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Sandhya Acharya

ARE YOU LISTENING?

  Having a conversation with my six-year-old can be challenging. My voice just doesn’t get through all the distractions he submits to.   I ask him to wear shoes in the morning, but he can’t hear me over the ‘swoosh’ and ‘whoosh’ of his imaginary bay blades in action. I chide him about his half-eaten lunch, but he is busy commanding two giant yellow leaves into battle. I try to pry the details of his day from him, but pokemon Hyno has him in his rapture.   Hence a few times a day, I find… Read More »ARE YOU LISTENING?

It’s raining candies

I am loving the vivid imagination of my 4-year-old The stories that he weaves are part magical and part hysterical. Here is this morning’s one.

As I lazed on my bed this morning, somewhere in the region of delicious half awakeness, I heard the urgent pitter-patter of little feet. They were loud as they passed by my door and then softer as they scattered around the house. Little A had woken up. I knew something wasn’t right. 

A mother’s promise

It was my aiding day at my son’s school. I was already done with my morning slot. The children were finishing up with their lunch and I was waiting to go home right after. The bell rang, it was time for the kids to go back to class. They ran in hordes like the migrating animals in Serengeti. From the slides, the monkey bars, the four square courts, the tracks; from different directions they swarmed into their respective rooms. The play structure was quiet and empty now save one person. It was a fellow mother,… Read More »A mother’s promise

Indian American panel at Books Inc. Campbell

Browsing a well-stocked bookstore is such a pleasure. Books Inc. Campbell has not only a plethora of amazing book titles but also some amazing employees who really believe in the power of books and pushing local talent. Thanks, Robin! It was my first time being on a panel for indian-amerian story time on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2nd, 2018. I was lucky to be on the panel with authors Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan and Ravin Singh. They are amazing authors, great readers and also such interesting individuals. There was so much to learn from each… Read More »Indian American panel at Books Inc. Campbell

A SPECIAL WISH

A few days back, my son was helping me with gardening. He picked a flower, ran to me and handed it over. I took it from him and exclaimed it was a beautiful flower. He asked me to hold it in my hands, close my eyes and make a wish. “Someone will hear it and know about it and give me my wish.” I held the flower and made my wish. Then he ran towards the flower beds and came back with a couple more before I could stop him. “Take a picture, take a… Read More »A SPECIAL WISH

Yellow Duck

This is from a prompt writing exercise. The assignment was to write a sales pitch and use the following phrases:- Compare for yourself, the sky’s the limit, all the amenities, a golden opportunity, true potential   My Yellow duck “Hello there, would you like to buy something? It’s really special. Yes, that’s it. My yellow duck. Nooo! don’t walk away. Come back. It’s really special. This is the best duck ever. Why is it the best? Let me tell you. Well, first thing is, I won it with my super catcher skills at the mall.… Read More »Yellow Duck

Book Reading of 10 Gulab Jamuns at Barnes and Nobles, Stevens Creek

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to do a book reading at Barnes and Nobles, Steven’s Creek. Since I got into writing and publishing my first book, it has been a dream to be one of the authors doing a reading at Barnes and Nobles. Afterall, it was the readings that I had attended at B&N and other bookstores that probably planted the seed in my head. Somehow, having an opportunity to be a featured author in a place surrounded by books and literature, validates everything I am hoping to be. The reading went… Read More »Book Reading of 10 Gulab Jamuns at Barnes and Nobles, Stevens Creek

Book Reading of 10 Gulab Jamuns at San Francisco Public Library

Saturday, May 4, 2018 I feel really grateful today having just done a book reading at the San Francisco Public Library on the joint occasion of Children’s Book Week and Asian Heritage month. The building at Larkin Street is central and well connected. This time I had two special guests with me. My parents visiting me from India accompanied me to the reading. As soon as we reached the place our hostess Lyn was there helping us with parking, escorting us and making us comfortable. I felt so welcome. Thanks, Lyn for being such a great… Read More »Book Reading of 10 Gulab Jamuns at San Francisco Public Library

Book reading at Book Inc. Alameda

A few days back I did a book reading at Books Inc in Alameda. The store is in a great location in downtown Alameda – so much spirit and life in the city! I was so honoured to be featured on their displays for Children’s books as well as Diverse books. It was a dream come true to be on the same shelf with some of these authors. I made some close connections that day including a woman who has been working on opening a reading nook in a Laundromat that doubles as a hang… Read More »Book reading at Book Inc. Alameda

Quiet, Like you are sleeping

QUIET, LIKE YOU ARE SLEEPING It is my day to aid at my son’s school. I drive the familiar route. My NPR station is on from last night. I hasten to turn it off, but a bit too late. The words guns, shooting pervade the consciousness of my six-year-old. “Did somebody die?” he asks with big wide eyes. “Someone did bad things and hurt others”, I say weighing each word. How much does he need to know? “Is a bad person like a thief?” he continues. His only reference to evil doings is a folklore about… Read More »Quiet, Like you are sleeping

Book-reading at Books Inc. Santa Clara

I had a book reading of “10 Gulab Jamuns” this past weekend at Books Inc, Santa Clara. Robin and the entire staff were so welcoming. The story time included a quick introduction about Book Inc by Robin. It was really informative. A thumbs up to all those who are working hard on the indie bookstores scene. It is not just about the books, it is a community space for everyone. We in Santa Clara are lucky we have a place like Books Inc in our own backyard. I introduced Holi to everyone and we said “Holi… Read More »Book-reading at Books Inc. Santa Clara

Book Reading at Charlie’s Corner in Noe Valley

I had a most wonderful time reading at this beautiful bookstore. I used to live in Noe Valley before and would have loved to have a place like this to go to. But hurray for those who are living there now, this is really a special place! There is a room on the inside with mushroom stools and a tree hollow. Bright lanterns hang from the ceiling and there are of course books all around. There are story readings every day and then on the weekends too. The guys who run this place obviously love… Read More »Book Reading at Charlie’s Corner in Noe Valley

10 Gulab Jamuns at ICC – India Community Center

I had a vibrant and involved book reading session at the ICC center in Milpitas last weekI did a morning session with excited preschoolers. They were so involved. Everyone was excited to see foods that they recognized in the book. Later in the evening, I read to an enthusiastic bunch of after-schoolers. They were extremely active and eager. They listened carefully and some of them declared “I like the story”. I gave them a prompt of “If I had 10 Gulab Jamuns” and asked them to write a story with pictures and if they wanted, words. Boy, were they creative!

Laugh like crazy

My son may not share much detail of his every day, I have learned not to push, but sometimes he comes up with deep observations that really make me ponder. The other day I was picking up my son up from after-care. He showed me his art-work for the day, swung his backpack on and swooshed his paper plane towards the car. As I drove along, I could see him from my rearview mirror sporting a half smile, looking out of the window lost in his thoughts. Suddenly he asked, “Do you have friends that… Read More »Laugh like crazy

Book reading at picturesque Portola Valley library

I went in to read my book 10 Gulab Jamuns at the Portola Valley library. I was in for a beautiful surprise. As I drove along Sand Hill drive I forgot for a moment I was still in the busy Bay Area. It was green and verdant, mountains, trees when I looked out of the window. As I neared the destination I looked for the sprawling building, the strip malls, the shops around. Instead, I parked outside a beautiful log cabin-like structure surrounded by a little creek and a park echoing with the voices of… Read More »Book reading at picturesque Portola Valley library