Bibliofile

Another famous partnership is of travel writer-couple Hugh and Colleen Gantzer. After over two decades of a successful partnership in writing travel articles, books and making TV documentaries, the couple has now come out with their first novel, The Year Before Sunset, set in pre-Independent India.

Spare some pity for all those lucky authors who manage to bag obscene advances on the strength of a one-page book proposal. Vikram Seth, for instance, didn't look too happy that his date with his readers and critics was edging near—his publishers have announced the launch of his literary memoir by this year-end. "The jacket is ready, the announcement has been made, but the book is not yet ready," Seth confessed on his recent visit to Delhi.