SOME PHOTOS WITH THE AUTHORS/JAIPUR 2013

These photos were taken at literary events in Ubud and Sri lanka. They are of Vikas Swarup and Deepika Shetty who both did a fantastic literary event around Q & A (Slum Dog Millionaire). Vikas also had released his second novel, The Six Suspects which I thought was a great read. Vikas proved to be a very modest, approachable man, as well as a very insightful speaker. He and Deepika gave us their cameras and asked us to take some photos of them during their interview, for friends and family. Sorry this photo is so blurry but it was great fun

William Dalrymple is the Co-founder of the Jaipur Festival, which is coming up in January 2013. William has written travel/ history books (In Xanadu, On Holy Mountain) and then into seriously researched books on Indian History (The White Mughal). In 2010 we heard he was doing Nine Lives , which was about some fantastic chraracters he had come across in his now homeland India. The stories were so interesting and almost bewitching in how nine people lived their lives.

We heard he was coming to the Sydney Writers Festival in 2010 and presenting 9 Lives at the Opera House, so flew up to catch this extraordinary event. He also attended the Ubud Writers Festival that year and we caught up with him there.

Nick attended the Ubud Writers Festival 2012 and did readings from The Death of Bunny Munro at an evening session at Indus and then to a packed out audience at Neka Museum. He claims he is not really an author, but you only have to listen to his song lyrics to know he is a fantastic poet/ songwriter- every song should be published as his poetry. Nick is still as you would expect him to be: dark and brooding with a quick sharp tongue, but he was actually charming and sweet-well he was to me because I knew him and his brothers when we were teenagers. He was always a great muso, even at 16. (He didn't remember me, but hey it was eons ago!)

Actually this photo of Janet and myself was taken at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2010. We had both seen William Dalrymples  9 Lives at the Opera House and I knew that she was head-hunting him for the Ubud Fesitval ( she did it). Janet is a writer herself, producing beautiful cook-books, usually around the traditional food of Bali and she and her husband not only direct the Festival but run two great restaurants and a bar in Ubud, as well as the Honeymoon Cottages and bakery. These venues are focal points at the Festivals.

It will be very interesting to know who will be part of the 10th anniversary of Ubud Writers Festival....I'm sure there will be many interesting authors from all over the Globe 

WELL IT'S COUNTDOWN TIME FOR ME....Am leaving Melbourne on Jan 17th, spending 3 days in Delhi at the Manor and flying to Jaipur on Sunday 20th. We are going as special delegates (Thanks to Will and the wonderful, helpful staff who have the enormous job of getting this  huge event underway, and yet have had the time to assist me with accomodation, planning etc.

THE WRITERS THAT I PARTICULARLY WANT TO CATCH UP AND SEE!

With over 300 writers from all over the world, it is going to be a feast of readings, discussions and performance. There are many names I am not yet familiar with, but i am sure my life will be enriched  by listening and remembering books for extended reading later.

Vikas Swarup will be launching his new book "the Accidental Apprentice". I have written previously about me meeting him at the Ubud Writers Festival so hope I can do so again.

Howard Jacobsen will be attending and although I haven't read all his books, I have read Finklers Question and Zoo-Time.

John Zibrzycki wrote a wonderful book "The Last Nizam...". I met up with him at the Galle Writers Festival when he was interviewed by William Dalrymple. He is a Sydney-based journalist who has a jouranalist flair in his books. His latest is the Mysterious Mr. Jacob so want to hear him discuss theis interesting character

Faramerz Dabhowala is a great speaker, I was in the audience at Ubud Festival last year when he spoke about his book The Origins of Sex: A history of the first sexual revolution." It was a beautifully presented book, but unfortunately because it was so big, I couldn't travel with it.

Ashok Ferry (The Good Little Ceylonese Girl) is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He is a founder of the Sri Lanka Writers Festival which we went to in 2008. I loved his book and his sense of humour.

Shashi Tharoor is a very astute and charming speaker as a politician and writer. I first met him at the Ubud Writers Festival 2007 with Kiran Desai at In Conversation at the beautiful Amandari Hotel. Loved his book Pax India- India in the 21st C.

Deborah Moggach  wrote "Those Foolish Things" which was made into The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" of which my favoutite actor was Dev Patel, (Ronald McDonald in Q & A- or Slum Dog Millionaire). Be great to catch up with her.

Linda Grant wrote two wonderful books "When I lived in Modern Times and recently "The Clothes on their Backs." Would love to hear her discuss her books.

Tishani Doshi- Poet, writer and incredible dancer. I have met Tishani twice... once at a literary luch at Galle Writers festival and then at the Ubud Writers Festival where she mainly gave poetry readings but I hope she dances with her dance troupe from Madras. She is magic!!!!