Dear Reader,

We are almost at the end of lunch when Rohini opens her backpack to retrieve two copies of her book. It’s a blue paperback titled “What’s In Your Backpack,” an exploration of the psychological burdens we accumulate over the years. “Stop, examine the burdens weighing you down—the attitudes, resentments or grievances. And here’s how you can shed them,” promises the book.

It’s a Monday afternoon, and we’re sitting at a table by the window in a small café near St. Paul’s Cathedral—Rohini, Aditi, and me. It’s warm and cozy, with the pleasant buzz of conversation surrounding us. The tables are filled with people in black and gray suits—this is the financial district, after all—the place where the dads in my British story books went to work - dads like Mr. Banks in “Mary Poppins”.

Returning to “What’s In Your Backpack”—it’s a thoughtful work, clearly a labor of love, and Rohini is its author. “It’s self-published,” she adds with a hint of apology in her voice. She inscribes copies for Aditi and me, her handwriting as careful as the ideas contained within the pages.

“How are you marketing your book?” I ask, noticing her hesitation.

Rohini’s response reveals what many writers struggle with: marketing feels uncomfortable. Every writer’s dream is to be read—but few want to beg for attention. Rohini, like many writers, finds it awkward to ask people to buy her book, to leave reviews, or to........

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