In Conversation with Ekta Bhandari, Anurag Kothari, and Kalpak Chavan of Read A Kitaab on my debut novel - The D'Costa Family.

The Goan Indian D'Costa family descends into glorious chaos after patriarch Don Theodore's death. His widow Rita, who never loved him, launches a campaign to install their gravedigger son Jason as the new Don, bribing tenants, and manipulating family members. Meanwhile, her pregnant daughter-in-law Annette juggles a secret lover, stolen jewelry, and an accidental shooting, while Inspector Gaitonde - allergic to family drama - stumbles upon the D'Costas' most absurd secret beneath Jason's manicured graveyard. As real estate schemes collapse, guns are mishandled, and a Catholic-Hindu wedding spirals into hullabaloo, Rita recognizes the madness of the patriarchal power game she had been playing, finding unexpected solidarity with the tenants she once chose to exploit. The D'Costa Family is a wild ride packed with over-the-top characters and crazy twists that come fast and unexpected - sometimes emotional, sometimes macabre, but always gripping.

'A darkly comedic family caper filled with gangsters, gold, and Goan grit, The D’Costa Family is a madcap saga of greed, deception, and one last shot at legacy.' -- Jesal Shah, Filmmaker

'From the very first page, the story keeps you hooked, filled with dark humor, warmth, and an undeniable charm.' - Priyanka Tanwar, Filmmaker

'Rochelle masterfully crafts each character with such rich detail that they leap off the page, making their world impossible to resist.' - Namrata, Literary Consultant

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While at the Indo-Danish Kurindan International Writing Residency 2024, curated and directed by Claus Ankersen, two participants: Lærke Helene Askholm and Rochelle Potkar informally chat about their literary journeys.

Bio notes -

Lærke Helene Askholm is a Danish writer and singer. She writes fiction, non-fiction, lyrics, and creative texts for music and films. She holds a B.A. in International Corporate Communications as well as a M.A. in Social Work. In 2023 she published ‘Ude ved postkassen’, (Outside by the Mailbox), an illustrated collection of fiction texts on growing up speaking to young and adult readers alike. Her second book of fiction, ‘Andalucia in My Eyes’ (Andalucia i mit blik) is currently under publication.

Rochelle Potkar is a poet, author, and screenwriter based in Mumbai. Her books include: Four Degrees of Separation, Paper Asylum, Bombay Hangovers, and Coins in Rivers.

As Saritha told the audience at the @madrasbookclub, she had 2 confessions to make.

One that she knew me (aka) @rochellepotkar for 20 years. So the evening was a conversation between friends as it was a discussion about my book of poetry, Coins in Rivers.

Two, she didn't normally read poetry. She felt Poetry was subjective both to the poet as well as the reader, and Indian schools have done a disservice by teaching poetry as a subject for scoring marks instead of teaching us how to appreciate it and relate to it based on our own life experiences.

So what a wonderful time was had between poet and non-reader of poetry talking about words and imagery and verses and lines. When Rochelle read/performed her poem, Harry Mendonsa, it was a revelation about how poetry can be read. 'Pav' was a Haibun that showed Saritha and the audience layers of thought in a limited word count. 'Toys of Chitrakoot' was a telling commentary on capitalism.

Saritha concluded:'I may, after all, have learned there's more to poetry than just the rhyming and structure that I remember from my school days.'

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It was lovely to meet Sivakami Velliangiri and Chandramohan Naidu and everyone else. Maya Sharma Sriram was sorely missed.

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The next day saw book-signing events at Higginbotham and Odyssey bookstores. You will find an author-signed copy of Coins in Rivers if you drop by these bookstores.

What a pleasure it was to be in conversation with poet Poornima Laxmeshwar over Coins in Rivers (@hachette_india) at Atta Galatta, Bengaluru, on 14 September 2024, amid a rapt audience.

Thank you Poornima for your Ph. D-like questions on the poems.

Also, thanking the very receptive audience and the bookstore team - Prerna Prakash and Siddharth for coordinating this effectively.

A conversation over Coins in Rivers with Dr. Rashmi Lee George and the faculty and students of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai was full of fun, insight, and quirk. I enjoyed questions from both faculty and students and how they read my poems in a constellation in class. I shared thoughts and views on creative writing and the journeys and processes of Poetry.

Interacting with bright and brilliant minds is always energizing. What a wonderful morning spent in Mumbai with Poetry!

It was a well-researched conversation that Nicole Suares had with me over Coins in Rivers (Hachette India) at the Broadway Book Centre, Panjim, Goa.

Govind Potekar later wrote about it in O Herald.

My most stunning moment was to see Manohar Shetty and Devika Sequeira at the launch.

Poet and academician Dr. Bhawna Vij Arora was in conversation with me on 20 May morning at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), Delhi after an invitation by dean Dr. Salonee Priya.

Presenting my points of view and my poems from Coins in Rivers and speaking to Bhawna's many questions for collegians - the young of heart and mind, and the faculty members of VIPS was energizing.

With the mesmerizing and iconic researcher, curator, co-founder of the Goa Heritage Action Group, writer, and poet Heta Pandit whose unique gleanings and questions shaped our discussion on my poetry book launch of Coins in Rivers at The Dogear’s Bookshop Margao, Goa - this was an evening to remember. Also, the audience was rapt and attentive, very engaged, and had scores of remarks, questions, and comments.

Thank you, Leonard and Queenie Fernandes.