There is more than one famous Anita Anand, but this Anita Anand is the best. She is a Montreal-based author, literary translator, language teacher, and cherished guest at Erica’s ukulele parties. All the while, she yearns for peace on earth and a free Palestine!
You must read her books! Her novel, A Convergence of Solitudes was a finalist for the 2022 Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. And her first book, Swing in the House and Other Storieswon the 2015 Quebec Writer’s Federation Concordia University First Book Award. Anita’s fiction is as charming as she is, featuring delightful characters who are often in the midst of what Anita calls, “a minority’s predicament.” In the various neighbourhoods of her childhood, Anita was always the only girl her age of Indian origin. As such, Anita grew up quite familiar with the “minority’s predicament.” She believes this experience was pivotal in helping her to become a writer, but she’d also like to help bridge the gap of understanding that people of visible minorities experience every day.
It was such a joy to have Anita on the podcast. Make sure to listen to the end for a universally relevant listener question and a five-star ukulele segment with Anita on guitar.
Links and Resources
Anita’s website: https://anitaanand.carrd.co/
Anita on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms.anitaanand/
Erica on Instagram: @erica.j.schmidt
Erica's website: ericajschmidt.com
Full shownotes at ericajschmidt.com/podcast.anita-anand-montreal-author
VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Me, Anita Anand, Nisha Coleman, and just about all of my guests are HORRIFIED by the genocide happening in Gaza. The situation is tragic and unfathomable, but there are concrete actions you can take!
Concrete Steps for Palestine
- Write letters to the other Anita Anand, Canada’s minister of defence
- Follow @yousaama on Instagram. Yousaama shares insightful, philosophical, along with links to emergency aid campaigns at chuffed.org.
Two Great Options:Rapid Relief for Displaced Families and Children
The Zaynab Project:A women-led, 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit delivering critical aid to families and orphaned children across Gaza.
Now’s the time to donate! Follow Yousaama and other Free Palestine activists, give what you can, read about Palestine, talk about Palestine, share stories, be brave, do not fall into despair. xoxoxoxoxo.
Erica’s Interview with the Best Anita Anand
00:00 This Is Your Strange and Beautiful LifeTheme Song + and Anita Anand’s bio
00:02:24 How to go from “I have a book inside of me” to actually writing the book
00:05:35 What about getting published?
00:12:13 The “perfect novel” that became the title story in her collection “Swing in the House”
00:13:05 Elevator pitch for The Convergence of Solitudes
00:16:58 Inspiration of Serge Fiore in the novel. Un Musicien parmi les autres
00:19:05 Anita calls Australian journalist “stolen” from Vietnam and turns her into a character (with her permission). Should you always ask people you write about for their permission?
00:22:51 How being an outsider has helped Anita’s writing.
00:26:41 Why Anita has decided not to write another book and focus on literary translation and guitar.
00:31:23 Support Palestinian families by following @yousaama on Instagram. Yousaama posts heartfelt, insightful updates, and the latest in urgent aid campaigns on chuffed.org
00:34:15 Learning guitar
00:35:04 Writing routines and accountability
00:36:58 Listener Question from Losing My Moji for My Sweet Slovenly Boyfriend. His partner’s apartment gives him the Ick. Is this a dealbreaker?
00:57:19 The title and topic of Anita Anand’s spectacular TED talk.
00:01:01:07 Half-bad Ukulele Segment:Drivin' on 9 by The Breeders
00:01:04:47 Wrap-up and Closing Theme Song
Thank you so much, Anita! And thank you everyone for listening and hitting up these shownotes.
LISTENER QUESTION FROM LOSING MY MOJO FOR MY SWEET AND SLOVENLY BOYFRIEND
Dear Anita and Erica,
I’m a gay 33-year-old, almost a year into a relationship with a dude who, in theory, makes me incredibly happy. He’s hilarious and kind and attentive to my emotional needs in ways no partner has ever been for me before.
Historically, our sex life has been great, and we’re talking about taking next steps like moving in together and even marriage. Earlier in the relationship, I was thrilled about all these conversations. But lately, I’ve started to freeze up. From what I can tell, the main reason is truly embarrassing. Here’s the issue: His apartment gives me the ICK.
I put a great deal of effort into taking care of my home. I clean regularly and have set up my space with colours and furniture and art that make me feel calm, organized, and safe. When we first got together, we spent all our time at my place, so all was well But we’ve started going back and forth more, and I find I feel uncomfortable and gross when I stay at his frat-boy digs. He thinks doing the dishes (and cleaning the bathroom and making the bed and doing laundry) are optional chores you can pull off when you’re in the mood. He thinks AC/DC posters and milk crates are acceptable home décor. Worst of all, he has too many cats, and not enough litter boxes, so the smell is completely hit or miss.
I feel shallow! This guy is so sweet, and yet basic hygiene and aesthetics don’t seem to occur to him. Also, it could be neurodiversity or ingrained hoarding or trauma that make it impossible for him to live differently.
When he does clean up, I shower him with compliments to try and train him to take up better habits. But then the next time I come, the sheets aren’t changed, the garbage is overflowing, and I have to hold my breath until my system gets used to the cat pee in the air. Last week we were out in his neighbourhood and he invited our mutual friends to his place, even though it was its usual disaster. I was appalled that he thought it was okay to host people he cared about in a hazmat situation. After this evening, I totally shut down and withheld intimacy for the weekend.
Am I an asshole? Is this a dealbreaker? Do you think a more constructive intervention is allowed? What would you do?
Love, Losing My Moji for My Sweet Slovenly Boyfriend
And if you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: How to Be a Writer with Kyle Stevenson, True Stories to Save Your Life with Nisha Coleman, and Curiosity with Michelle Syba (Author of End Times).
To support this independent podcast, please consider purchasing a Lil and Bud dog greeting card at ericajschmidt.com/merch. You can also make a one-time donation here at The Donate Button.Feel free to get in touch for other sponsorship possibilities. My infinite thanks for all of this.
More infinite thanks, as always, to Taes Leavitt (darling big sister, Big Heart Journey), Sherwin Tjia (technical and creative advisor, Sherwin’s Quirky Events,Episode 22) and my dearly departed aunt Eileen Gun, whose generous gift helped to fund my new podcast equipment.
Stay tuned for more episodes extra soon. Don’t forget to followThis Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life on your favourite podcast platform. And if you enjoyed the episode, I would be immensely grateful if you could share it with a friend and/or leave a kind and enthusiastic rating and review.
