31 March, 2014

#SpecialFeature :: Introducing Author Howard Roark

Now Presenting:
*** SPECIAL FEATURE - April'14 ***

About the Author
Howard Roark is a graduate engineer who started out working for a multinational as a Network Engineer, a very brief stint, after which he joined a software company to work on products in the Artificial Intelligence / Neural Networks domain and later on in the Finance domain. And, since 2010, he's been working for Cisco Systems in Chennai, for their products in the Digital Video Broadcasting domain.
His interests include psychology, philosophy, spirituality, reading, writing, conversations and of course, Ayn Rand's books. He's a qualified hypnotherapist from the California Hypnosis Institute of India. He restricts himself to offering therapeutic help to his near and dear. And, he currently pursues an M.Sc. in Psychology.
He got into writing, spurred by guilt and hurt of having to give away, under coercing circumstances, the two dogs his family was having as pets. Although he loved the dogs, the fact that he was powerless and didn't do anything about retaining the dogs, left a deep wound in his mind. To overcome the emotions, he put his feelings on paper as a fiction short story, involving a dog, but twisted the end to alleviate his guilt. After this first short story, he started to write more such stories to give vent to his emotions. And, one such short story grew to become "Newton's Law Reversed".
Howard Roark is a pen name, inspired by the protagonist of Ayn Rand's 'The Fountainhead'. He has chosen this name, in order to identify his writer's dimension, which is distinctly different from his own.


About the Book
On a trip to meet an ailing relative in Gangaikondacholapuram, Akash is introduced to conflict when a simple village girl, Ganga trespasses his thoughts. His mind fails to elude Ganga and, being overwhelmed by the new found emotion, his attempts to free himself of his battles only grip him tighter. As his mind flits between Ganga and Ganesan, another tormented soul, Akash’s only reprieve could have been a banter with his father, when unexpectedly he hears the news of his father’s expiry.

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Giveaway
3 Paperback copies of the book is up for grabs for the Residents of India, Usa and UK. Enter the Rafflecopter below to try your luck

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29 March, 2014

#SpecialFeature :: An Interview with Andy Paula, Author of Love’s Labor


Now Presenting:
*** SPECIAL FEATURE - March'14 ***


Piali Roy has run away from home and the two stubborn men who love her. One is her beloved Baba; a rigid traditionalist, he refuses to accept anyone from outside her caste and community. And then there is Sathya, the unsuitable outsider. He loves her truly, madly, deeply and has even called off his marriage for her sake. Neither man will budge, and the small town of Jampot, where everyone knows everything, is not big enough for the two of them.
Away from their unreasonable demands, Piali strives to find peace in the mountains. But within six months, her lover tracks her down. Once again, she betrays the one by trusting the other.
Will her labor in the name of love be in vain, or will love transcend all differences?  



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An Interview with the Author

Tell us a bit about ‘Andy Paula’ at home :)
AP: Andy Paula at home is a world-class cook(ahem!) who loves her malpua and dahi vada as much as she loves hosting people. She loves the unusual, the quirky, the tant, the tortilla, the torkari. She is your every woman - the one who has henna on her head as she types this – and your gypsy woman – the one who wears her silver anklet as an armlet.

Now tell us a bit about ‘Andy Paula’, the Author
AP: AP the Author cannot write when the TV is on or the mangsho is cooking. She will take ‘earnest measures to secure her solitude and then find endless ways of squandering it.’

Tell us your experience of writing ‘Love’s Labor’
AP: I’m a little tired answering this one. Can I skip? You can read about it here if you really want to know. http://flight-of-fantasy.blogspot.in/2013/07/loves-labor-background-story.html

Do you have some unpublished work that’s lying in some old box or unopened drawers?  
AP: There was a story prompt on a site that claimed to break the Limca records. So I quickly wrote the story and it was only when it was ready that I realised they are asking for 1K to publish it! Now, as a poor author, that was inconceivable to me so I sent my story to an emag. From there it came back with a regret note and feedback. I incorporated the feedback, fleshed out the story and sent it to another portal. Just when I’d forgotten all about it, I get another rejection from this second place.
To my mind, DDS, this story is a masterpiece. I need to find someone who thinks it’s a masterpiece too! Now, that could be a challenge.

From conceiving an idea to marketing the book – it’s a long process. Which part of it did you enjoy the most?
AP: The marketing, un-authorly as that may sound.  The conception, the writing, the endless editing are so harrowing, I don’t even want to think about those!
Some day, when I’ve written enough for posterity, I’ll be a marketer.   

When you write, do you get into the character and decide the course of events or do you shape them as the plot requires them to be?
AP: There is no rule to this one. I start when a story needs an urgent telling and, sometimes, feel like the projector-man. His only role is to play the projector. What happens on screen is not in his hands. It’s uncanny how characters have a mind of their own and want to do their own thing. Is that the subconscious of Andy Paula playing up? Who can ever tell!    

All writers are readers first! So who are your favourite authors and what are some of your all-time favourite books?  
AP: Ruskin Bond for his easy style, P.G. Wodehouse for his comic timing, Louisa May Alcott for her everything, Bernard Shaw for his wit, Oscar Wilde for his philosophy coated in pithy dialogues, Emily Dickinson for her soulful lines, there are just too many to put them in a box. Maupassant’s short stories, Pablo  Neruda’s surrealism, Dicken’s realism – what master craftsmen they were. Closer home, I love Tagore and Sharat Chandra.
The Mill on the Floss, Wuthering Heights, Charitraheen, The Room on the Roof, Many Lives Many Masters, Soul Prints are some of my all-time favourites.

Do you think your favourite authors have influenced your style of writing?
AP: I’m sure they have.

There is always ‘someone’ who doesn’t like your book. How do you handle it?
AP: By reminding myself that there’re also some who don’t like Amitabh Bachchan.

Some rapid fire questions:
Your favourite movie: Shawshank Redemption
Your favourite genre of Music: Country
Your favourite Cuisine: Italian 
Your first celebrity Crush: Dev Anand – har fikr ko dhuen mein udata chala gaya
Top thing on your Bucket List: Visit the Self Realization Fellowship in Encinitas, California and meditate by the Pacific Ocean.

What would you like to say to the people who haven’t read your book yet but are contemplating on whether to pick it up or not?
AP: Get your copy of Love’s Labor – very possibly you feature in it!

About the Author
Andy Paula is a corporate trainer, an avid reader, a near-passionate blogger, and now, a writer. When she met her editor during the writing of Love's Labor, she realized how ruthless she may have appeared to all her enthusiastic trainees who nurtured creative dreams. "Never again," she thought, "am I going to correct another article." And she proceeded to make corrections in her own manuscript.
She confesses to never having made a kaleidoscope with broken bangles or taken apart a clock and put it back together, in her childhood. Two things that she did cherish were reading and falling in love. To the question, ‘What prompted you to write?’ Andy gives a tongue-in-cheek reply. "They say there's a book in each of us. Just wanted to check if they were right!"
When she is not making stories in her head, this Thinker does her pranayam and tries to meditate to keep a grip on her wandering mind. 


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Giveaway
10 Digital Copies of Love's Labor by Andy Paula
5 PDF copies of Love Across Borders, an anthology of twelve heart-warming narratives

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28 March, 2014

#GuestPost :: The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter By Ayush Pathak

From the demolition of the ancient civilization of Harappa, Egypt, and Mesopotamia—to the event which changed the rich lands of Africa into a forever desert—An evil which the avatars Ram, Krishna and others fought at the end of eras but were unable to defeat--- To a curse which is finally destined to be the doom of the world. 
The Temple of Avinasi is not just another story. It’s an Epic of one of the greatest story ever told- the struggle of a secret brotherhood trying to protect the world for the last four thousand years—the sacrifices of the elite group named Avatars—the event when the Almighty Creator’s powers took physical form—And a ray of hope that there will be a single warrior at the end of Kali-Yug who will stand between the world and its doom. It’s the story of the last prophesized avatar of the Indian mythology- The Kalki Avatar. 



Buy the Book at Flipkart

The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter

The comparison between these two Epics has been one of the favorite topics among critics. This kind of thing is bound to occur when one (LOTR) is the second most selling fiction of all times while the other is the highest selling book series ever. The fact that their genres match adds more fire to the discussion. Let’s have a look about similarities and differences of these two of the most popular fantasy literatures ever.
Starting with the older one, we see that LOTR was published in the 1950’s, far before any of the other writers had ventured so deep in the myths of a parallel world. It was the success of Tolkien’s book that ensured a way for other writers in future to dwell in the imaginary world of Fantasy. Such was the power of Tolkien’s book that it invented an entire new genre to be added in literature. And though the title is not official, but Tolkien is widely believed and called, by his fans and readers, as the Father of Fantasy.

On the other hand, in the late 1990’s, when the addictiveness of internet hadn’t yet completely spread, and the idiot box of Television was yet having its day, a great decline was seen in the number of readers. The decreasing interest in reading of the new generation used to be a matter of debate for the intellectuals, and a matter of survival for the book stores and small publishers who were on the verge of collapsing. At that time a divorced woman with a child, training to be a teacher in Scotland wrote a book on children’s literature which once again changed the course of popular literature. 

Harry potter’s unexpected success changed many myths in the literary world, especially the one which said that the new generation was losing its interest in reading. It was then understood that the young generation could be drawn to books if there was good material available. In a way, J.K Rowling’s book changed the publishing scenario as much as Tolkien’s, ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

Coming to the writing style of the two literary giants, Tolkien, having created a virtual world, the likes of which had never been attempted before, preferred to provide a detailed explanation of the sceneries and events to the readers. Though largely appreciated by readers, his style has been criticized by some critics and later authors, saying that, “Due to his excessive explanation of each and every detail, Tolkien hardly left anything to be deciphered by the readers’ imagination”. It should be noted that the same point is raised by many of his strong supporters in a quite positive display of Tolkien’s literary prowess. His characters are black and white, they either cling to the good or the evil side. Living in a world where he had to bear witness to two world wars and lose many friends and relatives, Tolkien had an exceptional hand in displaying battles and warfare. The battle of Helm’s deep and Minas Tirith, and the destruction in them, show an influence of the two world wars he faced. Although Tolkien always denied the influence of the World Wars in his book, the effect of war on his subconscious can be clearly seen through his novel.

A century after the celebrated children’s fiction, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, no one had expected the genre to pick up once again, until the advent of Harry Potter. Harry Potter’s fame and popularity, in many ways, even precedes the magic of Alice created by Lewis Carroll or any other children literature.Till date, Bible remains the only book which has possibly sold more than the Harry Potter series. Alike Tolkien, J.K Rowling’s writing can also be seen as being influenced by her real life conditions. Having spent her early writing years in destitution, she has shown a bluntness in describing the poverty of her major characters (Harry Potter, in his early years and the Weasley Family). Her over fondness of describing the magnificence of food in her books adds to the point. Her characters are not completely Black or White, but gray: an excellent example would be Severus Snape. 

Some say that Harry Potter would never have existed if Tolkien hadn’t invented the genre of Epic Fantasy. Rowling’s work is also said to be inspired by the other to some extent. The similarities in the characters of Gandalf and Dumbeldore(Mentor wizards), and Sauron and Voldemort(both have forbidden their names) have been pointed out. Also the character of Wormtail in H.P has similar traits (including first names) with Wormtongue of L.O.T.R.

While a true dominancy cannot be decided among the two great works. Comparisions has been and will continue to be made in future. But the fact will remain same that both the books have a special place in popular literature and are certainly ‘Classics’. In J.K Rowling’s own words-  “Tolkien created a whole new mythology, which I would never claim to have done. On the other hand, I think I have better jokes!”


I was born in a region in the region of Mithila. As per the scriptures of the Ramayana, the inhabitants are widely believed to be the descendants of King Janak, the father of Lady Sita, my family being of them. Various folk tales and many other scriptures also verify the same.
Being from a family with roots so deep in the Epics ensured that mythological tales would be part of my blood, and my entire childhood was spent listening and dreaming about them. Engaging more into these tales, I found it to be a promising possibility that the Ramayana and Mahabharata could not have been the conclusive parts of the great battle between evil and the good. It struck me then, ‘What if the main conclusive battle is to take place in our present time, the 21st century?’ And hence the idea of Temple of Avinasi was incepted. Ten years have passed since the day the concept came to me. And finally, now, after such a long span of grooming, polishing and re-polishing the story several times, the book is now finally having its moment in the sun. In the last ten years this story has been a part of my very soul and each moment of my life had been spent while being lost in the story’s world. As a so-called descendent of Lady Sita, I felt it my responsibility to bring the story forward to the readers and now, when it is finally done, a wave of relief passes over me to see the work in print.
This is the first part of the six book long series and is named “The Temple of Avinasi: The Legend of the Kalki.”

******

Ayush Pathak is an Electrical Engineer from BIET Jhansi and is presently residing in Nasik, Maharashtra. His theory about life is - “A life which begins with a dream, ends with success.”
He can be contacted at ayushofavinasi@gmail.com


27 March, 2014

#BookSpotlight :: Magic Unfolds (The MysticSeeker Series Book 2) by N.L.Greene


For the first time in her life, Becky had hopes of fulfilling her own dreams when Blaine Winters inexplicably arrived into her quiet life, teasing her with astounding possibilities she never thought imaginable.  Not only did he reveal that magic was indeed real, but he also stirred feelings in her that she had only read about in clichéd romance novels.  But just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.  Then Becky’s life was turned upside down by a family emergency.  With the overwhelming demands of running an elite law firm as well as her ex becoming more of a threat each day, she didn’t have time for whimsical thoughts or personal exploration anyway.

Now that Blaine has mysteriously disappeared from her life, she can put her family first and focus on what she needs to do.  If only it were that easy.  Blaine may be gone and all of Becky’s little girl dreams of a world filled with magic with him, but that doesn’t mean all’s forgotten.  Nightmares are plaguing her, someone is watching her, and there are powers within her that she can’t seem to control.

Will Becky finally get her chance at magic after all, even if she doesn’t want it?



Release Date - April 18th
Pre-order on :: B&N * Smashwords 



Author N.L. Greene is a writer of YA and NA Contemporary and Paranormal Romances. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing or reading, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family, shopping and doing other girly things with her girls, or playing video games with her husband. She is a lover of dogs, chocolate, and anything pink!

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


26 March, 2014

#BookReview :: Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

Solomon Northup was born a free man in New York State. At the age of 33 he was kidnapped in Washington D.C. and placed in an underground slave pen. Northup was transported by ship to New Orleans where he was sold into slavery. He spent the next 12 years working as a carpenter, driver, and cotton picker. This narrative reveals how Northup survived the harsh conditions of slavery, including smallpox, lashings, and an attempted hanging. Solomon Northup was among a select few who were freed from slavery. His account describes the daily life of slaves in Louisiana, their diet and living conditions, the relationship between master and slave, and how slave catchers used to recapture runaways. Northup's first person account published in 1853, was a dramatic story in the national debate over slavery that took place in the nine years leading up to the start of the American Civil War. 


I am afraid that I am guilty this time around of watching the movie before reading the book.

Twelve Years a Slave is Solomon Northup’s story of how he was kidnapped, drugged, beaten and sold off as a slave. It is a detailed account of 12 years of his life that he spent as a slave. The brutalities that he had to endure, the psychological torture that it was and the stories of the people who touched his life in one way or the other. He not only narrates his own story, but through knowing him and his life we learn more about other slaves, slave catchers, the general conditions of a slave and also the relationship between the master and a slave.

I wish that this was a piece of fiction so that I could just say that it was brilliantly ‘plotted’ and skillfully narrated and move on.

But that is not the case… this isn’t just some fiction but the dark facts of humanity. When we hear about slaves, we pity them thinking that they had a hard and difficult life. But to hear the first hand account of that life breaks your heart so badly. It was so difficult to imagine that a person had to live a life like that and then go back to our own comfortable lives. His trials and tribulations over those years are bound to touch a person in the most deepest ways - to be beaten physically in an inhuman manner may still be bearable, but the psychological torture that it was and the effect it can have on a person is so immense.

Solomon Northup’s life will touch everyone who reads this book and maybe even influence the readers to treat others better. And while the film deserved the Oscars, it is not even close to the book’s emotional dynamite!

A MUST READ Folks!


Review Copy From:



25 March, 2014

#BookReview :: Nazaqat by Sasha H. Singhal

Naazani, a shy girl with a lonely childhood, was born and brought up in Dehradun. She moves to a metropolitan for further education and gets absorbed. In a series of events, she decides to adopt prostitution and becomes one of the most successful high profile escorts of the city with the help of her manager Sharat.
In a quest to be successful, she leaves her friends behind and dedicates more time to her profession. Nazaqat witnesses a police raid at a nearby place and the real scenario of prostitution terrifies her.She decides to take a stand and do something about it. However, Sharat convinces her that she is not powerful enough to make a difference.
Nazaqat retires and pool all her money and starts a restaurant – Joy
foods in partnership with Sharat. The business grows and soon enough they have numerous outlets in various cities and Naazani Singh Shekhawat emerges as a significant entrepreneur of nation.
To cherish the old memories, she organizes a group together and calls all her old friends. Next morning, it is found that something drastic happened the night before.
Meanwhile, she invites an author – Matthews, who is an old acquaintance to pen down her own biography. He visits her each night and in a series of ten nights, her story finds its crescendo.


Will prostitution be legalized? What’s her intention with the biography she is planning? What shall be the fate of Naazani Singh Shekhawat aka Nazaqat?


This is one of the best books that I have read among the recent IWE releases. I was closed to accepting review requests when I received a mail from the author. The blurb made me curious and I decided to make an exception and accept this book. And man, I am glad that I did because I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Nazaqat is the story of a modern day girl who steps into the dark world of prostitution and later moves on to open a restaurant. Her story is narrated to us mostly through flashbacks as she narrates it to the author she has hired to write a book about her. From her days as a prostitute to her days as a restaurant owner, she has had her share of ups and downs and a bunch of people who influenced her life. Then there is a murder mystery thrown in to make things even more interesting for the readers.

Naazani, our protagonist is smart, outgoing and independent. She makes her own decisions and while they are often unorthodox and frowned upon by the society, she goes ahead and does it anyway. I liked her character a lot. She is a kick-ass lady in her own way and dominates the story in a way that all protagonists should. There are a few supporting characters like Sharat, and Biplab, who influences the story by influencing Nazaani’s life. The side characters are also well developed.

The cast duly compliments the smashing storyline and pretty good narration style. I particularly enjoyed the poetry paragraphs scattered throughout the novel that added a certain flavour to the novel. The best part about the book is how plot seamlessly weaves in the social issues like prostitution, homosexuality and in a way the status of women in our country. There is enough drama and thrills without overdoing any one particular aspect.

I absolutely enjoyed it and would recommend everyone to leave those campus stories and best seller author who writes more of bollywood script than anything else alone. Give this one a try and it will be worth your while.





24 March, 2014

#BookSpotlight :: T.E.D. by Jayson James

TIM is being bullied. No one in high school wants to be known as a tattle-tale and to do so would only make things rougher for him. The repercussions would most likely make him an outcast, and without any friends.

ERIC is frustrated with life. His parents are overbearing and if they ever knew the person he really was, they would throw him out of their house. His friends are not much better, they only like him when he is who they expect him to be.

DELSIN is gay and ready to come out. Unfortunately, life at home is on the brink of falling apart with his parents constant fighting. Admitting the truth could bring his whole world crashing down around him.

Each of these three needs to decide whether the risks of being honest about who they are outweighs the importance of being true to themselves. This could mean ruining life as each of them knows it. Maybe it is better to remain miserable in order to play it safe. On the other hand, doing nothing doesn’t seem to working either.


T.E.D on Amazon

About the Author

Jayson James graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor's degree in Education. He was born and raised in Washington State, where he currently lives and teaches. The farthest off the west coast he has ever been was Nevada and Arizona. Whenever Jayson has the time (and money), he likes to travel, hoping to see most of the United States over the next 5 years.

After much prompting from his friends "Finding Our Way" debut in September 2012 as Jayson James first published novel. A couple months later, he wrote and released the follow-up novels in 2013, "Tormented Discovery" and then "Drifting" creating what readers would identify as the "Finding Our Way Series." Thanks to his dedicated editor and friend, a novel outside of the series will be released in early 2014. Jayson has at least one more novel releasing with the same characters in the series, but is not sure when this will be. Much to his delight, fans are eagerly waiting to read what happens next with Justin, Derrick and the rest of the gang. He hopes they will enjoy the new characters he brings to life on the pages of upcoming books.

When Jayson is not writing he enjoys reading a variety of books from different genres. He is an avid supporter of fellow Indy authors and does whatever he can to support them. Although he often denies it when asked, he also likes to draw, mostly cartooning and sketching using pencils and oil pastels. He also loves listening to music and watching movies, one or the other is constantly playing every time he is writing or drawing and even sometimes when he is reading.
A
lthough his first published works are of the gay new adult and gay young adult genre, he plans on publishing books of other genres at some point. Such as a children's book he has been contemplating for many years.



23 March, 2014

#Spotlight :: Imperfect Love by Rebecca Lynn Talley

Imperfect Love Tour 
 
Imperfect Love
Imperfect Love Lauren Wilson is well on her way to her happily-ever-after. She has a career she loves, a husband she adores and a baby on the way, but a devastating diagnosis changes everything. The life she's built suddenly crumbles around her when her husband insists she choose—the baby or him. Returning to her small hometown to rebuild her shattered life, Lauren crosses paths with Ethan Campbell, the man who stole her teenage heart. The old attraction is still there, but Lauren won't admit it to anyone—least of all herself. Her only priority is providing a life for her child, and she can't afford to get it wrong. Ethan is confusing everything, including stirring up feelings she’s not prepared to face. Will she spend her life raising her baby alone or is the family she's always wanted finally within her reach?  
 
Excerpt
 
The door out to the garage opened into the dining area. “Mom, I can’t find the—”
“Ethan, come in here,” Mrs. Campbell said with a strained voice.
Ethan stepped into the house. His black hair was a bit longer and his shoulders were broader
since the last time Lauren saw him. He still easily earned the nickname of Adonis. Ethan smiled
and said, “Hello,” as he strode across the room.
“You remember Emily and—”
“Lauren.” Lauren was surprised he remembered. “Yes, of course I do.” He stuck out his hand.
“Mrs. Van Allen. You are looking very well. How are you?”
Lauren’s mom shook his hand. “I’m good. How are you? It’s been years.”
“Yes, it has.” He turned to Lauren and extended his hand. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if she
should shake it, because it was if she’d fallen into a time warp, and she was still the awkward
teenager who couldn’t string two words together in front of him. She then reminded herself that
she was a mature adult, and her silly crush was a lifetime ago. She reciprocated and shook his
hand. “How are you, Lauren?”
She was struck by the sincerity in his tone, as if he actually cared how she was. “I’m great.
You?”
“Doing well.”
“Ethan’s here for a few days to help me with some things around the house.” Mrs. Campbell’s
pride was evident.
“I’m not really the handyman she thinks I am.” He smiled the same million-dollar smile that had
driven the girls at Durango High School crazy. Ethan had been a celebrity back then, and girls
talked about him all the time.
Ethan sat in a chair next to his mom. He laid his hand across hers. In a tender voice he asked,
“Can I get you anything, Mom?” 
 
rebecca
Author Rebecca Lynn Talley Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children. Rebecca is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children’s chapter book, Gabby’s Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children’s stories and articles for both print and online magazines. When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.
 
Blog Tour Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/10/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

22 March, 2014

#SpecialFeature :: Minister of State, HRD, Dr. Shashi Tharoor unveils Love’s Labor


Now Presenting:
*** SPECIAL FEATURE - March'14 ***


Piali Roy has run away from home and the two stubborn men who love her. One is her beloved Baba; a rigid traditionalist, he refuses to accept anyone from outside her caste and community. And then there is Sathya, the unsuitable outsider. He loves her truly, madly, deeply and has even called off his marriage for her sake. Neither man will budge, and the small town of Jampot, where everyone knows everything, is not big enough for the two of them.
Away from their unreasonable demands, Piali strives to find peace in the mountains. But within six months, her lover tracks her down. Once again, she betrays the one by trusting the other.
Will her labor in the name of love be in vain, or will love transcend all differences?  



Buy Links:


















































Minister of State, HRD, Dr. Shashi Tharoor unveils Love’s Labor
 

Who better to unveil the cover of a digital book than IDMA’s (Indian Digital Media Awards) Digital Person of the Year? Dr. Shashi Tharoor, writer, diplomat, politician, inaugurated author Andy Paula’s first e-book at his office in Shashtri Bhavan, New Delhi, on 18th July 2013. In a private ceremony with the author’s husband, Prakash Chandra, a software professional, Dr. Tharoor unveiled the cover of Love’s Labor, and autographed it, much to the author’s delight.
An e-book published by Indireads, a Toronto-based publishing house, Love’s Labor targets a South Asian audience. The conflicts that the protagonists face stem from their strong traditional upbringing and, sometimes, from an illogical deference to authority over one’s own pursuit of a dream. Andy Paula answers some questions about Love’s Labor and her meeting with Dr. Tharoor.
Why an ebook, and not a traditional hard copy?
“A friend told me about Indireads and connected me to its founder Naheed Hassan, who lives in Boston. The concept of South Asian stories appealed to me, and this whole idea of working with a team spread all over the globe got me hooked. Indireads is launching authors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, ex-pats from these countries who are based in US, UK, Canada, and the best part is that we are all connected to each other and learning about our neighbouring cultures along with writing tips.”
 
What prompted Andy to present the book to Dr. Tharoor?
“Dr. Tharoor is a literary person and he is the recipient of the first ever Digital Person of the Year award; did I need more reasons?” smiles Paula. “As this is a digital book it is apt that someone of Dr. Tharoor’s standing should present it to the world.”
What was Dr. Tharoor’s reaction to your book?
“When I requested an audience, he replied from his Blackberry. Can you imagine—a personal reply, not routed through his office! When we met, I was amazed at his detailed questions like, ‘are you happy with the way the book has turned out?’ He autographed the cover of Love’s Labor and wished it success. Coming from an author of over a dozen books, what else does one want?”
What prompted you to write, considering you also hold a full-time job?
“In 2011, I quit my corporate job and followed my husband to the UK. Days can be lonely in a foreign land and that’s when I found enough free time first to start blogging and eventually, writing.”
How long did it take to finish this book?
“(Laughter) Oh God, embarrassing question! Let me tell you though, I’d given up even before I’d started. The first round of feedback that came from the editor was so shattering that all my grandiose ideas about my own capability were jolted to the core. It was Naheed Hassan, the founder of Indireads, whose persistence egged me on and I managed to finish it in…eight months, I think.”
Probe her about Love’s Labor and the author smiles. “Yes, I know what you mean. Every first-time author faces the trap of writing an autobiography, so a tight rein is important, unless, of course you want to write one!”


So is this an autobiography?
“No, I’m not Piali Roy. Nor am I Sathya Nair. If anything, I am Mussoorie in the book.”
When is the next book coming?
“The second manuscript is underway; let’s see when it’s ready.”
Will it be set in Banaras, you being an alumnus of B.H.U?
“You’ll have to wait for that,” smiles Andy.


~ Andy Paula, author of Love’s Labor

About the Author
Andy Paula is a corporate trainer, an avid reader, a near-passionate blogger, and now, a writer. When she met her editor during the writing of Love's Labor, she realized how ruthless she may have appeared to all her enthusiastic trainees who nurtured creative dreams. "Never again," she thought, "am I going to correct another article." And she proceeded to make corrections in her own manuscript.
She confesses to never having made a kaleidoscope with broken bangles or taken apart a clock and put it back together, in her childhood. Two things that she did cherish were reading and falling in love. To the question, ‘What prompted you to write?’ Andy gives a tongue-in-cheek reply. "They say there's a book in each of us. Just wanted to check if they were right!"
When she is not making stories in her head, this Thinker does her pranayam and tries to meditate to keep a grip on her wandering mind. 


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