book no 2 – soniasmusings

The last couple of weeks have been way too hectic. My second book is getting ready for launch, and I’m excited about the cover image that landed in my inbox this week (I can’t wait to share it with the world now). As the book goes for printing in another couple of weeks, I’ve started proofreading my third book, which should be ready in a few months. Hopefully, the third book will be released in the first quarter of 2025.

This is what juggling work and family commitments look like

Amidst all the chaos and my son’s upcoming first-semester exams this month, I’m worried about how I’ll deal with everything happening together. But that didn’t deter us from celebrating my birthday last month on the twenty-ninth.

With the cake-cutting at midnight followed by opening the gifts from my in-laws, Baba, the husband, and my darling son, I had a lot of fun throughout the day.

I could wrap up 2022 with joy and satisfaction as I hit the send button for book no. 2 (the second in the Detective Raya Ray series) to my publisher. Unfortunately, 2023 began with a shock as my father-in-law had a nasty fall. He underwent surgery for a broken bone. By God’s grace, he’s better now and recovering well. In January, we celebrated Saraswati puja and explored some delectable cuisines at different restaurants.

A month into 2023, I was chasing the deadline for book no. 3, my first commissioned project for a true crime story from the past. It was also the month my seven-and-a-half-year-old was due for his final assessment. Kolkata was under the grip of a deadly virus, and almost everyone I know, including me, was grappling with a weird kind of flu that just refused to go away.

By the beginning of March, things started looking better as I delivered the manuscript within the deadline, and we showed signs of recovery from the flu. The son finished his exams on the 6th of March, and we took off for a mini vacation to Mandarmani the next day.

Since the 7th of March was Holi, we played with colors before diving into the Mandarmani sea. Three days of a beach holiday rejuvenated our minds and bodies as we explored Tajpur Beach and Mohana near Digha Beach, experimented with local cuisine, and spent hours at Mandarmani beach. Of course, we didn’t want to return as the break got over.

The kid has his session break; I have taken another week off to spend time and play various indoor games with him. After three years of working non-stop on both books, writing and editing them, I decided to take time off before getting involved in the prepublication stages of my upcoming books. So, here we are, watching children’s movies like Sonar Kella, reading story books, playing puzzles and brain games, and squeezing out every minute to enjoy to the fullest.