Alka Joshi

Alka Joshi
Born
OccupationAuthor
Alma materStanford University
California College of the Arts
Notable worksThe Henna Artist
Website
alkajoshi.com

Alka Joshi is an Indian-American author known for her novel The Henna Artist.[1]

Early life and education

Alka Joshi was born in Jodhpur, India.[2] She and her family moved to the United Statesin 1967, when Joshi was nine.[3]

She received her Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and her Master of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts.[4][5]

Career

Joshi began writing her debut novel, The Henna Artist, in 2010 and it was published in 2020.[6] The Henna Artist was the May 2020 pick for Reese's Book Club.[7] It is being made into a TV adaptation by Netflix, starring Freida Pinto.[8][9]

In 2021, Joshi published her second novel, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, the sequel to The Henna Artist.[10][11] The final book in the Jaipur Trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris, came out in 2023.[12]

In 2025, Joshi released Six Days in Bombay, a historical mystery loosely based on the life of Amrita Sher-Gil.[13]

Novels

  • The Henna Artist (2020)[6]
  • The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021)[10]
  • The Perfumist of Paris (2023)[14]
  • Six Days in Bombay (2025)[13]

References

  1. ^ Egan, Elisabeth (May 28, 2020). "Yes, It Is Possible to Change History. Write a Novel!". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  2. ^ "Alka Joshi: Re-imagining India as a debutant novelist at 61". The Global Indian. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  3. ^ Shukla, Anya (February 26, 2022). "Alka Joshi Tells Unsung Stories". THE COLORIZATION COLLECTIVE. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  4. ^ Alkhaleel, Danah (March 6, 2022). "In Conversation with Alka Joshi, Author of Best-Selling Novel 'The Henna Artist'". Khaleejesque. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Ross, Martha (November 18, 2021). "The 'Indian Downton Abbey': Bay Area author's 'The Henna Artist' celebrates the beauty and complexity of post-independence India". The Mercury News. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Alka Joshi". Forbes. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  7. ^ "The Henna Artist". Reese's Book Club. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 19, 2021). "Netflix Acquires 'The Henna Artist' Starring Freida Pinto From Miramax TV; Sri Rao To Develop As Part Of First-Look Deal". Deadline. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Lodi, Hafsa (January 20, 2022). "Author Alka Joshi on the art of writing and an exciting Netflix acquisition". The National. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Davidson, Denise (October 31, 2021). "Alka Joshi's sequel, 'The Secret Keeper of Jaipur' continues the saga". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  11. ^ "'Henna Artist' Author Publishes Second Novel". Jefferson Public Radio. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Popęda, Agata (March 28, 2023). "Happy pub day to Alka Joshi and The Perfumist of Paris". Monterey County NOW. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Blumberg-Kason, Susan (May 11, 2025). "'Six Days in Bombay' by Alka Joshi". Asian Review of Books. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  14. ^ "Alka Joshi on 'The Perfumist of Paris' With Aparna Shewakramani". Asia Society. Retrieved March 2, 2026.