I was at the Jaipur Literature Festival last week, speaking on two panels out of ~160 sessions, as one of ~450 speakers. It costs about $3 per day to attend this incredible celebration of books and ideas, and nearly 300,000 people show up over five days. If someone tells you books do not matter, or that nobody is reading anymore, you can safely assume they have never attended JLF.
The SneakyArt Post is a newsletter of secretly drawn art of the world. I share the latest pages from my sketchbooks, and the best ideas from my journey as an artist and writer.
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The Author’s Lounge is a private space for writers and speakers, a chance to catch up, make first introductions, or simply watch your idols from afar, too nervous to actually approach them.
International Booker Prize 2025 winner Banu Mushtaq gave the opening address while I drew tiny people. Every sentence of hers deserved a standing ovation. | “Writing does not begin on the page. It begins in the body, in lived experiences.”
I was there to speak about my book. And I guess I did a good job, because it sold out by Day 3!
The founder of Wikipedia spoke about the decline of trust in online spaces, and intermittently I gazed up at the flowery tesselations. India is full of infinite patterns.
A santoor player, at the Author’s Lounge.
At my first panel, the moderator was okay with me drawing onstage provided it did not interfere with my speaking. I assured him I could talk through pretty much anything.
“They call us now, before they drop the bombs.” | At a panel on the Gaza genocide, Lena Khalaf Tuffaha read her poem, “Running Orders”.
Nahargarh Fort, overlooking the city of Jaipur.
A musician plays the 17-string Ravanahatha every morning outside the Author’s Lounge. It is an ancient instrument allegedly made by Ravana, the antagonist of the epic Ramayana.
After the moderator unexpectedly backed out, I stepped up to lead my panel on Comics, Graphic Novels, and Art as Storytelling Vehicles. Because I like having the first (and the last) word.
The incredible Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace) at the Amer Fort in Jaipur. Words cannot describe the beauty and brilliance of its construction.
A 16th century step-well in Jaipur.
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Thank you for reading. I am glad to have a share of your time and attention.
What a visual feast! I absolutely love your drawings - the black and white on the tan ground is tan-talizing! Congrats on your book selling out and what must have been a knock-out presentation. Sounds like you had an amazing time, including drawing tiny people. So very cool.
Thanks for this beautiful and fascinating post about the JLF in Jaipur. In Boulder, Colorado, where I live, our library also hosts the JLF once a year--though on a smaller scale than the original one you attended. Might you be a speaker at the Boulder one sometime???
What a visual feast! I absolutely love your drawings - the black and white on the tan ground is tan-talizing! Congrats on your book selling out and what must have been a knock-out presentation. Sounds like you had an amazing time, including drawing tiny people. So very cool.
Thanks for this beautiful and fascinating post about the JLF in Jaipur. In Boulder, Colorado, where I live, our library also hosts the JLF once a year--though on a smaller scale than the original one you attended. Might you be a speaker at the Boulder one sometime???