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Schedule

Sunday, December 3, 2023
2 p.m. Book Presentation and Moderated Discussion
2:45 p.m. Audience Q&A
3 p.m. Book-Signing

New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi joins Asia Society Texas for an author talk on her latest novel, The Perfumist of Paris.

As the third entry in Joshi's Jaipur Trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris takes readers to 1970s Paris where Radha’s budding career as a perfumer competes against the growing demands of her family and the secrets of her past. With her signature evocative storytelling, Joshi invites readers on a transformative journey through the deep meaning of family, identity, goals, and dreams. Joined in conversation by Aparna Shewakramani, writer and star of Indian Matchmaking, Joshi will share her insights on the creative writing process and how her background and life have served as inspiration for her novels.

Books will be available for purchase onsite, and a book-signing will follow the program.

About the Author

Alka Joshi is the internationally bestselling author of the Jaipur Trilogy: The Henna Artist, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, and The Perfumist of Paris. Her debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a New York Times Bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Pick and was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. It has been translated into 29 languages and is currently in development as a Netflix series. Joshi was born in India and came to the U.S. with her family at the age of nine. She has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. She lives on the Monterey Peninsula with her husband and a misbehaving pup.

Website

About the Moderator

From her polarizing portrayal on Netflix's Emmy-nominated Indian Matchmaking, Aparna Shewakramani became an overnight ambassador for women demanding to be heard—in their love lives, workplaces, and in every space they occupy. Ever-transparent about the vitriol she experienced ranging from cyber bullying to death threats, Aparna spoke her truth and shared her personal story with over 200+ media outlets to date. Aparna took her own story from the press straight into writing her first memoir, She’s Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down. Now a “recovering attorney”, Aparna has pivoted her JD from Vanderbilt University Law and 10 years of legal practice into a full-time writing career. With several projects in development ranging from feature screenplays to creating a docu-feature which places her both behind and in-front of the camera, Aparna looks forward to continuing her storytelling from her unique point of view.

Asia Society hosts today's leading voices, providing commentary on events in news, society, and culture. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect Asia Society views.

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., bp America, and Houston Endowment Inc. Generous funding provided by Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Regions Bank, and Stephanie and Frank Tsuru. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Asia Society, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.