Inspired in Jodphur

Author of young adult novel The Bone Tiki, New Zealander David Hair, will launch his latest book Pyre of Queens, published by Penguin Books India, in Bangalore. Hair, who lives in New Dehli with his wife, says the Pyre of Queens was inspired by a trip to Jodphur. “It wasn’t easy writing a book outside my culture, but fortunately, I had friends here whom I used as a sounding board,” Hair says. “I would ask them if an Indian would say this or do that and they would help me. The book is action-packed and fast, and was great fun to write.” Hair has planned four books in this series to be released over the next few years. He returns to New Zealand soon, as his wife’s posting at the New Zealand High Commission is coming to an end, but he plans to keep writing books on Indian themes. The Bone Tiki, Hair’s first book, won the Best First Novel award in the Young Adult Fiction genre of books at the 21 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards.