READER TESTIMONIALS

Welcome to my Reader Testimonials! In here, you'll find thoughts on my work from those in the publishing industry, as well as from those of a dozen different industries. Let me just list one of my favorite testimonials here:

Je regrette infiniment de ne pas être capable de lire de la fiction en anglais, car j'aurais beaucoup aimé lire tes oeuvres.
(I infinitely regret not being able to read fiction in English, because I would've loved to have read your work.)
--Pedro Vianna, Poet, Paris, France.

Now if that doesn't feel like a sign to keep going, what does? :) I have received so much encouragement from so many people over the years, that I can't imagine having come this far without their messages of support. Here follows one of my favorite notes of encouragement, from a friend who kept insisting that I never lose faith in my values and worldview:

The secret of life is never to give up on our dreams!! Sometimes we have to keep our dreams in the fridge, and we have to wait, wait, wait,...But one day, our dreams can become true!! And this is super!!!!
--Aline Uebe, Marketing professional for NGO's, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Please read another one of my favorite notes of encouragement, at the end of this section.

READER TESTIMONIALS:

From those in the Publishing Industry:
The Moment, Before Sleep (Novel)
Grace of Small Ghosts (Short Poetic Fiction)
Castles of Ancient Thought (Poetry)
Day the Last Dreamer Died (Dystopian)
Discovery of Laughter (Short Story Written at the Beginning of 2007)


FROM THOSE IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY:

There are many things to like about this charming novel. Ms. Premachandra is an imaginative, fluid writer who demonstrates a high sensitivity to the wavering of the human psyche as it reacts to the push and pull of the exterior world. She tries to articulate the essence of all that surrounds us and is beyond us-God, nature, death, life-and rightly shows that, while we may not fully comprehend these phenomena, our efforts to understand them are the common bond of all humanity. The Moment, Before Sleep has several qualities that give it a good chance of making it; it is a well-told story by an articulate writer; its search for significance and beauty will touch many readers seeking solace in books after September 11th, and it should benefit from the recent surge in popularity in Indian culture and religion and the high visibility of [Indian] writers.
--Chuck Kim, Editor, Welcome Rain Press

I had the pleasure of having had passed on to me Nartana Premachandra's remarkable first novel The Moment, Before Sleep. Ms. Premachandra is a marvelously talented writer-and for me perhaps above all, a gorgeous lyricist. Her prose evokes her many characters' worlds with grace and style, not to mention originality...nothing can take away from the beautiful prose Ms. Premachandra is capable of, or her desire to take on the (sometimes painful) themes she does here, often stunningly.
--First reading by Robin Desser, VP of Alfred A. Knopf

This is a lush and poetic novel, and I'm glad to have read it
(Second reading).

As last time, I found the language quite rich. But in spite of the beautiful writing, and the extensive revisions that you made, I'm afraid I didn't respond as I'd hoped to the work as a whole.
(Third reading).

The language is lyrical, the characters vividly evoked.
(Fourth reading).

I would like to emphasize here once more how very grateful I am to Robin Desser for having read the work of an unknown writer. As I mentioned in my intro, I just don't think Knopf was meant to be!

It [The Moment, Before Sleep] is certainly one of the most beautiful novels I've read in some time. It's clear you have amazing talent and a good ear and eye for luscious detail in sound and vision, not to mention texture. It's an honor for me to represent you as a writer.
--My former agent

You are quite a gifted writer. Your voice is lush and fluid and tremendously intuitive. There's a lyrical, mystical quality to your voice that is really captivating. The narrative itself has some truly amazing, beautiful moments. Though your talent is considerable and your novel has tons of potential, I am unable to offer you representation at this time.
--one of my "close calls" with an NYC agent. I had a lot of those! I threw out a couple of hundred rejections in June 2006.

I guess my time just hasn't yet come, huh? :)


READER COMMENTS ON THE MOMENT, BEFORE SLEEP:

I love the way your book is not only highly poetic, a balm for the pusher-work-driven spirit like mine, but at the same time it has the intrigue and "must-read-on"-ness of a page-turner. That's why when I read your work it is really a feeling of diving into it....The miracle of your novel was how you managed to weave magical fantasy into your book, and make it look normal. Life must be a constant wonder for you! I decided now to start looking for the magic in the everyday. You have convinced me that now it is possible to not only see it, but also to believe it.
--Dr. Susie Dunkley, Sydney, Australia

I must tell you that your language is truly beautiful, surprising, exceptionally poetic...I remember being stunned by the style. I've never seen anyone do language like you do! This is not a sit-in-the-drawer novel. I think you have worked a wonder.
--Marjorie Stelmach, Director, Howard Nemerov Writing Scholars Program, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

I loved the novel for its beautiful writing and the fact it took me to a time and place that was so unusual. One thing that I can tell you is that your writing is incredibly deep and intellectual and spiritual. I was very motivated to finish the novel-it does require an intellectual and emotional commitment to the book. It is really amazing and beautifully written.
--Scott Stern, CEO, LendersOne Mortgage, St. Louis

I think the story has a Magic Realism drive, with added elements of personal philosophy, with ideas such as the unity of all religions, of all mankind, and of the ethical imperative to assist any fellow humans in need and to reject arrogance. Apart from Akbar and Ashwini other important characters are Robert and his wife Pearl, Nyana and the murderous boy Samuel, the ill-fated Eric and Susanna Gil from America, and the blind poet (Borges) from South America. All their views, experiences, and interactions help to broaden the reader's horizons....The work ends in a very effective sequence of events...All in all an effective and thought-provoking conclusion. At the end the reader will have been challenged, inspired, and informed. P.S. In retrospect your juxtaposition of historical, male, Muslim Akbar and fictional, female, contemporary Hindu Ashwini is brilliant, and a perceptive editor will recognize this.
--Kevin Herbert, Professor Emeritus, Classics, Washington University, St. Louis (Also WWII fighter pilot!! Flew a bomber over Japan!!!)

That Ms. Premachandra's exquisite novel remains unpublished is inexplicable to me. Through word of mouth, a large number of individuals, from strikingly different socio-cultural backgrounds, have read her work and derived enormous pleasure from its alchemical blend of poetry and prose. The eternal literary themes of death, love and the nature of the universe are explored in such a profound and deeply affecting way that a complete reconsideration of one's own life and ontological premises is eliecited by the time one reaches the final page. Whilst the innovative stylistic structure and content makes the text difficult to place within canonical publishing rubrics, it should be remembered that powerful books that have the ability to touch the souls of all who read them are notoriously difficult to categorize. This narrative, which at times reaches heights of lyrical beauty and strangeness comparable to the best of magical realism, can be disturbing and disorienting, particularly the scenes set in Rwanda, but ultimately reveals its internal logic and meaning in an extremely satisfying, if heartrending manner.
---Anne Louise Avery, Art Historian, Oxford, United Kingdom

"Premachandra's brilliant first novel is extremely surprising because of its unconventionality and lyricism. Unlike many other Indian novelists who usually narrate some facet of the Indian identity, Premachandra effortlessly transcends cultural and temporal boundaries by elegantly interweaving the experiences of individuals from radically different backgrounds and time periods through the medium of dreams.
Without a doubt, this young author will positively redefine Indian, and indeed, American literature through her risk-taking and her excellent command of figurative language."
--Kiran Rajagopalan, College student, classical Indian dancer, Boston, Massachusetts

First of all, I am so impressed with your command of the language-you use its richness to the fullest extent and often times it is the simple words that you string together with such a beautiful outcome. As for the plot it reveals itself very slowly and well. The story peels away like an artichoke-layer by layer-it is fascinating. The bit about Parvati was great.
--Mrinalini Rao, VP of Academic Affairs, University of Illinois

This is a great story. In the beginning I wasn't sure what was going on, with Akbar being from the 16th century and Susanna being from the present. It wasn't until later that I began to see the connection between those two, as well as the other main characters. The book is good, and I can see that you put a lot of work into it. You seem to have a world view that comes across in the locations you use in the story. I believe you will get published. Just keep trying!
--Garrett Mason, Former Borders coworker and writer, St. Louis

How do I begin? You're amazingly talented. You're an elegant story-teller....You've created vibrant familiar characters who leave lasting impressions. You've introduced them in a beautiful, memorable way. In my opinion, the best part of this book is how the words are chosen so carefully, and the sentences are arranged in such a way...almost as if you thought deeply about each and every word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph. I knew from the very beginning, that I'd be touched in some way. Books don't really do that to me...until now.
--Liz Williams, Former Borders coworker, St. Louis

I wonder where your inspiration comes from? I think your novel is very strong with many perfect passages. Thanks for letting me read your book. Quite an imaginative story! The work takes all my attention, and I like that. Thanks again...what a lovely book.
--Mickey Madden, Retired English and writing teacher, St. Louis

At the risk of repeating myself, let me thank you for the privilege of reading your manuscript. It's exciting-make that exhilarating-to read a work brimming with talent and imagination, both of which your work offers in abundance. From the earliest draft, I was struck by your talent. You are writing about extremely complex themes. In addition to a story's usual components of plot, character, and language, you touch on philosophy, religion, and the very essence of words themselves-and you do it with a use of imagery that is nothing short of breathtaking. More than anything else, your story seems to be a celebration of language, words distilled into syllables.
--Lois Standing, Former Borders coworker, St. Louis

Two powerful themes emerged from this novel: the universality of loss and suffering, and the ability of humans to survive intact from terrible loss or suffering and to do positive things with their lives. Personally, I know this is a good novel, because the characters became real to me-when I was finished reading the book, I continued to think about the characters and wonder about their lives and their future.
--Susan Scupin, Librarian, St. Louis

This is going to come off sappy and mushy, but your novel is just so beautiful. Your words are like magic...I can't think of anything else that I've ever read that speaks to my soul the way your words do.
--Nilima Shah, Accountant, Washington D.C.

You give "tools" to the reader, he can fly! You give the same importance for both (environment and character), and it is because people and nature are linked! Many times we talked about this "link" among all creatures, about "life is a cycle". This is because you admire the life and every small thing.
--Aline Uebe, Marketing professional for NGO's, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ojalá tengas buenisimas noticias y alguien te publique el libro, merece la pena que todo el mundo tenga acceso a ese mundo tan rico que tienes de fantasia, ilusion, y gran inteligencia. (I hope you receive good news on your novel, and that someone publishes it, for the whole world deserves to have access to your rich dreamlike world of fantasy and great intelligence.)
--Celia Gil, Human Resources Administrator, ESTESA, Zaragoza, Spain

The novel was a joy to read from start to finish. I found the dreamlike quality of the writing quite refreshing and was fascinated with the characters. In the beginning of the novel it seems like their existences are separated from one another, but by the end their paths cross in effective ways. The author's wonderful imagination and keen attention to detail provide the reader with lush and evocative imagery. I found that the characters really stayed with me even after I had completed reading the novel, which indicates their depth. Emperor AKbar is a good example of this.
--Laura Zimmerman, Data Security Analyst and artist, St. Louis

This is a really magical kind of work. It has romance, history, mysticism, woven into a story that you can't imagine how it can all come together and are entranced by the way it finally does. Beautiful!
--Sherry K., Former Borders coworker, St. Louis

Thank you for the opportunity to read your novel. Reading through the interwoven stories of such disparate people (that I knew would be ultimately brought together in some way before the novel's end) brought me to a better understanding of how all matter and energy in the universe is linked together through space and time. I found myself transported into philosophical and physical realms where my mind doesn't often wonder. I found all of the characters engaging.
--Liz Delfert, Librarian, St. Louis

Momentous...like a fairy tale. A new CD with a line reminding me of your writings-tim finn, I am a big fan, he of split enz: we come from a long line/we're part of a songline. This wordplay reminds me of your style.
--James Schwentker, Manager, Borders, St. Louis

Akbar's story I find most intriguing...and the man watching Nyana. Akbar segments, the most lovely! Good character building in Eric. We'd be friends if he were alive...I am enjoying Ashwini's story immensely. This was an enjoyable read. I can see how you could write some beautiful poems, some of your prose is really quite amazing. Your story has direction, is disciplined, and comes together nicely. It's one thing to be able to write a gem of a sentence, but when writing talent is combined with Vision and an understanding...an awareness of the bigger picture...you've got this. You've got both. I wasn't sure that everything would come together, but am amazed with how well you did it. I would read more that you've written. That you will write. You enchant.
--Kristin Granback, Former Borders coworker, San Francisco, California

After I read Nartana Premachandra's work, I feel that life is universally a bittersweet mixture of sorrow and longing, hope and joy. Her characters inhabit worlds that are magical and mundane. They are looking for (and making!) connections with people and the divine in their journeys. It is wonderful to read the work of someone who is compassionate towards her characters and her readers. It is the mark of a courageous
person who can write truthfully about the world and engender hope at the same time. I hope you enjoy her writing as much as I do.
--Gina Gibbons, Librarian, St. Louis

Your book is so wonderful. Once you start reading, you need to keep reading, to see what will happen to the characters. I loved the way you integrated the character's lives together.
--Monique McClellan, Former Borders coworker, St. Louis

When you read Nartana's work, you get the feeling she's gifting you a rich mosaic made from her opulent palette of words.
--Theckla Mehta, Artist and teacher, St. Louis, who read my novel out loud to me twice! She said I needed to hear it.

I've just finished reading your novel and am--quite simply--dazzled. Your novel is an incredible feat of the imagination and I'm greatly moved, awed and humbled. I know I couldn't ever do justice to all that's tremendous in your work, but in the next few days I'll try and set out some of the things I've really appreciated -- with frank recognition that it would take many readings over many years to explore and appreciate all that's worthwhile in it. --Aisha Gundaker, Columbia, Missouri

Reviews from Nartana's Semi-Finalist Placing in Amazon.com's Breakthrough Novel Award for The Moment, Before Sleep:

"With relief, with humiliation, with terror, he understood that he too was a mere appearance, dreamt by another.", February 28, 2008
By R. Kyle Knoxville, TN
I love to hear East Indians speak. There's a lyrical beauty in the accents and when they tell stories, even the mundane becomes something extraordinary. We have three narrators in this excerpt whose tales will at some point be entwined. Emperor Akbar had been so taken with a fire worshipper than he'd embraced the faith himself: "He'd even had 1001 names in Sanskrit collected to adore the sun, which courtiers read out loud at noon." Understand that the number of words a culture has for a thing indicates its importance. Creating new words for the sun is quite a deliberate act or worship. Elsewhere, a blind writer recognizes the fire worshipper with Akbar as a character he's written many years before: "Could it be possible, that one of his characters was now writing his story?" A young girl, Ashwini watches dancing and wishes "to wrap the whole world in a sari, a sari as light as starlight whose colors were as varied as the smiles of a thousand sunrises, as the sighs of hundreds of sunsets."
This isn't an excerpt you can read once and review. This is my second pass through this manuscript. I've gleaned more through each passage. Initially, the prose transports and you're just reading for the next exquisite line. The next passage renders a deeper meaning and a different connection. The excerpt is as much philosophy and metaphysics as it is story and probably should be read as such. Nartana Premachandra's obviously got more planned for us and I believe it will be well worthwhile to watch for this author's forthcoming works. She's got a valuable message for those who are willing to explore our consciousness.

`.. we are all connected, each one..', January 24, 2008
By Jennifer Cameron-Smith (ACT, Australia)
In this excerpt, Nartana Premachandra takes the reader on a quite wonderful ride through a world (or can it be worlds?) of belief, experience and mystery. I have read this excerpt four times. I have reacted to the excerpt in at least three different ways.
My first reaction was that although I enjoyed the prose, I was overwhelmed by the whole. I wrote a review to that effect, and moved on. Or thought that I had.
Fortunately, my subconscious mind kept travelling, kept exploring the imagery and digesting the language. My initial review no longer reflected my thoughts and so I withdrew it in order to try to make sense of the journey taking place in my own mind. And so I find that the story I read and the story I am reading are connected but no longer the same. I want to make the journey in order to explore, and hopefully to understand, the degrees of connectedness. I am not sure that I will end up at the same destination as the author, but I am now confident that the journey is worth taking. I want to read this novel. I want to explore the possibilities.

Appears to be a stunning read, January 20, 2008
By Monette L. Bebow Reinhard "author of Felling ... (Wisconsin) I will admit to being perplexed to where this author is going with this, but I believe I understood the references well enough to look forward to the whole novel as a very enlightening read. It was especially stunning the way the present led to the past, with the same name indicating the same soul, leading to a moment of death as a journey through time.
This is what I would call an intelligent read, something to savor and explore rather than just read and put aside. I hope I'll be able to read it all someday.


READER COMMENTS ON THE GRACE OF SMALL GHOSTS

I truly liked your short pieces. The one about faith (The Physical) for some reason left me teary eyed. You are such a talented writer. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the whole world knows it.
--Anu Simh, M.A. Spanish and High-School Spanish teacher, San Diego, California

I really enjoyed the writing you sent me (The Physical and some poetry). I think you are very talented.
--Simon Putt, Director Debt Capital Markets, HSBC Bank, Dubai

You should be thrilled with your volume of short works. I know I am. I cannot choose one I like best...the one dedicated to Bruce Springsteen? The Dreamer--spooky. A terrifying story. I got chills from reading these. Where does your inspiration come from? The Castaway is exceptional. You seem to be overflowing with thought and sound.
--Mickey Madden, Retired English and writing teacher, St. Louis, Missouri

I like this (the Dreamer). You give the reader just enough information about this guy without telling too much. An excellent story, with an endless array of echoes and that very strong and lean style comes through very well and quite naturally.

Sidewinder-reads quite like a song. A very personal poem, but it can be understood by all. It is very honest and heartfelt, but no clich or maudlin attitude exists here.

The Plank-I love the gypsy. She is an excellently-crafted character. This piece kept me going quickly all the way to the end. This piece is so well done I wish it were longer.

The Physical-The reader is instantly drawn in. Many echoes, even at the intro. Brilliantly done. Another piece in your long list of must-re-reads.

Your work is most definitely professional in quality, and you are no mere scribbler: you are most assuredly an author who needs to be published so that the world can see your incredible talent.
--Tom Zirbas, Librarian and writer, St. Louis

Wow. I feel like these are the stories that you can read a hundred times over and get something from them every time. Your words are so poetic-they flow, really almost like a song. Your style is definitely different from the generic short story. I adored especially The Kiss, the Castaway, and the epilogue.
--Aparna Kalyanaraman, college student, dancer, St. Louis

I've read some of your short stories. They are like poetry. I don't know how you come up with the ideas for what you write. I really liked the one about the kiss and the mirror. I need to re-read some of the other ones and think about them some more.
--Nilima Shah, Accountant, Washington D.C.

Really liked these. Reminded me of Walt Whitman. Just re-read Sidewinder, and thought once again what an amazing and talented writer you are.
--Anne Louise Avery, Art Historian, Oxford, United Kingdom

I was taken by the Vaccination. (The piece dedicated to Bruce Springsteen) It displays your style very well.
--Marjorie Stelmach, Director Howard Nemerov Writing Scholars Program, Washington University, St. Louis

I found the Vaccination to be like a song. I enjoyed reading these.
--Patrick Suzeau, Professor of Dance, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Your stories are like exquisite perfume. Very difficult to define in words, they can only be FELT. With the Physical, I didn't really understand who was talking or to whom or what, but that was irrelevant. I know that the only thing important in the story was to feel it, sense it. Which I did. That's when I realized the analogy of your work with perfume. you can't define it, but every new and then, when you aren't thinking about it, the memory of the scent comes back to you. Did you ever consider writing songs? Your language is so divine.

The Last Romantic-You tackled such an ugly ugly subject in such a divinely beautiful way. Your work is so upliftingly positive; no matter how dark the setting the hlight shines through. You know how some books you just plough through, like a bulldozer, so you can greedily get to the punch line? Well, your work just won't let me do that! There's too much enjoyment, too much savoring to be had in the journey to the punchline.

The Great Escape-This was fabulous. it made me see that all of your separate stories are undeniably linked. I read it so fast, I was riveted. There were so many beautiful words in there,too, the expressions that you coined are so unique and original and delightful. And The Kiss is gorgeous!
--Dr. Susie Dunkley, Sydney, Australia

Just letting you know I finished your book. It's great writing. I really liked the Dreamer.
--Garrett Mason, Former Borders coworker and writer, St. Louis

I think you've broken new ground with The Plank. Reminded me of "Jokerman" by Bob Dylan.
--Betsy Bussman, Artist, St. Louis

I really liked Radha. And the Vaccination is just like a song!
--Raj Sampath, Associate Professor of Math, DeVry University, Atlanta, Georgia.

The Bruce Springsteen poem was great with a great final verse.--Scott Stern, CEO, LendersOne Mortgage.

(Referring to a line in Radha): That's the most f****beautiful line I've ever read! (And in reference to another line): This reminds me of Dylan (as in Bob).
--Dan Ladd,long-time friend , St. Louis

I enjoyed seeing the way that you are able to pack so much feeling and emotion into your writings. My favorites were Radha (the way that the different women were looking for the divine in their everyday lives.), The Last Romantic (for the description of quiet desperation and the healing brought on by relationships around us), The Lover (how someone who was so obviously in pain and suffering from living "life" would be so willing to give himself so positively to those around him as he spiraled out of the world), and The Grace of Small Ghosts (a wonderful description of how we all have small ghosts haunting us, attempting to break out of us through the expression of our artistic selves.)
--Liz Delfert, Librarian, St. Louis

(About Radha): Me ha encantado, de verdad, has conseguido transportarme a un mundo subliminal, imaginario, lejano y cercano, muy intimo a pesar de no entender algunos significados, pero los podía intuir.
(This enchanted me, you really succeeded in transporting me to a subliminal, imaginative world, both near and far, very intimate-in spite of not understanding some points, I was able to grasp them intuitively).
--Celia Gil, Human Resources Administrator, ESTESA, Zaragoza, Spain

I enjoyed Song of a Madman so much! So witty and well-crafted and meaningful all at once! I really enjoyed how you intertwined faith into this notion of waiting and explored what this was about. Faith is such a powerful engine with such fragile components.
--Anjali Bhat, Ph.D Environmental Studies , Bali, Indonesia

The stories are amazing.
--Laura Zimmerman, Data Security Analyst and artist, St. Louis

I really enjoyed the Grace of Small Ghosts. I think these might be my favorites! Very poetic. Some of the pieces made me feel a little uncomfortable, but that's what good literature is supposed to do! You wrote the Vaccination in two days? Wow....--Gina Gibbons, librarian,St. Louis


READER TESTIMONIALS ON CASTLES OF ANCIENT THOUGHT

(On Ghostwritten): So beautiful and moving....
(On one of my poems on Christ): What a beautiful poem, it made me cry...
I loved your Castles poem. The Avalokitesvara poem is so beautiful as well. I was thinking, your poetry is so elegant yet ornate. Images stay with the reader long after reading...it would be so wonderful to have all the poems together in one book.
--Anne Louise Avery, Art Historian, Oxford, United Kingdom

September 12th-Very spare, very uncluttered imagery, rhythmic and serious, excellent contrast of images, many echoes.
--Tom Zirbas, Librarian and writer, St. Louis, Missouri

(On Ode to a Stretch of Lindbergh Boulevard): I loved this poem.
--Marjorie Stelmach, Director Howard Nemerov Writing Scholars Program, Washington University, St. Louis

You have a lyrical soul. I loved the poem for e.e.cummings, Ode to a Stretch of Lindbergh Boulevard, Sacrament, The Weather, London...
--Mickey Madden, Retired English and writing teacher, St. Louis

(On The Body Earth and the Dance of Spring):Aah! I love these! The sounds are gorgeous. Even twigs wiggle...
--Theckla Mehta, Artist and teacher, St. Louis

While reading Ghostwritten, I got the feeling of loneliness that must be such a feeling of the hostages and miners...A steady succession of tragedies, and yet, in all that you captured the faith in the story, the incredible possibility that even (and especially) in their darkest hour, those people may have been holding onto God and their faith.

(On A Weekend in Mid-March): Now I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face, as well as the tell-tale goosepimples that tell me I loved your poem. I can feel the energy in it. The excitement. And yet it is so absolutely bizarre the way your joy and enthusiasm is so essentially linked to the tragedy of others...a message that nobody dies unnoticed. Even you, who do not know them, felt their death.

(On The Reward, the poem dedicated to the soldiers in Iraq): I loved this. It gave me goosepimples the first time I read it. I love the "voice"-so simple and pragmatic...not feeling sorry for herself, just stating the facts. So poignant.

(On the Dance of Spring): I found it so incredibly PRETTY! It was light and breezy and fragrant, literally! In reading it I really felt the JOY that you feel when spring begins. And what I loved about it also was that it made me see the symphony of spring in a completely different way...as all the elements almost competing with each other.

(On Castles of Ancient Thought): It is like a beautiful pearl of gorgeousness in a world that needs that kind of message. I am looking forward to reading all of your poems TOGETHER as a collated collection because I feel they are all knitting into a higher pattern, like individual strands of wool in a Persian rug.
--Dr. Susie Dunkley, Sydney, Australia

(On Ghostwritten): I was blown away! It really is strong, and very, very moving.
(On The Dance of Spring): I love the playfulness of it. It really communicates that sense of laughter and joy and movement. The Body Earth is just as lovely and romantic...it's a gorgeous piece of music.
--Catherine David, Designer, Chicago, Illinois

(On A Weekend in Mid-March and the Birth of Peace): The poems are delightful! The juxtaposition of images is wonderful-really wonderful imagery.
--Patrick Suzeau, Professor of Dance, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Poetry (An ageless village is my voice and A pure new purana) Wow! You are so talented. I really pray that your work is published soon. It deserves to be. --Anu Simh, High-School Spanish Teacher, San Diego

I admire your poem An Ageless Village is my Voice for its highly ambitious scope and for its range, texture and lovingly-rendered detail. You convey the rhythm of village life with an observant eye and keenly attuned sensibility. The analogy between a village and a distinctive, individual voice is intriguing. I love how you explore so much in the poem: the landscape is beautifully rendered in particular and well-observed detail: the Kaveri river, palm fronds, red clay, hills, farms and forests and this natural landscape is juxtaposed, arrestingly, with architectural sites such as the maharajah's palace, the tomb and the dam. Other lush details add sensuousness, exoticism and vivid color to the poem. For example, I love the references to banana leaves, sugar-cane, liquid tamarind, papaya, jackfruit, mangos, sapota and fresh coconut water.
You convey the intoxicating effect of the local language with words like champige and mallige and the verses addressed to Anjanaya, Sri Raja Rajeshwari, Venkateswara and Ganapathi are moving for their rhythmic, incantatory quality and summon up for me, the sense of an imploring, impassioned dance movement.
Your poem communicates a deep feeling for the history of the village: its present is viewed through the prism of its ancestral past so that the consciousness of successive civilizations receding one into another summon up a meditative mood. They remind the reader of the wisdom, stoicism, watchfulness and humility in such places.
You highlight the tensions inherent in village life: both with sympathy and a sense of realism: on the one hand, you draw attention to the courtliness and civilization of an ancestral village and on the other, the mystery, romance, and wilderness of the surrounding jungle. There is much to celebrate about village life its diversity, color, stories, movement and sense of community, but there are also darker aspects -- the stark need, poverty and misfortune. On the whole, though, you suggest they are places of hope: with your allusion to Sheikh Salim Chisti's tomb and to the divinity of the Kaveri, you indicate that villages - in implicit contrast to more rigidly stratified urban areas--can be open and tolerant of different religions and you celebrate that tolerance and acceptance.
A Pure New Purana has a very different tone playful, jazzy, tongue-in-cheek and I like its affectionate irreverence. The tone seems very much in harmony with the young Krishna's light-hearted disposition. The poem is musical and has jazz-like syncopation. I like the way you take an ancient myth and put a modern, contemporary spin on it and I love the music in lines like Krishna played his flute at Purana Quila to dazzle the Pandavas and from Delhi to Kanaykumari. As in the village poem, you show that you have a wonderful ear for music in language. The poem ends on a fun, funky note with the playful plea to honk for Krishna because even he can't catch his surprise at a silenced India.
---Aisha Gundaker, Columbia, Missouri

These are the only written testimonials I have; not as many people wrote me about the poetry as they did my novel. Many just talked to me about the poetry, and I can't remember everything everyone said!

Ode to TV from Childhood.
Enjoyed reading it. I wish I could write like that.--Usha Shamanna, IT director, Shenck, Price, Smith, and King, Morristown, New Jersey


READER TESTIMONIALS ON THE DAY THE LAST DREAMER DIED

The tone of the dystopians kind of reminded me a bit of a cross between Vonnegut and Bradbury in their tone. They seem to focus on the near future; so this stuff could definitely happen soon. The other thing about the dystopians is that they had a touch of Orwell in their matter-of-fact tone. The main thing that I remember is that the stories were highly plausible and believable in their content; they were not so fantastic as one might think.
--Tom Zirbas, Librarian and writer, St. Louis, Missouri

(On Between the Covers): I think this is excellent science fiction, in terms of Walter Tevis' Mockingbird or Philip K.Dick's short stories-things that ask,, "What sort of future could happen, given human nature?". Eliminating books, romance, thought, is a classic theme, but your details make it fresh: the Attachments, the double-entendre of the title, the dust in the kitchen sink...lots of things!
(On The Freak): Thanks for sending this! I really liked the twist at the end...your plot twists are wonderful, your getting inside your character's heads is wonderful.

(On ONEWORLD): I loved, loved, the story! Sunset is possibly my favorite character, next to Login and Pass.
--Catherine David, Designer, Chicago, Illinois


I loved the short story about "the future" where companies take over the world. Really well done, provacative and a lesson to protect our rights or they will slowly be taken away--Scott Stern, CEO, LendersOne Mortgage

(On Between the Covers): Whoa! That story is brilliant. I thought Login was an odd name for a character until I read further. The things that happen seem to be almost a reality. Maybe not inour lifetimes, but within near-future generations. Hopefully things won't get that bad!
--Garrett Mason, Former Borders Coworker and writer, St. Louis

Nartana's dystopian stories are a refreshing departure from her other work. Although these pieces are darker than much of her other work, they are equally as imaginative and quite thought-provoking. They provide strong confirmation of the range and versatility of Nartana's talent as a writer and I look forward to seeing them in print!
--Laura Zimmerman, Data Security Analyst and artist, St. Louis

(On Between the Covers): I enjoyed this! Funny, yet quite sad...
--Patrick Suzeau, Professor of Dance, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

(On The Freak): I loved this. I showed it to my husband, and he loved it as well.
--Liz Delfert, Librarian, St. Louis

(On Between the Covers): Thanks for sending me your wonderful, wonderful, story of Login and Pass! I absolutely adored it! I started reading it this morning, on my day off, and all day, I've been itching to get another minute or two to get back into the story and find out what happened. Yes, it is a real page turner.

(On The Freak): Yesterday and today I literally devoured this! The story is a GEM. The way you write it so quirky...original, and funny. And scarily real.

(On ONEWORLD): What is your secret? At the very end, I had a terrifically powerful realization of the true implications of ONEWORLD, and guess what happened? In split second, my whole body prickled with goosepimples! I STILL have them on my arms and legs. Do I find your story effective? YES! Already it has changed my world.

(On The Fool): It was such fun to read. I just love your short pieces, they are like poems, really, a snapshot on reality. From the Fool I really got a feeling of your frustration with the whole writing/publishing path. I think it will resonate with many writers (if not publishers/editors!).

(On The Day the Last Dreamer Died): Yesterday I read this, and loved it. I just can't wait to see your dystopian pieces collected into a book and published for other people to enjoy. They really make me think hard about my life and my attitudes, because the concepts are so bizarre but at the same time strangely close to the truth. And they're so light and breezy to read, but with dead serious messages. A lovely and effective combination.
--Dr. Susie Dunkley, Sydney, Australia

(On the Fool): I loved this! I LOVE your new writing~ it feels like a deepening of your voice. Like another current in the river, pulling the reader in new, strange, directions. You know how much I like your darker work!
--Anne Avery, Art Historian, Oxford, United Kingdom

I loved the Fool-it is quite dark, but I responded to it completely.
--Patrick Suzeau, Professor of Dance, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

(On ONEWORLD): Hi yah I did read your story just a few questions I'm confused on. 1. When does this take place what year? 2. What is StickerTape? 3. What's a dystopian story? I really liked the story somewhat confusing vocabulary wise and for some reason the spacing was messed up but yah I liked it a lot send me some more to read.
--Abish Simh, High-school student, San Diego, California.


READER TESTIMONIALS ON THE DISCOVERY OF LAUGHTER

This is lovely. Really lovely. It reminds me a little of a Richard Bach novel that I love
called Illusions. Good work. Keep it up!
--Dan Ladd, Database Administrator, St. Louis, Missouri

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your story. I hope you plans to get it published soon. It's really very good. I think you're very talented!
--Ladonna Weeks, Technical Writer, St. Louis

I absolutely loved your story. So shamanic and very 19th century, actually.
--Anne Louise Avery, Art Historian, Oxford, United Kingdom

Your story is wonderful. I've been trying to write a response, as I always do, and
struggling with it-as I always do. It's like trying to describe a breath of fresh air: you don't analyze it, you just enjoy it. The funny thing about your stories and poems is that they always seem to arrive just when I most needed to be reminded of beauty, joy, wonder, laugher, whatever. What a lovely gift to give to the world.
--Catherine David, Designer, Chicago, Illinois

I loved the story and I think it's wonderful that you were wise enough to write it.
--Marjorie Stelmach, Director Howard Nemerov Writing Scholars Program, Washington University, St. Louis

I think this is your best piece yet.
--Theckla Mehta, Artist and teacher, St. Louis

I read the discovery of laughter and I just loved it. It had so many truths for me at the moment. I don't know how you manage to do it, but your work often talks to the essence of my soul, with the current issues of my soul. It is as if you are one of those strange
characters that comes into the main character's head, and talks to them in riddles of truth.
--Dr. Susie Dunkley, Sydney, Australia

Where do you get your ideas? Photographing laughter? Beautiful writing.
--Lois Standing, Former Borders coworker, St. Louis

I really enjoyed this-I kept wanting to know what was going to happen in the next paragraph until the end. I'd love to read your stuff anytime.
--Usha Shamanna, IT Director, Shenck, Price, Smith, and King, Morristown, New Jersey

Wow ! what a great story I finally read your tale I shoudn't have waited so
long to read it !! I guess it is time to start chasing my dreams
again...
--Raj Sampath, Associate Professor of Math, DeVry University, Atlanta, Georgia

And in addition to all these testimonials, everyone I've listed has been encouraging me to keep writing-some for years (like Anne Avery and Susie Dunkley), and some very insistently (like Mickey Madden). Some have given me non-stop support to have faith in and stand up for what I believe, for years and years (like Aline Uebe). Some have been there since I plunged into fiction writing as an adult, (like Theckla Mehta and Anu Simh), and some have been there since the very, very beginning ( like Marjorie Stelmach). I am so very, very grateful, to them all, including Ravi Rajaram who told me when I was about 15 that I should give writing a serious shot. Let me just post another one of my favorite messages of encouragement here, from Kevin Herbert, Professor Emeritus of Classics at Washington University (the one who flew a bomber over Japan during WWII):

The key in all this lunacy is an adamantine determination, a resilience against all rebuffs, an invincible heart. To me, it is summed up in Churchill's defiant speech in the Commons as the British stood alone in 1940. The last sentence of which was: We will never surrender!