United Nations Geneva, Sept 2007
Sep 29th
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Suresh and Jyoti were participants and speakers at the Global Forum for Youth and ICT for Development in Geneva as the youth ambassadors of NABU.
SWITZERLAND, GENEVA, 26th – 29th September Yes, we had barely rubbed the gangrene from our limbs (intercontinental flights), thrown piles of clothes from one heap to another, deleted spam – uh, invitations to go out with friends – and piled the dirty dishes in the kitchen for our dear sister to wash, when again we had to pack our bags and hop, this time into trains, for Geneva. The USA book tour and meetings with our German publisher left us quite breathless. Next was a completely different challenge though, one of brainstorming, relationship forging and international diplomacy… Can the Millennium Depelopment Goals be rescued by Youth and ICT? *Sound epic music* Read on to find out! More > |
100,000 copy FIRST PRINT RUN Calaspia in GERMAN
Sep 12th
Rotfuchs, youth imprint at Rowohlt Publishers, has announced a sensational 100,000 copy first print of Calaspia: Die Verschwörung, the German edition of Conspiracy of Calaspia, for release at the Leipzig Book Fair in March 2008, incidentally Rowohlt’s 100th anniversary.
GERMANY, HAMBURG – REINBEK, 12th – 13th September 2007
Whereas California was hot, Germany had been misty and raining for weeks. We brought the sun with us wherever we went on this entire tour (you are very welcome, partners).
Rowohlt, our German publisher, is celebrating its 100th anniversary next year 2008. It was therefore an especially big honour to be asked to present our book to the Representatives in person, whose job it is to sell us to bookstore owners. This was the first in a string of wonderful meetings, most of which we have not been able to contribute to but for which we are happy to leave the publishers to their own devices, resulting in a first print run of a 100,000 of Calaspia: Die Verschwörung (Conspiracy of Calaspia in German). More >
USA Book Tour
Sep 10th
Suresh and Jyoti started with meetings and interviews in New York before going on to San Jose, Monterey, San Francisco and Los Angeles. They were presented with Scrolls of Honour by the County of Los Angeles for donating 1,000 copies of Calaspia and promoting literacy and education with young people. The Twins gave a variety of public appearances including live TV (e.g. Fox and KTLA The Morning Show).
Guptara Twins Promoted the Calaspia Storytelling Competition, 23 Aug – 10 Sep 2007
It’s our first time in the USA. Yes, that’s right.
Whenever you tell this to an American in America, they think they haven’t heard aright. “What? Seriously? You’ve never been to the States?” We reply that that’s the gist of it. Having seen East and West Coasts now (but, unfortunately, not much in between), we can appreciate their point of view. Nevertheless, one can’t help but think of the millions of Americans who have never been to another country, let alone crossed the pond to another continent; and that no one would say to the rest, upon hearing that they have set foot for the first time in, say, Switzerland: “Are you sure? You have never been in the Alps? Never tasted real – real – Swiss Fondue?”
NEW YORK, 23rd – 29th August 2007
First stop was New York, where we had an interview with ImaginAsian TV, the first channel in the US dedicated More >
WIN 10-Day Tour of England!
Aug 13th
Calaspia International Literary Competition
Gentle Reader,
We are very excited to announce our partnership with Sought After Media USA, Starbloom Ireland, and Nivedit Good Books India, along with support from The C. S. Lewis Foundation, in launching the Calaspia International Literary Competition!
Readers below the age of 26 can write a 1000 word essay (that’s short!) and Win a 10-Day Tour of England’s Literary Sites!
Who knows, perhaps Suresh and Jyoti themselves will even join in!
The essays will be judged by a panel of 5 eminent people from the world of literature and education – watch the media for news.
For more info on the Calaspia Competition see: http://www.calaspia-competition.com.
With best regards,
on behalf of the Guptara Twins
Suresh Finishes School
Jul 29th
After four wonderful years at Bradfield College, Suresh has now finished his A-levels, scoring four As and a B (English Literature, French, German, Maths, Physics). He joins twin Jyoti in Switzerland as a full-time writer.
German Calaspia Rights Sold for 6-figure advance
Apr 11th
After a bidding war among several German publishers, the venerable literary publisher Rowohlt has purchased rights to the first three books in the Insanity Saga for a six-figure advance. Book One to be released by Rotfuchs in 2008, Rowohlt’s 100 anniversary year.
Calaspia a Bestseller in India
Mar 20th
After debuting at #8, Conspiracy of Calaspia has risen steadily to #2 on the Indian Fiction Bestseller list, one slot behind Booker Prize Winner The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, an Indian herself.
Jyoti at Kitab Festival, Mumbai, India
Feb 26th
Jyoti attended the flamboyant Kitabfest, the International Literature and Media Festival, in Mumbai, India, where he talked along with leading writers, publishers, agents and film directors from Britain and the Indian subcontinent.
21st and 22nd February 2007
I arrive at Delhi Int. airport. Someone is supposed to be waiting for me, but my fears materialise: I see no plaque reading “Jyoti Guptara” or, if they are more security-conscious, something like “Samarth’s Wedding”. My Swiss phone is out of juice and my Indian phone has expired, and would not work anyway because it was purchased in Goa. But a payphone call with my “Chacha” puts things back on course, and I discover that beyond the two Exits there are yet further reception areas. Fortunately, on the horizon of new plaques one of them reads my name. The driver wheels my luggage to the car park before I realise I’ve left my papers with contact details, an absolute essential, in the pay phone booth. Run back and retrieve them from the operator, whom I leave looking like he wants a reward.
Beep. Beep. Beep. It’s good to be back.
Whereas other countries endure chaotic organisation, India happily boasts organised chaos. More >
Italian Calaspia Rights Sold
Jan 25th
Mondadori, Italy’s largest publisher, has purchased rights to the first three books in the Insanity Saga for a substantial advance. Book One to be published in 2008 in prestigious i grandi range.
India Book Tour, Dec06-Jan07
Jan 7th
Delhi Book Launch: 200 guests mingled in the picturesque surroundings of Lodi Garden Restaurant as Guests of Honour, Tarun Tejpal and Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, officially launched Calaspia in India. Press journalists, photographers and camera crews crowded around the twins to interview them for all the major national papers and television stations.
Goa Book Launch: Held at the Cidade de Goa Hotel, the line up on the press conference panel included the Governor of Goa, His Excellency S. C. Jamir, renowned poet Sudeep Sen and social reformer Dr Vishal Mangalwadi. Following an interview and speeches by the Guests of Honour, the twins read an extract each from Calaspia.
Two days later, another reading. In the unique surroundings of the cosy Literati book café, 30 people gathered for a ‘come and share’ evening of poetry reciting, songs, music and book readings. Sudeep Sen and Ivan Kostka shared their poems, Jyoti Guptara read an extract from Calaspia, and Talvin Singh shared his tabla skills – improvising impressively on earthenware pots to the delight of the audience! A magical evening.
After Goa, Jyoti went on to Bangalore and Chennai (Madras) to promote Calaspia with Indian book chain Odyssey.