Just when we thought the litseason was almost over, the authors and publishers from London come, networked and gone, the buzz begins of Salman Rushdie's forthcoming trip to India. His publishers, Random House, accustomed to handling their superstar author with caution, will only say he's expected to make a private visit in August. Right now, Rushdie is book-touring Europe to promote Shalimar the Clown, while wife Padma Laxmi was in Bangalore for a short trip. Requests for interviews are being entertained by hopeful publishers, who daren't announce a book signing or launching ceremony till Rushdie gives the go-ahead. But from his own words at the Crossword awards ceremony, delivered long distance on cellphone, India's response to Shalimar counts more than all those countries he's hopping through now.
Volckernama
Authors have wishlists too. Natwar Singh, for instance, wants to write a book called Against Volcker. "My friends asked me why I don't write a book called For and Against Volcker," he said at the launch of M.J. Akbar's Blood Brothers. "But I don't see anything for Volcker, so I'll just stick to Against."
Bow Before The Wows
One reason why the line between high and low litseason is increasingly blurring is this trend of star writers who'd rather stay home than travel to universities and homes abroad. Next week, two writers who command markets abroad are surfacing to take a bow. The reclusive Allan Sealy is tearing himself away from his home in the hills to promote his new book, Red. Later in the week, Manju Kapur will launch her new novel, Home.
