Soft Launch: Journey to the East
Family and villagers launching the book
I received a call in the morning,
“I have sent a parcel with a friend and he will be reaching Narvan in an hour.”
Against all odds, after almost giving up and suspending the entire project, I pushed myself a little bit further, just enough the cross the finish line, to say today that I finally self-published my first book at 27.
I know, this sounds so wrong for those who were expecting a traditional book deal, but does it really matter?
Not having control over the process. Changing the entire narrative of the story, just to make it reach more audience- that didn’t feel genuine and authentic, especially after the struggles that I had been through. The walk itself was personal and so was the year long hardship which came out of the realisations from this walk. I decided to leave England behind, for good and re-settle in my village in India. That meant stunting my growth and leaving behind many opportunities that had opened up while my stay in England. Still, I went along.
Sometimes, the best option is to realise that you just have to take the first step, the rest will follow if it has to. And if life is a joke, it’s better to put a story that lives up to that joke. What’s in it to be normal? Do things like most others?
A writer had told me, sleep on it for a few years. If I were to listen, it might have given the traditional publishers all the juice that they needed, but it would have dried up my creativity until then.
Never mind, things happen for a reason and I did not choose any of this. I went along and things kept happening. I keep reminding myself, that I am just a witness watching all this happen, laughing at myself on most parts, thinking, I could have very well ended up as a gallery assistant in Bristol if it were not for this walk. Whatever it is, I am content today. I may not be the best-selling author, but I would have a very personalised connection with the readers of this book.
Thankyou in advance for buying my book. Many of you who subscribed “The Book of Ptah” went on to order the book. I am grateful to you and I hope you will share the word..
Here are some pictures from the soft launch of “Journey to the East” from our village. When I left for the walk, all these people that you see in this photograph helped me in the preparations- my grandpa on the extreme left, grandma on the extreme right, uncle in the center, Sanju dada -center left, Vishram ajoba - center right. So, I thought it would only be apt to launch this book alongside them. If you are wondering how I look like - I am sitting in the center with the book. www.ashutoshjoshi.in
Here’s Sarthak, asking you all to promote the book!
In 2022 I left off on a walk across India and ended up walking 1800 km from Narvan on the west shore, to Visakhapatnam on the east shore. Initially to document the issues plaguing rural India, the project unfolded to become an unforgettable voyage of self-discovery; involving sleeping in unfamiliar places, venturing alone through the Naxalite insurgent jungles, and even being interrogated in a jail cell.
After contemplating on what is the right way forward, I have come to the conclusion that I will self-publish it. It is already with the printers and the first copies will be sent out all around the world this coming 25th. If you are interested in reading about my journey and supporting me to become a full-time writer, please consider buying “Journey to the East”- which is currently available through my website. www.ashutoshjoshi.in