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This post is different form my usual posts about writing. It touches a matter close to my heart. Racism.
Like many immigrants, I have faced racism in America. The first time came as a shock, but later it learnt to ignore it, labeling it as 'ignorance' rather than 'prejudice,' although I know it for what it was. Coming from a privileged background in India, a Brahmin, An Indian Air Force Officer, and a doctor, I faced racism from an unemployed American white woman who wanted to rent out a room in her house. She told me she has come upon difficult times and while she usually rents to doctors and lawyers, she has to 'stoop' and rent to 'scum' students. I was a PhD student. I didn't tell her I was a doctor. I turned red and asked if there was a bus stop nearby; as a new immigrant, I didn't have a car yet. She gave me a dirty look and said, "You'd have to ask the cleaning ladies." I rented a place in a poor immigrant neighborhood and was happy to dwell with the 'scum' as she put it. My neighbors were cleaning ladies and plumbers and carpenters and handymen and a few starving students. We lived in harmony. That was twenty-five years ago. Even now, prejudice is rampant, but I am protected from it in my 'nice' neighborhood (also with lots of immigrants of color), and behind my whitecoat. In these troubled times when people are differentiated based on their skin color, gender identity and political views comes an important book by De. D. Dubois, called "Otherness: Souls of Brown Women." I asked the author: This book comes during troubled times. What made you write it? Have you ever faced overt racism or microagressions? If yes, tell us what happened, how you responded, or if you didn't respond, what you felt you should/could have done. Her answer: When in 1903, "W. E. B." Du Bois’ wrote The Souls of Black Folk, he wasn’t referring to one instance or decade of troubled times, but was referring to the collective struggle of the Blacks as they went through slavery, lynching, racism, discrimination, struggles to be accepted as humans – emancipation, etc. Albeit my book is out at a time when these troubles with “Otherness” are visible again, however these thoughts are well felt from the moment I was exposed to foreign education, and also to some extent education in my own country of origin – India (more of it in the book). It is a culmination of these combined experiences, as a woman and a brown woman, who literally grew into her adulthood in a white world that made me appropriate W.E.B. Du Bois’ black and male perspective, to fit my brown and female observations. Which surprisingly isn’t very different.1903 or 2003… century has passed by, yet mentality hasn’t changed. People try to quell their memories of WWI & WWII, supress memories of genocide by whitesplaining through “western guilt” concept, blame shifting or bigoted neglect. Fact is, the coloured were and are still oppressed. That brings me to this, yes; I have faced many sides of racism and (not so) microaggressions. Apart from India, I have lived/studied/worked/travelled in many countries around the globe. The aggravation started in Australia. Which was quite mild in today’s comparison. In Australia, people would simply start talking to me in Spanish as to them I couldn't have been an Indian. A perception, which is innately discriminatory – and we as Indians know that: North vs. South, stigma of “light skin” vs. “dark skin”. But this discrimination intensified as I remained abroad. When I got married to as Swiss, my first slap came from my sister-in-law, who openly discriminated against me, by saying – “she is marrying my brother for the papers”. Papers – as at – to her it was clear that 3rd World people are refugees in 1st World countries. Ignorance. I tried to talk to her and “enlighten” her, but only so much can be done when someone’s mind is made up. We ended up never seeing each other again. A huge step for a family-oriented Indian woman. But to be able to have that choice was liberating. My next big slap was when I enquired for my Bachelor’s (to study English) at the University of Fribourg of Switzerland, I received a negative reply that read: “in order to do your Bachelor's degree in English language with us, you need to complete a Bachelor’s degree in English from your country of origin”. Which was completely absurd as even Cambridge University wouldn’t have such expectations from their candidates! And I had nothing that I could do about this. So I decided to carry on with Design education. Where, if you read the first paragraph of my opening chapter, you’ll know exactly what I was facing from my classmates: discrete implications of my foreignness, and thus inferior origins! Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do if I hear one more person making fun of Indian accent – on my face! Or, telling me that India only has Punjabi MC for music! Even today, this hasn’t stopped. I get side-tracked, dissed and shunned based on my skin colour. If I point out racism I get hissed at and hushed by my new countrymen and women: Swiss! Note: To be a Swiss, one needs to have mastery over any one of the Swiss national languages and a working proficiency in another Swiss national language is a plus. Applicants must know Swiss history, culture, politics etc., when presented in front of a panel of judges. It is so difficult to be a Swiss, that there is a saying in Switzerland which goes like so: new Swiss national are more Swiss than “actual” Swiss! However, when you are “coloured”, all of that doesn’t matter. To the point, recently during a heated situation, I got discriminated by a German girl, telling me “I don’t understand how people like you get to be here…” … where “people like you” meaning coloured people from 3rd world countries, and “here” stands for the obvious – Switzerland, and studying for a Master’s degree (and despite getting excellent scores, not allowed/asked to exhibit at the final exhibition). Discriminated by a foreigner in my country because I am a brown woman, who speaks French as her main language in Switzerland (French is one of the 4 national languages of Switzerland) instead of German! Yet, I guess my biggest scar was when I missed my tram to college (The Basel School of Design) and was running to the next tram stop to catch the same tram. As I was crossing the pedestrian crossing with no stoplight for pedestrians – a car sped-up to the point that I had to jump to the other side to avoid being run-over (in Switzerland, no stoplight for pedestrians automatically implies that pedestrians have an upper hand and may cross at their free will – vehicles have to stop for the pedestrians). As I turned to look, the car stopped right in front of me. The driver rolled down his window and spat at me! Yelled in German, of which back then I only knew the word “Ausländer“ or “foreigner”; and drove off. Till this day I get nightmares: his livid face yelling at me. Yes, I face racism – as on top of being brown I am everything that goes against every grain of understanding and belief about brown women, and what she should be. I am articulate, I have a mind of my own, and if need be – I can beat these privileged non-coloured men and women at their own game– that makes me someone they get easily scared of – that makes me dangerous. You see, when I meet someone new, they don't necessarily like me, nor do they dislike me. But they are aware of my difference. Sooner or later this difference – which is first and foremost based on my colour and my gender, and then what the two stand together for in my country of origin, and how I defy that generalisation – that scares people. And yet, like any good brown woman, I step back in self-questioning. Sometimes I sympathise, as I see what privilege and ignorance does to people. I am perhaps in the best position to know that as in India I grew up as a privileged Brahmin girl with quite a remarkable (in terms of modest Bengali) lineage, and yet here I am – in a foreign country, fighting against any bigoted white privilege that intends on keeping me (along with many other women of brown heritage) down; just so I can have equal opportunity as a hard working and educated human. What I can do to aid this “brown” situation is – write. If I can put my thoughts and experiences out, perhaps this will give brown women courage to stand up against any kind of oppression. Perhaps my writing can make people aware of these problems – that first come from our brown world and then are reflected back on us through non-brown mirrors. 
OTHERNESS: SOULS OF BROWN WOMEN
by
De.B. Dubois
Blurb
Who is the brown woman? How does she live defined almost solely by her skin colour and all the history it carries? How do we carry racism deep within us even when we think we don't? These are questions that require deep thought and reflection, and that's what Otherness encourages us to do. In a world increasingly divided along the lines of colour, despite its apparent modernity, here's a hard look at the realities that lurk within us, both as individuals and as a society.
Read an excerpt here:
Who is the brown woman? How does she live defined almost solely by her skin colour and all the history it carries? How do we carry racism deep within us even when we think we don't? These are questions that require deep thought and reflection, and that's what Otherness encourages us to do. In a world increasingly divided along the lines of colour, despite its apparent modernity, here's a hard look at the realities that lurk within us, both as individuals and as a society.
Grab your copy @
About the author
De.B. Dubois is an Indian-born-Swiss visual artist and feminist writer. She grew up in Calcutta until she stepped out to explore the world by herself. Debolina Dubois-Bandyopadhyay, better known as De.B. Dubois is licensed with International Degrees in Communication Arts and Cultural Studies, as she extended her Fine Arts and Design education in Mumbai, Sydney, Basel and Paris. She is titled with a Master of Arts FHNW in Design from Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Basel, with special emphasis on Design Culture, Design Research and Sociology. This apart, she enjoys long walks through nature trails, a good glass of absinthe from Val-de-Travers, and creating visual arts.
Stalk her @
My guest post on the "Plotting" method appeared on Emilie Rabitoy's site. Here's an exerpt:
Ah! That dreaded first draft! Most authors have a favored way to creating their first draft. Some are “pantsers,” who dive in and start typing whatever comes to mind with just the basic idea of where the story will go, while others are “plotters” who plan every chapter and every scene. Somewhere in the middle are the “hybrids,” who have a fairly clear idea of what will happen, but only a vague idea of the where and why. In this segment, I will discuss the “plotting” method, in which the author decides the overall plot of the story, including specific characters, with a well delineated plan for each scene, accounting for the character arc and the three-part story structure, and developing the story with every pass. 1.OUTLINE: Only the basic information on what happens and to whom goes into the outline. The point of view (POV) is not necessarily assigned. It’s all “tell” and no “show” at this point. I’ll share my method. Using “Styles” in MS Word, I convert all the lines into “Headings” and turn on “view Navigation.” This allows me to clearly see what’s happening in the entire story, with the ability to move chapters around as needed. Using one line for each event, the outline for a 60K story can be written in one or two pages. EXAMPLE: Married woman bumps into ex-boyfriend who didn’t want kids. She doesn’t love her slob of a husband. Calls ex over for dinner. Husband gets jealous and has an affair. ? Hits wife or kids? Woman gets a divorce. Marries ex. (Silly plot, but let’s go with it). To read more, click here.
OTHERNESS: SOULS OF BROWN WOMEN
by
De.B. Dubois
Blurb
Who is the brown woman? How does she live defined almost solely by her skin colour and all the history it carries? How do we carry racism deep within us even when we think we don't? These are questions that require deep thought and reflection, and that's what Otherness encourages us to do. In a world increasingly divided along the lines of colour, despite its apparent modernity, here's a hard look at the realities that lurk within us, both as individuals and as a society.
Read an excerpt here:
Who is the brown woman? How does she live defined almost solely by her skin colour and all the history it carries? How do we carry racism deep within us even when we think we don't? These are questions that require deep thought and reflection, and that's what Otherness encourages us to do. In a world increasingly divided along the lines of colour, despite its apparent modernity, here's a hard look at the realities that lurk within us, both as individuals and as a society.
Grab your copy @
About the author
De.B. Dubois is an Indian-born-Swiss visual artist and feminist writer. She grew up in Calcutta until she stepped out to explore the world by herself. Debolina Dubois-Bandyopadhyay, better known as De.B. Dubois is licensed with International Degrees in Communication Arts and Cultural Studies, as she extended her Fine Arts and Design education in Mumbai, Sydney, Basel and Paris. She is titled with a Master of Arts FHNW in Design from Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst, Basel, with special emphasis on Design Culture, Design Research and Sociology. This apart, she enjoys long walks through nature trails, a good glass of absinthe from Val-de-Travers, and creating visual arts.
Stalk her @
 This month I interviewed Sandhya Acharya, author of lovely children's books.
I always enjoyed making stories for my sons. Some of these stories and just being around my sons and observing their antics have been the inspiration behind my adventure with children’s books. My first children’s book was titled Big Red Firetruck and was published through the Amazon KDP program in March 2016. It was well received with 4/5 rating with 29 reviews. But more than anything, it was such a fun project that soonafter I set my heart on another children’s book. This time my goal was to have hardcover books since children really enjoy the sensory experience of touching and feeling a book. That brings me to my latest children’s book 10 Gulab Jamuns - Counting with an indian sweet treat.
While on my writing journey, I learned there was a huge gap in the children’s books market. Did you know that ..
Brothers Idu (Ee-doo) and Adu (Aa-doo) are very excited. Guests are coming over for dinner and their Mamma has already cooked a lot. Next, she is cooking Gulab Jamuns, but Idu and Adu don’t know what Gulab Jamuns are. Before long, they discover just how good these wonderful golden, sugary syrup-soaked balls are and how quickly they melt in their mouths. But Mamma has only made 10 Gulab Jamuns. Will they last until their guests come? The book not only provides the opportunity for multicultural/south asian descent kids to relate to the characters but also encourages kids of all backgrounds to learn something new about each other. It includes some basic lessons in counting, models positive parenting through its fun story-line and also highlights sibling love and dynamics. What’s more, it includes a recipe by a well loved Bay Area food blogger to make those delicious Gulab Jamuns yourself. Nothing better than reading the book and then doing a fun cooking project with kids. The book is ready for pre-order here https://shop.trycelery.com/page/10-gulab-jamuns
I love to sit in coffee shops and libraries. Sipping a coffee, looking around, observing people and being surrounded by books is the perfect inspiration I need. It stimulates my thinking process and gives that perfect balance of having enough subtle distractions to concentrate.
 About the author
Sandhya Acharya grew up in Mumbai, India and now lives in the Bay Area. She previously worked in corporate finance and is now a writer. She is mother to two young boys, a dance and running enthusiast.Her articles have featured in NPR(KQED), India Currents and IMC connect. She won the third prize in Katha 2017, a short story contest by India Currents and Wellstone Center in the Redwoods for her story “Cherry Blossoms”. Her short stories have also appeared in literary journals like Peacock Journal, and Aaduna. She also blogs regularly at www.sandhyaacharya.com. Be sure to check out her facebook page and website www.facebook.com/AuthorSandhya www.sandhyaacharya.com And do remember to preorder a copy of 10 Gulab Jamuns. I promise it will be fun! https://shop.trycelery.com/page/10-gulab-jamuns  SINS OF THE FATHER BOOK 1 OF THE WELLINGTON ESTATES SERIES Police Officer Harrison McNamara grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. The former Wellington Estates heir has dedicated his life to taking criminals off the streets. But when he goes undercover to expose a blackmailing scheme, he meets a freelance model who may hold a key to his past. For psychologist Laura Carson, freelancing as a model is the perfect bridge until she can set up her practice. But her modeling agency isn’t what she expected. Encountering the enigmatic undercover cop might be everything she’s ever wanted—and everything she must avoid. As Laura and Harrison grow closer, their past threatens to destroy them. Trapped in an unending cycle of guilt and blame, can they find a way to bury the sins of the past for a future of redemption and love? Book 1 of the Wellington Estates Series, Sins of the Father is a stand-alone romantic saga. Coming on Sept 27th! 
 
Print Length: 109 pages
Publication Date: June 26, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
Genre: Romance
Love comes in different forms. But in all its forms, it comes with various challenges. Only those who can combat those challenges are true lovers.
The Untold Story is the tale of Vihaan and Riaa. Vihaan falls for Riaa’s charms at first sight and brings to her life crazy adventures and madness. They soon emerge as two hearts with one soul and their intimate fantasies begin to unravel in exotic places. Their bond experience more downs than ups. These unexpected twists and turns bring Vihaan and Riaa closer and their romantic tale turn into one of lifetime bonding. The story takes a drastic turn after the lovely couple is blessed with a baby boy. It should be a joyous moment, but instead, haunting memories of Vihaan’s own childhood break out as a fresh wound in his mind. Read the novel to know what could make a father unhappy in the happiest moment of his life and how he combats his fear.
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR
In the author's own words:
"The passion of writing is deep rooted in my blood.
After completing my Global Business Management certification from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, I joined hands with a few of my friends to start my first venture.
Post my stint with the venture, I engaged myself in my lovely family life and now I present to you the author in me."
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Today author Amy Hunter takes over my page with a discussion about her short story, "Salted Ground," appearing in the anthology A Haunting of Words, which also includes my brand new short story, "Jimmy's Shadow."
Blurb: Marley was convinced she had found happiness with Adam when he helped her escape an abusive relationship. When tragedy strikes, will she find hope or torment? What inspired you to write this story?: One of the many things I struggle with is not knowing when to let go… of anything. Marley became sort of a hero to me. In the first paragraph, she salted the ground and moved on, and in the rest of the story, she deals with the consequences. How long have you been writing?: I’ve been writing since my early teen years. Earlier than that, if you count the childhood plays my friends and I would perform for my mom (all of which received standing ovations). I moved on to high school journalism, which I thought I would make into a career, but here I am at thirty-three, diggin’ the hell out of fiction. What genres do you most associate with in your writing?: Suspense, Creative Nonfiction What are you working on right now?: "Monster’s Edge." When Coralie manipulates Shane into committing a crime, he double-crosses her and leaves her with a parting gift she’ll never forget. What else do you have available/published?: So far, aside from ‘A Haunting of Words,’ I also have a story called “Core” in ‘A Journey of Words.’ What advice do you give to new writers?: A piece of advice saved my life once and continues to do so every day. I feel like it applies here. So: remove the cotton from your ears and put it in your mouth. Listen and learn from those who came before you. Don’t assume you know everything. And hire an editor. Okay, so the editor thing came later, but do it. You’ll be glad you did. Where can people can find your work?: https://www.facebook.com/AmyUnleashed/ https://www.amyhunterauthor.com https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15700724.Amy_Hunter You can purchase A Haunting of Words (available in paperback and eBook) through the Scout Media online store at: www.scoutmediabooksmusic.com/a-haunting-of-words and get an exclusive companion soundtrack CD, or through Barnes & Nobles, Target, Books-a-Million, and Amazon. Share  Today author Kari Holloway talks about her short story, "Gunpowder & Wool" which appears in A Haunting of Words, a collection of spooky stories from authors around the world. Look out for my story Jimmy's Shadow which also makes an appearance. Synopsis of Kari's story: Corporal Hulett greets the morning on the eve of battle, readying his men to march forth, but what comes through the ghostly fog of gunpowder and scattershot leaves him defending the merits of battle and the rights of brothers-in-arms. What inspired you to write this story? Where I am from, Andersonville, Georgia, is a staple from school field trips, national holiday activities, and the yearly reenactments honoring the men who lost their life for a cause they believed in. Not the cause of the government, but the cause of being beside their neighbors standing up together as a united front. Millions were affected with the civil war, and we like to look at it as an overview, but for the men serving, it wasn’t black and white, ideas vs truth. How long have you been writing? Professionally, July 2015 marks the starting point. I wrote Cracked But Never Broken and haven’t stopped writing since. Prior to that, writing was a dirty little secret I hid from everyone, even my parents. What genres do you most associate with in your writing: Southern fiction is the umbrella I write while the specific genres would be romance (my Laughing P series) and paranormal (my Devil’s Playground series). What are you working on right now?: I’m working on the third Devil’s Playground novella, the final proofing for the second Devil’s Playground, titled Cry of Gold, which is due to be released in June. Never too Late is headed to the editor to finish up my Laughing P. I’m gearing up a book signing at Xion and having a table at Epicon. What else do you have available/published: Cracked But Never Broken (http://books2read.com/CrackedButNeverBroken) Behind the Lens (http://books2read.com/BehindtheLens ) Forgotten (http://books2read.com/DPForgotten) Beneath the Mask (http://books2read.com/BeneaththeMasks ) [a perma free short story found on all e-book retailers] Unbound (http://books2read.com/UnboundAnthology ) Love, Lust, and Scary Monsters (http://books2read.com/LoveLustScaryMonsters ) What advice do you give to new writers? Just because one idea doesn’t work now, doesn’t mean that idea won’t work later. For the easiest list, they can check out my site http://KariHolloway.wix.com/fiction or www.facebook.com/k.l.holly. I use books2read links which lead to global and universal links making it a one click button for those around the world. You can purchase A Haunting of Words (available in paperback and eBook) through the Scout Media online store at:www.scoutmediabooksmusic.com/a-haunting-of-words and get an exclusive companion soundtrack CD, or through Barnes & Nobles, Target, Books-a-Million, and Amazon.  |
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