Hi Alka joshi I really enjoyed your book the henna artist and cannot wait for the next book. What is your favourite character you've written for the book? And what was your inspiration for your book? do you have any favourite books? Did those books help give you inspiration for your books? Sorry for the bombardment of questions but I enjoy your work. From Sarah

Alka Joshi Thanks for loving The Henna Artist! I love hearing from readers :-). I loved the characters of Lakshmi (who was inspired by my mother), Malik (who is the most loyal street urchin you'll meet), and Maharani Indira, who waters her orchids with gin and tonics (I loved all her eccentricities, including the talking parakeet).

My inspiration for the novel was my mother, whose life I wanted to reimagine as an independent woman who forges her own life and livelihood in a way my mother never had the chance to. Although she died two years into the writing of the book, mom has never left me. She's with me every single day in my memories, my imagination, and my creative spirit.

I have lots of favorite books, including the ones I mention in my Acknowledgements, at the back of THE HENNA ARTIST. These were the books that informed the political, social and cultural climate of the novel. I also watched a lot of Indian films taking place in the 1950s to understand the nuances of clothing, traditions, and social relationships.

Here's a presentation I did for the San Francisco Library that will give you even more detailed answers (it was a lot of fun!). I start speaking around minute 7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHRpT...

Thanks so much for your questions! Hugs, Alka

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