Hi there! My name is Nartana Premachandra, and I'm a writer in St. Louis, Missouri. I welcome you to my website.

April 2010 marks quite a milestone for me, as it is the ten-year anniversary of my having contacted my first agent. 11 years. And I've kept going-kept writing---without a single word published. What a journey it's been.

In that time I've been called "gifted", "talented", a "writer to watch", etc, by dozens and dozens of people in the industry. In fact, Chuck Kim, the editor of Welcome Rain Press, called me "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" and called my novel The Moment, Before Sleep, "a well-told story by an articulate writer".

Another editor, Robin Desser, the VP of Alfred A. Knopf, took a chance on an unknown writer-for which I am ever grateful-and called The Moment, Before Sleep "a remarkable first novel" written by a "marvelously talented writer" who's also a "gorgeous lyricist". (For more comments by her and Mr. Kim, please see the section, Reader Testimonials). In fact she read my novel four times! But, I guess it just wasn't meant to be at Knopf.

For that's one of the many things I've learned along this journey-that when doors slam shut, there is a reason, even if we just can't see it at the time. While I have no delusions about the nature of publishing, or of big business in general, I really believe that if I am on the path I am meant to be on, the right doors will open at the right time.

And of course, in the meantime, if I find myself in company with many of the world's greatest writers---such as James Joyce, E.E.Cummings, Walt Whitman, to name just a few-who took forever to get their work out into the world, who am I to complain? :)

Of course, I could never have continued on this path without the appearance of individuals-from a dizzying array of backgrounds-who kept requesting to read my work. Honestly, that has simply astonished me. Whenever I would think, "That's it. No one else is ever going to read this," like magic (and I don't use that word lightly), someone showed up, interested in reading my novel, poetry, short poetic fiction, or dystopian tales, or indeed, all of my works! Please have a look at Reader Testimonials, to see their opinions on my work.

And now, I would love it if you would join my group of readers! To commemorate my ten-year anniversary of sending my work out into the world, I decided to set up my own website, as all I've ever wanted to do is share my work with all those who are interested. To that end, I have selected poems from my collection Castles of Ancient Thought, excerpts from my novel: The Moment, Before Sleep and from my short fiction collection The Grace of Small Ghosts, a dystopian tale from my dystopian collection The Day the Last Dreamer Died, and a story I wrote at the beginning of this year, The Discovery of Laughter, to be put up on the site. Please do contact me with your thoughts-I would absolutely love to hear them.

Thanks for joining me on this next stage in my writing journey-I really look forward to hearing from you. Who knows what will happen next? :) Nartana

Southwestern Illinois College
Nartana read from her work at the East St. Louis Community College Center's Writer's Workshop in East St. Louis, IL on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, and her presentation was magical. Not only were her readings well chosen and indicative of her writing style (which is beautifully poetic), but she is so versed in explaining Hinduism to a lay audience. The total presentation was very educational for the students at the East St. Louis center, and expanded the students' worldview immensely. I personally liked her "Dance of Spring" poem. As someone who gardens quite a bit, I had never thought of all things "dancing" in spring, but I have often thought how happy the worms, the squirrels, butterflies and all living beings seem when the Earth warms up. Nartana's poem wonderfully captured this time of year. Having lived in Nepal and traveled a fair amount in India, her readings had me enraptured and daydreaming about the enchantment of south Asia. Nartana is a talent to watch. I recommend that you keep checking her website to read some of her latest writings and book her to speak to your organization, school or church. You'll be well pleased. ---Rick Gregory, Site Supervisor, Southwest Illinois College

First Novel Testimonial

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read your novel. It is imaginative and expressive in the best ways. Some of your sentences have the power to captivate the reader in such a way as to make you mull over them again and again, rolling them in the mouth, almost like wine. You tackle some profound issues and offer a perspective that seems both heartfelt and true to the human experience. We do, I think, live in a universe that is deeply interwoven and have the ability, known and unknown, to influence people across time and space. Your story illuminates one version of such possibilities. Your portrayals of some of your characters are quite striking, and I have rarely, if ever, been so struck by the poetic force of language in the context of prose. Your novel is most wonderfully worth the effort.----All the best Greg Schneider, M.D., Santa Fe, New Mexico.