in Chennai to reserve a copy for me... u coming over here for a launch by any chance??

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  15. oh so exciting! i remember back when you did your journalism job, you would cover other people's book launches! and now....ur doing ur own launch!! it's amazing how far you've come!

    *cheers* to getting bigger and better and more fabulous with each word published.

    (PS- still trying to figure out how i can get ur book in canada?)

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  16. just read bout u in ht city :) so cool!! best of luck!

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  17. just ordered you book on Indiaplaza.in, hope to be one of the first one's to read it :-)

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  18. Good luck eM...
    we all are really looking forward to your book...

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  19. well have preordered ur boo..hope its good..

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  20. Just saw you in the paper in Delhi this morn. I obviously didn't recognize you (considering I've never seen you) but yes, I recognized the "Compulsive Confessor" backdrop. Congratulations on the book, I hope it does great business and you write many more.

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  21. Pearls?! Pearls?! Pearls?!
    uffffffff
    Now you are starting to act like someone we know :P

    PS: So rolling my eyes right now
    :)

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  22. Just received your 1st chapter and it has unmitigated disaster written all over it(word clots?really?).

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  23. oh damn.. i m going to b at agni on 26th

    ny chance shifting the launch

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  24. WEll, Im saving my vouchers to pick up your book too:) So good luck!

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  25. eM has chosen another of your confessions here.

    The ones that appear will win a signed copy of You Are Here, eM's new book!

    For your chance to win have a read and send us your secrets, or confessions to admin@in.penguingroup.com

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  26. Aargh! You did it, managed to write a book! Congratulations, how did you do it? I've been trying forever, but it just feels like an endurance run that just *won't* happen... sigh.

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  27. I dont know whether this is for the first time in English( with in India) to get published from Bloggers.. But in Malayalam, so far two books have been Published from blog writers, by a leading publisher in Malayalam namely DC books.. Looking forward to it..

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  28. just bumped into this blog from nowhere ..
    found some interesting read especially wen i was struck in ofc with deadlines ready to kill !!
    and more i read more inquisitive i was !!
    so you are coming up with a book , congrats for the feat !!
    there'll be More shining pearls on your way :)

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  29. eM! you must change the color scheme on your other "confessions" blog. I can't bare to look at the white text on black screen for more than 30 seconds...please, and thank you!
    Much love.

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  30. People power-they have changed the colour of the other blog!

    I also really liked the last post there, her writing style is a bit like eM's-sharp, clever, funny...

    Can't wait for the book eM!

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  31. Have a look eM

    http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=eb550b16-a5a8-4e80-a516-16d2e4ec7564&&Headline=Between+the+covers&strParent=strParentID


    ---Riya

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  32. I love your blog. Have been addicted to it for close to two years. Always wanted to know , for some strange reason, what's your real name and here it is - http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/11book.htm.

    One thing though, you write pretty good so, no need for cheesy pre-release-hype-creating-lines..http://in.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/12book.htm

    Hope to lay my hand on the book soon. When is it getting launched really?
    Keep up the good work and enjoy.

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  33. This the third day in a row that i came to check on new post but , alas! Guess the book is taking your time :)
    All the best..

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  34. Mubarak eM! I'm happy for you though I don't know you from Adam! And than kinda makes me feel nice about myself too :P

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  35. congrats!! u having a good time!! :)
    btw, wot else wud make u a happy camper?? :P

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  37. Hmm...
    How abt a lunch @ Singapore :)
    Anyway all the best for your book.Now I need to beg somebody to get this book from there.

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  38. If people are actually paying money to read EMs book, they must be stupid. The blog is itself sooo boring. How can someone read a book written by this bitch!! He he he.

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  39. Hi, I have already pre-ordered the book. The excerpts from first chapter were enthralling.
    Congrats

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  40. You def should wear your pearls more often, they looked fab.

    and re the eyebrows, just how undone are we talking about ie Kajal undone or unibrow undone? Its a slippery slope I tell you ;)

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  41. oh my god I've just read the latest 'deepest darkest confession', it's pretty shocking...

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  42. am half way raedin ur book.......and its a REALLY GOOD BOOK......i din have any idea dat it was jus recently launched.......i was in crossword and jus happend to pick up ur book nd found da first few pages interestin and bought it.....and it has been worth it.......still half way to go.....but till now watever i ave read......one ROCKIN BOOK

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  43. Watch eM's 'You Are Here' Delhi book launch at Agni!

    Featuring many shots of the author and her friends, three extracts from 'You Are Here' read by Meenakshi herself (sitting on the bar no less!) and highlights of a great night, catch the Compulsive Confessor live in action!

    Make sure You Are Here!

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