I wrote about first prints and the joy of having the resource packs in hand. But how could I cut up the one electric loco kit I had? Now, armed with a spare set, I'm ready to make my own electric loco model.As a child, I loved jigsaw puzzles. I loved them so much that I used to compete with myself as I tried to make my puzzles faster and faster. And I had enough puzzles to make a mat of puzzles on the drawing room floor. Do you see the whizzing hands? Old habits die hard!And then, we have stage one of the electric loco for The Duronto Adventure. We're cutting the sheets, slowly but surely. I cut badly, rarely in a straight line. But does that stop me from enjoying it? Never!The process is slow ... Working on it a little every day, and loving it! … [Read more...]
Our Performance on Sunday
Performing for three minutes is often more trouble than it's worth ... not this time, though.People often assume that a three-minute performance is no big deal. Let's look at it this way, though. Leaving aside the time we take to choreograph, learn, coordinate and practise, we could just look at the day we perform. On Sunday, we performed at Empress Garden for Basant Utsav. The programme started at 9 in the morning.Wind back the clock. You need to factor in make-up, hair, costume and travel. We met at 6 to start. We got ready, made our way to Empress Garden, hung around until we performed ... And before we knew it, we were off stage again.But it was worth it simply because Empress Garden is such a lovely place to perform! Surrounded by trees, leaves crunching under our feet, a grey hornbill above us ...We were dressed and ready, well in time to take many, many … [Read more...]
Writers’ Club – The Last Session
A whole year with my first batch of the Writers' Club at St. Mary's School is over! We've written all kinds of things. I've put a few pieces up on my blog; I've made the girls write and rewrite, write and rewrite ... We did poetry, prose and drama. We worked with back stories, plot and setting. We played all kinds of games and we did all kinds of activities. And it was fun.During my first session, 60 children showed up. I knew many of them would not keep at it. I reminded them, several times, that if their compositions improved, or they began to write answers better, these would be side benefits. I warned them that I expected assignments to be submitted on time.And finally, about 15 stuck with it. They continued to attend sessions, even though writing regularly was tough, and I kept making them rework their pieces. During the orientation for the next batch, the girls kept … [Read more...]
Launch at National Rail Museum
I wrote about the launch of The Duronto Adventure and Bholu at the Level Crossing about three weeks ago. Finally, here are some pictures!The National Rail Museum was set up on the 1st of February, 1977. So, on the 1st of February this year, we were keen on launching at least the first book for each age-group.The Duronto Adventure, the first book for older readers, explores the electric locomotive, so here's a model that you can make for yourself if you have the kit!Bholu at the Level Crossing, the first book for younger readers, shows you a goods train. The goods train has (as one of my characters puts it) a 'big iron face'. The kit has a jigsaw puzzle of the big iron face!These books are not yet available at your local store, but they've officially been launched! And I'll keep you updated ... … [Read more...]
Reading Challenge at Dr Kalmadi Shamrao High School
Today was the closing ceremony of the Reading Challenge Programme at Dr Kalmadi Shamrao High School. Look at all the proud faces!I conducted two workshops for the children: one on idioms, the other on myths from different parts of the world. During the first one, we solved a crossword puzzle, played team games differentiating between idioms and proverbs, and attempted to guess the meanings of several idioms. I was very impressed by the number of idioms the children were able to explain!The second workshop I conduct as part of the Mythical Maze Reading Challenge is always more fun for the children. I divide them into groups and give each group a myth from some part of the world. All five groups work with myths explaining the same phenomenon - rain. They perform a skit, make a chart, explain the major ideas ... It was such fun, as always!This is just the beginning of a … [Read more...]
The Duronto Adventure Resource Pack
Of course I'm delighted with the books, but each book is also part of a complete resource pack!Each pack contains: A story A CD (with the ebook and lots of animation) A kit to build your own model of an electric locomotive! … [Read more...]
Two new books by Varsha Seshan!
It's been nearly four years since The Story-Catcher was published. Finally, here are two new books!Launched at the National Rail Museum yesterday, these books are currently available only at the Souvenir Shop of the museum. They are part of a kit that also contains a CD and an activity! Pictures of those will come soon ...The Duronto Adventure Chitra, Rohit, Priya and Deven are travelling by themselves for the first time. They are excited about their newfound independence, but little do they know that their journey is going to be even more adventurous than they imagine! When the train stops at Igatpuri and Rohit goes missing, Priya panics. Yet, this is only the beginning of a crazy ride ...Title The Duronto AdventureAuthor Varsha SeshanIllustrator Rishi BhardwajGenre AdventureAge-group 10+ Bholu at the Level Crossing Welcome to the … [Read more...]
Kayani Bakery
If you have not been to Kayani Bakery on a Saturday afternoon, you cannot have any idea what it's like. I cannot describe the way people crowd around the counter that they can reach, and around the counters that they cannot. I cannot describe how the red-faced men behind the counter serve customer after customer, cheerfully ignoring other customers who insist on shouting out their orders. Some of the men behind the counter smile and converse. Others give you withering looks. Still others lecture you on how you should wait for your turn. It's all part of the experience.Today, I was in Kayani Bakery, peacefully waiting, and amusing myself by watching how people cope with the crowd."Yes, ma'am?" came a cheerful voice.I placed my (rather large) order. As he put my order together, the gentleman explained to me the difference between plain cake and mawa cake. "You'll need two bags for … [Read more...]
Books I’ve Been Reading
Lots of travelling always means lots of reading! What better way to spend long train journeys?The Last Unicorn is a classic. If Patrick Rothfuss says it's the best book he has ever read, you know it's worth looking out for.Title The Last UnicornAuthor Peter S. BeagleGenre Classic/Fantasy/Fairy TaleRating (out of 5) 5Age-group 10+Among the most powerful books I have ever read, I now know that Theresa Breslin is an author I want to read more of!Title Prisoner of the InquisitionAuthor Theresa BreslinGenre YA/Historical FictionRating (out of 5) 5Age-group 13+I picked up this one because I was sure that a book called Travelling Backwards written by a person called Toby Forward had to be entertaining, at the very least. I was not disappointed.Title Travelling BackwardsAuthor Toby ForwardGenre Fantasy/MagicRating (out of … [Read more...]
A Brand New Series of Books on Trains: Coming Soon!
Do you know who Bholu is? Since 2002, this friendly guard elephant has been the mascot of the Indian Railways. I'm delighted to be writing a series of stories for children, featuring Bholu, along with many other characters.The series will target two age-groups: Younger readers (aged 5-8) Older readers (aged 9-13)The books for younger readers will have Bholu at the forefront; the ones for older readers will be adventure stories -- all set in and around the Indian Railways.Coming soon - both in print at the National Rail Museum, Delhi, and as ebooks! … [Read more...]