Seasons greetings from Dhaka! This is Author Abroad, a newsletter on reading, writing and reflections from a life abroad. In this edition, I talk about how it feels to be published one year on, the distinctiveness of Bangladeshi rickshaws, and some of the books I’ve been reading.
Writing
December 6th marked one year since the release of my debut novel, The Golden Land. In the lead-up to this anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on how being published compares to my expectations. Here’s what I’ve come away with :
Being published hasn’t changed me in any discernible way. I used to think published authors were superhuman, that they held some kind of secret knowledge about writing and maybe even life itself. And, if I’m perfectly honest, I still think that about some of them. As for me, nothing much has changed.🤣 I’m just as amazed and bewildered by the world around me, and still in awe of the written word.
Publicity is nice, but what writers really want is to find our readers. No book is for everyone. Just as I don’t typically like mystery or true crime, I know there are people out there for whom The Golden Land might not resonate (gasp!), and that’s okay. What I want is to find and reach those readers who will connect with the novel, but how? More and more, I think it comes down to something completely out of my control—good, old-fashioned word of mouth.
Imposter syndrome never goes away. Like many writers (artists? people?), I continue to suffer from self doubt, convinced that everyone else’s writing is better than mine, that The Golden Land getting published was just a fluke. The only consolation is knowing that I’m not alone. Nearly every writer I know suffers from imposter syndrome at one point or another. There was an entire workshop dedicated to the topic at a recent writing festival I attended.
I’m amazed by how many people, including many I’ve never met, have helped me along my journey. I’ve never been very good about asking for help, but the reality of writing and publishing a book is that you can’t do it alone. You need early readers, critique partners, people to write blurbs, people to host and organize book events, conversation partners for those events, book reviewers, podcasters, other interviewers, and of course, readers. Most of these people are writers or other lovers of literature, who do this work for FREE. So, thank you. I am so very grateful for your support!
Giving back is just as rewarding. Becoming published helped me understand and embrace what it means to be a literary citizen, that is, doing for others all the things people did for me. As it turns out, I get a lot of satisfaction out of writing blurbs and book reviews, interviewing other writers, providing editorial feedback, being a part of writer’s groups, and volunteering for all sorts of other writerly things. Read, think, engage, write. This is the life of a writer.
Book promotion is a mixed bag. To be a successful writer today, you also have to be a salesperson, willing to sell not only your books, but also your “brand.” This means posting regularly on social media and generally taking every opportunity you can to remind people about your book. Not only am I terrible at self marketing, I also find it really discouraging. But… Some of it is actually fun, like speaking about the process of writing. After so many years of writing in secret, being able to share my experience with others is gratifying.
Hearing from readers is magical. (See last month’s post for more on this.) I can’t say enough how happy it makes me to receive a note from a reader telling me what they liked about The Golden Land. It’s not the compliment that feels so good (although that is nice, of course!), it’s the connection, the fact that someone out there understood what I was trying to say.
Life abroad
Also on December 6th, UNESCO officially recognized Bangladeshi rickshaws and rickshaw art as intangible cultural heritage. Rickshaws are ubiquitous in Bangladesh. They transport people, move furniture, double as food carts, collect trash, and quietly perform countless other tasks without contributing to air or noise pollution. And with their bright, colorful designs, they add a welcome splash of color to the interminable traffic and smog.
Typically, the hood, back panels and sometimes the passenger seat are painted in bright colors with depictions of flowers, animals, famous actors, scenes from films, and even historical events. Because they need to be repainted once a year, the themes often change to reflect current events. During the World Cup, for example, many rickshaws were decorated blue and white in a display of support for Argentina. Here’s one that’s been decorated for the UK High Commission:
In other news, as a side-gig this past month, I’ve been editing a series of reports on various aspects of gender in Bangladesh. Those of you who are regular readers of Author Abroad will know how passionate I am about this subject, so I’m pleased to be able to contribute in some small way to this cause. I’m also encouraged by the number and breadth of initiatives to improve the plight of women and girls in Bangladesh—from the classroom to the workplace to the home.
Meanwhile, here in Dhaka, and across the globe, we just finished 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual, international campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. The campaign starts each year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day—in recognition of the fact that violence against women and girls is the most pervasive form of human rights violation in the world. If you’re interested to know more, I recommend this excellent op-ed, written by three women heads of UN agencies resident in Bangladesh.
Reading
The Fraud by Zadie Smith, audiobook narrated by Zadie Smith (Penguin Books, 2023)
I listened to The Fraud on audiobook, narrated by the author herself. It took me a beat to get used to Smith’s accent(s), but I very quickly fell into the story and came away amazed not only at her writing ability but also at her talent as a voice actor. The main protagonist is the irresistible Mrs. Eliza Touchet, the wonderfully complex, often judgmental, and surprisingly salacious, Scottish housekeeper of a once famous, but mostly talentless, novelist. Set in London during the mid-1800s, the story revolves around the real, historical trial of a working-class man who claims to be the long-lost heir to a titled aristocrat with a large fortune. Over the course of the novel, Eliza becomes increasingly absorbed in the trial and especially fascinated by the main witness, a very distinguished, former Jamaican slave by the name of Andrew Bogle. In this meticulously researched and astute historical novel, Smith wrangles with the same thorny questions of class, race, and gender that continue to confound us today. A little on the long side, but highly recommended.
The Salt Path: A Memoir by Raynor Winn (Penguin Books, 2018)
My Dhaka book club pick this month was Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path, the extraordinary true story of a middle-aged couple who make the mind-boggling decision to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path of England after losing their house of 20+ years to creditors, and in the same week, learning that he has been diagnosed with a terminal disease. Living on £48 a week, they survive by camping wild, drinking copious amounts of tea, and eating as little as a bar of fudge each day.
I alternated between shock at their questionable choices (I mean, why not a banana?), admiration for the simplicity of their life, and a bit of skepticism about what the author might have left out and/or over-embellished. Nevertheless, The Salt Path is a good read and a remarkable story about love, homelessness, and the transformative power of nature. And apparently, it being adapted into a film—the scenery is sure to be amazing!
That’s it for this month. Let me know what you think of the newsletter. I’m always happy to hear from you!
💕 Liz