And we are a four year old now 💕
The journey that started with a few words years ago when the ten of us took to interweaving a fabric that shimmered as an intriguing tale running straight from our hearts to our readers homes, it’s been a blessing in disguise. I say so because it’s been a beautiful learning with some amazing people, some of us are established writers, some readers, businessmen, even teachers and an oncologist ! Eclectic mix truly when it came to the ten of us writers involved in this project! On a personal note, I’ve written romance, crime, scientific research & philosophy.. all for this book… and enjoyed it all !
Altitudinis has the writing team of Kusum Choppra, Indira Nityanandam, Priya Narayanan, Madhu Menon, Anu Chopra, Tulika Saha, Kalpana Ramrakhyani, Krunal Sangani, Shruti Gohel and me, Shagun Shukla. Our Facebook page of Altitudinis SSS will shed more light on all of us writers, the history of this project as well as the wonderful reviews it garnered from friends and readers around because people were happy that 8 women and 2 men had dared to fulfil a dream ! More than the praise, we’ve also loved the honest opinions of our critics and the next book hopes to work on that and more!
We were strangers when we first met, hardly knowing one or two amongst us. As the writing took shape, we became friends and even the biggest critics of each other because for us Altitudinis was a dream that meant much more than each one of us. Like our project initiator, Kusum Choppra said, “Chapters, characters, research, incidents, ego, expectations, all axed… Only thing that survived.. the manuscript !”
The History behind Altitudinis ….
She was sitting on a wrought iron bench under a flowering Champa tree that day. “Come down quickly to the garden. I want to show you something,” she had bubbled excitedly earlier over the society intercom. The ‘she’ here is Kusum Choppra, a journalist, prolific writer and acknowledged biographer of Mastaani – the second wife of Bajirao Peshwa, the Maratha warrior. Kusum lived in the same society as me back then and regular cultural events helmed by a group of us would ensure that she and others residents gathered at least once a month for an evening of fun, family and friendship – something that’s much needed in today’s world where neighbours become your immediate family.
That day as I went and sat on the bench beside her, the air was laden with the scent of the flowering tree. In her hands was a piece of paper, gently floating in the wind. “Read this….” She passed me the paper. As I sat reading the words, an image came to my mind, an old woman of royal bearings possibly handicapped and a younger one with her untamed beauty. What could be the connection between the two? As I finished reading that page and looked up at her, she probed, “Want to write?” “What… ahh… how? I’ve never written much. But yeah… ok… let me try.”
That’s me! Always hesitating to take the first step but then once my heart says ok, go… I take the leap of faith and am all positivism then.
So I took the paper from Kusum ji and spent a sleepless night ruminating over the words. Nothing. The next day too, I tried thinking and writing something that could connect the two women further and prior to their meeting, but zilch. Nothing happened. By the end of the week, I couldn’t do anything about that writing part. The weekend came and Kusum ji called me to come down to the same wrought iron bench. “Some more ladies of our society are ready to join in and write,” she bubbled excitedly. “Oh my gosh! more writers. That’s lovely,” I told her I’ll meet her downstairs in a jiffy. And since I never can say No… can’t do, for one last time, I pulled up my chair and opened my laptop and started writing. A scene formed. Events came in. Expressions took shape. Within next 15 minutes the story was about 5 pages long. Taking a print I rushed down to meet everyone. No ego at work there and no false pretenses. Just simple Type-A behaviour at play i guess. Some people, like me, work better under duress!
Well that was long ago. We formed a group of a few women who were creative, of different cultural backgrounds but with some spare time on hand and excited to write. And we started writing our story. Unfortunately, some of us shifted out, some couldn’t express in English but their thoughts flowed fluently in regional languages so it got difficult to connect, while some others felt time constraints cut sharply on their creative time. After a few brave attempts, the project got shelved. Kusum ji shifted to another society but her NGO work with schools continued and so did her creative pursuits through literary clubs based in the city. She again connected with a few writer friends from Ahmedabad Book Club, Visamo Foundation, the British Library and some more. An open invitation was once again issued to meet at her place on a fixed date and time. I too got a call.
On the designated day, I was so eager to connect back with the girl-from-the-page-with-the-untamed-beauty that I rushed over to the meeting place leaving my hubby to babysit my six-seven year old boys at home. That day, Kusum ji’s drawing room witnessed a myriad collection of people sitting on the red sofas, some on the floor cushions as the white linen curtains flowed in the wind and the tender leaves of the money plant opened wide. Someone had called someone else they knew. There was a link between a third person and the first somehow. All in all, what started as a meeting of strangers, quickly turned to a crackling gathering of like minded souls…. eager to think what happens next ! Tulika Saha of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books wrote down the rules…
A schedule was created. Timelines fixed for who writes next. We decided to meet every alternate Saturday and share and encourage the writings amongst us. The best part… No fixed plot line. We gave ourselves and each other complete freedom to just let the words flow. Ten chapters got written. Then we remembered to create – THE PLOT
Over cups of coffee and juice, popcorns and wafers, we discussed and dissected the story till we were all in accordance with the plot. Shruti, our delicate looking strong willed oncologist brought in anatomical details and kidnapping angles while Anu, our dramatic expresser wove insecurities and crime. Kalpana and Kusum ji gave twists and turns to the family feud while Madhu ji brought in the freshness of Himalayas to every campsite. Indira ji gave colour to the greying & failing relationships portraying pathos to perfection while Tulika brought in adventure. Krunal’s poetic thoughts summed up in the end were actually a climactic end to the soft dew drops traversing the leaves of separation. What a combined deck of cards we all were … each adding to the other’s story & thought process, picking up the threads and continuing the weave !
For almost two years, we would meet regularly once every week to discuss ideas, decide on who’ll write for the next fortnight, dissect what’s already written into two piles – keep or throw and finally end the meeting over awesome coffee and yummy food prepared by the host !
And then I shifted from Ahmedabad to Visakhapatnam, the coastal city by the Bay of Bengal. Though by then most of the book was written, Priya Narayanan, Kalpana Ramrakhyani & me, the three of us started editing the words. It took us almost an year to collate all the chapters into a perfect timeline, find out loopholes and fill it with situations and words.
I still remember once Priya & I were talking on phone and we were discussing, “let’s kill that guy… he’s of no use alive!” And Priya’s ten year old son was aghast at what he’d just heard !!! We would edit in red and share the chapters over emails back and forth, looping in Kusum ji to edit/add/proofread it all … oh! What an amazing experience that was. By the end of three years, the book was published and in our hands! The videos shared on the official FB page of the book say it all !
I still fondly remember when Priya shared the last chapter with me and the conclusion seemed to hang in the air… as though ending was incomplete somehow ! My poetic rumblings had overtaken me then and out poured a beautiful quote straight from my heart that’s marked the ending of our book. It reads like this….
“While man’s ego searches for destruction, his soul will continue to search for salvation”
Though now the book is available on kindle, there are still some paperbacks available with some of its writers in India. In case anyone wishes, I’ll share the email Id and you can collect this scientific thriller written as a collaboration project by ten of us writers. Though I am sure you’ll be surprised how can eight women & two men write a single story that runs smoothly without glitches & at a fast pace 🙂
Would love to know your thoughts too about this thrilling, heartwarming story !
Happy Bookversery 💕
Twisted Fabric 
It was great fun to learn about how this book came to be, Shagun. I remember being awestruck that so many authors had worked together seamlessly, and this insight into your group and the process was enlightening. It’s still remarkable to me, but less of a mystery. Congrats to all on your book birthday. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Diana 😍 I’ve been wanting to put this post together ever since you reviewed the book and so many queries were there about the process of collaboration … so here it is 😅
Though it’s much easier to write alone, collab is a roller coaster of a fun-filled adventure and a wonderful learning process too ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you did it. It shows all the work, the discipline, and organization that went into it. And the time! Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person