Alka Joshi, 63, is a citizen of the United States, born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and currently residing in Pacific Grove, California. Her journey is highlighted by her transformation from an advertising entrepreneur to a best-selling novelist and brand ambassador for India at the age of 61. She holds a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from the California College of Arts and runs an advertising and marketing agency.
Joshi’s debut novel, The Henna Artist, offers a fresh perspective on India to western audiences. The novel has been translated into 23 languages, with a TV adaptation in the works. Additionally, she impacts the literary community by mentoring fledgling authors and serving as an Author Advocate for ‘Room to Read,’ a US-based non-profit organization focused on children’s literacy.
Alka Joshi honestly thought of herself as a ‘hack,’ a writer of mini-stories. That was before she won international acclaim for The Henna Artist, her New York Times bestseller that encapsulates a young woman’s drive for self-sufficiency after escaping an abusive marriage and battling conspiring factors threatening her ingenuity.
The San Francisco Chronicle calls it “An amiable and entertaining debut novel about an important theme — balancing family with personal ambition — that allows readers to escape into a fantasy teeming with sensory pleasure.”
Alka says The Henna Artist is bringing India to the world: It’s being serialized by Miramax, and her second book, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, is set for a mid-year release.
Starting her career as a copywriter and later an advertising agency promoter, Alka created campaigns for TV and radio. Over three decades, she became adept at crafting themes with dialogue in a very short timeframe. Inspired by her husband, she pursued long-form fiction, completing a two-year writing course at the California College of Arts and earning her MFA.
In 2008, after a 40-year gap, Alka returned to India with her mother, rediscovering her heritage in Rajasthan. This journey transformed her perspective, inspiring the sensory details in her writing — from colorful saris to the aromas of wood fires and henna drying on hands.
Alka has lived in the US since 1967 when her family joined her father, Ramesh, for his doctoral studies. Despite facing cultural challenges, her trip to India rekindled pride in her heritage.
A spirited feminist, Alka has faced racism, sexism, and wage disparity throughout her career. She empowered women by hiring only female staff at her advertising agency, helping them build confidence and experience.
Grateful for her privileged life, Alka mentors aspiring authors and supports disadvantaged women and girls. As an Author Advocate for ‘Room to Read,’ she encourages global literacy and girls’ education.
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