TheReluctantDetective

And in New Woman, March 2012 issue

2012-03-01T22:43:00.001-08:00

And this is some of the media coverage of The Bungalow 9 reading...

2012-02-26T20:13:00.001-08:00

...thanks to the lovely Tisca! I must admit though that I was knocked sideways with all the media in attendance. Wotudo, never seen or experienced any such thing from the inside, have always been the one standing on my toes at the periphery of the onlooker circle. This was a fun first experience.

As I said elsewhere, I will never ever again look at these Page 3 pictures and media coverage without major respect for the stars and celebrities who do this at every event.

At the reading at Bungalow 9 yesterday....

2012-02-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

Bandra, Bungalow 9, 4.30 pm. Have you been to Bungalow 9 ever? It is this lovely old villa, with teak wood beams and high ceilings and old art deco tiling, not to mention wooden stairs and banisters. My reading was on the upper level, a lovely cordoned off space.
The event was scheduled to be just a small gathering of people I would invite, and I invited Tisca Chopra, too. A confession here, I have never met or spoken with Tisca before yesterday, she is a twitter friend. One of the blessings of my life has been to meet wonderful people on twitter. She very kindly offered to read for me, and of course I accepted. It was an honour. She would read, my dear friend Parul Sharma, the author of Bringing Up Vasu and By The Watercooler would be in conversation with me and we would have chai nashta and disperse. So was the plan. Of course, I am a babe in the woods with NO CLUE.
As we waited, a slew of folks I was sure I had not invited, entered with huge backpacks and stands and such like and made themselves comfortable on the front sofas. I still had no clue at all. I smiled graciously, thinking, how wonderful, such a diverse motley bunch of folks are interested in what has been dubbed chicklit.

Tisca entered the premises and the penny dropped. The Cameras. The Cameras. Having never ever ever witnessed this (despite, I am ashamed to say, having lived in Bombay all my life), it was a revelation and I am never going to look at page three photographs ever again without doffing my hat to all those who do this on a regular everyday basis. This is bleddy tough. Pose. Pose. Pose. Look here, look here, smile.

Tisca read, from the "In which much gaping at a Bollywood superstar happens..." chapter. Parul asked me some interesting questions which were a welcome change from the run of the mill. And here are some pics from the event.

It was such a lovely evening, thank you Tisca, Parul for hand holding me through it. And Shunali, Parthip, Chinmay, Anupam, Shubhashish, Ashwin, Rebecca, Ranjit, Naghma, Sharmila and all those who took time out to be there.

And here I am on Times Now, yesterday...

2012-02-23T18:58:00.001-08:00

...talking about my book and bucket lists.

http://www.timesnow.tv/ENTERTAINMENT/Kiran-Manral-unplugged/videoshow/4396500.cms

DNA's list of Top Ten New Releases you must read

2012-02-21T01:04:00.001-08:00

Ahem Ahem

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=2&edcode=860004&eddate=2012-2-21

The Telegraph: It's the write time

2012-02-20T18:47:00.000-08:00

With Indian publishers always on the lookout for the next Chetan Bhagat or Arundhati Roy, aspiring writers never had it so good. Smitha Verma tracks a publishing phenomenon where the number of debuting Indian authors is growing by 20 to 30 per cent every year

NOVEL VENTURE: (From top) Kiran Manral, Sumrit Shahi, Naomi Canton, Shakir Husain and Sangeeta Wadhwani

The plane was full of book lovers. Among them was Naomi Canton, who had meticulously planned her trip from London to Jaipur, via Delhi, months before the annual literary mela in the Rajasthan capital kicked off in late January. Many of her co-passengers were on their way to the festival for some fun and sun. But the British journalist was on a mission: she had a book to sell.

Canton was in search of a publisher. And her Ground Zero was Jaipur’s Diggi Palace where the Jaipur Literature Festival was in progress. She spent five days there — attending sessions, meeting publishers, literary agents and authors. “It was an excellent platform for networking,” she says.

If you have a novel in you, India is where you should be. “Today, every second book published in India is a debut,” says Gautam Padmanabhan, chief executive officer, Westland. Thomas Abraham, managing director, Hachette India, adds that the number of Indian writers debuting every year is growing by 20-30 per cent.

Shakir Husain, a journalist who worked in the United Arab Emirates, quit his job last March to work on his book. After finding an Indian publisher, he went to Jaipur to meet publishers for European and North American markets. “Talks are on,” he says.

Like Luigi Pirandello’s six characters in search of an author, India these days is full of authors in search of publishers. Westland publishes 20-30 new authors a year. Out of the 30-35 titles Zubaan publishes annually, 25-30 are by new authors. Penguin India says that 15 per cent of the 250 new volumes it publishes every year are debut books. Since its launch in 2010, Penguin Metro Reads — a mass-market fiction labelled “quick and easy” reads priced at Rs 195 — has introduced over 13 new authors.

“It is important that new authors keep writing and it is important they are given the space because new authors and fresh writing signify growth in publishing,” stresses Vaishali Mathur, senior commissioning editor, Penguin India.

The landscape of the Indian publishing industry is changing radically. A decade ago, if writers struggled to get an appointment with a publisher, today the path to a publisher’s office is marked with helpful signposts. Many of the young writers are being picked up by foreign publishers after launching a book in India. Advaita Kala, author of Almost Single, was first published by HarperCollins India in 2007. Two years later, Random House USA had printed her book with a print order of 70,000.

“Ten years ago, you wouldn’t know where to send something, and if you did, you would probably not even get an acknowledgment. Now publishers are more accessible,” says new author Kiran Manral, whose book The Reluctant Detective was recently published by Westland.

Avenues have indeed opened up for writers in the last few years. Book sales are being spurred by the retail chain boom. Online retail giant Amazon has already entered the Indian market. Flipkart, an Indian website primarily for purchasing books, predicts that it will close the financial year with a 10-fold growth in revenue.

The country boasts of 19,000 general and academic publishers. The industry is pegged at around Rs 7,000 crore of which Rs 1,200 crore is the market share of popular reading books or trade books. “India is perhaps the only country where publishing is still growing rapidly; in countries such as Britain it has shrunk by 7 per cent,” says Rahul Srivastava, director, sales and marketing, Simon & Schuster India.

The global information and measurement company Nielsen BookScan India says the publishing industry grew by 40 per cent in value and 45 per cent in volume between January-June, 2011, and July-December, 2011. “Almost 6,000 new titles were published in India in 2011,” says Vikrant Mathur, associate director, Nielsen BookScan India. Saugata Mukherjee, publisher, Picador, Pan & Macmillan India, reasons that the growth is related to the rise in the English-speaking population. “People want to read home-grown talent and there is a deep curiosity about Indian writers,” he says.

The great Indian novel story has been given a further push by the proliferation of new publishing houses. Small units such as Srishti Publications in Delhi have found a niche market with their fiction titles priced at less than Rs 100, and with books of pages less than 250. With a target audience of mainly first-time readers, they seek to promote what is called non-literary English.

And new authors are the obvious choices of the new publishing houses. Sumrit Shahi, a first-year management student and author of two books, is among the many to have benefited from the boom. Last year, when he was 17, Mahaveer Publishers launched his first book Just Friends. The book has already sold 70,000 copies; his second book A Lot like Love... a Li’ like Chocolate has crossed the 20,000 mark. “I am now working on my third book. This time I hope to strike a deal with a big publishing house,” says Shahi.

Authors clearly have wider choices today than their counterparts a decade ago. Saswati Sengupta, a lecturer in Miranda House, Delhi, was snapped up by the second publisher she got in touch with. Her book — The Song Seekers — has just been published by Zubaan Books. “Today, it’s possible to think of publishing a book,” says Sengupta.

The authors are as different as their books — representing different age groups, backgrounds, cities and genres. Ritwick Malik wrote his first book Love Happens Like That... when he was in high school while Sengupta’s book was published when she was 50. That Shahi came from Chandigarh in no way hindered his search for a publisher. Just as the professions of Mohata textile mills CEO Chandraprakash Mohata, writer of Patyala Down de Throat, and Los Angeles-based data analyst Parinda Joshi, author of Live from London, did not come in their way.

What help writers are new platforms such as literary festivals. Though the Jaipur literary fest organisers stress that theirs is not a trade fair, many writers gather there with the dream to get published. Sangeeta Wadhwani and Jvalant Sampat, who attended the 2010 meet as unpublished writers, won deals and recommendations at the JLF. A year later, their books are out on the stands.

Wadhwani, author of Bollywood on the Bend, met celebrity guru Deepak Chopra in Jaipur, and Chopra wrote a recommendation for her book after reading her short stories. “JLF could be a turning point for many budding writers,” says journalist Wadhwani.

For Sampat, it was indeed the turning point. “I met my literary agent Mita Kapur of the literary agency Siyahi at the 2010 fest,” says Sampat, author of The Tenth Unknown, published by Niyogi Books. At the 2011 festival, Sampat struck a deal with an American writer. “I have to ghostwrite a series of thrillers set in India,” says the 31-year-old former management consultant.

The Internet is another new platform for unknown writers. Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan caught the attention of publishers because of her popular blog The Compulsive Confessor. Manral, another blogger, was accepted by the first publisher she approached. “I sent across three chapters and Westland signed me up,” says Manral, now busy with a multi-city book launch tour.

“Bloggers have an advantage as they already have an audience. The publisher is assured of a certain number of readers,” says Padmanabhan of Westland. “My book went viral as people were blogging and tweeting about it,” adds Manral.

But, of course, not every story finds its way into print. The Indian publishing industry, which experts believe is still a maturing market, is cautious in its approach. The big publishing houses reject at least 50 proposals before picking up one idea that shapes into a book. Hachette India gets about five to six manuscripts a day while they publish about 60 books a year.

“I turn down at least four to five manuscripts a day and we sign about the same number of contracts a month,” says Priya Kapoor, director, Roli Books. “Even if you have some exceptionally brilliant talent coming to the fore, you also see a lot of books that you wish were never published,” rues Shobit Arya, publisher, Wisdom Tree.

The publishers with their clearly demarcated literary fiction and commercial fiction categories are also almost always looking for another Chetan Bhagat. “Everyone here is looking for a jackpot,” admits Padmanabhan. “Low pricing helps in the success of a book as it goes beyond urban cities. Lots of sales happen in railway station bookstalls.”

Publishers continue to hope that among the unknown writers lurks a Chetan Bhagat or perhaps an Arundhati Roy. “It’s like a rookie hitting the bull’s eye or a novice hitting the right note,” says Arya. “A good writer will never write a bad book. But a bad writer in today’s India can come up with a bestseller.”

For writers, it’s a win-win situation. And the readers are not complaining either.

Read the original article here.

More pics from the Quill and Canvas event

2012-02-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

Taken by the lovely Priyanka Sachar, she of the Rapunzel hair and very intimidating camera.
I've stuck to the captions she has given the pics.

RD6 - Kiran getting "Shabaash"!

RD7 - welcome to my book & bhook store :p (what snacks man!)

RD10 - Deep in thought

RD-14 - wonder what they are thinking about my book

RD 18 - the Divas

RD19 - Bond hain hum, humse panga mat lena

RD24 - perplexed
Psst: Priyanka does candid photography for weddings and events. Do check out her website -- http://www.priyankasachar.com

FB page - http://www.facebook.com/photography.fineart

And some more pics from Kalaghoda...

2012-02-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

That's me with the very pretty Tishani Doshi, who recited her poetry to much sighs from the audience and Shital Mehra who spoke about Business Etiquette. Out of frame is the very witty and eloquent Saaz Aggarwal, who read from her book The Songbird on My Shoulder. All in all, we were a motley eclectic bunch on stage together.

The Delhi Gymkhana event

2012-02-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

On Feb 3rd, Devapriya Roy, the author of The Vague Woman's Handbook, Swapna Liddle, the author of Delhi Walks and yours truly were invited by the Delhi Gymkhana to read from our books and talk a bit about them.

Here are some pictures. Psst. I'm the one in the middle.

And no, despite it looking quite like I've ingested intoxicating substances in pic 3, the man with camera has just caught me at a wrong moment.

"The Reluctant Detective is not what it pretends to be, and therein lies its magic."

2012-02-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

So writes Meeta Sengupta on her blog:

"n the first reading, it was a quick read – a fun whodunit that left you wanting for more. A pretty young mum, stumbling over a dead body – a murder too close to home. Her irrepressible curiosity and intelligence will not let her stop till the murder is resolved, and she somehow fits it all in with her packed social life.

And then the layers began unpeeling. I do not know if Kiran intended to write it this way, but as with everything she writes, kernels of truth pop out and find soil. First came the protests on twitter – this is not chicklit! Despite the green stiletto that dominates the cover, the incessant and almost high pitched voice obsessing about weight, food and clothes this is not chicklit. At one level it is a comedy of manners, at another a neo-feminist dialogue. And of course a detective novel.
The underlying theme here is the quest – the quest for the criminals and their motives barely covering up the quest of the protagonist for her own sense of self.
Having read her twice, and gifted her thrice, I do hope the quest continues – this deserves to be a series."

Read more here.

Media coverage for The Reluctant Detective

2012-02-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

Grazia Feb 2012

New Woman, Feb 2012

People February 2012

At Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2012

2012-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Me on stage at Fresh Off The Shelf with Shital Mehra, Tishani Doshi and Saaz Aggarwal.

(Pictures courtesy Nidhi Dorairaj)

What you do not see in the pics, is me shaking like that proverbial leaf in the wind.

But what about the ghost?

2012-02-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

Saaz Aggarwal writes about The Reluctant Detective:

Kay, a young housewife and mother in Bombay, is the giddy-headed narrator. At first I found the language convoluted but once it had made me laugh aloud a couple of times, I decided to stop being judgemental and enjoy myself. The rapid-fire monologue is even in tone and describes the people and events in Kay’s life – her obsession with clothes, her hyperactive son (um – wonder where he gets that from), her neighbours, friends and rather serious husband.

Read more here.

A lovely review by Vidyut....

2012-02-12T18:58:00.001-08:00

If you don't know Vidyut, let me introduce you to her. Firebrand, opinionated and very socially aware, she was among the rare few who voluntarily gave time and energy to our Violence Against Women Awareness Month on twitter in October 2011.
Here is what she wrote about The Reluctant Detective:

"For me, The Reluctant Detective is fascinating for its point of view. It is that candid manifestation of the thoughts of the character. Random quirks and the knack of looking at the mundane and turning it into art. And make no mistake, for a rolicking, light hearted read to pick up and inhale, this book packs a pretty solid punch in terms of depth. Yes, through the eyes of a housewife with the leisure to choose her problems and indulge in them.
I’ll to the ordinary parts of the review in two lines. Humorous, entertaining, light, extremely readable book. Contemporary fiction at its smoothest.
What I treasure about the book is its transparent, even at times naive “Kay”. The utter honesty of the train of thoughts rambling through the pages is I think what captivated me. I think like this too. I obsess over things others may think trivial too. I do invest a lot of myself in my quirky priorities. I can relate with this book, and I think that it describes the truth of the background track running in most minds."

Read more here.

As reveiwed by Bhargavi...

2012-02-09T20:41:00.001-08:00

http://bedazzledeternally.blogspot.in/2012/02/reluctant-detective-by-kiran-manral.html

"Enjoyable and Refreshing"

2012-02-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

Here's what Prashant from Chennai has to say about the book.

"The Reluctant Detective is definitely not a murder mystery novel. If you took it up hoping for a sinister plot, you would only be disappointed. However, read it without any expectations and let your imagination run all over the place and you will enjoy it a lot. At least, that’s what I did. The plot is a very simple one. Its only Ms. Manral’s writing style that makes it a good read. It’s simple, lucid and witty. A lot of writers think up a complicated plot, sacrificing on writing style, which keeps you thinking about what’s gonna happen next. The Reluctant Detective is unique and refreshing in that respect.

If I noticed one thing about Ms. Manral’s writing style, it’s her attention to detail. Her characters are well described, especially those of Kay and Runa. I felt each of the characters in the book is based on someone Ms. Manral knows in real life. I might be wrong. It was just a thought. Now the question that a lot of people will ask. Is it a chick-lit? Maybe yes. However, that does not make it a bad read for men. It’s humorous and lighthearted. Something that anybody would enjoy irrespective of the gender. With a bit of imagination, you could feel the events in the story happening in your neighborhood. Give it a try people. On a Sunday afternoon or while traveling. I am sure you will enjoy it a lot. The Reluctant Detective is definitely a good read albeit simple."

Read more here.

And one more giveaway...

2012-02-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

This one hosted by Baisali.

"
Unless you’ve been holidaying on a romantic, remote island with zero Internet facilities (in which case I envy you!), I’m sure you’ve all heard that our very own, our wildly wonderful, witty and popular blogger Lady Kay – or Kiran Manral, as she is also known :–p – has finally written a book! Yaaayyy! This has been a long time coming, but “The Reluctant Detective” has been worth the wait. A quick, easy, breezy read, is replete with Kiran’s trademark sardonic humour and wacky but oh-oh-true observations on the people who inhabit our world.
The story revolves around 30-something Kanan Mehta, Kay to her friends, a mommy of-one, tackling issues that I and countless women the world over, are only too familiar with – grumpy spouse; tantrum-throwing, junk-food loving child(ren); the battle of the bulge and of course, the most difficult one of them all – what do I wear today? When Kay stumbles upon two corpses in her neighbourhood, one after the other, she gets pulled into detective work, albeit reluctantly, to douse the fires of her curiosity – and of course to make sure the guilty are punished. As the blurb says, this book is a ‘hilarious account of how not to get involved in other people’s murder’ and you need to pick it up now.
If you haven’t read it yet, then I am going to make it fun for you to get one absolutely free – and signed by the author herself!"

Read more here. And go on, try your luck.

And a contest, and a giveaway...

2012-02-08T20:39:00.000-08:00

And its special, because ten wonderful readers can win signed copies of The Reluctant Detective. Signed by me. Made out to them. By name. Yes.

Is that exciting enough to get you poised at your keyboard to get started on your entry to the contest?

What do you need to do? Nothing too complicated.

You need to write me a comment on this post about your favourite female protagonist in literature and tell me what it is about the protagonist that makes her your favourite.

The good people at Westland will decide on the winners and you have over a week to get your post up. Winners will be announced on February 20. And the judge's decision is final and binding, and we reserve the right to change the decision. All international participants must give me an address in India to courier the copy to.

So, what are you waiting for. Just get right to it.

Leaking Pipeline Or Fountain Of Creativity?

2012-02-08T00:54:00.000-08:00

Did you know that India has among the highest attrition rates when it comes to women in the workforce? Statistics show that nearly 50% of all women drop out of work between lower and middle management.
Kiran Manral (author) and Natasha Badhwar (film maker) joined by Anita Vasudeva (co-founder, Fleximoms) shared their perspectives on women, working flex and the leaking pipeline as more and more women are choosing to leave the formal workforce at an event organized by Westland Publishers and supported by Fleximoms.

Read more here.

"It’s an easy read. it doesn’t pretend to be anything but."

2012-02-07T20:42:00.000-08:00

And Rajsahiba writes this:

"it’s a simple enough plot. what makes it really really interesting and funny is the way ms. manral writes. she is a laugh a minute writer. the protagonist and the style of writing are reminiscent of bridget jones’ diary and the confessions of a shopaholic. kay is self-deprecating. she pokes fun at herself. she laughs loudest at herself. she takes herself far too seriously. she is super fun."

Read more here.

And this is what Chandni wrote...

2012-02-06T20:39:00.001-08:00

http://ki-jaana-main-kaun.blogspot.in/2012/02/book-review-kiran-manrals-reluctant.html

An interview with Aditi at Fleximoms...

2012-02-06T03:33:00.001-08:00

where I hold forth and give my two bits of gyaan.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150637690705931

Author Kiran Manral gets chatty about The Reluctant Detective

2012-02-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

And here's what the vivacious Shakti Salgaonkar at DNA wrote:

"An avid blogger and a freelance writer, Manral’s first book is about a housewife who stumbles onto a murder mystery. “The idea of the book came by not in a day, not in a month. It was the story of so many women out there. They have a child, give up their career and what do they do with their time? They gossip, they shop, they do something to make their life more interesting,” says Manral whose protagonist stumbles into dead bodies around her as she parties, struggles with weight and plays proud mommy. Is Kanan Mehra an extension of Kiran Manral? “There are a lot of similarities like the obsession with weight, shoes and shopping and complete lack of domestic skills, but that’s where it ends. I haven’t really found corpses, you know,” she chuckles."

Read more here.

And this is what they wrote in Midday

2012-02-05T20:49:00.001-08:00

http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2012/feb/050212-Murder-they-wrote.htm

Is The Reluctant Detective a Closet Fleximom?

2012-02-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

Sairee Chahal of Fleximoms asks this question:

"Before I go ahead, I have to confess that I have developed an immortal fear of the chiclit (or chicklit) genre – having acquired over a dozen half read, author signed copies – can’t keep, can’t sell, can’t gift! Not a fan of the genre and add to it my distaste for gruesome murder mysteries – But having read the book, I can safely say I throughly enjoyed it – more than paisa vasool!

The Reluctant Detective is like a liquor shot inside a dark chocolate – when you pick up it up, you know you are in for a good story and an enjoyable read but as you go further it lingers – there is another layer you will never see until it hits the back of your throat. I love the double layer – in the book and in the chocolate."

Read more here.

And here are some visuals from the Fleximoms Lunch at Asia 7 on Feb 2nd, where Anita Vasudev, Natasha Badhwar and I discussed mom-dom and the workforce.

A blogger's account of the event at Quill and Canvas, Gurgaon

2012-02-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

Here's what Aabha Midha wrote about the Quill and Canvas event. I'm touched because she travelled all the way from Faridabad, on her own, to come attend the event.

"The Gallery was full of anxious and excited people who waited for the action to unfold. Kiran started reading ..she read a portion where Kay goes to pay condolence to the house of the deceased person. The humorous thoughts of Kay kept us laughing.... as so did the excepts from the second portion where an ambitious Kay sets forth to catch the murderer, equipped with pepper spray as her weapon.... Did she catch him? Well.... you'd be surprised at what happened there! Read the book and find out."

Read more here.

In which Kanan gets likened to Precious...

2012-01-31T18:57:00.001-08:00

...in this lovely review by Swarna Rajagopalan.

"I enjoyed the depiction of 'society' (as in housing cooperative society) life very much. If you have lived in Bombay, and lived in a building with a buzzing society (inevitably), you will find many familiar faces. It's a particular universe that I want to suggest is unique to Bombay, combining the anonymity of big cities (the reluctant detective barely knows her murdered neighbour) with the social norms of a small town 'colony' that has grown around a company's factory (being particular about condolence calls).

I am not sure why this book is being marketed as a murder mystery. What it does is paint the portrait of a particular kind of lifestyle and people who live in a particular kind of community. The murder is almost just a hook--a reason to show us how people call each other, share news, etc.--and I wonder if Kiran Manral was as reluctant to have this label attached as Kanan Mehra is to do detective work. In this, "The Reluctant Detective" is a lot like the Precious Ramotswe books (which I love) where the detective work is almost an excuse to introduce us to life and manners in Botswana.

If this is to be the first of many Kanan Mehra books, I can see that they have the potential to gently and humorously document a world which is quirky and full of people we might know. Maybe they don't need to unnecessarily kill people off for that to happen.

So buy this book and read it. It's the perfect journey read, or evening read on that work trip where you just want quiet time with a book after talking all day, or for a person who has just finished taking demanding entrance exams.

Thank you, Kiran, and I hope you will keep them coming! "

Read more here.

And my book is reviewed by IBNLive books...

2012-01-31T02:14:00.000-08:00

....."
It isn't easy to write by mixing almost two genres together. It takes not only gumption but also some good writing skill. When I first started reading, 'The Reluctant Detective' I did not think much of it. I mean come to think of it, here is an almost bored housewife (well not really bored) and she has the habit of poking her nose in other people's affairs (but obviously - as the cliché would seem), till dead bodies turn up in quick succession around her and how she teams up with a detective friend to solve them.
So that is the plot in a nutshell. As I however read further (give it beyond the first three chapters), I was taken in into the book. Kay's (Her name is Kanan Mehra) exaggerations and little vanities add the much needed humour in this one. Runa is the main detective, while it is Kay who happens to stumble on most clues as they go along solving the crime/s.
What I found most fascinating in the entire book, was how Ms. Manral has managed to create a character (interesting one at that you might note) out of the ordinary, whose major problem is controlling her cellulite and being first in queue at the next sale. Kay's character is well-etched and for one most housewives would be able to relate to her, or at least some parts of who she is. The humour in the book doesn't let the mystery element get ignored and vice-versa."

Read more here.

A Giveaway on Sunny Days

2012-01-31T01:15:00.001-08:00

Want to win a copy of The Reluctant Detective? Or two? Here's a lovely contest you can take part in:

http://sunayanaroy.blogspot.in/2012/01/detect-giveaway.html

A reading at Happy Planet, Powai

2012-01-29T19:11:00.000-08:00

Soma Ghosh, she of the lovely eyes and the lovelier voice, and I read out excerpts from The Reluctant Detective at Happy Planet Powai.

The reading was followed by a discussion on parenting challenges we face in the current urban context. Much fun was had.

Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si

2012-01-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

...it would not be Aneela, if her review didn't bring in Bollywood right up centrestage, would it. Here's what she has to say about The Reluctant Detective.

"Kiran Manral uses a breathless narrative, the protagonist tugging at your elbow, speeding you through a mad, spiralling, series of events, opening up a world that never existed beyond a cursory nod at the They Also Occupy My Scope of Vision.

Manral uses the cunning device of a murder/mystery plot to reel us in. The quick deaths (rather murders) are but a vehicle to conduct what can be best identified as a social commentary on the Life and Times of (what the book blurb dubs as the) School Gate Mom. Who is this curious creature? The book title (in a very attention-grabbing font) might announce the introduction of The Reluctant Detective, but the book screams The Reluctant Homemaker. Who are these mysterious women amidst us who power walk the malls, nervously negotiate The Help, escape domesticity in extended phone calls to parents and ex-school mates, despair at their children, and alternate between shadow boxing and tip-toeing around the spouse? They look confident in the flesh and many a time have had me shaking in my boots in real life as they stand next to me at supermarkets, school parking lots all color coordinated, well coiffed,. But Manral through the very endearing Kanan “Kay” Mehra unpacks the bundle of nerves and anxiety this seemingly “put together” woman is. There are still questions (but perhaps that is another book) of why the daughters of straight talking government servants and thrifty mothers have turned out so complex and anxious about their place in the world, with that fake Chanel mini and LV rip-offs providing much succor to make life a wee bit more meaningful."

Read more here.

Gurgaonwasiyon....

2012-01-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

I am coming to your city. And I will be chatting with Smriti Lamech, noted writer and journalist, about my book and other things of interest. Please do come across to say hello.

Feb 4th, 6.30 pm. Quill and Canvas, South Point, DLF, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon.

A reader review

2012-01-27T04:17:00.000-08:00

"The story is about Kanan Mehra aka Kay, a suburban home maker in Mumbai who recounts her life in a sequence of witty narratives laced with funky attitude. Recent murders in her apartment lead this uber housewife to ditch her fears and reluctantly aid in solving the case. In the centre of the storm by virtue of being the last person to have seen one victim and the first one to chance upon the other, Kay’s otherwise seemingly perfect life takes a tumble as she finds herself inadequate to deal with strangers including the policemen. No, she does not actually find the hand behind the gruesome acts like Poirot or Miss Marple, nor is this story a typical whoddunit ; but the tale is more a spin on kay’s actions & reactions, a recount of her daily life going through a variety of sizzle.

I could connect to kay and why not ? – Wardrobe dilemma, battling bulges, grin & bear the maids saga , PTA woes, keeping the hyper kids engaged are some issues that will definitely ring a bell in all of us at some point or the other. Also, being a Cancerian myself, there was a lot of bon-homie with the protagonist !

Hooked to the book , I was chuckling away merrily even as I was waiting for my son’s progress report (btw, he is a preschooler ) inviting a few curious glances from some parents :D That’s how much I enjoyed the read !

Coming to the characters, they are lively and well-etched. The perfect albeit serious hubby, adrenaline junkie son, pot-pourri of vibrant neighbours to the typical policeman, the people around Kay’s life are colourful & engaging."

Read more here.

"Fast, well paced and will keep you glued till you finish it."

2012-01-26T23:57:00.000-08:00

A review by TheHungryReader:

"It isn’t easy to write by mixing almost two genres together. It takes not only gumption but also some good writing skill. When I first started reading, “The Reluctant Detective” I did not think much of it. I mean come to think of it, here is an almost bored housewife (well not really bored) and she has the habit of poking her nose in other people’s affairs (but obviously – as the cliché would seem), till dead bodies turn up in quick succession around her and how she teams up with a detective friend to solve them.
So that is the plot in a nutshell. As I however read further (give it beyond the first three chapters), I was taken in into the book. Kay’s (Her name is Kanan Mehra) exaggerations and little vanities add the much needed humour in this one. Runa is the main detective, while it is Kay who happens to stumble on most clues as they go along solving the crime/s.
What I found most fascinating in the entire book, was how Ms. Manral has managed to create a character (interesting one at that you might note) out of the ordinary, whose major problem is controlling her cellulite and being first in queue at the next sale."

Read more here.

Want to review The Reluctant Detective?

2012-01-26T21:50:00.001-08:00

Blogadda has ten copies to give away to ten lucky bloggers and psst, I've enclosed signed personal notes from me with them.

http://blog.blogadda.com/2012/01/27/the-reluctant-detective-kiran-manral-reviews-indian-bloggers

And shots of the book on display across bookstores in India

2012-01-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

These shots are very precious to me, so if you visit a bookstore anywhere in the country and you spot my book on display, please do click it and mail me the picture at kiranmanral@gmail.com. And if it isn't on display, I give you full authority to make a right fuss and insist it is.

At Granth bookstore at Juhu in Mumbai

At Teksons, Defence Colony, Delhi

At Crossword, Amanora Mall, Pune

At Crossword, Select City, Hyderabad

Om Book Shop PVR Saket, Delhi

At the entrance of Landmark, Chennai.

Bahrisons, Saket, Delhi

Looking forward to getting pictures of the book from all you wonderful people, whenever you spot it in a store.

And this, from the effervescent Chandni

2012-01-26T19:10:00.001-08:00

"Kiran’s first book, a novel, The Reluctant Detective is out now and up for grabs! It says “ When a thirtysomething housewife gets entangled with murders which are no business of hers, a reluctant detective is born”.
Well, hardly a description of the usual chiclit I’d say! And hence I believe it isn’t. I’d like to think its modern Indian fiction, contemporary in story telling as well as setting. And like all friends who get their back stage moment, I can proudly say, “Hey, I have friends who are authors, you know??”."

Read more here.

And I'm on Radio Parul

2012-01-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

...interviewed by our very own Parul Sharma.

"They say this is the best time in India to get published. Everyone knows at least one person who is writing or has written a book. What are your views on the subject? Some people say that a lot of this writing is strictly mediocre. What gives?
I think there is a growing segment of people who are interested in writing from India that they can relate to, which is not exoticised or romanticised. Also, there is an entire generation of people who have grown up with English as their primary language in education and who are more comfortable in this language, reading and writing than their mother tongue. Also 'being an author' seems to be a glamorous profession these days, and with authors from very diverse backgrounds, giving up day jobs to get into serious writing, it seems to be here to stay for a while. Apart from this, there is a demand for writing that spans the gamut from that which is easily read, to that which is, err, meatier. A lot of the writing might be mediocre, who am I to judge or comment on that, a lot of it might be in a language and syntax that the modern Indian reader is comfortable with, but I feel there will be a shake out, and eventually the spate to get published will abate and the wheat as they say will separate from the chaff."

To read the rest of the interview, go here.

Lavanya D does an interview on her blog with me

2012-01-23T23:32:00.000-08:00

"Unless you have been living under a virtual rock, you cannot but know that one of our own, blogger and uber Twitterer Kiran Manral, is now a published author and her first book, The Reluctant Detective, is now available in all bookstores. She is doing various book reading sessions across the country – she is at Happy Planet, Powai on 29 January and in Gurgaon on 4 February. She is also planning to come down South to Bangalore and Chennai! Before she starts whizzing around the country, she happily answers a few questions for my readers.
Read on!

First of all, congratulations! How does it feel to see your name on the spine of a book?

It is still to sink in honestly. I got a copy in my hands yesterday and I had to pinch myself to believe it."

Read more here

Happy Planet, Powai, Jan 29th 4 pm

2012-01-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

And my darling behenaa CeeKay puts this up

2012-01-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

"The much eagerly awaited book written by a talented writer and a dear friend, Kiran Manral, is finally out and on the bookshelves. Go get it!! I get the bragging rights because I NOW KNOW A PUBLISHED AUTHOR!! I haven't been able to get my hands on the book yet but that will be soon rectified. In the meanwhile YOU get the book and tell me how you like it. Go on."

http://my2centstoo.blogspot.com/2012/01/bragging-rights.html

A post by Kumar Luv

2012-01-23T18:39:00.000-08:00

"Finally, today I found another novelist who I would like to read again – Kiran Manral. Her debut The Reluctant Detective is immensely enjoyable, and the voice of her narrator is a voice that I recognize immediately. That, of course, is very close to the voice of her blog and tweets – her own voice. Well, if you have read her online, you know exactly what to expect. The humor – ah what won't I give to just sit down for a coffee with her and listen her joke about everyone around (including myself). I only know a little of her online personality – but the novel makes me feel that she has put parts of herself into the work, nothing else could have made it this honest.

A must read. My mom, after looking at the author's blog, had said - why just a blog, a whole book could be written on such a cute child - I, too, am waiting for that one."

Read more here.

A review at Ginger Chai by Divya

2012-01-23T01:04:00.000-08:00

"if you are looking for some fun loving, rib ticking book with a wry humor which also makes you connect with the daily lives of a common man, ‘The Reluctant Detective’ (TRD) is the one you should spend on. It is a story of Kay who lives in Mumbai, has a 5 year old kid who keeps her on toes, who is overweight like couple of us, struggles as a jogger to knock of those extra pounds, worships her maids who come to clean her house and cook; doesn’t it remind us of as one of the amongst us? She has a habit of poking her nose everywhere including where it is not required to. Her purse is more of make-up kit and you will never find something useful which one requires in emergency like a safety pin! She has to shop for XL size and suffers from the jealousy pangs whenever she has to look at friends who are size zero. So how she goes on to become a detective and that too a reluctant one is the story all about….
The story moves at a fast pace, Kay takes the readers through a daily routine of a bored housewife with apt details, not to miss the ‘dreaded PTAs’, ‘the girly gangs out for lunch’, ‘a handsome husband who has put a limit to her debit card’, and of course ‘the full wardrobe of dresses still nothing to wear when it comes for an occasion’, ‘daily calls to the parents who have it is all out there in the book and much more. The sarcasm with which Kiran has written about the daily soaps actors, the page 3 parties is really humorous. There are two murders in Kay’s locality in quick succession and her mission gets decided. She becomes a detective albeit with a realization that she may actually be not cut for this kind of job. Her detective friend Runa helps her in this mission. Whether Kay is able to find out the murderers or not is a different story altogether and how? Please read the bookJ. Oh yes! Kay is also haunted by the spirit of the dead and she truly believes that the ‘spirit of dead’ is giving her some message!
The characters are lively and very much next door neighbors whom we all might bump into on daily basis. The portions involving Kay’s kiddo are really hilarious and funny! I am sure each of us as a mother would have experienced all those anecdotes. When Kay asks Kabir (yes, that’s the kid’s name) as to what he did in school, pat comes reply ‘Fusht I hit Arman, an den I pushed Ronak, an den Miss tole me tu sid quiedly in the notty corner.” So, the hapless mother asks if he got the time to study in midst of all this, Kabir responds ‘nopes’. The mother truly believes that the kid is honest! This book is a must read for all those who actually believe in going by the funny titles and cover page of the books! It is attractive, funny, light on your mind and makes a good time pass with the tongue in cheek humour."

Read more here

The new author on the block

2012-01-22T19:06:00.000-08:00

This from the lovely Aathira Nair:

"I have the good fortune of having interacted with Kiran Manral, over her blog and Twitter. I have just bee completely fascinated by her style, humour and usage of phrases. I have not missed a single blog post of hers since she was at 'Thirty seven and counding'. And, when I came to know that she is soon to publish a novel, it was just too thrilling. The book was sure to just be a riot knowing her writing style. I was also awed with someone I knew writing a full fledged novel. This would be the second author who I would know, maybe not too well, but at least I do know!

I got the book the week it was out, but just finished it, with travelling, packing and such. Totally enjoyed the book and in fact when I was at the last chapter, I was reading it way more slowly than what I usually do. I just did not want it to end! I would be writing a review too which you can come back for maybe next week, but for now here is the short question answer session which I could squeeze out of the new author on the block!"

To read the interview, go here.

"A brilliant first novel, light hearted, yet accurate & oh-so-honest in it's portrayal of modern-day urban life."

2012-01-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

The lovely Dipali Taneja reviewed my book:

"One doesn't think of murder as a laughing matter. More than one murder, even less so. But when two murders happen in close proximity, near the housing complex in which the protagonist Kay Mehra resides, they become the raison d'etre for what is often a hilarious book.
Anyone who is familiar with Kiran Manral's blogs will recognise her self-deprecating humour, her patent exaggerations, her child's (former) speech patterns. Many of her concerns as a parent come through in the book: Kay Mehra's dread of Parent Teacher meetings in the school, for one, the child's desire for junk food another!
Detaching from the blogspeak, so to say, the book still holds true. The chapter headings themselves make you smile: In Which There is Never Anything to Wear, Close Encounters With the Police Kind, In Which Much Gaping at a Superstar Happens, In Which There Is A Typical Suburban Weekend, and so on. What is interesting is the effortless ease with which suburban life is painted, with detailed sketches of minor and major characters. Kay's compassion, empathy and her apparent psychic sensitivity make it imperative for her to get to the bottom of the murder of her fellow morning jogger, Sheetal Jaiswal, with whom she has just a nodding acquaintance."

Read more here.

So. This is me, my book and the brat on Twitter365

2012-01-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/roycin/6743708711/?ref=nf#/photos/roycin/6743708711/in/set-72157626732979613/

In which I am a Goonda Aunty

2012-01-20T23:50:00.000-08:00

The lovely Maya Jain writes this:

http://gypsyinmyhead.blogspot.com/2012/01/goonda-aunty-and-her-book-reluctant.html

This lovely review from my niece.

2012-01-20T21:03:00.000-08:00

Did I mention, she is just 16 and has already written for Chicken Soup for the Teenager's Soul?

And is a wonderful writer to boot.

http://highonbeingsixteen.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/review-the-reluctant-detective/

And here's the gawjess Kaveri with her copy.....

2012-01-20T03:11:00.000-08:00

That's the reigning goddess of twitter, @ikaveri, if you didn't recognise her. And a darling.

And Art says this

2012-01-20T02:51:00.000-08:00

"Am currently reading The Reluctant Detective by another blogger Kiran Manral. The first chapter itself had me in splits, with the gems of self deprecating humor that are woven in by K or should I say Kay."

Read more here

The bubbly mom to the chirpy imp says this....

2012-01-19T21:02:00.000-08:00

"3 chapters into the book and I love it already. Fun, intriguing, girly, and filled with anecdotes. The smudged polish, the “I don’t have anything to wear” , the shoes, all bring a knowing smile. It’s an extension of her blog and the characters remind me of her family. It’s a murder mystery, written in Kiran’s style. So don’t go buying this book thinking it’s your hardcore murder mystery book. This book in all its seriousness will make you smile if not laugh. That’s her style."

Read more here.

On the Flipkart Top New Releases list today

2012-01-19T19:56:00.000-08:00

Ranked five. My book.

Go buy it now. Here at Flipkart. Let's push it to one.

And the lovely Iya wrote this....

2012-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

"Last week the book went up on sale on Flipkart and various other sites, none of which were delivering outside India (Now there is one which does). I quickly placed my order, had the book delivered to my parents, who are gladly bringing it along. They reach Singapore tomorrow and so will the book. I wanted to write this after I had read it, but the excitement factor is beyond controllable limits. So another post shall happen once I have devoured it, but from what I hear and see, I know I will love it. I mean look at the cover, it has a high heel shoe, and my love for them is no secret."

Read more here

And here's what MamaSaysSo says....

2012-01-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

..."This post is a particularly special one. It's been one that I have been waiting with baited breath to write for well over a couple months, ever since the lovely Kiran Manral, of KarmicKids, FortyAndCounting and IndiaHelps fame and a very dear friend, announced that she had written her first novel.

Last week, the big moment finally arrived and The Reluctant Detective went on sale. I jumped at the opportunity to order the book from Flipkart. I had hoped to actually read the book before I wrote this but a life with no time to blog also leaves me with less time to read so I am just a few chapters down. But it's been a totally fun read so far - with laughs on every page, a very relatable lead character and a rollicking pace that makes me long for the days when I had the luxury of getting through a book in one sitting."

To read more, go here.

At Kitab Khana, Mumbai

2012-01-18T03:04:00.000-08:00

@nidhidorairaj: @Kitab Khana today - @kiranmanral fyi :) pic.twitter.com/lPdYAMz

So I inspire a superfit girl to get fitter....

2012-01-18T00:55:00.000-08:00

...and no, I'm no pin up girl for the fitness model lifestyle. Read what the now bleary eyed Shunali has to say:

"My friend Kiran Manral has written a hilarious and rather clever book called ‘The Reluctant Detective‘. The book induces such hysterical bouts of laughter in me that mild tremors are felt in my half-a-century-old family owned building each time I read a chapter from it.
The book revolves around two murders and the protagonist’s “morning constitutional”."

Read more here.

Picture this

2012-01-17T23:20:00.000-08:00

Lovely tweet from @bakingtray: @kiranmanral Read it with my nail polish & pyjamas matching the cover. Such fun! Loved it! twitpic.com/88o3z4

And my first rating on Goodreads...

2012-01-17T20:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/263746372

Available on URead

2012-01-17T03:09:00.001-08:00

Go here to buy. Fabulous price.

http://www.uread.com/book/reluctant-detective-kiran-manral/9789381626115

An interview at Lifezing...

2012-01-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

....and a giveaway.

http://www.lifezing.com/community/blogs/209-guest-column/1133-an-interview-with-kiran-manral--author-of-novel-qthe-reluctantant-detectiveq

A post by Fiesty Ta

2012-01-16T19:57:00.000-08:00

"My copy arrived last Friday and I have already dipped myself into it, head first. Fun, intriguing, girly, dreamy and filled with anecdotes, this is one book I am itching to finish. It has humor and all you women will definitely go “oooh yes! so true” when you read about the smudged nail paint and the struggles with the weight! Although, will speak more about the book when I finish it, in a different post."

Read more here

And here's what Ideasmithy says about The Reluctant Detective

2012-01-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

" ‘The Reluctant Detective‘ is the story of Kanan Mehra (a.k.a. Kay), a privileged suburban housewife, into whose pampered life comes excitement in the form of a double murder in the neighborhood....
The title notwithstanding, the story has very little to do with her actual solving of the cases. Instead, it builds on the response from Kay’s world, right from a sudden fear of taking morning walks alone, SoBo acquaintances dismissal of the suburbs, parental paranoia & automatic restriction, gossip sagas where maidservants gain starring roles and the revival of old-but-incompatible friendships.
There is a lot of focus on Kay’s wardrobe, her battle with the bulge and domestic adventures of the maternal, spousal & housekeeping sort. Thus the setting & tone give the book a Chick Lit feel, albeit with a heroine of a different demographic (slightly older, happily married with kids, no money/career concerns etc). Don’t expect a cloak-and-dagger adventure, all ye mystery lovers. On the other hand, if you enjoy Chick Lit and wouldn’t mind trying out something other than the usual ‘single girl-gay friend-bad boyfriends-alcohol & chocolates-BFFs’ formula, ‘The Reluctant Detective‘ will give you some pleasant, easy reading."

Read more here

This about an actual ladies lunch

2012-01-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

At Bungalow 9. Which had the ladies of twitterati in attendance. Why am I posting it here? Because it felt like a Kay thing to happen to me.
And also because I gave out signed copies of the book to all those who were there, which I do hope they're reading right now.

http://thirtysixandcounting.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/and-the-lady-lunched/

Here's the kind words Monika has to say...

2012-01-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

"....when I received it two days ago, my excitement was beyond control.. the book I was reading already was ditched and to N’s ~~horror~~ surprise a baking order was ignored because I couldn’t put the book down Eventually N put some sense into my head (read screamed at me to get baking he he) and hence I haven’t been able to finish the book as of yet. But soon I will be back with a review but till now it feels exciting, gripping and funny as I thought it will be…
After all any book which starts with a struggle of what to wear to a party and how its a struggle to keep the nail polish from not smudging has to be interesting anyways and yeah did I mention some handsome men and two murders."

Read more here

A post on Sunny Days about the book

2012-01-15T19:01:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite persons in the whole wide world, Sunayana Roy of Sunny Days, wrote about getting the book and how she didn't get much studying done. I am honoured because Sue takes her exams really seriously....

"My copies reached me last night and I've been surreptitiously dipping into one ever since (surreptitious because I have an Italian exam tomorrow and should really be studying). It's that kind of a book, you see. Easy to read, fast in its pace and drawing you further, deeper in even as you tell yourself you really need to get back to those other things you should be doing."

And a fellow blogger and a friend mentioned my book here

2012-01-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

Two bonus posts mentioning my book yesterday came as a complete and a very pleasant surprise:

Lilfern wrote "Like the lady herself (as she comes across on her online platforms) her book is witty and engaging. Even though it has a stiletto on the cover - the book steers clear from predictable bustledom of romance/no-mans and ensuing hormonality."

Read more here: http://funtimesmumtimes.blogspot.com/2012/01/reading-in-new-year.html

Shunali, who I recently got back in touch with via the wonderful world of twitter, is an ex-colleague from waaaaay back, a gorgeous, statuesque girl whom I was terribly envious of re her magnificent presence, but she tempers it well by being such a lovely person. We met up after what seemed like a lifetime at the Bungalow 9 Ladies Tweet Up lunch on Saturday and I handed her a copy. She wrote: "It has been a remarkable day. I received 3 personally signed books by their respective authors. The first one was from Swapan Seth, This is all I have to Say, the second from Kiran Manral, The Reluctant Detective and the third by Thomas J. Delong, Flying without a Net. Is it not extraordinary that this hat rick of a kind has happened to me within a period of 12 hours today?

Kiran gave me her book at a fun Tweet-up kinda lunch at Bungalow 9, Bandra. Though I have not started reading her book yet, I find the cover most arresting. Shall attach a visual of it and post the conversations that visual lead to tomorrow."

ItchingToWriteBlogs reviews The Reluctant Detective

2012-01-13T21:27:00.000-08:00

Last evening I received my copy of The Reluctant Detective. In my eagerness to reach the end of the book,
- I did not make dinner
- I ignored the kids completely
- I let them play for as long as they could and then they fell on the bed exhausted, one on each side of me
-I read till my eyes drooped and picked myself up, pushed the kids a little away from me and read again, this time to the finish
I slept with vivid dreams of cops sleeping on duty and goondas on 2 wheeler knocking on my car window and me scared to start the car because I knew that the battery was dead and didn't want the potential murderers to realize that.

Even a whiff of bad news or out of the ordinary event affects an individual no matter how unrelated the affected party is to that individual. While normal life does not stop, one continues with one's usual routine, but somewhere in the back of the mind, there remains a nagging discomfort/ sadness/ empathy with the person affected by the event. Sometimes one gets over involved to the point of obsession and tries to work out what happened, and sometimes one just maintain a mild interest without getting affected by it.
And for some, like me or the Kay in question get nightmares or other manifestations to plague them for a long time.

This is what happens to Kay Mehra. She has a morbid curiosity about everything. She is a self declared "gossip queen" and nothing passes by without going through her watchful eyes or ears.
But, a corpse is discovered near her complex and Kay is the last person who had seen her alive that day. Yet, she hears about it only at the end of the day from none other than the police.
Furthermore, she and her husband chance upon another dead body in the same spot further into the night.

Kay is more than mildly interested in this case. It is not just another piece of local gossip for her but she wants to solve it. She is involved simply by virtue of being in contact with the body before or after they became bodies from persons. Even though she did not really know either of the bodies personally.

I thought she will play the Sherlock Holmes and that's what I asked Kiran in the interview. But as she mentioned, Kay is the Watson here who sets about using her common sense and tries to go back to the crime scene and work out the possibilities.

While the murders do keep her mind occuppied, her life with her son Kabir, the spouse and her friends goes on as usual.

What I liked about the book is that it could be anyone's story. There is a lot of urban speak that one can identify with.

Read the rest of it here

Eve's Lungs review The Reluctant Detective

2012-01-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

Kiran Manral scores a bonus with her remarkably well written debut novel “The Reluctant Detective “ – a racy story about Kanan “Kay” , a ditzy overweight shopaholic who maxes out her credit cards , feeds her son fast foods just to stop his tantrums and pokes her nose into two murders when she shouldn’t . In between she lunches , attends dreaded PTA meetings and puts up with a grouch of a husband who treats her like a juvenile and is also haunted by the spirit of the murdered woman .

Kiran’s book is full of spots of wry humour and anecdotes which tickle the funnybone ,the impossible longings for a size zero figure – at one point she considers kneeling down before a whip thin maid and begging her to be her personal trainer . Her obsession with her avoirdupois and her contradictory reluctance to ”eat healthy” make her a very plausible character .

And that is one thing which is a major plus in Kiran’s novel – the rounded three dimensional characters described with such tongue in the cheek humour – from the TV artiste whose carrer is doomed by her role of the suffering daughter in law in television megaserials , the smarmy small time actor in the Velvet Smoking Jacket , the girl gang ,the husband ,the parents viewed through telephone calls and Kay’s memory , even the little boy Kabir , so reminiscent of bratty little boys used to having their own way and Kay , of course . Very plausible , living , breathing characters , who one might meet at any time .

This is possible perhaps , because Kiran draws them from real life people she might know . The wisdom she displays in that she never strays far from the familiar , in terms of people and places , is an appreciable strength and lends deep credibility to her writing .

The style is fluid, amazingly fresh and well written and races through to a quick finish . All in all a good read which makes one wish that it was a thicker novel .

But that again is something one would have to wait for and nothing whets hunger more than the anticipation of a hearty meal , or in this case a good thick read ! Waiting for another good read , Ms Manral .

Just a little footnote about Kiran - she is a freelance writer , a blogger of repute and a media consltant from Mumbai. To her credit , she is also a social activist and the founder of India Helps which she set post the 26/11 terrorist attacks . India Helps works with disaster victims and has been responsible for the rehabilitation of a number of victims of the 26/11 attacks and others .

And Flipkart has some reviews up

2012-01-13T20:33:00.001-08:00

Read them here

And Boo wrote about me....

2012-01-13T03:34:00.000-08:00

Boo. You know Boo. Of course you do. She's the mommy blogger who gets recognised at airports and have a fan following across the world. She's the one with the delightful Ashu and the impish Antu. She's the one with the sense of humour so wicked, she has me *bang my head on the wall* (wink wink, insider joke) She wrote about me and my little book.

http://boosbabytalk.blogspot.com/2012/01/congrats-kiran.html

Danke Boo. Godblessyou.

And this from Monika....

2012-01-12T21:15:00.001-08:00

She of the scrumptious bakes and gorgeous photography and the even more edible Ojas.

http://thrumonikaslens.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/week-2-day-13-books-and-friends/

If you would like to review the book....

2012-01-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

...or do any post re the book, me (I'm graciously consenting to interviews these days, har har), please do mail me at kiranmanral@gmail.com.

The links to be added to your post are these:
For websites,blogs etc
<img src="http://i44.tinypic.com/2wqg0op.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic">

Link for layout
http://i44.tinypic.com/2wqg0op.jpg

Danke kindly good people

And Itchy does an interview...

2012-01-12T20:07:00.001-08:00

Itchy. Yup. Not of the Itchy and Scratchy show. But ItchingToWriteblogs. Mamma of Twins. One of the most fun mammas on the blogosphere. She did a short Q&A with me and here it is.

http://itchingtowriteblogs.blogspot.com/2012/01/meet-reluctant-detective-kiran-manral.html

Want a personalised, signed copy?

2012-01-12T01:18:00.000-08:00

Go to Dialabook and place your order here
.http://dialabook.in/blog/pre-order-signedpersonalized-copies-of-the-reluctant-detective/

Hurry. Yeh offer neemit samay tak hai. No. Just kidding. But do hurry yes, I want to make this book go into a reprint quick.

And the gorgeous Miss Malini talks about The Reluctant Detective

2012-01-12T00:57:00.000-08:00

Here it is.

"2012 seems to be the year of the Indian author. If a segment of the classes don’t want Salman Rushdie to come to India for the Jaipur Literature Festival later this month, there’s a whole other section who are lapping-up novels by newer writers, most of whom have gotten published for the first time.
For instance, we had just had Kalli Puri launch a book on dieting and, stand-up comic Sorabh Pant, release his hilarious account of the atfer-life.
Now, Kiran Manral, a well-known freelance writer, blogger and media consultant who lives in Mumbai (and is also the founder of India Helps, a volunteer network which works with disaster victims), launches her first novel, The Reluctant Detective."

Read more here

So Itchy has ordered her copy already....

2012-01-11T23:22:00.000-08:00

Read here.

Have you ordered your copy yet? Or are you the kind of person who prefers to go to the store and pick it up yourself?

And finally, finally, finally

2012-01-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am listed on the Westland site. Wheee!

Copies available at Dialabook

2012-01-11T19:17:00.001-08:00

Go here to order yours...

And here's what a kind blogger put up....

2012-01-10T21:52:00.003-08:00

http://selfpondering.blogspot.com/2012/01/here-comes-reluctant-detective.html

And its at Crossword too

2012-01-10T21:48:00.001-08:00

Right here. Go order. Or better still, go to the store and ask for it. And bang fist on table if not available. And such like.

And here is the lovely promo

2012-01-10T19:38:00.000-08:00

Made by the super duper triple charming and ultra talented Mahjabeen Umar. Psst, people, she da gurl to go to if you want something absolutely scrumptious done by way of design and I say this not because she is my fren or because she did this promo for me but she really truly and completely is.

And since, in true Kay style...

2012-01-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

I first created a private blog on wordpress, which I assiduously filled up with stuff in preparation for the big launch. And when the time of said big launch came forward, I found I couldn't make the said wordpress blog public. And ergo much fiddling around with settings and heartburn, and hold your breath, forgetting the eating of breakfast in the process, happened before I gave up and decided to set up a brand new blog.
So will quickly try to catch up on this blog for around six months of work on the previous one. What can I say? It's a Kay moment.

And it is here....

2012-01-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

This is where you can order it from:

Flipkart

Infibeam

Indiaplaza

Do your good deed for the day. Go order your copy now. May you be blessed with more Choos and Louboutins than you could ever dream of.

TheReluctantDetective

And in New Woman, March 2012 issue

And this is some of the media coverage of The Bungalow 9 reading...

At the reading at Bungalow 9 yesterday....

And here I am on Times Now, yesterday...

DNA's list of Top Ten New Releases you must read

The Telegraph: It's the write time

More pics from the Quill and Canvas event

And some more pics from Kalaghoda...

The Delhi Gymkhana event

"The Reluctant Detective is not what it pretends to be, and therein lies its magic."

Media coverage for The Reluctant Detective

At Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2012

But what about the ghost?

A lovely review by Vidyut....

As reveiwed by Bhargavi...

"Enjoyable and Refreshing"

And one more giveaway...

And a contest, and a giveaway...

Leaking Pipeline Or Fountain Of Creativity?

"It’s an easy read. it doesn’t pretend to be anything but."

And this is what Chandni wrote...

An interview with Aditi at Fleximoms...

Author Kiran Manral gets chatty about The Reluctant Detective

And this is what they wrote in Midday

Is The Reluctant Detective a Closet Fleximom?

A blogger's account of the event at Quill and Canvas, Gurgaon

In which Kanan gets likened to Precious...

And my book is reviewed by IBNLive books...

A Giveaway on Sunny Days

A reading at Happy Planet, Powai

Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si

Gurgaonwasiyon....

A reader review

"Fast, well paced and will keep you glued till you finish it."

Want to review The Reluctant Detective?

And shots of the book on display across bookstores in India

And this, from the effervescent Chandni

And I'm on Radio Parul

Lavanya D does an interview on her blog with me

Happy Planet, Powai, Jan 29th 4 pm

And my darling behenaa CeeKay puts this up

A post by Kumar Luv

A review at Ginger Chai by Divya

The new author on the block

"A brilliant first novel, light hearted, yet accurate & oh-so-honest in it's portrayal of modern-day urban life."

So. This is me, my book and the brat on Twitter365

In which I am a Goonda Aunty

This lovely review from my niece.

And here's the gawjess Kaveri with her copy.....

And Art says this

The bubbly mom to the chirpy imp says this....

On the Flipkart Top New Releases list today

And the lovely Iya wrote this....

And here's what MamaSaysSo says....

At Kitab Khana, Mumbai

So I inspire a superfit girl to get fitter....

Picture this

And my first rating on Goodreads...

Available on URead

An interview at Lifezing...

A post by Fiesty Ta

And here's what Ideasmithy says about The Reluctant Detective

This about an actual ladies lunch

Here's the kind words Monika has to say...

A post on Sunny Days about the book

And a fellow blogger and a friend mentioned my book here

Read more here: http://mumbaibuzz.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/hello-world/

ItchingToWriteBlogs reviews The Reluctant Detective

Eve's Lungs review The Reluctant Detective

And Flipkart has some reviews up

And Boo wrote about me....

And this from Monika....

If you would like to review the book....

And Itchy does an interview...

Want a personalised, signed copy?

And the gorgeous Miss Malini talks about The Reluctant Detective

So Itchy has ordered her copy already....

And finally, finally, finally

Copies available at Dialabook