News

  • little-monk-kagbeni
    19 Jun, 2023

    A MONTH IN MUSTANG!

    Louisa has just returned from spending a month in Mustang, a 'high-altitude' desert region in the north-west of Nepal. It is fairly inaccessible and remote--in Louisa's case, it took 2 days by road to reach there even though the total distance from Kathmandu is less than 400km--but majestic and overwhelming. Louisa stayed for a month in the little town of Kagebeni, situated at an altitude of around 2800m at the confluence of the Kaligandaki River and the Jhong Khola. Her target was to fulfill her commitment to teach, on a voluntary basis, at both the Kag Chode Monastic School and the Mustang Buddhist College for two months every year, an activity that she commenced in Autumn 2019. The month passed busily and happily, with joyful reunions with her lama family all too soon followed by emotional farewells. She is eagerly looking forward to returning in October!

  • Book-Launch-Portrait
    28 Mar, 2023

    'A RAINBOW OF CHAOS' SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED!

    The Global Launch of 'A Rainbow of Chaos' last Friday, 24 March, at Karma Coffee, HUB, Boudha, was everything Louisa hoped it would be: joyous, celebratory, and a really memorable occasion. It was informal and held al fresco: thankfully the rain which had plagued the Kathmandu Valley earlier in the week had gone and Spring was in the air. There was a good turnout of both Nepalis and ex-pats living in Kathmandu, with representatives of some of  the city's major bookshops also attending. Arjun's family was there and a highspot for many was when, after a reading of how she met aama-lai (Arjun's mother) for the first time, Louisa went to acknowledge her, giving her a khata (votive scarf) in the Tibetan gesture of respect, before they warmly embraced each other. Many were seen furtively wiping away a tear after that. Louisa extends her thanks to everyone who came to support the launch and for the hard work of those behind the scenes.

  • Book-Pouch
    23 Mar, 2023

    A RAINBOW OF CHAOS: GLOBAL LAUNCH DAY!

    Just 24 hours to go to the global launch of A Rainbow of Chaos in the place where it all happened: Nepal! It has been a long and steep learning curve to get to this point. Actually writing the book now seems the easy part. After that came the endless rounds of proof reading; deciding on layout deisgn; moments of doubt; learning website skills; deciding on branding; more moments of doubt; doing PR for the launch; connecting with bookshops here in Kathmandu; and yet more moments of doubt. Throughout it all Arjun has stood by me and supported everything I have been doing. So it will be a proud moment tomorrow that will make all the hard work worthwhile.

  • Women-with-Voices-logo
    27 Feb, 2023

    WE HAVE A LOGO!

    The Women with Voices project (see Publications for details) now has its very own logo! The colours--purple, gold and white--are those closely associated with women's empowerment, while the stylized image of a woman, arms raised and outstretched, symbolizes the indomitable spirti of womankind, able to triumph over adversity and emerge even stronger and more enriched than before. If you want to contribute to the project or find out more, please download the PDF file here. 

  • Louisa-with-Rainbow-of-Chaos
    24 Feb, 2023

    ONE MONTH TO WAIT!

    There is just one month to wait now for the launch of A Rainbow of Chaos! Read the book teaser and pre-order now!

    "January 2020. Coronavirus and Wuhan are fast becoming the latest media buzzwords as Louisa Kamal, blissfully unaware of what is to come, returns to her beloved Nepal for two months. It will be December before she leaves.

    "Separated from an emotionally abusive husband, Louisa is confronted by the prospect of having to start life all over again instead of easing into a comfortable retirement. As the COVID-19 pandemic first commences then concerts its grip on Nepal, Louisa unthinkably finds herself stranded, unable to return home to Thailand. Louisa and her Nepali ‘little brother’ Arjun—both lost souls in this strange new world of lockdowns, masks and social distancing—gravitate towards each other, finding unexpected solace and fulfillment. Together they face the outward problems of living under the pandemic protocols while gradually revealing their inner lives and selves.

    "A Rainbow of Chaos, the first in an empowering non-fiction series, will appeal not only to anyone who knows and loves Nepal but also to those who believe in both the power of love and the strength of a woman asserting her own right to find freedom and happiness against all the odds."