31 March, 2016

#BlogHop :: Spread Some Indie Love 2016

Spread Some Indie Love Blog Hop 2016
31st March to 7th April


I took the initiative to arrange this blog hop in order to promote Indie Authors, because I absolutely love them. I started this last year and hope to continue this yearly Blog Hop for as long as I blog!


About the book

In her debut collection of poetry, Saiber intimately dwells into the magic of love, sparkled with the essence of life and loss. Each poem is crafted with inspiration from heartfelt emotions immersing the readers into a beautiful, haunting love affair with her writing. 

The book encompasses little romantic enigmas under the stars and in between the sheets all unique in its simplicity and honesty. The words touch the readers’ heart and resonate with them, epitomizing that they are not alone in the way they feel. Beautifully illustrated and tenderly inked, Stardust and Sheets will take you on a homeward journey to your heart and return you in between the stars.

About the Author
A word weaver by nature, Saiber , 21, is a story teller by choice and a poet by heart. Her writings reflect life in all its glory and tragedy. Her words, raw and pure, connect with people and remind them what it is like to be human- to love, to hurt and to heal. When she is not writing she is busy collecting stories and sparkles and pretending she is not addicted to the internet.



Giveaway
One $20 Amazon Gift Card & One $15 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 March, 2016

#BookReview :: Chief Minister's Mistress by Joygopal

A beautiful young woman is found murdered in an expensive house in an up-market locality in the State Capital of India's most prosperous province. Her identification and death triggers off a reaction of fear in many prominent people from government, politics, police and social circles who know that she was the Chief Minister's mistress. For Rajat Verma, her former lover and former staff member of the CM when he was Leader of the Opposition, Priyanka Singhal's death is a mystery that must be solved. But each time he gets a lead there is someone around to put him off the scent. Powerful officials in the CM's Office, police officials with hidden agendas, and his own one-time friends in the capital's social set, all conspire in a massive cover-up operation - involving bribery, blackmail and sudden death. Rajat Verma persists with his efforts to uncover the truth, despite threats and obvious danger, and his investigations gradually draw him into a world of hidden sexual, political and financial wheeler-dealing - until Rajat is forced at last to confront a truly horrifying possibility. Are his enquiries leading straight to the Chief Minister himself?


When the death of a beautiful woman triggers all sorts of reactions from powerful people, the stage is set for action and Drama. Priyanka Singhal was well known in certain circles as the Chief Minister’s Mistress and thus her murder investigation puts the Chief Minister under the spotlight. With his elite team trying their best to cover it up, there are other characters whose involvement comes into light as the investigation progresses. But will Rajat Verma, an ex-lover of Priyanka, be able to pull off the investigation along with Badrish Sharma? Or will corruption prevail and the murder covered up as a break in accident?

The plot of the book grabs your attention right off the blurb. Murder, politics and scandal is promised and so expectations were bit high when I picked up this book. The author does an admirable job in setting up the plot. But from there on the book goes downhill. There isn’t a single character in the book that stood out. Most memorable among them all is perhaps the character of the chief minister whose term at the office is well covered. However, his relationship with the victim is never actually focused on properly. So, even as a married man who had been cheating on his wife with Priyanka – his character is kept more or less intact and as a reader I couldn’t get myself to hate him either. Rajat Verma’s character as the ex-lover and the person pushing the case should have had some effect, but alas that didn’t happen either. Without a character that I liked or even hated, it was difficult for me to really invest myself in the story. The book also lagged towards the end and not all the questions were answered. Irrespective of it all, the author has managed to carry through the book with the investigation process and ample drama. 

Not a book for murder mystery lovers but more for drama lovers. Pick this one up at your own risk.



Review Copy received from Fingerprint Publishing


29 March, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: #Interview with Hariharan Iyer


*** Special Feature - March 2016 ***


Quick Recap
Interview with the Author
When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I was blogging on current affairs and media ethics for over a year. But there is a limit to which one can analyze facts based on published material. It may not always be possible to connect the dots. For that one has to either get into investigative journalism and dig the facts or move into the realm of fiction. I chose the 2nd option. This was about two years ago when crime against women debate started dominating the media space.

What inspires you to write?
Exceptions. Anomalies. Controversies.

What kind of research goes into your book?
The novel revolves around political controversies, human rights violations and media’s coverage of them. So, I spent a good amount of time researching the legal and constitutional provisions, and updating myself with court judgments. Another aspect of my research was on the functioning of media— how they run their newsrooms and back-office, what kind of compulsions they face while reporting a story, how they manage their finances in the wake of ever-falling ad revenues and meet the astronomical salaries of celebrity anchors.  

What are you working on at the moment?
Two things: One, the promotion of this novel. Two, my next book which deals with an aspiring young girl who wants to pursue medicine, but the reservation laws of the country would not allow her to do so. What does she do—curse her fate and choose another discipline to pursue like her elder brother did a few years earlier or fight back?  

How did you come up with the idea for your current story? 
A couple of years ago, a law intern alleged that a retired judged behaved in a sexually inappropriate manner with her. Celebrity lawyers took up her case. Media hounded the judge. He was forced to resign from a strategic post retirement job. Thereafter when the police registered a case and wanted the victim to testify, she vanished. We don’t know what happened. Was there pressure on her not to testify? Or was it decided that the purpose had been achieved? Neither the celebrity lawyers nor media felt obliged to explain their position to the masses.
Secondly, a series of articles by an IIM professor on the mushrooming NGOs and their questionable sources of funds forced me to think. Around the same time there were reports that well-known personalities who were running foreign funded NGOs were using the funds for buying branded jewelry, clothing and shoes! It made me wonder what the underlying motivation could be for floating such NGOs.
Both the above gave rise to a lot of what ifs in me and pushed me into the realm of fiction. And the novel was born. I would, however, like to clarify that it is not a real life story.

If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
More than an author, I would prefer a journalist to review the book as it revolves around contemporary issues and media’s coverage of those issues. It would be like showing a mirror to a journalist. Whether he likes the image, is what the review will be about.

Name three things that you believe are important to character development?
Purpose: Every character has to have a purpose. Purpose in two senses—One, he/she should try to achieve something in life. And the purpose should be different from that of other characters. If it contradicts with that of others, it is all the more better. Two, the character should serve a purpose in the story; he/she should help move the story forward.  
Ego: Another essential ingredient is the ego state of the character. It influences the character’s behavior and his/ her effort to achieve the purpose. A character with a well-defined purpose and ego is a reading treat.
External personality: This is equally important as it helps the reader visualize the character. 

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
Yes, writing the denouement was difficult. Writing an action packed end would have been easier, but the story didn’t require one. A denouement should have drama and believable surprises. Arguments should be intelligent as to not just cover all the loose ends but also make the reader feel why he could not deduce what the main character was concluding.  The initial 3-4 drafts did not bring out the drama I wanted. I went blank for a week.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
Writing the first draft was the most enjoyable. After all, that was what I wanted to write. 

Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes I knew. And that created problems for me. Since I knew the end, I was tempted many times to force the characters to behave artificially/ illogically so that they could facilitate in achieving the end I had in mind. Of course, I resisted the temptation, but it was not easy.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
I am a new author. This is my first book. I don’t think I am competent to advise others.

About the Author:
Hariharan is a finance professional by default and a writer by choice. Not content with just a rewarding corporate job, he took to writing a couple of years ago. He blogged on media and current affairs for a year at valadyviews.blogspot.com before hitting on the idea for this novel. 
Strangely, he got the idea for his first novel while reading the balance sheets of a few NGOs and corporates! An idea so powerful that it convinced the accountant in him that he could put together not just a balance sheet but an intriguing political thriller as well. Indian cinema over the last many decades has created many stereotypes— ‘Media crusades against anything bad’, ‘netas are, without a doubt, evil’ and ‘human rights activists are God’s gift to earth’ to name a few. What if any of these stereotypes is wrong— What if a human rights activist, consumed by personal frustration, tries to bring down an elected government? What if media plays the role of pliable ally? What if a politician is a victim of circumstances? 
Answers to these what ifs, his wife’s challenge to write a novel out of them and about nine months’ of labour produced Surpanakha.
Hariharan lives with his wife in Dar es Salaam while his two sons are pursuing their ambitions in India. 
Contact Hariharan:
Facebook |Twitter | Blog 

About the Book
Educated, young, no-nonsense bearing, able administrator—these are the qualities that won Sesha the loyalties of the people after three years of rule as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. An allegation that he was the mastermind behind the murder of 73 Kannadigas threatens to bring him down but he is miraculously saved in the 11th hour.

Even before he can relish his victory, Sesha is slapped with the charge of sexually offending a young nurse. This time round, the case is strong and his supporters are uncertain. Worse, his teenage daughter calls him 'vile' and walks out of the house. While Mythili, his wife promises her full support, her secretive activities—undertaken with the help of a retired cop—is a cause of concern for Sesha.

Will Zarina, the human-rights activist, succeed in bringing him down? What about the insinuations of a celebrity lawyer that he is casteist and anti-minorities? When the young nurse is found dead, the case becomes even more complex. Who is innocent? Who is guilty? And who is the mastermind?   

Buy Links:
Links for downloading e-books: Amazon India | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Links for ordering paperbacks: Amazon India | Flipkart


Giveaway:
One Amazon gift voucher for Rs. 500 
One Papeback Copy of Surpanakha
a Rafflecopter giveaway

28 March, 2016

#BookReview :: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death (The Grantchester Mysteries #1) by James Runcie

Sidney Chambers,the Vicar of Grantchester and Honorary Canon of Ely Cathedral, is a thirty-two-year old bachelor. Tall, with dark brown hair, eyes the colour of hazelnuts and a reassuringly gentle manner, Sidney is an unconventional clergyman and can go where the police cannot. In The Grantchester Mysteries, Sidney, together with his roguish friend Inspector Horatio‘Harry’ Keating, must enquire into the suspect suicide of a Cambridge solicitor, a scandalous jewellery theft at a New Year’s Eve dinner party, the unexplained death of a well-known jazz promoter and a shocking art forgery the disclosure of which puts a close friend in danger. Sidney discovers that being a detective, like being a clergyman, means that you are never off duty, but alongside the mysteries he solves he manages to find time for a keen interest in cricket, warm beer and hot jazz, and the works of Tolstoy and Shakespeare - as well as a curious fondness for a German widow three years his junior. With a whiff of Agatha Christie and a touch of Midsomer Murders, The Grantchester Mysteries introduces a wonderful new hero into the world of detective fiction.


The Shadow of Death is the first book in the Grantchester Mysteries series and introduces its protagonist Sidney Chambers. Having read Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil before picking this up, I already had the feel of its protagonist and knew what to expect. At the same time I was eager to see how the Author had introduces Sidney to the world.

Sidney Chambers is a clergyman who gets involved in mysteries mostly unintentionally. Being the clergyman of a small town, he is close to the people of his congregation and more trusted than the Police. As such he finds himself in a unique position to be able to help people around him and also the police. His background of a soldier adds to the shade of his character and I love the way he is flawed. It makes him more human and more believable of a character to me. This book is a collection of six stories. They each have different tones to the crimes they cover and as such the variety in the book keeps it refreshing. The plots of the stories are not very complicated. But being used to forensic aspect in mysteries, it was fun to see cases being solved in the old fashioned way. From murder to theft to adultery to alcoholism to PTSD, the stories cover a lot of themes – some of them central to our protagonist. The setting of English countryside also adds a certain charm to the story.

I have also watched the first season of Grantchester and have quite liked the show as well. This is one case where the book and the show have maintained a good balance even with certain changes. The book captures Sidney’s struggles and his beliefs in a much better manner than the TV series.


Review Copy received from NetGalley



25 March, 2016

#BookReview :: Star Struck (The Ladybirds #4) by Jenny McLachlan

Following on from Flirty Dancing, Love Bomb and Sunkissed, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.

In a huge fantastic final hurrah to our lovable heroines - Bea, Betty, Kat and Pearl - Jenny McLachlan's latest book tells Pearl's story. Pearl is the 'bad girl' of the group - she drinks, she smokes, she swears - and she's mean to Bea and Betty. But she did fly halfway round the world to rescue Kat in Sunkissed. If there's one thing Pearl knows deep down, it is how to be a friend. And now, more than ever, she could really use a friend.

There will be laughter, there will be tears and there will definitely be kissing. Most importantly, Pearl will be keeping it fierce! 


Goodreads I Amazon



The ladybird series focuses on a quirky group of friends. Each as different from the other that one can be, yet it is their undisputable friendship that binds them together. I stumbled upon the series when Bloomsbury India had sent me a review copy and have been following the series since.

Star Struck focuses on Pearl, a girl who has intrigued me from the beginning. She is the ‘bad girl’ of the group and fills that role awfully well what with her mean attitude that shows up from time to time. Towards the beginning I really did not understand why she was a part of this group. It was in Sunkissed that she actually makes a mark as a friend. Pearl was focused on landing a role in the school production but the role is given to the new girl, Hoshi. Hoshi seems to be worming her way into everything that Pearl holds dear, including her group of friends. Of course, Pearl isn’t a girl to be sidelined so easily and so she plans her revenge. But then she gets to know Hoshi… And well, things take a turn. 

The storyline was as usual quite predictable though the dynamic between Hoshi and Pearl did surprise me at a point. The author’s style of narration maintains uniformity and meets my expectations from the previous books – I do not see much of a change there, whether good or bad.  The easy to get into and upbeat language that the author uses is really a plus of the series. There were spots, especially in the middle where the story seemed to hold the pace a bit and there were certain issues that remained unanswered which is a bummer since this is the last book in the series.

However, being the story of the ‘bad girl’ of the group also has its perks. It is totally fun and this installment is now my favourite in the series.


Review Copy received via NetGalley



24 March, 2016

#BookReview :: The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose. 


I kept stumbling onto this book all over the internet. Goodreads, Blogger, Instagram and Facebook feeds were just overflowing with people gushing about this book. It also did not help that I, in fact, love fairy tale retellings. As a result, I ended up buying this book on an impulse on Amazon. This was one of those times when I was sorely disappointed. The book wasn’t bad, not really. It is just that with all the hype around it, I was expecting much more.

Lorelai Diederich has been on the run with her younger brother for years – since the night she used her magic against Irina. The wicked queen not only took the Ravenspire throne from her but she also lost her father forever. Now grown up and craving justice and revenge, Lorelai is preparing to fight Irina’s magic with her own.  Meanwhile, the kingdom of Eldr is under attack and when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, Kol is expected to step up and not only take the throne but also save his kingdom. As the second-born prince, Kol had never really expected to have to take the throne and assume such immense responsibility. He finds himself making a deal with the queen of Ravenspire to help save his kingdom from the ogres by fighting magic with magic. When Lorelai and Kol’s paths cross – they discover hope, love and each other.

The plot of this retelling was actually quite interesting. A Dragon Prince’s involvement did give the age old story a new twist. I also liked the concept of magic that the author has portrayed in the book. Then there is Leo, Lorelai’s younger brother… I am all for girl power but between Lorelai, the all-powerful Madrushka, and the very human Leo – I would have chosen Leo.  I wish the author had a bigger role for him. In the small part that Leo plays in the book, I fell for the character. He is funny, witty, charming, and dynamic. I am pretty sure that given the chance, he would have made a great leader too. His presence really is the brightest spot in the book.

Lorelai, Kol and Irina are the three main characters in the story and they all fell flat. Lorelai is said to be very powerful, beautiful, brave and a great tactician. But it is all said – we do not really get to see or feel any of it for ourselves. Kol turns out to be a moaning, chivalrous guy who actually is of no use. The chemistry between Lorelai and Kol does nothing but feel forced. And Irina is my greatest disappointment in the books. I always believe that the protagonists are only as good as they need to be to defeat the antagonist… and in this case Irina was pretty easy to defeat. Irina’s relationship with Victor had some potential to touch the readers, but even that fell flat in the end.

I have to say that pick this book up at your own risk. It seems that a lot of people did like it, but it just didn’t make the cut for me.




22 March, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost - Crime Against Women - Statistics, Worries and Dilemmas


*** Special Feature - March 2016 ***


Crime Against Women—Statistics, Worries and Dilemmas


National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) places the total number of cases of crime against women at 3,37,922 in 2014. Such cases have grown at a compounded annual rate of 12.2% since 2010 when the total was 2,13,585. The increase is, without doubt, alarming. But how do we interpret the data? Are women no longer safe? Or is there an increase in the reporting of crimes? If it is the latter, does it not reflect on the resilience of the modern day woman, her determination to bring the perpetrators to book and her confidence in the system?
Truth obviously lies somewhere in-between.
The same NCRB report puts the conviction rate in the crime against women at 21.3%. This is not even 1/3rd of the average conviction rate of all cognizable offences. The question that daunts us is: Are many of these charges frivolous that they don’t stand in a court of law? Or the excruciating journey through of labyrinth of the judiciary frustrates prompt delivery of justice?
Truth obviously lies somewhere in-between.
Talking of the labyrinth of the judiciary, I am reminded of the travails of a former KPMG director, who has been fighting a case of sexual harassment against her employer for nearly a decade now. This report in Livemint traces the movements of the case back and forth between Maharashtra State Commission for Women, National Commission for Women, and Bombay High Court. And remember she was no ordinary woman. She was a director in a multinational audit firm. If the journey could be so frustrating for someone like her, imagine the plight of an ordinary woman.
The same Livemint report also makes two more points that are important:
1.   The judicial delays force the complainants to approach media in the hope of getting quicker justice. And how has the media conducted itself while dealing with such cases? Irresponsibly, is perhaps the right answer. It takes an extreme position in support of the complainant. It does not offer the accused a chance to defend himself. Be it the Rohtak sisters’ case or the Jasleen Kaur issue, the media’s role has left a lot to be desired. In fact, a prominent TV channel was asked to apologise for the Jasleen Kaur story.
2.   The law relating to sexual harassment and other crimes against women is heavily biased in favour of the complainant. The burden of proof is on the man— he has to prove he is not guilty; this according to the report could result in false complaints. A report in Firstpost explains how the anti dowry law is being misused.
Now, juxtapose the above information with what happens in Sesha’s life in my novel Surpanakha. His wife Mythili meets with a serious accident at the airport and undergoes a major surgery. Immobilized for a more than a month, she is put under the care of a home nurse.
After two years, the nurse alleges sexual harassment by Sesha. When does she make the allegation? In the immediate aftermath of a judgement, that acquits Sesha from a hate crime. Where she does make the charge? In front of a TV camera. And who support the nurse in her cause? The same people who levelled the hate crime charge against Sesha.
Sadagopan, a retired cop and a close family friend of Mythili, quips, ‘An activist, a celebrity lawyer and a news anchor make a deadly combination.’ Is he stating the truth or having been a policeman all through his life, is he biased against human rights activists? Is Sesha guilty or is he innocent?

Truth, as mentioned earlier, is somewhere in-between.

About the Author:
Hariharan is a finance professional by default and a writer by choice. Not content with just a rewarding corporate job, he took to writing a couple of years ago. He blogged on media and current affairs for a year at valadyviews.blogspot.com before hitting on the idea for this novel. 
Strangely, he got the idea for his first novel while reading the balance sheets of a few NGOs and corporates! An idea so powerful that it convinced the accountant in him that he could put together not just a balance sheet but an intriguing political thriller as well. Indian cinema over the last many decades has created many stereotypes— ‘Media crusades against anything bad’, ‘netas are, without a doubt, evil’ and ‘human rights activists are God’s gift to earth’ to name a few. What if any of these stereotypes is wrong— What if a human rights activist, consumed by personal frustration, tries to bring down an elected government? What if media plays the role of pliable ally? What if a politician is a victim of circumstances? 
Answers to these what ifs, his wife’s challenge to write a novel out of them and about nine months’ of labour produced Surpanakha.
Hariharan lives with his wife in Dar es Salaam while his two sons are pursuing their ambitions in India. 
Contact Hariharan:
Facebook |Twitter | Blog 

About the Book
Educated, young, no-nonsense bearing, able administrator—these are the qualities that won Sesha the loyalties of the people after three years of rule as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. An allegation that he was the mastermind behind the murder of 73 Kannadigas threatens to bring him down but he is miraculously saved in the 11th hour.

Even before he can relish his victory, Sesha is slapped with the charge of sexually offending a young nurse. This time round, the case is strong and his supporters are uncertain. Worse, his teenage daughter calls him 'vile' and walks out of the house. While Mythili, his wife promises her full support, her secretive activities—undertaken with the help of a retired cop—is a cause of concern for Sesha.

Will Zarina, the human-rights activist, succeed in bringing him down? What about the insinuations of a celebrity lawyer that he is casteist and anti-minorities? When the young nurse is found dead, the case becomes even more complex. Who is innocent? Who is guilty? And who is the mastermind?   

Buy Links:
Links for downloading e-books: Amazon India | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Links for ordering paperbacks: Amazon India | Flipkart


Giveaway:
One Amazon gift voucher for Rs. 500 
One Papeback Copy of Surpanakha
a Rafflecopter giveaway

21 March, 2016

#BookReview :: The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin


Amy Harper Bellafonte is six years old and her mother thinks she's the most important person in the whole world.
She is.

Anthony Carter doesn't think he could ever be in a worse place than Death Row.
He's wrong.

FBI agent Brad Wolgast thinks something beyond imagination is coming.
It is.






This is a debut of grand proportions… to a series that I am sure to follow.

The Passage is the story of the monsters that were created by men and that of the survivors. A military program goes wrong when the test subjects break out and go rampant in the world leading to apocalypse. These monsters were once men, who were turned into vampire like creature. Once they broke free of their containment facility, their ‘virus’ spread around and almost wiped out humanity. But there were survivors who set up their own colony and set about looking for answers and solution.

The thing about this book is that it is huge. So, the author has taken enough time to set up the world the way he wanted. He has taken a great deal of care in setting it up and has provided us with many details where we get a glimpse of the pre-Apocalypse world as well as the post-Apocalyptic world. I enjoyed reading the ‘before’ and ‘after’ situations and the contrast. Readers like me who crave for minute details will be very happy with this book. Though as the down side of the detailed narration – the pace feels lagging – especially in the middle. The other thing that I liked about this book is its very unique take on Vampires and their origins. It is absolutely unique and so different from every other take that there is – it is actually refreshing to see a scientific spin on it. There is a huge cast in this book and I actually had trouble keeping track of all of them. Amy and Brad, mentioned in the blurb of the book, play a significant role but are just two of many. The many characters also help bring in various aspects of life and relationships into the story which was quite complimentary to the whole story. 

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. 


Review Copy received via Netgalley



18 March, 2016

#Interview with Indrani Singha Majumdar, #Author of The Paradox of Vantage Point

About the Author:
Indrani Singha Majumdar is a content writer by profession who lives in Vapi with her husband at present. With a master degree in mass communication from NSHM Kolkata and graduation degree from GNDU Amritsar, Indrani has so far written content for a wide range of clients based in UK, New York, and Ireland in her professional life. All her life she has been an ardent worshipper of words, and thus, tries her best to communicate through rousing cord of sentences. She describes herself as someone with a dual personality. For majority of people, she is a serious, no-nonsense writer. But, for few close people, who know the real Indrani, she is a crazy kid who still has time to grow up. She loves to talk about movies, societal norms, god-men and anything on earth that makes people choke on their laughter eventually. She is a good mimic too! 

BlogFacebook


Interview with the Author:

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
It was a chance encounter with a eunuch in a local train in Kolkata. We used to meet every Monday morning and have casual tete-a-tete. To my surprise, it didn’t really go well with the people around. That thought kind of stayed with me for many years.  Many years later I tweaked that sentiment into a fiction and gave it the form of a book.   The idea is to propagate a thought that it doesn’t take much to be a nice and warm to a fellow human being regardless of their orientation or background. For many, a book on social equality may sound dreary, but you really have to read it to understand that how the story is catering even to college going students. Most of my fan mails have been from people between the age group of 18-40. They have told that how it has influenced their thought process and inspired them to better as a human being. I think that’s the high you are looking forward as a writer. 

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
I started with a story way back in 2007. I was half through it when I read “I love you…till I find someone better”. I was awestruck with the uncanny resemblance to the basic storyline. That’s when I decided that there is no point in chasing an already fleshed out story. I dropped that idea and waited for another inspiration to sweep me off my feet. I started with my blog Ruminations of Mind and it did fairly well. Then gradually The Paradox of Vantage Point started nudging my mind. 

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
It has to be the laundry scene. The scene where the protagonist Anwesha reduces her eunuch friend Raghubir to a laundry man in front of her other friends. That will always be the closest moment to me as a creative person. 

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
(Laughs) You know I have heard this from majority of my friends that Anwesha is me. I am not sure. (Laughs again) May be yes. May be No. Actually when you are writing, a part of you always reflect in your writing. So may be Anwesha is an extension of me, but not exactly me. 

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?
Great question. Let me think. Ummmm…I think I would like to see Parineeti Chopra as Anwesha. She has that kind of quirkiness as well as depth to add to the character. Randeep Hooda would be the best Raghubir Kishor. Look at his brooding eyes man! He is the one. And for the character of Vikram Madane, Varun Dhawan can be a good pick. 

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
If I know that I am going to be there for a while, I would carry my phone, a pair of t-shirt and denim and a big box full of Gajar ka Halwa. I need something to eat after every 3 hours. (Laughs)

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
Travelling is my second biggest passion after writing. Instead of investing my money on unnecessary girly shopping, I like to channelize everything towards travelling. If given a chance I would travel 6 months a year. It’s like an opium for my emotions. Many of us don’t harbour a travelling streak as we keep on looking for a reason to set out on a journey. The fact is, there is not always a reason to do things that make you happy and connect to your genesis.  

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
Ahhh..there are many. I want to learn playing guitar; Visit all seven continents; drink beer at beer at oktaberfest; party on new year’s eve at Times Square; mentor a needy child…there are many. Hope someday it happens. 

Tell us four fun facts about yourself.
I have a dry sense of humour. I can say the wickedest things with a straight face. Only the person close to me can understand this.
I can take bullet for a friend and go to any extent but the person on the other side has to be deserving
I like breaking rules. It’s the most tempting thing on earth for me. 
I am a good mimic. But I don’t mimic artists. I observe people around me and later have a good laugh about it. 

About the Book:
“Fact is stranger than fiction”

This falls true for Anwesha Nair- a writer on temporary leave to complete her half-written book. All hell breaks loose when she has to, under unavoidable circumstances, share her room with a eunuch. Yes, that’s true. But, this eunuch is not like what normal people assume them to be. He is different. The friction and anomaly between them is apparent. Enter Vikram, the happy go lucky guy, with the simple philosophy of “let’s eat and have fun”. How are these 3 different entities going to stay together? Will there ever be a bond of friendship between them? How easy it is to address eunuch as your acquaintances in real life, forget friends? How far will you go in your trial to overcome the angst and be a better human being?
The Paradox of Vantage Point is the journey of Anwesha Nair, Raghubir Kishor and Vikram Madane from being compassion-deficient to acquiring a deeper analysis of life. It is their story of surviving the battle and ultimately painting the canvas of life with positivity and gleefulness.







17 March, 2016

#Interview with Shuchi Singh Kalra, #Author of I am Big.So What?

About the Author:

Shuchi Singh Kalra is the author, freelance writer, editor and blogger with bylines in major Indian and international publications. 

She is the owner of Pixie Dust Writing Studio, a writing and editing firm that services a global clientele, and the Indian Freelance Writers Blog. She has started dabbling in fiction only recently and her first book, Done With Men (published by Indireads), has received rave reviews from readers and reviewers alike. Her short stories have appeared in Love Across Borders, Stories For Your Valentine and NAW Anthology 2013. 'I'm Big. So What!?' is her second book. 




Interview with the Author:

What inspires you to write?
I’m inspired by the entire world around me – people, their dreams, battles, quirks, passions fears and scars. Basically, the human condition in its entirely.  Sometimes, inspiration comes at a bolt from the blue and other times, I have to go scrounging for it.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
The idea for ‘I am Big, So What?!’ stemmed from general annoyance at people bullying and shaming others for the way they look. They think nothing of unsolicited advice on losing weight, getting fairer skin and what not, not realizing that maybe, just maybe, the person isn’t looking for it and is perfectly happy with the way he/she looks.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
My favourite scenes are the ‘Buddha Moments’, and they occur twice in the course of Roli’s journey. These are profound moments of self-realization or turning points, so to speak.  You lose yourself and then you find yourself – sometimes that happens over a course of time, and sometimes it hits you in a single flashing, throbbing moment.  Both of Roli’s Buddha Moments are of the latter kind.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Yes, all my characters inherit bits and pieces of me, some more than the others. This question reminds me of a quote by  F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Writers aren’t people exactly. Or, if they’re any good, they’re a whole lot of people trying so hard to be one person.” The more characters I create, the more I realize how true this is!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it qualifies as a quirk but most of the time I have no clue where my characters are going to take me. I just begin with a core theme, and the protagonist takes charge thereon. The characters develop almost on their own as the story progresses and any plotline I may have thought of may go for a complete toss because the steering wheel ultimately belongs to the one whose story I am trying to tell.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Write honestly and fearlessly. Don’t be a slave to formulas or what is trending in the market. Write from the heart, tell every story brewing inside you and tell it the way you want.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
1. Books
2. Music
3. Pot brownies

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
My favorite way to spend my free time is to be alone, away from everyone and everything. Preferably somewhere up in the mountains. I might wander around, hike in the jungles, read or lose myself in soulful music. 

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
1. Training in kathak professionally 
2. Swimming with sharks
3. Getting my first book published by the age of 30 
4. Making my own wine

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
1. I can’t stand tube-lights/white light. Only ambient lighting for me.
2. When I feel low, I make sock bunnies
3. I love snakes

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I am working on another woman-centric fiction which explores the theme of emotional abuse. There’s also a half-written sequel to Done With Men, waiting to be worked upon.

About the Book:
Is it only in India where people don’t realize that starting a conversation with, “Oh, you’ve put on weight!” is incredibly rude? Perhaps I should respond with “Oh, you’ve become uglier!” so they get the point.
From stores that do not stock clothes my size to unsolicited advice from neighbourhood aunties, my life—quite annoyingly—is ruled by the numbers on the scale.
What’s the big deal about being big? You may wonder. Well, quite a lot, actually. For starters, you get dumped by the only man you’ve ever loved, social situations go from awkward to embarrassing within seconds, and don’t even get me started on the family’s never-ending search for a suitable groom. They just don’t make men my size these days!
Nevertheless, here I am, about to meet Suitor No. 7. Begrudgingly, of course. Ride along as I navigate the crazy arranged marriage market. And trust me, it’s crazier when you’re more than a little curvy. 



16 March, 2016

#BookReview :: Love on 3 Wheels by Anurag Anand

What Happens When Love and Destiny Come to Loggerheads?
Love on 3 Wheels is a saga of love, lust, aspirations and trickery that unfolds over a period of three days, propelling those in its midst into an unmindful frenzy.
Sargam:
A young and ambitious girl misplaces a parcel purportedly containing a large amount of cash. This sets off a turn of events that are certain to leave their imprint on the lives of many.
Sharib Sheikh:
An auto rickshaw driver whose fault is that he fell in love with the wrong person at the wrong time.
Dr. Abhigyan Kukreti:
A prominent doctor who has more skeletons in his personal closet than a mid-size cemetery.
Ameena:
A simple village girl who, like Sharib, finds herself at the wrong end of love.
Junaid:
A swindler with his heart in the right place.

A Real Love Story that is bound to make your heart skip more than a beat! 


Having heard quite a bit about the author before and as such I accepted when he requested me to read and review his latest book even though I had some reservations from the title of the story. Love on 3 Wheels actually gave me the impression that it would another love triangle story with sex and scandals trying to sell it. I am happy to report that this book is certainly much more than that.

Love on 3 Wheels is the story of five common and very different people. Sharib Sheikh is a humble auto driver who falls in love with the wrong person at the wrong time. Junaid is his mama’s boy and an absolute charlatan who will do anything to get his way. Abhigyan Kukreti is a doctor with secrets of his own. Ameena is a simple village girl who will go any lengths for the sake of her love. And finally there is Sargam – a girl from the middle class of society who works as a secretary who unknowingly starts a chain of events that will affect the lives of all these people over a period of three days. If you want to know how and what happens – you will have to pick up the book for yourself.

Here’s what I loved about the book – the plot and the characters. The plot was not quite what I expected from the title and the blurb of the book. It does have romance in its core, but it also includes certain issues of modern day society included in the story with subtlety. Not in a preachy or in your face manner, yet in a way that you cannot ignore it. The characters are the shining moments of the book. They are multi-faceted and very well developed. They felt very real with their mixed characteristics. I had a love-hate relationship with all of them throughout the book and it was strong. It was easy to feel both kinds of emotions for the characters which go on to show how well the author has portrayed them. My only issue was the delivery which I wish was a bit crisper than what it is. It is the only thing in the book that is not at par with the rest of the aspects. With the story being told from multiple POVs, I understand that it can be a bit tough to keep the rhythm going without any break. 

The story is fast paced and with 150 odd pages, this makes for a quick read.


Review Copy received via Author & Srishti Publishers


15 March, 2016

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost - Tip of the Iceberg by Hariharan Iyer


*** Special Feature - March 2016 ***


The tip of the iceberg


Mindboggling number indeed! What is this?
This is the amount the NGOs across the country spend every year.
How many NGOs are there in the country?
33 lakhs.
Whoa!
Wait. Wait. This is the total number of registered societies, but the details of spend are available only for 4.65 lakh NGOs.
So, this is the proverbial tip of the iceberg?
Yes. If 4.65 lakhs organisations spend a mindboggling Rs. 42 thousand crores, how much the 33 lakh units will be spending? Government has no clue.
Hey Hariharan. Wait. What has this to do with your novel Surpanakha or you as the author?   
Have some patience. Out of these 33 lakhs, only 43,527 NGOs (just over 1%) are registered with Home Ministry as receiving funds from abroad. And out of these only 22,702 associations submit their financials. One more statistics. 9,509 of these did not receive any foreign funds. The rest received Rs. 11,500 crores during 2011-12.
Hariharan, don’t bore me with these statistics. What do you want to say?
Just a couple of more sentences and we are on to the novel. You know what? Tamil Nadu is the 2nd biggest recipient of foreign contributions. Poor states like Bihar and Jharkhand figure at the bottom of the list. If the funds are for developing India, why don’t they flow to poorer states?
Hariharan, please…
Ok, no more statistics. But an important question: After all, what do NGOs fight for? Transparency in the functioning of the government? If so, why are they not transparent? Why don’t they submit their accounts to the government? Why don’t they furnish their sources of money?
This is like a lecture on…
Hear this out. Ministry of Home Affairs says that NGOs are vulnerable to the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.
Now I understand what you are getting at.
Recently a celebrity convenor of a controversial NGO was accused of using the foreign contributions for her personal expenses. She allegedly bought branded clothes, shoes, music systems, jewellery, etc., apart from using some of the funds for running a political magazine.
Political magazine?
Yes. If foreign funds are allowed indirectly into media, they can be used to skew the opinion of the masses.
I can see the foundation for a thriller.
Another international NGO used the foreign funds for political purposes…to influence elections. And the moment the government tried question them, everyone—journalists, celebrity lawyers—cried foul. So strong is the incest…
Hmmm…
Imagine what a foreign power has to do if it has to destabilise India. Just identify some disgruntled citizens and flood them with money. And if the disgruntled citizens are celebrities, the job is all the more easier.
So, your novel has a celebrity who …
This is not fair. I spend six months writing a novel, three months in getting it edited and another three months in trying to publish it and you try to guess the story after a half-an-hour discussion.
So, Surpanakha in the novel is a…
No more discussion.
But then, I just wanted to… 
About the Author:
Hariharan is a finance professional by default and a writer by choice. Not content with just a rewarding corporate job, he took to writing a couple of years ago. He blogged on media and current affairs for a year at valadyviews.blogspot.com before hitting on the idea for this novel. 
Strangely, he got the idea for his first novel while reading the balance sheets of a few NGOs and corporates! An idea so powerful that it convinced the accountant in him that he could put together not just a balance sheet but an intriguing political thriller as well. Indian cinema over the last many decades has created many stereotypes— ‘Media crusades against anything bad’, ‘netas are, without a doubt, evil’ and ‘human rights activists are God’s gift to earth’ to name a few. What if any of these stereotypes is wrong— What if a human rights activist, consumed by personal frustration, tries to bring down an elected government? What if media plays the role of pliable ally? What if a politician is a victim of circumstances? 
Answers to these what ifs, his wife’s challenge to write a novel out of them and about nine months’ of labour produced Surpanakha.
Hariharan lives with his wife in Dar es Salaam while his two sons are pursuing their ambitions in India. 
Contact Hariharan:
Facebook |Twitter | Blog 

About the Book
Educated, young, no-nonsense bearing, able administrator—these are the qualities that won Sesha the loyalties of the people after three years of rule as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. An allegation that he was the mastermind behind the murder of 73 Kannadigas threatens to bring him down but he is miraculously saved in the 11th hour.

Even before he can relish his victory, Sesha is slapped with the charge of sexually offending a young nurse. This time round, the case is strong and his supporters are uncertain. Worse, his teenage daughter calls him 'vile' and walks out of the house. While Mythili, his wife promises her full support, her secretive activities—undertaken with the help of a retired cop—is a cause of concern for Sesha.

Will Zarina, the human-rights activist, succeed in bringing him down? What about the insinuations of a celebrity lawyer that he is casteist and anti-minorities? When the young nurse is found dead, the case becomes even more complex. Who is innocent? Who is guilty? And who is the mastermind?   

Buy Links:
Links for downloading e-books: Amazon India | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Links for ordering paperbacks: Amazon India | Flipkart

Expected Date of Release:

March 15, 2016

Giveaway:
One Amazon gift voucher for Rs. 500 
One Papeback Copy of Surpanakha
a Rafflecopter giveaway