New Release
Anagram Destiny
“…While the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn’t any other tale to tell, it’s the only light we’ve got in all the darkness… And this tale, according to that face, that body, those strong hands on those strings, has another aspect in every country and a new depth in every generation.”
James Baldwin
Sonny’s Blues
1957
AVAILABLE AT
A Word From The Author
I was inspired to write an Anagram Destiny not only as a daughter of Indian immigrants who spent part of her childhood growing up in motels, but also as an expert on globalization and culture. After decades as an academic—publishing, researching, teaching and traveling, I have learned that nothing educates, enlightens, informs or propels us forward like a good story. My students rarely remember the numbers, graphs or data, but they do perk up and recall the colorful, rich stories I tell them to bring the knowledge to life. Consequently, in an effort to make a deeper impact and pursue a lifelong passion, I have been moonlighting as a storyteller.
Grishma Shah
About the Book
A soul warming love story nestled in an inspiring tale of the American dream, manifesting an Indian immigrant success story shattered by the evils of globalization– paying homage to a generation of immigrants who held their heads low so one day, their children could lift theirs high.
When Aanya arrives in India, ready for a new beginning, she is in awe of the glitz and glamour of expat living. But on her very first day, in the still of her apartment, tears salt her welcome cake. The cake is supposed to be a celebration, a symbol of her career accomplishments, a salute to her triumphs—and yet she has never felt more alone, not even on her darkest days.
Luckily, when she pitches her work to Abhimanyu, the self-made, down-to-earth Director of Events at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, he is charmed. But before Aanya can find the strength to reciprocate, she is thrust into reconciling her past: a coming of age at a roadside motel in Georgia, where her Indian-immigrant parents and their best friends manifest the American dream by turning over a thirty-four-room motel as their children, Aanya and Ayaan, develop a bond and fate as entwined as their anagrammed names.
Now, in Mumbai, thousands of miles from home, can the fear of another loss help Aanya move forward?
Anagram Destiny was a finalist in the 2022 STEP Contest, sponsored by She Writes/SparkPress.
Published by SparkPress, Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Praise for Anagram Destiny
“Anagram Destiny is an expansive novel that explores identity in a unique and immersive way. Grishma Shah adds to the cannon of Indian American fiction in how she is able to fully capture the challenges and blessings of dual cultural identity.”
Namrata Patel
Author of Scent of a Garden and Candid Life of Meena Dave
“Anagram Destiny is a sweeping story of an immigrant family, love, loss and new beginnings. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, it is a book to be cherished and contemplated, long after the final chapter.”
Madi Sinha
Author of At Least You Have Your Health and The White Coat Diaries
“Nestled in a tale of both the American Dream and the new and emerging Indian Dream, Shah’s debut is a moving story about a woman’s search for renewed hope. Readers everywhere will root for Aanya in this inspirational and emotionally charged story that captures the power of new beginnings.”
Saumya Dave
Author of Well-Behaved Indian Women and What A Happy Family
“Shah brings together two love stories that serve as brilliant mirrors for one another…”
Kirkus Reviews
“Anagram Destiny is a dual-timeline tale of Aanya’s two great romances, both timeless and somewhat tragic, sweeping across two continents. As the story unfolds, Shah weaves together narratives of earlier immigrant generations and their different journeys to the US. She captures well the nuances of the sacrifices, the pain and the joy those parents experienced, seeking a better safer future for their kids. Complex, thought-provoking, original, and unpredictable, Anagram Destiny is a testimonial to the struggle, resiliency, and triumphs of a generation of immigrants.”
Lainey Cameron
Award-winning author and host of The Best of Women's Fiction Podcast
“Can love find a way to bloom again amidst the ruins of shattered dreams? From the rural Georgia of the 80s and the bustling streets of New York to the old-world grandeur of South Bombay, Aanya’s journey is one of love, loss, and the hope of redemption. Through vivid prose that delicately navigates between two of contemporary history’s most devastating tragedies, Grishma Shah crafts a visceral narrative of strength, vulnerability, and the enduring power of the human spirit that will resonate with readers everywhere.”
Veena Rao
Author of The Purple Lotus
“Aanya and Ayaan are endearing characters who immediately grab your heart and attention. Yet theirs is more than a simple love story; woven across continents and decades, it encompasses the real-life impact of terrorism, the nuances of cultural identity, the arc of grief, and the possibility that one can reinvent oneself. A book you won’t quickly forget.”
Jude Berman
Author of The Die and The Vow
“Anagram Destiny is a sweeping story of an immigrant family, love, loss and new beginnings. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, it is a book to be cherished and contemplated, long after the final chapter.”
Madi Sinha
Author of At Least You Have Your Health and The White Coat Diaries
“Anagram Destiny is a poignant immigrant story that delves into the deep-seated pains prompting people to seek refuge in a new land. Through its vivid storytelling, I was transported to India, experiencing its rich sights, scents, sounds, culture, and architecture from the comfort of my living room. This novel is a profound exploration of love and grief, offering a heartfelt and immersive journey that stays with you after the last page is turned.”
Beth Biss
Author of Redolent
“Grishma Shah writes an achingly beautiful story of lost love, written in dynamic tension with the unfolding of a new one. Shah writes Aanya’s story with wisdom and compassion while deftly guiding us through Indian culture. Her bright and visceral descriptions make the novel sing. The story skillfully threads a narrative of immigrant families and a homage to parents who sacrifice their homeland for the possibility of something more. Shah artfully weaves the tension of old culture and new culture in thought-provoking detail. While Anagram Destiny takes us on a journey through loss and grief, it is ultimately a compelling story of hope and of second chances.”
Joani Elliott
STAR Award-winning Author of The Audacity of Sara Grayson
“In a complex, often dark, sometimes terrifying world, it is good to know we can take comfort in new love, that the heartaches of adulthood have roots in tender youth, and that there are storytellers, like Grishma Shah, ready to capture both the hard reality of our world and the sweet bonds that hold us together.”
Alida Winternheimer
Author of A Stone’s Throw and the Story Works series
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