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HEARTBEAT



This was my first published book. I had designed the jacket. I did the sketch. What did I feel when I held the first book in my hands, well, many feel many things, but I felt numb. My mind had drowned the sounds around me. I was not even focusing at what I was holding in my hands. It was as if I had left my body and my mind was at peace, calm and away, somewhere where I didn't know what I was feeling. 



Images Copyright (c) Farahdeen Khan

Location: My house




INNER VOICES




My second book was Inner Voices, a collection of bizarre stories from around the globe. Was nice to have my work published in this collection for the shock value it brought. 




Images Copyright (c) Farahdeen Khan

Location: My house






CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ON FRIENDSHIP






My third book carried a story about my childhood friends C M Poonacha, and Nagesh Manay. 




Images Copyright (c) Farahdeen Khan

Location: My house
 




CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL CELEBRATING BROTHERS AND SISTERS






This was a memorable book because my dear friend Baisali Chatterjee Dutt was the editor on this like she was on my last book. She is one of the kindest person I have known and I miss her not being around in Bangalore. This was a story that once again that was close to my heart as it dealt with manners and grace, a trait so very missing in the current crop of youngsters who think it is cool to be uncouth. 




Images Copyright (c) Farahdeen Khan

Location: My house





DAWN AND DUSK






Dawn And Dusk has been my best book, yet. When the publisher Westland wrote to me that they would be going for an digital version of the for the first six months, I was thrilled. I rang my big brother Subi Samuel and told him about it and the second thing he said after congratulating me was that he would do my cover. That was the most momentous moment of my life; to have your elder brother who has seen you from germination stage, observed you sprout from the earth and spread your branches in various directions, for him to be able to have confidence to design something for me was not quite what I can convey in words. What's more, in the middle of all his shoots, and in a matter of few hours, he sent me the options that I proudly share below. 





With no measure to my glee upon setting my eyes on these options, the next person I had to share my joy with, and who would feel the same that I was feeling as to take the shape of everyone and make them at home is not his second nature, but his primary nature, was Ali Zafar. So when I received those options from Subi on iMessage, I had them packing digitally to Zee, as we address him. As you all know what an astounding artist Zee is, and someone I trust blindly. In no time his answer was - "The second one with the lady. The pink needs to get greener and your name must be in the footer and the title in the header." I forwarded Ali's WhatsApp feedback to Subi, and, once again, in less than thirty minutes I had the next version I present for your viewing pleasure below -


I sent Ali the reworked version and he gave me a thumbs up. 

To have had the two of the most amazing human beings do something for me was something that I shall be grateful for all my life. 

Therefore, this jacket design shall remain my best ever until Ali paints one jacket for me all of my life's work someday and Subi shoots the pictures for it. However, for now this book is dedicated to my elder brother Subi for being my guide and support and for my younger brother Ali for being my backbone and sounding board. And Rahul, for pushing me to do better like a good kid brother would do, at every stage and step of my life.