Kaleidoscope, nominated for the Pushcart Prize, delves into the implication and philosophy of colors from a Hindu woman's point of view, from birth until death. The color she adorns herself with almost depicts the story of her life. Expressed through different poetic and verbal forms, each color in the book has its own tone and is specific to different age groups.

 

 

 

Reviews of the book so far:

"This slim chapbook is a quick bite. Poems appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, but linger in consciousness longer than you might think they would. The use of colors is fascinating to the desi mind; we, as one poem remarks, "exist in a hue of experiences." - Vidya Pradhan, Editor, India Currents.

"Vikram’s wordsmithing is outstanding. I have read much poetry and have never seen such creativeness as that of this author. She allows her words to flow with rhythm and deepness. The wisdom that comes through her is beyond any I’ve seen." - Irene Watson, Reader Views.    To read the full review, click here

"This chapbook is the dazzling display of a poet who teases us with fresh imagery and delicate linguistic craftsmanship." - Orchid Tierney, Rem Magazine, New Zealand.    To read the full review, click here

"In this innovative series, Sweta Srivastava Vikram re-appropriates color. Cultures and mythologies collide along the way, and the result is a chapbook that feels like a quest. In the end, the colors are a map to identity. The child’s pink tonsils or the bride’s red sari are not symbols, but rather mile markers. Like Vikram’s poems, they lead toward understanding." - Erica Wright, Senior Poetry Editor, Guernica.

"Sweta has woven such a spell with her word usage and the symbolisms that the most complex becomes the simplest of all." - Smita Singh, VAANI, UK.    To read the full review, click here

"....there is a bit of defiance in her words as the color beige takes over in old age and she fights to remain red, youthful. Overall, Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors is an even stronger chapbook poetry collection than Because All Is Not Lost because it deals more than with just emotion and healing. Sweta Srivastava Vikram is a gifted poet..." - Serena, Savvy Verse and Wit.    To read the full review, click here

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Not All Birds Sing, nominated for the Pushcart Prize, is a collaborative collection of poetry which celebrates the rich cross-fertilization of artistic genres. Sweta and Claire Anna Watson (visual artist from Australia) met in Portugal as part of an artist exchange program. In the book, Sweta has responded to Claire's visual installations and video works using Haiku.

 

 

 

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Whispering Woes of Ganges & Zambezi is a collaboration between New York-based Sweta Srivastava Vikram and Zimbabwe's Mbizo Chirasha. It delves into the socioeconomic and political issues consuming Asia and Africa. Be it poverty, child trafficking, corruption or political unrest, the artists use different forms of poetic expression to reflect on the issues the two continents are facing.

While Sweta, who was raised in both India and Africa, communicates her story using Haikus and leaves her work open to interpretation, Mbizo articulates his experiences using free verse and gets the message across.

 

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We have all lost a dear one at some point in our lives. Grief, depending on the relationship with the one deceased, affects us differently. But life is about celebrating those alive and not just mourning those who have moved on. Optimism and faith are the keys to overcoming the roadblocks life puts in our way.

Because All Is Not Lost tries to state that there is always hope for anyone coping with grief.

 

 

Reviews of the book so far:

"Sometimes dark, however poignant in nature, "Because All is Not Lost" touches the heart and soul. Each piece offers inner reflection and gives the reader an opportunity to make peace with his or her own feelings. I admire Vikram’s ability to transform her inner thoughts into such moving works of word art." - Irene Watson, Reader Views.    To read the full review, click here

"Because All Is Not Lost is a chapbook that will affect readers like no other poetry collection. Readers will be absorbed by the grief and the glimmers of light as the narrators deal with emptiness and blame." - Serena M. Agusto-Cox, Savvy Verse & Wit.    To read the full review, click here

"A gripping story of grief and loss and journey to faith and hope will interest all lovers of poetry. Poetess Sweta's poetry has the power to play with the fear residing inside of us and then leave us gaping with a hope, just like a roller coaster ride." - Smita Singh, VAANI, UK.    To read the full review, click here

"The real joy of this collection is its potential to be read in a single sitting, multiple times, with each subsequent reading revealing new insights. For poetry virgins, this text demands no sophisticated knowledge of poetics and literary discourse. To put simply, it is an accessible piece of enjoyable writing, a concept with which a lot of poets seem to struggle." - Orchid Tierney, Editor, Rem Magazine, New Zealand.    To read the full review, click here

"Sweta Srivastava Vikram's slim volume of poetry speaks eloquently of grief. Pithy poems lament lost family members and troubled souls. The tone is bracing; the exhortation is to mourn and move on - each loss is an opportunity to learn." - Vidya Pradhan, Editor, India Currents.

"I’m glad I found a new South Asian author, and will be following Vikram’s work closely in the future." - Swapna Krishna.
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"Sweta Srivastava Vikram’s Because All Is Not Lost: Verse On Grief shares her personal loss and, in return, comforts the reader. Her beautifully crafted poems take the reader on a voyage that 'has to be undertaken by each of us individually.' " - Patricia Carragon, Brownstone Poets.    To read the full review, click here

"This is a collection populated by a recognizable but richly diverse and dramatic cast of family characters." - Mary-Jane Newton, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal.    To read the full review, click here

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Sweta's personal essay, In the middle of nowhere, was published in a Canadian anthology: Indian Voices.

 

 

 

 

 

Timescapes is a collection of poetry published by Unisun Publications in Bangalore, India.

Five of Sweta's poems feature in this anthology.

 

 

 

 

Same Difference is new voices of asian women writers, a one of its kind Anthology of Poems, Essays and Short Stories by Asian Women Authors from all over the world..

Several of Sweta's poems and essays feature in this anthology. She was invited to London as one of the chief guests for the launch of this book.
 

 

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Happy Birthday To Me is a collection of contemporary new voices from across the South Asian diaspora.

Sweta's collection of haikus, "Celebration" feature in this anthology.

 

 

 

 

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Her Mother's Ashes is a collection which brings together first-rate stories by South Asian women that - whether set in their home countries or those of their adoption - explore with profound and sensitive insight the inner tenor of women’s lives caught between places, cultures, and generations.

Why does Anika Mathur jump off the Brooklyn Bridge to save a stranger from drowning in the East River? "Retribution", by Sweta Srivastava Vikram, is a fast moving tale of an NYC investment banker desperate to bring closure to her past.

 

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I, Me, Myself is a collection of poems by 20 poets published by Unisun Publications.

Three of Sweta's poems feature in this anthology.

Whether you are simply a fan of poetry, or have been studying or teaching poetry via online colleges and universities, this book is for you. These 20 poets bring their unique vocabularies, histories, and atmospheres to this poignant collection. Sweta's voice rings clear and and bright through her featured work. Not to be missed.

 

 

Inner Voices is a collection of the best of short stories chosen from a competition announced by Mirage Books in 2008. These are contributions spanning many countries and are representative of a new thought process and style of writing fiction. They also cover a variety of genres - from the racy thriller to the deeply reflective, from the comic to those that touch upon the emotions of angst and anger.

The stories, in Inner Voices, are different because they adhere to no particular set of rules of the narrative structure. Some are in dialogue form, a few seem to be a journey into the sub-conscious mind and many seem to be keen to break the traditional pattern of story telling.

Sweta's story, "Challenges of Breaking Rules", expresses the writer's dilemma when the constraints which define a 'typical' story are taken away and let the writer loose with putting words on a page. The writer finds that it is these rules, which were thought of as 'shackles,' actually help and not hinder the creative process.

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Pabulum, meaning "food for thought," was written with the purpose of resurrecting poetry in the non-literati world across all age groups, ethnicities, and genders. The idea was to create an honest book that people could read, feel, and relate to without making it cumbersome. The author received several emails and phone calls that said "I thought it; you wrote it," or "I didn’t feel intimidated by poetry, for once."

Pabulum has rhymes, rhythm, philosophy, perceptions, personal experiences, the nuances of Indian culture with a dash of humor and ample flavors of other emotion. It’s not a book for people who seek a deep journey with hidden meanings behind words; it’s a simple, candid display of lexis for readers who want their soul invigorated.

Here is what some people had to say about Pabulum:

A real "must read"
This is a heartfelt, deeply personal book of poetry. The author expresses herself beautifully with terrific descriptions. A real "must read!" - Lucky317

Heartfelt Observations
Settling in a new land is a daunting task. You seek to understand your new surroundings within the context of where you came from. As you adjust and acclimatize, you reevaluate what was home through a new prism. Pabulum is a compendium of short but penetrating poetic observations that capture the author's personal thoughts as she comes to term with her life in the US and seeks to explain and understand her homeland. The collection works because it is so obviously a labor of love. It is clear Sweta is not satisfied until she finds the right words to capture her ideas. That attention to detail and her desire to share her most perceptive thoughts and feelings gives this collection an emotional poignancy and makes it a fun but all-too-short read. I look forward to further works from Sweta. - Khurram Mirza

Rediscover poetry!
I've never actually finished an entire volume of poetry. But I read, and re-read, Pabulum for a variety of reasons (some of which are biased),however the important ones are not. The beauty of this book lies in its honest and direct nature. That is what makes me pick up the book again and again and flip to random pieces. The poems are frank, funny, and familiar. So if you have been meaning to get back into poetry, this is where you want to start. And to quote from the book itself (and completely undo what I just said) -- "Appreciate the fact that you enjoy it, without looking for a reason." - Lit Racher

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