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Chitra Reads to Raise Money for Women

Arthur J Pais

The co-founder of one of the first empowerment groups for South Asian women will join three other nationally recognized writers in Seattle to raise funds for women's causes.

Chitra Divakaruni Banerjee, whose collection of short stories The Unknown Errors of Our Lives was published last week in North America, will be joined by Pico Iyer and Abraham Verghese on May 5.

The fundraiser is organized through Chaya with the help of writer and activist Pramila Jayapal. The event will be held at the Town Hall. (The organizers have May 6 as the alternate date for the event.)

Divakaruni, who cofounded Maitri about a decade ago, is reading from her book in a dozen cities including St Paul, Chicago, Miami and New York.

She has two readings at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books; at one, she will read some of her poems.

"The list (of cities to be visited) is mercifully short," she says with a chuckle. "My publishers would have loved to send me to more cities. But since my novel is going to be out in a few months, I guess they let me go off with a shorter list."

At her previous readings, she has met with scores of South Asian readers.

"My books are as much for Indian readers as they are for non-Indians," she says. "I take a special interest in meeting with Indians and South Asians and discuss my work."

Divakaruni, makes home in Fremont, California, with her two young sons and husband, Murthy. She kicks off the book promotion in San Francisco area, starting at Cody's on April 24. Her book tour ends on May 16 in New York. She will read at independent and chapters of chain bookstores.

Her schedule:

April 24: Cody's, 7 pm; 2454 Telegraph Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704

April 25: Kepler's 7.30 pm; 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025

April 26: Clean Well Lighted Place 7:30 pm, 601 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco, CA 94102

April 27: Barnes and Noble, 7.30 pm, 3900 Mowry Ave, Fremont;(510) 791-1060

April 28: Blue Stocking Festival of Authors, Pleasant Hill community center, 320 Civic Dr, (the fest runs from 9-3:30; Divakaruni reads at 10:50 am); (925) 676 5200; tickets required

April 29: Los Angeles Times Festival of books, held at UCLA. Divakaruni attends two events; Poetry reading 11 am to 11.20 am; Fiction of S Asia panel, from 1.30 to 2.30 pm. 800-350-3211

April 30: Dutton's 7 pm, 11975 San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049

May 1: Warwick's 8 pm, 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037

May 2: Book People 7 pm, 603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703-5413

May 3: Brazos 7 pm, 2421 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005-1451; (713) 523-0701

May 7: Annie Bloom's lunch signing, 7834 Southwest Capitol Highway, Portland, OR

97219 Powell's 7:30 p.m, 1005 West Burnside, Portland

May 8: 57TH Street Books 7 pm,1301 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637

May 9: Ruminator 7.30 pm, 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

May 15: Books and Books 8 pm, 296 Aragon Ave, Miami, FL 33134; (305) 442-4408

May 16: Olsson's, 7 pm, 1200 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20004; (202) 347-3686

May 17: Barnes & Noble Union Square, 7.30 pm, Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003; (212)253-0810

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