Monday, November 29, 2010

Ken W. Min ~ Illustrator for Hire

Ken W. Min ~ Illustrator for Hire

Thanks, Ken Min...Shukriya and Dhanyavad!

Ken Min made it possible for me to meet my characters face to face and the breathless wait ended two days after Thanksgiving in a most pleasant way!
While the author of a picture book is permitted to submit illustration notes, hobnobbing with the illustrator is a big no no! So, short of keeping both fingers crossed there was not much else to do other that hope for the best outcome. Ken did not disappoint. I should have known this when I found out he had begun researching for this project in the Little India neighborhood of Los Angeles and also when he dropped me a line to say he would be treating the text with utmost respect. I was instantly smitten! Ken's whimsical illustrations embellish the story line and capture the humor of the story in an endearing way. His interpretation is creative and spot on. His use of color and medium....well, in short, I couldn't have asked for anything better. Thank you, Ken for bringing the characters, setting, and events of HHRFD come alive so brilliantly.
Please visit Ken's blog for further information about him.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Dedication

Hot-Hot Roti for Dada-ji is dedicated to my three grandbabies: Aydin, Samar, and Gabriella. They should know that Amma sprinkled lots of love and kisses in the water, salt and flour mix.

The Garden of my Imaan

I just signed a contract with Peachtree Publishers of Atlanta, Georgia for The Garden of my Imaan. I have to go through some heavy duty revisions which need to be done by May of 2011. I am awaiting the editor's notes and am keeping fingers crossed for a 2013 publication. This book will be dedicated to my sister, Nasreen Ahmed, without question, Grandmother Number One!

Other Titles in the Works

Who's Number One?
Dada-ji and the Not So Wah-Wah Surprise
Dada-ji and the MVP
Aneel and Dada-ji
Dada-ji, the Tailor and the Eight Compartment Thali
Dada-ji and the Shiny Purple Seed
Dada-ji and the Naughty Red Bottom Monkey
Dada-ji and the Slithering Snake
The Garden of my Imaan
Basanta, Child of Spring
Tales from the Basti.

Proofs arrived!

Just returned from a Thanksgiving family get together in Lombard, Illinois, to find a large brown envelope waiting at the door. The proofs for Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji arrived! It was exhilarating to see the story come alive at last and to meet the characters, face to face. Thank you, Ken for interpreting my text with sensitivity, authenticity and good humor. It was disconcerting to have to guess about the final outcome and I am happy that everything has come together much as I had hoped it would. I am delighted that Ken's dada-ji is somewhat how I had envisoned him too! I look at the pictures over and over and fall a little more in love each time I do.
Oh my!
Now, when I google the title, I get more than one hit. How about that!