Ask the Author: Jane Wilson-Howarth
Answered Questions (6)
Jane Wilson-Howarth
Hi Nita,
I understand that both words that are commonly used to mean love in Nepali (maya and sneha) can have other meanings and connotations.
Sneha = love, affection, oiliness; ritual ablution.
In Ayurveda, sneha is a method of preparing oil or ghee, lightly heating it with herbs and/or herbal extracts to make medicine. Perhaps this is why sneha is occasionally defined as meaning oily or wheedling.
Maya = love or infatuation; mesh of illusion; foolishness
In Hindu philosophy, Māyā means "illusion".
It seems to me that Nepalis well understand the complexities of love and that because it is a powerful emotion, it can stimulate people to act in less pleasant ways.
I was amused to read recently - here in Kathmandu - advice on the back of a truck that read: Don't Trust Girls.
I hope you enjoyed 'Snowfed Waters' that this quote is from - it is an easy feel-good read.
I understand that both words that are commonly used to mean love in Nepali (maya and sneha) can have other meanings and connotations.
Sneha = love, affection, oiliness; ritual ablution.
In Ayurveda, sneha is a method of preparing oil or ghee, lightly heating it with herbs and/or herbal extracts to make medicine. Perhaps this is why sneha is occasionally defined as meaning oily or wheedling.
Maya = love or infatuation; mesh of illusion; foolishness
In Hindu philosophy, Māyā means "illusion".
It seems to me that Nepalis well understand the complexities of love and that because it is a powerful emotion, it can stimulate people to act in less pleasant ways.
I was amused to read recently - here in Kathmandu - advice on the back of a truck that read: Don't Trust Girls.
I hope you enjoyed 'Snowfed Waters' that this quote is from - it is an easy feel-good read.
Jane Wilson-Howarth
I get up and make cup of tea, do the hoovering (a rare phenomenon), think about what I'll cook for dinner, go for a ride on my bike. Often I'll just walk away from my writing for a while. Sometimes it is a long while (I'm not a full-time writer). Sometimes I'll share with other writers who can often see immediately what's got me "stuck". I'm a slow and unstructured writer - for my sins - which means books can take a very long time to finish.
Jane Wilson-Howarth
Sorry to be slow to respond but I've been working away - in Nigeria.
Yes indeed Madagascar has a huge place in my heart - firstly from seeing Attenborough's Zoo Quest films and reading his "Zoo Quest to Madagascar" (which is still a great read if you can find a second hand copy). Dervla Murphy's "Muddling Through in Madagascar" in contrast was a disappointment and actually incited me to write "Lemurs of the Lost World" after I spent nearly a year on the Great Red Island. I really enjoyed Geraldine McCaughrean's "Plundering Paradise" which is a [mostly] beautifully researched children's story focussing on pirates, tho I was mildly surprised when she wrote about porcupines (they don't occur on Madagascar) and it was clear she wasn't interested in the amazing unique wildlife.
There's a rather odd Victorian novel by RM Ballantyne "The Fugitives or The Tyrant Queen" that you can download for free which is interesting and a good ripping yarn. Anything that Allison Jolly has written is authoritative and readable and Durrell's "The aye-aye and I" is also great stuff. I didn't take to Christina Dodwell's "Madagascar Travels". And if you are visiting, use the Bradt guide, not Lonely Planet as the latter author seemed not to like the place!
Yes indeed Madagascar has a huge place in my heart - firstly from seeing Attenborough's Zoo Quest films and reading his "Zoo Quest to Madagascar" (which is still a great read if you can find a second hand copy). Dervla Murphy's "Muddling Through in Madagascar" in contrast was a disappointment and actually incited me to write "Lemurs of the Lost World" after I spent nearly a year on the Great Red Island. I really enjoyed Geraldine McCaughrean's "Plundering Paradise" which is a [mostly] beautifully researched children's story focussing on pirates, tho I was mildly surprised when she wrote about porcupines (they don't occur on Madagascar) and it was clear she wasn't interested in the amazing unique wildlife.
There's a rather odd Victorian novel by RM Ballantyne "The Fugitives or The Tyrant Queen" that you can download for free which is interesting and a good ripping yarn. Anything that Allison Jolly has written is authoritative and readable and Durrell's "The aye-aye and I" is also great stuff. I didn't take to Christina Dodwell's "Madagascar Travels". And if you are visiting, use the Bradt guide, not Lonely Planet as the latter author seemed not to like the place!
Jane Wilson-Howarth
That has to be Sonia and Rekraj in Snowfed Waters, of course. I'm so excited that this novel was relaunched in a new edition in India - appropriately on Valentines day.
Jane Wilson-Howarth
I'm so pleased that I have found a publisher for a series of eco-adventures for middle grade readers and the first - set in Nepal - was launched during autumn 2016.
What is slightly surprising is how much there is still to do once the main work of completing the book is done. It has been an absolute delight liaising with Eifrig publishers as together we've made decisions on the cover and the illustrations inside, but the back-and-forth, checking, rechecking and proofing never seems to stop.
And of course, once one is ready for printing there is then work to do on promoting the book, not to mention working on the second in the series - which we hope will be out in September 2017.
What is slightly surprising is how much there is still to do once the main work of completing the book is done. It has been an absolute delight liaising with Eifrig publishers as together we've made decisions on the cover and the illustrations inside, but the back-and-forth, checking, rechecking and proofing never seems to stop.
And of course, once one is ready for printing there is then work to do on promoting the book, not to mention working on the second in the series - which we hope will be out in September 2017.
Jane Wilson-Howarth
Snowfed Waters evolved from various contrasting ponderings. It is effectively a sequel to 'A Glimpse of Eternal Snows' and those who have read that memoir will recognise some characters, as well as the scenery. I wanted to explore what life might be like for low caste village women I know. I also wanted to have fun travelling with a woman whom life had dealt a bitter difficult hand but who eventually finds a new reinvented self and self-respect.... The freer hand fiction allows let me inject humour and I could even ridicule the naive traveller. It is a bit of escapism, and I trust it is an enjoyable read.
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