Popular author Amulya Malladi Shares a Festive Mood

December 17, 2008

As told to Suzan Abrams

Popular bestselling novelist, *Amulya Malladi, probably best known for her highly popular tale of diarrayed cultures, spicy gossip and a clandestine approach to romance all wound around the sizzling subject of fruit in The Mango Season, reopens her blog - famous for its frank take on social, cultural and equally controversial situations in Copenhagen - after a long spell of having closed it down.

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Malladi who is currently working on a new title for a sixth novel, sees herself as "ready to talk about it in the next few months."

Meanwhile, her exploratory journey as a writer, probably best lies in the element of surprise. "I think in terms of telling a story or answering a question especially...I'm never quite sure and never quite know what that will be.

"Every story is a surprise to me and thank god for that because it would be so boring to write something that was not a surprise, something I knew well and was sure about."

On Christmas 2008

"We don't do that many Christmas markets in Denmark. There is one at Tivoli, the amusement park but we don't go religiously. I did got to some fabulous Christmas markets in Vienna last year. That was amazing.

"We have always had a Danish Christmas, even when we lived in the States. I'm Hindu and new to Christmas so I get pretty excited about the tree and the decorations and the toys. We will celebrate Christmas at my in-laws' place this year. It is going to be a difficult Christmas. My mother-in-law passed away this summer and we're not quite looking forward to all these firsts without her.

"I love the lights and the cheer of the season. I always feel that it starts to smell like cookies as we get closer to Christmas. I love to go shopping, pick presents, drink glogg, eat ableskiver...and in general cosy up."


*Amulya Malladi was born and raised in India before leaving to reside in America for several years. She later moved to Copenhagen, Denmark with her Danish husband and two young sons.
Her five books, including The Sound of Language which has its setting in Denmark and was released last December, have all sold incredibly well, especially in the States.

Please note that The Sound of Language will be released in the Danish language in May, 2009.

Credit: Photograph of Amulya Malladi shot by Soren Rasmussen and is author's own.

I once spoke to the bestselling novelist Amulya Malladi who lives in Denmark & this is what she said. Replaying a fraction here:

"Sometimes, I feel like I've climbed Mount Everest in my shorts. On other days, I do feel like a total loser unable to get any meaningful writing done and there are still days when I wonder why I torture myself as a writer.

"But all in all, the pain, the suffering and the depression that comes with it...all of it is worth seeing my book in bookstores and having readers send me email, telling me how much they enjoy my work.

"Since English books are difficult to find in Denmark, I buy them online. I have found just one bookstore though that has an extensive selection. It's right in the centre of Denmark, only when I think about it, I haven't been there often enough for the name to register.

"I am used to American bookshops in the US, where I lived and worked for many years, with Starbucks right in the heart of its shelves and with couches where I would have had the chance to browse through books and magazines before deciding on a purchase. I take a long time with that so here the bookstores feel alien. Still, there is a cafe cum bookshop in Copenhagen called Paludin and I like being there for the moment.

"I'm presently reading the History of Love by Nicole Kraus. I own a mid-sized library at home and make the time to read, usually after my two little sons have been tucked up in bed. I've noticed a commendable amount of fiction from Iran, Afghanistan and Thailand besides, India and China, getting a fair amount of attention.

"Good books get attention no matter where they come from. As the world gets smaller, we need to learn each other's cultures and fiction is a great medium for that.

"I am just about getting ready to wrap up my fifth book. This makes the going slow and frustrating especially because I want to start working on my sixth book. I have an idea and want to run with it. I find my computer a necessity like a microwave oven.

"Mostly I write in 2-3 hours spurts throughout the day and take breaks whenever necessary. I like to write late into the night, especially to go to bed at 4am or so. I am so clearly a night person. And I usually don't breakfast. I juggle my time and write after the kids go to bed at 8pm.

"I do have other varied interests that don't mesh with my writing day and they don't need to. It's all about juggling time with regards to publicity interviews, telephone conversations, friends, shopping and a job.

"I write my stories in my office. I don't set any kind of target. I have no idea how I start writing every day...it just begins when it does. The very same inner push that compels me to write is what also compels me to be an industrious prolific author. I don't have any superstitious vices or rituals like that...no.

"As an author, I think I have a lot to learn and better books to write with regards to a future vision. I have already come a long way from my first book which is A Breath of Fresh Air to the book I'm working now which is tentatively titled, Sound of Language. I have grown as a person. I was 25 when I wrote my first book. I'm 31 now and I have 2 kids.

"I have a warm relationship with both my literary agent and my editor. My agent is absolutely wonderful; very supportive and always available. My editor is the same and I have an immense amount of respect for them both. and value their opinions. My editor is from Random Publishers, USA. We've also become friends. This after having worked together for many years now, especially my editor and me.

"I do see my future filled with books that get better and better and I as an individual and writer merging together with my books." - Amulaya Malladi

I once spoke to the bestselling novelist Amulya Malladi who lives in Denmark & this is what she said. Replaying a fraction here:

"Sometimes, I feel like I've climbed Mount Everest in my shorts. On other days, I do feel like a total loser unable to get any meaningful writing done and there are still days when I wonder why I torture myself as a writer.

"But all in all, the pain, the suffering and the depression that comes with it...all of it is worth seeing my book in bookstores and having readers send me email, telling me how much they enjoy my work.

"Since English books are difficult to find in Denmark, I buy them online. I have found just one bookstore though that has an extensive selection. It's right in the centre of Denmark, only when I think about it, I haven't been there often enough for the name to register.

"I am used to American bookshops in the US, where I lived and worked for many years, with Starbucks right in the heart of its shelves and with couches where I would have had the chance to browse through books and magazines before deciding on a purchase. I take a long time with that so here the bookstores feel alien. Still, there is a cafe cum bookshop in Copenhagen called Paludin and I like being there for the moment.

"I'm presently reading the History of Love by Nicole Kraus. I own a mid-sized library at home and make the time to read, usually after my two little sons have been tucked up in bed. I've noticed a commendable amount of fiction from Iran, Afghanistan and Thailand besides, India and China, getting a fair amount of attention.

"Good books get attention no matter where they come from. As the world gets smaller, we need to learn each other's cultures and fiction is a great medium for that.

"I am just about getting ready to wrap up my fifth book. This makes the going slow and frustrating especially because I want to start working on my sixth book. I have an idea and want to run with it. I find my computer a necessity like a microwave oven.

"Mostly I write in 2-3 hours spurts throughout the day and take breaks whenever necessary. I like to write late into the night, especially to go to bed at 4am or so. I am so clearly a night person. And I usually don't breakfast. I juggle my time and write after the kids go to bed at 8pm.

"I do have other varied interests that don't mesh with my writing day and they don't need to. It's all about juggling time with regards to publicity interviews, telephone conversations, friends, shopping and a job.

"I write my stories in my office. I don't set any kind of target. I have no idea how I start writing every day...it just begins when it does. The very same inner push that compels me to write is what also compels me to be an industrious prolific author. I don't have any superstitious vices or rituals like that...no.

"As an author, I think I have a lot to learn and better books to write with regards to a future vision. I have already come a long way from my first book which is A Breath of Fresh Air to the book I'm working now which is tentatively titled, Sound of Language. I have grown as a person. I was 25 when I wrote my first book. I'm 31 now and I have 2 kids.

"I have a warm relationship with both my literary agent and my editor. My agent is absolutely wonderful; very supportive and always available. My editor is the same and I have an immense amount of respect for them both. and value their opinions. My editor is from Random Publishers, USA. We've also become friends. This after having worked together for many years now, especially my editor and me.

"I do see my future filled with books that get better and better and I as an individual and writer merging together with my books." - Amulaya Malladi

I once spoke to the bestselling novelist Amulya Malladi who lives in Denmark & this is what she said. Replaying a fraction here:

"Sometimes, I feel like I've climbed Mount Everest in my shorts. On other days, I do feel like a total loser unable to get any meaningful writing done and there are still days when I wonder why I torture myself as a writer.

"But all in all, the pain, the suffering and the depression that comes with it...all of it is worth seeing my book in bookstores and having readers send me email, telling me how much they enjoy my work.

"Since English books are difficult to find in Denmark, I buy them online. I have found just one bookstore though that has an extensive selection. It's right in the centre of Denmark, only when I think about it, I haven't been there often enough for the name to register.

"I am used to American bookshops in the US, where I lived and worked for many years, with Starbucks right in the heart of its shelves and with couches where I would have had the chance to browse through books and magazines before deciding on a purchase. I take a long time with that so here the bookstores feel alien. Still, there is a cafe cum bookshop in Copenhagen called Paludin and I like being there for the moment.

"I'm presently reading the History of Love by Nicole Kraus. I own a mid-sized library at home and make the time to read, usually after my two little sons have been tucked up in bed. I've noticed a commendable amount of fiction from Iran, Afghanistan and Thailand besides, India and China, getting a fair amount of attention.

"Good books get attention no matter where they come from. As the world gets smaller, we need to learn each other's cultures and fiction is a great medium for that.

"I am just about getting ready to wrap up my fifth book. This makes the going slow and frustrating especially because I want to start working on my sixth book. I have an idea and want to run with it. I find my computer a necessity like a microwave oven.

"Mostly I write in 2-3 hours spurts throughout the day and take breaks whenever necessary. I like to write late into the night, especially to go to bed at 4am or so. I am so clearly a night person. And I usually don't breakfast. I juggle my time and write after the kids go to bed at 8pm.

"I do have other varied interests that don't mesh with my writing day and they don't need to. It's all about juggling time with regards to publicity interviews, telephone conversations, friends, shopping and a job.

"I write my stories in my office. I don't set any kind of target. I have no idea how I start writing every day...it just begins when it does. The very same inner push that compels me to write is what also compels me to be an industrious prolific author. I don't have any superstitious vices or rituals like that...no.

"As an author, I think I have a lot to learn and better books to write with regards to a future vision. I have already come a long way from my first book which is A Breath of Fresh Air to the book I'm working now which is tentatively titled, Sound of Language. I have grown as a person. I was 25 when I wrote my first book. I'm 31 now and I have 2 kids.

"I have a warm relationship with both my literary agent and my editor. My agent is absolutely wonderful; very supportive and always available. My editor is the same and I have an immense amount of respect for them both. and value their opinions. My editor is from Random Publishers, USA. We've also become friends. This after having worked together for many years now, especially my editor and me.

"I do see my future filled with books that get better and better and I as an individual and writer merging together with my books." - Amulaya Malladi