I Wrote my Second Book: Rootless and Restless!

Nearly 8 years ago, when I published my first book, The Shooting Star, I was pretty sure I would never embark on the long and lonely journey of being an author again. I was overwhelmed to hear from readers how the book touched them and changed their perspective on travel (and life). But the realities of the publishing world and the chase of other creative pursuits dissuaded me from going down this path again.

However, as the years went by and I built a slow(er) life in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, my restless mind found some solace and that inner calling to write another book began to bubble up within me again. I attended writing workshops, joined a writing group, held workshops on travel writing, and for a while there, lived the idyllic writing life.

Every morning, I tried to show up at my writing desk with a large glass window overlooking the fields and mountains beyond. At first, I began writing a fictional novel with travel as a backdrop. But as I worked on the plot, I realized that many of my personal experiences travelling in remote places around the world were stranger than fiction! I’m talking about fleeing from a morality police raid in Iran, living for over a month on one of the world’s most remote islands 700 kilometers off the coast of Chile, motorbiking with two complete strangers across off-the-grid villages in Myanmar that don’t exist on Google Maps…

As I continued to write, the world outside my window changed from snow-dusted hills to young green wheat fields to wild cherry blossoms to golden maize harvests. Several seasons later, I finished the first draft of my manuscript (and also my love affair with that desk ;-)).

And after another year of navigating the world of editing and publishing, I can finally share my big news with you: My second book, Rootless and Restless, releases this month! You can pre-order your copy now <3

My Second Book: Rootless and Restless

“What happens when you leave behind the familiar and follow your curiosity to far corners of the world?

In Rootless and Restless, Shivya Nath trades comfort for adventure and sets off on a deeply personal journey to some of our planet’s most remote places. From a tiny island deep in the Arctic to off-grid Indigenous communities in Myanmar and the stark mountain deserts of Uzbekistan, she travels in search of stories, traditions and ways of life that are rarely written about.

Along the way, Shivya finds herself tangled in a morality police raid in Iran, discovering centuries-old traditions in Japan, and coming face-to-face with the last living member of an entire species in the Pacific Ocean.

In a world shaped by social media, cultural divides and climate change, Rootless and Restless is a reminder that travel can be more than ticking destinations off a list. It can open doors to remarkable people, unexpected lessons and perhaps even transform the traveller herself.”

Sneak peek: Chapter 1, Rootless and Restless

Behind the Patient Mountains
Iran, 2019

“The bus from Tabriz slowly crept through the darkness as I drifted in and out of sleep. From the scratched window, partly frosted by the warmth of the air conditioning inside and the biting cold of the night outside, I could make out the occasional silhouette of decaying buildings scattered among vast, empty swathes of land. I must have drifted back to sleep, for when the bus jerked to a halt a while later, I awoke with a start. I was groggy with sleep and when I carelessly ran my hand through my hair, I noticed that my hijab was missing; it must have slipped off while I was asleep. I anxiously began to look for it and finally found it lodged behind me. Relieved, I quickly tied it on my head.

I noticed that the passengers sitting in the front had begun to alight from the bus, and one by one disappeared into the dimly lit darkness. Yaasmin, an Iranian woman in her thirties, and her young daughter urged me to hurry, worry etched across their faces. The mother–daughter duo, whom I had met at the bus station and could barely claim to know, refused to leave the bus without me by their side. I shook off the tiredness from my body, grabbed my bag, checked my passport and followed them.

From the boot of the bus, I grabbed my wheeled backpack and joined the snaking queue at the Iranian border checkpoint. The winter chill seemed to electrify the undercurrent of tension in the air. The air smelt putrid, as decrepit border towns often do. This particular land border was manned by the feared Iranian authorities, and online forums frequently coughed up stories about long interrogations faced by travellers trying to leave the country. When my turn came, I nervously greeted the stern officer and presented my passport. As he scanned my visa and face, I touched my head again to check if my hijab still covered my hair. He frowned and asked in an accusatory tone: ‘You are a writer, and you spent a month in Iran. What was the real purpose of your visit?’”

Rootless and Restless: Book tour

I’ll be doing book launch events across India in May, and would love to see you in your city!

• 2nd May, 6:15-7:30 pm – Deer Park Institute, Bir, Himachal Pradesh
• 5th May, 6:00-8:00 pm – Greenr Cafe, GK 1, Delhi
• 7th May, 6:30-8:00 pm – The Royal Opera House, Mumbai
• 16th May, 6:00-7:30 pm – Champaca (Copper+Cloves), Bangalore

I’ll be sharing more book-related events and updates on Instagram and my newsletter.

What would you like to hear about my author journey?