The Fiction of truth, the truth of fiction

October 2008 issue of "das gefrorene meer", or the Frozen Ocean, features my story "The Mythic Picture." Check it out here. The story is here. Sushma Joshi: Sushma Joshi wurde 1973 in Kathmandu geboren. Sie studierte in den USA an der Brown University, wo sie einen Abschluss im Studiengang International Relations machte. Sie ist Mitherausgeberin einer Auswahl von Kurzgeschichten, New Nepal, New Voices (Rupa 2008), in der nepalesische Autoren ihre Texte in englischer Sprache veröffentlichen. Im September 2008 erschien eine Sammlung mit eigenen Kurzgeschichten der Autorin, End of the World (Rupa). Derzeit arbeitet Sushma Joshi als Medienberaterin für das Office of Transitional Initiatives, ein USAID-Projekt, das sich mit Friedenskonsolidierung in Nepal befasst.

The Autumn 08 Issue THE NATURE OF NATURE Volume 3 Issue 3 The Autumn Interview Talking with Malidoma Patrice Somé “Ritual, Remembeing & Healing” New Fiction: from Sushma Joshi "Rain" Encounters at the End of the World by Teresa Podlesney "Transformed" by Jim Rousmaniere Mountains and Waters Sutra by Dogen Zenji Poetry from: Leah Meryl Harmon, Eric Trethewey, T.S. Eliot, Tim Mayo, Charles Wright, Jay Parini, Michael Blumenthal "Initiation: Remembering One’s Purpose" Malidoma Patrice Somé

Insights into Nepal PRERANA MARASINI Short stories that traverse many topics but remain rooted in the Nepali context. New Voices, New Nepal ; edited by Sushma Joshi and Ajit Baral, Rupa, Rs. 195. New Voices, New Nepal is a collection of stories written by Nepali writers, living in different parts of the world. The aim of the anthology, say the editors, is to give a feel of these writers' association with their country, in which many stories are successful. Among the best are "The Hill" and "Of Heroes and Onions". The Hill, written by Greta Rana is a story of a lush-green hill with thick forests, which loses all its beauty when marble miners devastate it. Greta writes: "The quarry was a deep wound into the main body of the hill: a huge Caesarean section that was performed by several mechanized monsters with pincered shovels….Under artificial lighting the machines plunged in and out in a kind of macabre simulation of gigantic copulation: continual rape."...

To read The Hindu's review of "New Nepal, New Voices," click here . "This anthology has stories from all spheres — from inept bureaucracy to politics, from aspirations of the youth to cynicism of the elderly, all mostly in Nepal’s context. As far as language is concerned, renowned writer Samrat Upadhay says, “The narratives are distinctively Nepali, but they also move ahead the boundaries of the parochial, landlocked Nepal and reveal a country whose physical space is as fluid as its national identity.”"

ART MATTERS, a collection of my art reviews, is now out in book form with the generous support of the Alliance Francaise in Kathmandu. Check it out in the bookstores in Thamel.

The anthology has 15 stories from writers from Nepal. The book is available in India and Nepal. In Kathmandu, check Pilgrims, Mandala, Vajra, United and others!

"New Nepal, New Voices" launched at the Alliance Francaise . The book will be launched at Alliance Française in Kathmandu on Friday, September 5th, 6.30pm in the presence of some of the authors, who will read various stories at that occasion. All are welcome till hall is full. Refreshment will be offered.