Amulya Malladi (born 1974 in Sagar,

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

) is an

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

. She earned her

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in electronics engineering from

Osmania University Osmania University is a collegiate public state university located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad in 1918 , He released a farman to establish OSMANIA UNIVERSITY on the day of 28 August 1918. It ...

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...

, India and her

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (profes ...

from the

University of Memphis } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering ...

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

, United States. After graduating from the University of Memphis, she lived and worked in

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical areas San Mateo County ...

. She is the author of nine novels, including ''A House for Happy Mothers''. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Dutch, German, Spanish, Danish, Romanian, Serbian, and Tamil. She has a master's degree in journalism from the

and a bachelor's degree in engineering from

. When she's not writing, she works as a marketing executive for a global life sciences company. Amulya lives with her family in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

Her latest novel, a Nordic thriller, “A Death in Denmark” was released in March 2023 by William Morrow.

Early life

Amulya Malladi was born in 1974 in a small town called Sagar, in the central Indian state of

. Due to Malladi's father's occupation in the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

, Amulya lived all over the country ranging from the Himalayan foothills to the southern city of

Madras Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

. At the age of 11, when she found herself immersed in a world of goblins, pixies and

fairies A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, o ...

in the works of Enid Blyton, she wrote her first handwritten book of 50 pages. She once said that her affection and affinity towards writing influenced her academic choices. Though she first earned her

in electrical and electronics engineering from

, Hyderabad, India, she followed it up with a

from

in Tennessee. After gaining the journalism degree, she worked as a copy writer and a

marketing manager Marketing management is the organizational discipline which focuses on the practical application of marketing orientation, techniques and methods inside enterprises and organizations and on the management of a firm's marketing resources and ac ...

for a software company in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

. Malladi currently resides in

with her family. She has said that "When I first moved to Denmark ...

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

sounded to me like the buzzing of bees".

''A Death in Denmark'' (March 28, 2023)

Meet Gabriel Præst, an ex-Copenhagen cop (who dresses with panache), jazz aficionado, and relentless pursuer of truth as he explores Denmark’s Nazi-collaborator past and anti-Muslim present in a page-turning Nordic murder mystery with a cosmopolitan vibe Everyone in Denmark knew that Yousef Ahmed, a refugee from Iraq, brutally murdered the right-wing politician Sanne Melgaard. So, when part-time blues musician, frustrated home renovator, and full-time private detective Gabriel Præst agrees to investigate the matter because his ex—the one who got away—asked him to, he knew it was a no-win case. But as Gabriel starts to ask questions, his face meets with the fists of Russian gangsters; the Danish prime minister asks him for a favor; and he starts to realize that something may be rotten in the state of Denmark. Wondering if Yousef was framed to heighten the local anti-Muslim sentiment, Gabriel follows a trail back in time to World War II when anti-Semitism was raging in Europe during the German occupation of Denmark. Fearing a nationalistic mindset has resurfaced, Gabriel rolls up the sleeves of his well-cut suit and gets to work. From the cobblestone streets of Copenhagen to the historic Strassen of Berlin where the sounds of the steel-toed boots of marching Nazis still linger, Gabriel finds that some very powerful Danes don’t want him digging into the case—as the secrets he unearths could shake the foundations of Danish identity. REVIEWS “A Death in Denmark” is a fascinating political thriller set in present-day Denmark, with interesting historical flashbacks to Nazi crimes during their WWII Europe regime. Fans of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” will love this spy thriller. — Buzzfeed's 20 Most Anticipated Thrillers Of 2023 This superb series launch from Malladi introduces PI Gabriel Præst...

hose A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called ''pipes'' (the word ''pipe'' usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one), or more generally '' ...

pursuit of the truth takes some unexpected directions on the way to the satisfying conclusion. A killer plot matches an unusual lead sleuth, and secrets from Denmark’s WWII past enhance the story line. — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

''A Breath of Fresh Air'' (2002)

In an interview, she spoke about the influences behind her first book, ''A Breath of Fresh Air'' (2002). While she was nine years old, her family was living in the Indian city of

Bhopal Bhopal (; ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes'' due to its various natural and artificial lakes. It i ...

because her father was posted in the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. During that time, on the night of 3 December 1984, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from Bhopal's

Union Carbide Union Carbide Corporation is an American chemical corporation wholly owned subsidiary (since February 6, 2001) by Dow Chemical Company. Union Carbide produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers befor ...

plant that killed many people. When this gas tragedy occurred, her family and she were staying at the Army Center which was a few kilometers away from the plant. Due to the wind that blew in a direction opposite to theirs, they remained unaffected by the gas leak. However, she remembered how those affected described the methyl isocyanate gas as

chili powder Chili powder (also spelled chile, chilli, or, alternatively, powdered chili) is the dried, pulverized fruit of one or more varieties of chili pepper, sometimes with the addition of other spices (in which case it is also sometimes known as chili p ...

in their lungs. These images stayed with her and took the form of a story, which she wanted to tell but had no idea how to. While living in

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

, the writing process for her first novel began. ''

SF Weekly ''SF Weekly'' was a free alternative weekly newspaper founded in the 1970s in San Francisco, California. It was distributed every Thursday, and was published by the San Francisco Print Media Company. The paper has won national journalism awards, ...

'' wrote in its review about this book:

Amulya Malladi's gemlike first novel has a provocative, almost absurd concept. Built on too-familiar notions about womanhood, fidelity, and family ... But, the quality of Malladi's writing elevates ''Fresh Air'' well above standard-issue book-club fodder, and her strong control over plot helps her avoid the overwritten narrative drift that plagues most first novels. The prose ... is economical, more Raymond Carver than
Bharati Mukherjee Bharati Mukherjee (July 27, 1940 – January 28, 2017) was an Indian American-Canadian writer and professor emerita in the department of English at the University of California, Berkeley. She was the author of a number of novels and short story ...
. Plainly told, Malladi's story is a fine study of the tenuous control we have over love and memory.

A review from the ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

'' magazine said:

Malladi's subject is ... compelling the survivors of the Bhopal tragedy remain neglected and angry after 18 years. alladiwas a child in Bhopal when the disaster happened and wasn't affected because her house was upwind of the Carbide factory. The victims of the accident now total 14,000, a number Malladi humanizes by keeping her story intimate.

''The Mango Season'' (2003)

As to how Malladi came up with the title and names of the characters from ''The Mango Season'', she said in an interview that unless she has a title of the book she is writing, she cannot move on. Same is the case with the names of her characters from her works of literature. Most of the influences on her characters came from her Hyderabad connection, which she corroborated by saying, "I think it's easier to write about a place you've lived in. The research element definitely shrinks and you can write more confidently. I also feel I have an obligation to write about a place I've lived in. I have moved a lot in my life, as a child and even as an adult, and I just feel that it would be such a waste if I wouldn't write about the places I have lived in." She said that writing this book was like taking a trip to Hyderabad. A review from the ''

Santa Monica Mirror The ''Santa Monica Mirror'' is a weekly community newspaper which covers Santa Monica,. It circulates around 10,000 copies weekly according to their website. The Mirror focuses on local happenings, events, sports, and arts. The Mirror also has a ...

'' said:

Amulya Malladi lays India out like a living picture before her readers. The smells curl out through the spine of the book, the tastes leave our throats burning with an unknown spice. The heat causes sweat to run down our backs, the curious sounds block the more familiar ones of cars and traffic from our ears.

''Serving Crazy with Curry'' (2004)

After losing her Silicon Valley job and a baby, and facing familial pressure to marry and be a traditional Indian wife, Devi attempts suicide, but even that is unsuccessful. After being found by her mother, she moves back in with her parents to recover, but refuses to speak, choosing to communicate instead through food. Her "crazy" concoctions bring the family together, but secrets still lurk in the background. ''Serving Crazy with Curry'' received a starred review from the ''

Library Journal ''Library Journal'' is an American trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional prac ...

''.

''Song of the Cuckoo Bird'' (2005)

Kokila, an eleven-year-old orphan, is promised in marriage, when a trip to the Tella Meda

ashram An ashram ( sa, आश्रम, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or a ...

in southern India changes everything. Choosing to stay at Tella Meda rather than be married at such a young age, she forms a new family with the other women who reside there.

''The Sound of Language'' (2007)

After her husband was taken prisoner by the Taliban, Raihana escapes from war-torn Kabul and settles with distant relatives in Denmark. She enrolls in school but struggles to learn Danish, and so apprentices herself to Gunnar, a beekeeper and recent widower. As they become friends, they face pressure and disapproval from their respective communities; Raihana is expected to remarry, and should not be spending time alone with a Danish man.

''A House for Happy Mothers'' (2016)

After three miscarriages, Silicon Valley residents Priya and Madhu make one more attempt at parenthood, this time via a surrogate in Madhu's native India. The surrogate, Asha, already has two children, but is lacking in everything else. Searching for a way to secure a good future for her gifted son, she reluctantly agrees to carry Priya and Madhu's baby inside her. While Priya's choices are questioned by her family and friends in the United States, Asha must hide her pregnancy for fear of societal shaming, residing in the Happy Mother's House away from her family for most of her pregnancy. ''A House for Happy Mother's'' received a starred review from '' Booklist'', who said it "examines India's surrogacy industry with honesty and grace."

''The Copenhagen Affair'' (2017)

After suffering a nervous breakdown at work and a year of depression, Sanya is in a sad state. Her husband, Harry, decides that a move to Copenhagen to pursue a business deal might help pull her out of her funk. As Sanya explores this new city and mingles with the Danish elite, she realizes that the "Old Sanya" is gone, but isn't quite sure who the "New Sanya" is yet. '' Booklist'' called it an "entertaining romp through Denmark."

Bibliography

*''A Death in Denmark, William Morrow (2023)'' ISBN 978-0063235519 *''A Breath of Fresh Air'', Penguin Books (2002) *''The Mango Season'', Ballantine Books (2003) *''Serving Crazy with Curry'', Ballantine Books (2004) *''Song of the Cuckoo Bird'', Ballantine Books (2005) *''The Sound of Language'', Ballantine Books (2007) *''A House for Happy Mothers'', Amazon Lake Union (2016) *''The Copenhagen Affair'', Amazon Lake Union (2017) *''The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You'' (2019) ISBN 978-1096250784

References

External links

*
Facebook page

Amulya's blog

Bad Mommy Confessions, ''Working Mother''

''Library Journal'' review of ''A House for Happy Mothers''

A Novel Occupation
''Nirali Magazine'', November 2004
''The Boston Globe'' reviews ''Song of the Cuckoo Bird''

BookReporter.com review of ''The Mango Season''

* ttp://www.smmirror.com/volume5/issue14/books_in_the.asp ''Santa Monica Mirror'' reviews ''The Mango Season''
''SF Weekly'' reviews ''A Breath of Fresh Air''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malladi, Amulya 1974 births Living people People from Sagar, Madhya Pradesh Telugu people Novelists from Madhya Pradesh Indian women novelists Nordic Noir writers