29 April, 2018

#SpecialFeature :: #Interview with Siddhesh Inamdar, #Author of The Story of a Long-Distance Marriage



*** Special Feature - April 2018 ***

Quick Recap:

15th April - Reading List

About the Book:
We’ll always have each other to come back to.

Rohan and Ira’s life takes an unexpected turn when Ira decides to leave for New York to study. They’ve been married for only fifteen months, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and Rohan is not going to come between his wife and her dream. So, sad but supportive, he stays back in Delhi, where he is on the brink of a promotion at a national daily. After all, his relationship with Ira is strong enough to survive the distance—they are new-age lovers who don’t let marriage come in the way of careers and ambitions.

Rohan prepares for a year without Ira, getting by with a little help from his friends: Yusuf, his on-call confidant who lives in Bangalore; Alisha, a colleague he likes catching up with over tea; and Tanuj, his new role model at work. Life without Ira is going surprisingly well. Until the day, that is, she reveals the real reason she left.

Beautifully written and unflinchingly honest, this is the love story of our times.

Book Links:
Harper Collins * Amazon


An Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I was 15 when I wrote my first book and it was published when I was 16. I suppose deep within I knew I wanted to be a storyteller in my early teens. 

What inspires you to write?
Different things have inspired me to write at different points in time. The first three books I wrote were mystery stories for children. I was inspired by the planning and plotting it takes to create a good mystery. With my recently published novel, The Story of a Long-Distance Marriage, I was inspired by a need to make sense of the myriad emotions one experiences when in an intense relationship, and fiction, for me, is a controlled environment where it’s easier to do that. 

If you could pick any famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
Jhumpa Lahiri. I didn’t realise it when I first read The Namesake but over the years I have discovered that hers is a writing style I have subconsciously tried to imbibe and emulate. So it would be nice to see what she would make of this novel. 

Name three things that you believe are important to character development?
Dialogue, understanding his/her motives for doing even everyday things, and emotional depth. 

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so what helps you to get over it?
There’s no escaping writer’s block, is there? There was a 5-year period when I struggled to complete a book I had started writing. I eventually finished it but never bothered trying to get it published because I wasn’t happy with it. It was the result of a writer’s block. What eventually helped me overcome it was moving on to another story that I had felt deeply and felt compelled to write it. I think the only thing that helps overcome writer’s block is feeling and experiencing a story in the core of your being.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?
Being one with the story, the characters, the plot, the climax and being driven by that sense of purpose of telling a story well which makes me lose track of time.

Do you know the ending of your books before you finish writing them?
Yes. At least what the last scene is going to be. The last lines may evolve organically as I write but I do have the last scene in mind. In fact, it is the last scene where the germ of an idea originates and I work backwards from there, so the whole story is basically a build-up to it. 

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Writing is not easy. It’s a long, long process involving years – coming up with an original or unique idea, feeling for the story strongly enough for you to devote months if not years writing it, followed by several more months of self-editing, finding a publisher, doing many more rounds of edits with the editor, followed by the release and promotion to actually sell the book so that the publisher may sign you up for another book. There’s heartbreak involved at many levels, maybe you will face rejections or your book will be received badly, or it will be read differently from what you had intended. It’s a long, lonely process with few returns, your life may fall apart in the bargain. When you get into it, ask yourself if you are prepared to do it in spite of all this. 


About the Author:
Siddhesh Inamdar is a 30-year-old writer and editor based in Delhi. 
He graduated in English Literature from St Xavier's College, Mumbai, and was a recipient of Mumbai University's gold medal in the subject. He did a master's in English from Delhi University and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, where also he ranked first in his batch. 
He has worked with the  Hindu as a correspondent based in Pune, with DNA in Mumbai and with Hindustan Times in Delhi. He has been with HarperCollins since 2013 as an editor for non-fiction books. Some of the authors he has worked with include Raghuram Rajan, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Devdutt Pattanaik and Aanchal Malhotra.



Contact the Author:

Giveaway:
Signed copies + Bookmarks + specially made bag tags for the book

a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 29, 2018 0

#Spotlight - Corridors of Time by Vinay Krishnan

About the Book:

Corridors of Time tracks the story of a sensitive young man who grows from carefree childhood to eventful manhood - one who stumbles before learning to stride through those dark and dense passages.
Set in Bangalore - a city of paradoxes. of gardens and garbage heaps. of technology and traffic snarls. of friendly people and failing infrastructure. when bungalows had gardens and pavements were meant for pedestrians. this is a narrative of the human spirit.
Rohan, an idealistic young sports lover experiences rejection, dark dejection and isolation and hurtles down the path to self destruction.
Shyla, attractive and successful is everything his heart yearns for and his body desires, except, she is married!
Chandrika, simple and devoted fails to understand the man she loves.
The Shuklas long for justice denied by the system.
And Khalid fears nothing and no one ...anymore.


Buy the Book:

Amazon

Read an Excerpt:


Chapter 1

The raw, earthly smell of the first drops of rain signaled the onset of the monsoon of 1962. Ten year old Rohan watched it from his window and inhaled deeply. He felt like he wanted to draw in as much as possible of this place that he loved so dearly. The rain had washed clean the gardens and roads of Bangalore. A city of sheer beauty, it was like a large painting suspended in time, being restored to its original brilliance with one masterly stroke. Bangalore with flower-laden trees, small lakes and numerous gardens was wonderful to behold. All was quiet, calm and serene.

But even his love for Bangalore could not match his passion for playing outdoors. His face registered dismay when the drizzle turned into a downpour and sheets of rain hid the verdant trees and the glitter of the rocks beyond the playing fields. He would lose valuable time waiting for the rain to subside to play cricket with his friends.

Drizzly weather or what his dad called ‘English weather’ never hampered him like a monsoon onslaught did. It was as familiar to him as the streets and their English names – Lloyds Road, Cline Road, Hutchins Road and Davis Road. The English had definitely made Bangalore into a ‘Little
England’ and left behind a large community of Anglo Indians. A proud community of mixed cultures, they were concentrated in the northern part of the city called the ‘Cantt’ (short for Cantonment) along with a cosmopolitan mix of settlers from other states and countries.

The southern part, the original old Bangalore was known as the ‘City’ area. The Cantt area, extending from Richmond Town to Frazer Town, had spacious bungalows with servant’s quarters, private lawns and gardens. It was a township by itself, with lakes, gardens, theatres, restaurants, bars and exclusive clubs. The Cantt area was nothing without the Anglo-Indians whose exuberance and fun loving nature enhanced the charm of life in Bangalore. They lived for the day and never gave the morrow a thought. Romantic at heart, partying was their greatest pastime. A few couples, country liquor, lots to eat and they would dance till the stars drooped and went down under.

Rain, rain go away, come again another day,” Rohan whispered urgently, and was gratified to see the rain gradually stop. Now, he could go out to the beckoning playground and join his friends for a game of cricket, yet another legacy of the British.
“Ma, I am going to play”, he yelled.
“Come back on time, Rohan”, his mother warned. “Or you know how your father reacts!” Rohan ran out, looking back to wave to his mother at the door.

They were all there – Peter, Oscar, Roy, Philip, Akbar, Kiran, Akshay, Arun, Joe, Allan, Mahmud and Inder. The stumps were up, the teams chosen and the game was on. Cricket was an obsession with Rohan.
“Come on Rohan, we must win today”, urged Inder.
 “What high hopes”, teased Oscar.

Peter always red in the face, yelled, “Oscar, shut your bloody mouth and start batting.”

Praises for the Book:

The book is simple in style and content, for often it is this simplicity that bewilders and rouses

Interest.
~ Shri S . Rajendra Babu, Former Chief Justice of India

The book has excellent literary craftsmanship, passion humour and adventure. Highly recommended.

~ Mr. Namboodiri, former Asst. Editor, Deccan Herald

This charming book about old Bangalore is written in a racy easy-to-read style.

~ Deccan Herald, Bangalore.

About the Author:


Vinay Krishnan describes himself as a ‘complete Bangalorean’. A student of Clarence High School, he graduated in Humanities from St Joseph’s College. Earning a diploma in Business Administration, he began his career at Usha International Ltd and rose to a position of Senior Sales manager. Vinay has now set up a construction firm of his own. He also writes and devotes his time to an NGO assisting people with disability. The city of his dreams, Bangalore, where he stays with his wife and daughter, continues to inspire and exasperate him. He can be reached at – vinaykrshnn@yahoo.com.


27 April, 2018

#Interview with Vedashree Khambete-Sharma, #Author of Swear You Won't Tell?

About the Author:

Vedashree Khambete-Sharma is an award-winning ad-woman in her mid-thirties, which is okay because mid-thirties is the new mid-forties. Or something. For the past twelve years, she has peddled everything from moisturisers to magazines, like some kind of one-woman corner shop. Before that, she was a freelance reporter for several newspapers and wrote on a wide range of subjects from student suicides to types of boyfriends. Yes, that’s right. Throw in a middle class Maharashtrian upbringing, a convent education and an English lit degree, and you get, well, confused mostly. But also, inspired to tell the stories nobody else is telling.

She lives in Mumbai with her husband, daughter and the niggling feeling that she has forgotten something.

This is her second book.



Contact the Author:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

An Interview with the Author:

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I have always written to express myself. At first through school essays, then through some very emo poems that shall never see light of day. I freelanced for a bunch of newspapers in college. When blogging wasn't the micro variety, I had a personal blog, then I blogged for Campaign India magazine. I started writing short stories at some point, which weren't half bad. And then I got a call a few years ago from a publisher asking if I wanted to write a book set in advertising, and it was like, 'Hmmm, now why didn't I think of that before?'

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
It started when a close friend of mine from school passed away of a chronic illness I never knew she had. That got me thinking, what else don't we know about the people we call our friends? And then, bit by bit, the story took shape.  

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Many. Short stories, discarded drafts, opening chapters that didn't lead to anything. And, full confession, one very amateurish Secret Seven type of a "novel" I wrote in the 7th standard where, surprise surprise, the butler did it.

Tell us about your writing process.
I try to write every day, usually for an hour in the morning before my daughter wakes up. I plot meticulously, write a first draft, trying to ignore the temptation to edit as I write (I don't always succeed, but that means my first draft generally doesn't read like a total mess). My husband and another close friend read the first draft. They point out any glaring plot holes and give feedback which I keep in mind. Then I distract myself for a month or two reading all kinds of books, to get my book out of my system. I go back after that, see the book with fresh eyes and notice all kinds of things that can be better. I fix it, then send it to publishers and cross my fingers. 

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Well, the protagonist Avantika Pandit is pretty sarcastic, which I tend to be. And she also isn't great at knowing when to shut up, another regrettable personal trait of mine.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
I read indiscriminately. I'm being literal - I read the backs of shampoo bottles. I'm a huge admirer of, in no particular order, Sir Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Ben Aaronovitch, Kiran Nagarkar, Chris Brookmyre, Jonas Jonasson, Fredrik Backman, Salman Rushdie, I could go on. The footnotes I write are an obvious tip of the hat to Sir Terry, who used them beautifully in his Discworld series. The other authors I mentioned too, have all in some way or other, influenced my work.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
Write. Write every day, without wondering if it's good, without wondering if it'll get published. Write because it's the most fun part of being an author.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Read. The more you read, the more comfortable you will be with the language and the more easily it will do your bidding when it's your turn to tell a story. 

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I don't have free time - that's for people who don't have a full-time job plus a 4-year-old daughter. But when something resembling free time does pop up, I usually catch up with a friend at Starbucks. Or watch a superhero movie with my husband, because that's what life is like when two nerds marry each other.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I'm left-handed. 
I once spent fifteen minutes in front of the mirror in the ladies common room of my college, trying to untangle a comb from my hair. 
And I'm a fount of useless information - did you know polar bears are left-handed?

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I'm working on a sequel to this one - if all goes well, I'll inflict that on the poor buggers soon. 

About the Book:

Dead body, check. Disillusioned reporter, check. Dark and sinister secrets, check.

When Mumbai Daily reporter Avantika Pandit is asked to interview her childhood nemesis Aisha Juneja, she hopes it'll be painful, but quick (like an express bikini wax). But then Laxmi, her former best friend shows up dead. And suddenly Avantika finds herself turning into the reporter she used to be - a nosy little newshound with the self-preservation instincts of a dodo.  
Now, she has to meet old acquaintances she'd hoped never to run into again, try to unravel the puzzle of Laxmi's death and ask the questions nobody seems to be asking: Who is the man Laxmi was in love with? Why hasn't anybody heard of him? What does he have to do with her death?
The answers could get her killed. But if the choice is between death and listicles, maybe dying isn't so bad after all. 
Featuring schoolyard rivalries, the Backstreet Boys and other throwbacks to the 1990s, Swear You Won't Tell is part thriller, part whodunit, all fun. 


Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon * Flipkart



25 April, 2018

April 25, 2018 0

#BookBlitz :: Lycenea (The Brotherhood of Merlin #2) by Rory D.Nelson

About the Book:
Merlin returns to Lycenea a hero, victorious over the Visi-Gauls in a gruesome and exhaustive campaign that claimed the life of one of his men and saw the annihilation of the Visi-Gauls’ Southern Army.
Merlin’s peaceful reprieve is cut short however, as he must now find and expose the corrupt Senator who initiated the war in the first place and plots to subvert the Empire for himself. He is aided by the powerful sorceress, Morgana and Felinius, a former disgraced and condemned knight who knows the inner workings of the Brotherhood.
Merlin must also protect two of the captives he rescued during the war with the Visi-Gauls, one of whom is a boy named Dante, whose power has been prophesized to defeat Herod Antipaz, the corrupt Senator, and his deadly allies who threaten to destroy Gilleon.
Herod makes plans of his own for eliminating Dante. The boy’s problems continue to mount precipitously- for not only is he being ruthlessly hunted down by Herod’s minions, but he must also face down a brutal training program in Round Table Academy, where he faces elimination on a daily basis. Should he be eliminated, he will no longer be under the protection of Merlin and his Brotherhood and his death almost a foregone conclusion.
His only hope, his only salvation is Merlin- as is the country of Gilleon.

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon

Check Out Book One: Gilleon
Five hundred years after the death of King Arthur, a sadistic tyrant of Visi-Galia, attacks unprotected and vulnerable townships in Gilleon, igniting a deadly chain of events. Because he was unfairly denied a proper chance to compete for valuable mine rights and outbid by a Councilman from Gilleon, he reasons that he can invade Gilleon's vulnerable townships and force the Council to negotiate with him.
Merlin, the lead knight in Lycenea, has foreseen just such a predicament. With the gifts of premonition, telepathy and intelligence, he and 9 of his most formidable knights go into battle against Jason and his force of nine thousand.
At stake is everything. The fate of the prisoners who are awaiting to be sold into slavery rests in the hands of the deadly knights. Specifically, two girls who were attacked in Missalia and are now orphaned, are at the mercy of the sadistic King. Will Merlin and his band of knights be able to rescue them in time?
Adele, the older sister, has plans of her own for escape. Will she prove successful or will her plans be foiled? If she is caught, what will become of her and her sister, Sylvia?
Dante, a boy from Coifen, is also now orphaned. He is the sole survivor of a brutal attack on his family. An unlikely heroine has come to his rescue- a mysterious white wolf. Unfortunately, the attack has left him blind. He and his guardian make their refuge in a remote cave. He clings desperately to the hope that God has spared him for a reason. Every night he goes to bed, he says a prayer to his talisman, the Merlin, a game piece that his father gave him before he was forced to abandon him. It was the last gift he received before all hell broke loose. Will he be rescued? Will he find a permanent haven? His fate also lies in the hands of the Merlin.
Merlin and his troupe lead the Visi-Gauls in a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Jason, though capricious, is not stupid. He uses every means at his disposal to eliminate Merlin. Who will prove the victor? Fighting a severe war of attrition, it seems at times that Jason will inevitably win; but don't count the Merlin out. He is beyond slippery. Every time it seems that Jason has the gifted knight, he is thwarted yet again.

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon

Get Your Copy of Book One: Gilleon for FREE!

Character Study - Dante

     He once lived a peaceful existence in the quaint little town of Coifen with his mother, Sophia, his father Lucian, sister Isabella and dog Mitz. That life is abruptly shattered when his father is  exiled and the rest of the family is plunged into a fight for their life. With assassins on their trail, they are eventually cornered and forced to defend themselves, along with the aid of their neighbors.

    Tragically, Dante’s mother, sister and dog are brutally killed. He barely escapes with his own life, if not for the intervention of a mysterious white wolf, whom he named Cammilia. Together, they hole up in a remote cave for months until they are finally rescued by Merlin.

     Though blinded in the attack that killed his family, Dante is brought to Round Table Academy by Merlin and given the choice to enter their school as a recruit. Feeling it is the only way he can regain some control over his life and maintain a safe haven, he accepts.

     As promised by his headmaster, Germanicus, the training is brutal, the academics grueling and mentally demanding. In addition, he faces elimination bouts nearly everyday. Should he fail in even one of his tests or lose an important match, he will be expelled from the school- most are. Almost fifteen hundred boys enter Academy, but only a dozen or so make it to knighthood. So the odds are not in his favor.

   Yet he toils on with an indefatigable spirit and inadvertently makes a powerful enemy- Maximus, the start recruit and only son of King Menelaeus. He is everything Dante is not- over-privileged, spoiled, arrogant. He has an ingrained sense of self-entitlement and it is reinforced by his stellar performance as a recruit.

    Despite this, he feels threated by Dante and makes it his mission to see that Dante is removed from the Academy- at all costs. And he is not above resorting to dirty tricks and subterfuge to achieve it.

    Dante’s problems continue to mount precipitously. Not only is he in danger of being removed from the school since being targeted by Maximus, but he also faces the looming threat of the man that ordered his death. Little does he know that Herod, the man who seeks his demise and the dissolution of the Brotherhood is right under his nose. And he has put his own plans into action, leveraging the rivalry between Dante and Maximus.

    Dante is resourceful, intelligent and relentless, but will it be enough to thwart the pressures that seem to be closing in on him like a coiled serpent? He has the support of his newfound companion, Cammilia and Merlin. He clings to them desperately like a raft in the middle of the ocean, but will they be enough to stop the machinations of Gilleon’s most powerful senator and his vast resources? Only time will tell.

About the Author:


Author Rory D Nelson is an accomplished actor and has been seen in several high school productions of “Oedipus Rex,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” He owns a window cleaning business in the Sacramento area, enjoys wine tasting, snowboarding, traveling and working out. Rory D Nelson is an eclectic and prolific writer, having written numerous comedy skits, commercial parodies, and ghost-written many humorous t-shirts. He has the most unusual imagination of any fantasy author, since he also brings his deranged sense of humor into play in his books.



Contact the Author:
Website * The Brotherhood of Merlin * Facebook * Twitter 


22 April, 2018

#SpecialFeature :: #GuestPost - 10 of My Favourite Lines from The Story of a Long-Distance Marriage



*** Special Feature - April 2018 ***

About the Book:
We’ll always have each other to come back to.

Rohan and Ira’s life takes an unexpected turn when Ira decides to leave for New York to study. They’ve been married for only fifteen months, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and Rohan is not going to come between his wife and her dream. So, sad but supportive, he stays back in Delhi, where he is on the brink of a promotion at a national daily. After all, his relationship with Ira is strong enough to survive the distance—they are new-age lovers who don’t let marriage come in the way of careers and ambitions.

Rohan prepares for a year without Ira, getting by with a little help from his friends: Yusuf, his on-call confidant who lives in Bangalore; Alisha, a colleague he likes catching up with over tea; and Tanuj, his new role model at work. Life without Ira is going surprisingly well. Until the day, that is, she reveals the real reason she left.

Beautifully written and unflinchingly honest, this is the love story of our times.

Book Links:
Harper Collins * Amazon


10 of My Favourite Lines

For this post, I have put together 10 of my favourite quotes from the book. My really favourite ones, though, are ones that will make sense only in the context of the story and I don’t want to give away spoilers. I hope you discover them as you read the novel and they put a smile on your face. 

1) I want to live my life and my hopes and my dreams even if it means living away from you for a year or two. And I want you to do the same too, if that’s what you want. We’ll always have each other to come back to.

2) As I lock the door, I notice that her gaze lingers on the nameplate we had got made soon after our marriage. We had voted against ‘Rohan and Ira’ because she had felt that without surnames we sounded like we were of the same breed as Momo. We had voted against ‘Shastri and Sebastian’ too, because I felt it sounded like I was married to her father. And so it had ¬finally said ‘Rohan Shastri and Ira Sebastian’, a quirky Kannadiga Hindu and Goan Catholic couple from Bombay in a Jat locality in south Delhi, both secure in their independent identities.

3) I had asked her the question several times before but never got a proper answer: what did her interest in art stem from? I wonder now if this is what led her to study art, if it’s the same thing that made an artist out of Hanz. Only such a person would want to create something who has seen so much around him destroyed. Only she would look for beauty who has shadows to ¬fill.

4) Yes, come to think of it, that’s how I’ll put it. I don’t know if it’s true for others also, if they too have a certain place they associate completely with the security and happiness of love. But, for me, there is such a place, and that is Delhi.

5) So, now when I drive, it’s about more than just getting from point A to point B. It’s liberating. It’s about rising above my limitations. When I drive, all that is inessential falls away and I only commune with my car and the road ahead. It’s like the car is an extension of me. I feel so completely in control that I enter a space of infinite possibilities. It may sound contradictory but it isn’t really. It’s like imagination. When you are truly in control of it, you can make anything happen.

6) ‘Since we are talking literarily, I’ll use Rowling,’ I say. ‘Horcruxes. In the books, horcruxes are bad. That’s how Voldemort eludes death for years. But I don’t think horcruxes are always bad. Or that it takes something as grave as murder to create one. We may not be consciously doing it, but we are splitting our souls all the time. There is a part of my soul in Old Delhi, where we are going. It’s where Ira and I had gone when I ¬first came to Delhi to see her. There’s a part of my soul in Sikkim, where I first experienced what it is to fall in love many years ago. Horcruxes, I think, are a way of life. They are a way of loving.’

7) When you first fall in love, it’s a feeling you’ve never imagined before. It takes your breath away, it moves the ground beneath your feet. But, most of all, it moves something inside you.

8) And there it was, right in front of me. Hidden the previous day, it now seemed so close that I could make out its contours, its shadows and almost the texture of its snow. I ate my words and conceded it was unlike anything I had seen before. Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, its heights swathed in the pearly pink light of daybreak, looked old yet ageless, tall and stoic. Ironically, it was something so still and unmoving that moved something inside me, and right there, unable to take my eyes off it for several minutes, I fell in love for the very ¬first time.

9) After a whole day’s relentless journey I am now at the northern-most point in this part of the country. It has been a long, long journey into a space so remote that the inessential falls away and only the essential survives. And now I know what that is.

10) Love is not when two people are alike or when they try to be alike or when they can’t bear to be away from each other. Nor is it when they decide to live together or set for themselves common life goals such as a house, a child or a retirement plan. Love is, once you are truly in its grips, a capacity for change. And once you have that figured, everything else will simply fall into place.



About the Author:
Siddhesh Inamdar is a 30-year-old writer and editor based in Delhi. 
He graduated in English Literature from St Xavier's College, Mumbai, and was a recipient of Mumbai University's gold medal in the subject. He did a master's in English from Delhi University and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, where also he ranked first in his batch. 
He has worked with the  Hindu as a correspondent based in Pune, with DNA in Mumbai and with Hindustan Times in Delhi. He has been with HarperCollins since 2013 as an editor for non-fiction books. Some of the authors he has worked with include Raghuram Rajan, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Devdutt Pattanaik and Aanchal Malhotra.



Contact the Author:

Giveaway:
Signed copies + Bookmarks + specially made bag tags for the book

a Rafflecopter giveaway

20 April, 2018

April 20, 2018 0

#BookBlitz :: Forsaken Norse Wind by Ciara Lake

About the Book:
A troll, a mortal, and a love hot enough to melt ice.

Trapped in a vicious life, Breanna Devion survives only by the strength of her heart. Determined to have more than what her abusive stepfather has planned for her, she's willing to risk everything to be free.

Axel Venrick is a troll who has spent centuries alone, isolated in his castle in Iceland. At the insistence of others, Axel crafts the ultimate tool to find his soul mate. He creates a beautiful ring which is bespelled, blessed by a god, and sent forth to locate Axel's other half.

The ring finds Breanna just in time to prevent her stepfather's disastrous plan from taking place. But angry gods, vengeful parents, and an evil lurking in the immortal world all conspire to destroy the love of the jaded troll and his innocent mortal. Can their love free them or will the evil spreading from the bowels of the earth destroy them first?


Book Links:

Read an Excerpt:

“It’s going to be ugly if they get here. I may have to kill some of them. I’d prefer not to, at least this day. But they may leave me no choice.” He shrugged. “So, let’s go to avoid this problem. I didn’t come here to make war on these humans. I came to fetch my mate.” He stepped closer to the porch. “Trust me, Breanna. Let your heart guide you. If you listen to it, you will know what to do.”
“My mother’s in her room sleeping. I need help with her. She’s ill, and she can be difficult.”
“Let me inside, I’ll talk to her.”
“Okay.” She stood aside. “I’m your mate?”
“Yes, you’re my mate.” In a few quick steps, he stood inside the house. He had to duck as he entered, and once inside he hunched not to hit the ceiling. “Gather what you would like to take with us. Get the coat I gave you.”
Breanna picked up the coat to put it on. She took him to her mother.
“Mother, this is Axel. We need to leave with him. Hugh’s upset with us. He’s coming back to… hurt us. We have to go.” Breanna tapped her mother’s arm. “Mother, please wake up.”
Fiona rolled over to look at Breanna. Her eyes were crazed. “What is it, child?” Her voice sounded weak. “I was dreaming of Hema taking me to his realm.”
“We need to leave. This is Axel.” Breanna pointed at him. “Umm, he’s a friend of mine. We need to go with him, now.”
“No.” Her mother sat up in the bed, shaking her head. Her hair looked wild all over her head. “I must wait for Hema to return. If I’m gone he may not find me.”
“Mother, we have to go. Hugh’s not happy, and he’s bringing others to start trouble.” 
“You leave, I’m staying here. I’m not worried about Hugh.” She lay back down, rolling to the other side. “I cannot leave. Hema may come to get me.”
Axel patted Breanna on her shoulder. “They’re almost here. Stand back with me. Lay the coat down then give me your hand. We’ll watch to make sure your mother’s safe.”
He reached for her hand, and Breanna allowed him to hold it.
“No one can see us now. It takes less power if you hold my hand to make you invisible with me. We’ll wait and watch. They cannot hear us either.”
Breanna followed Axel out into the front room of the house. They stood to the right of the fireplace out of the way. The front door burst open, and Breanna jumped.
“It’s okay. They don’t see or hear us. You’ll be safe.” He gently squeezed her hand. “Relax.”
Hugh, along with two other men, entered the house. The door banged against the wall, and they pushed the chairs to the floor as they stomped inside. Others were outside the house calling loudly for her.
“Where’s the bastard? The damn girl’s in league with him.

About the Author:

Welcome to Ciara Lake's World. Meet Gorgeous Werewolves, Vampires, Dragons, Mermaids, Wizards, Witches, Mythological Gods and Goddesses, Mere Mortals And More! Fiction has always been a passion of mine. Creating worlds and developing characters is a great way for me to relieve the stress and strain of my everyday world. In fantasy (paranormal) and sci-fi stories, the author has the unique ability to invent wonderfully exotic places and people. I do that in my books. These fantastic genres provide a limitless ability to be creative and inventive. My stories provide an escape into a special world filled with unique and otherworldly things. And there is always a happy ending.



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18 April, 2018

April 18, 2018 0

#BookBlitz :: Fate's Design by Subhashish Dey

About the Book:


When a kidnapper redeems his lost conscience and finds himself unable to murder the girl he has kidnapped, what does he do? Fate is cruel to him, and good intentions are never enough. 

At the same time, a woman dissatisfied with her existence flees from her home, not knowing what lies ahead of her. But all things come at a price, and she has a hard path ahead through storms and fire.   

Watch how fate has entwined these lives together, into a song through struggles of conscience and identity, through the deepest lows and greatest highs, and through the flame of madness and the stings of survival.     




Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon


Feedback for the Book:

5 Stars “An extremely well written thriller by an amazing fourteen-year-old. Written at an age when most teenagers find their boats floundering in the sea of words, Subhashish had not only managed to keep a grip on the plot, taking the reader along the journey of his well-drawn out characters, he had also shown a rare maturity in his choice of words. His insights are at times startling, coming from someone of his age.” ~ Supratim Kar on Amazon

5 Stars – “An impressive first novel. The author is still in his teens, but the narrative voice is one of maturity and experience. The story unfolds like a Russian romance novel, in a modern setting. The plot is complex and suspenseful and keeps one turning the pages until the climax.” ~ T.N.Badri on Amazon

“A thoroughly interesting read, Fate’s Design, plays out as a struggle to live, survive and not merely exist. There are flaws, which in any case, are there in every piece of writing, but, the author’s abilities to weave a story, which does not make you, cringe or question its validity, make it an interesting work worth going over more than once.” ~ Soumyabrata Gupta


About the Author:
Subhashish is a 14-year-old student of Chinmaya Vidyalaya Anna Nagar. He has been regularly contributing short stories to his school magazine. An avid reader, Subhashish believes that books open the doors to some wonderful insights in life. A brilliant student, Subhashish loves to explore different places and spends time trying to understand the culture of the people there. 

Subhashish lives in Chennai along with his parents and grandmother. This is his first attempt at writing a novel. Subhashish is passionate about music and loves singing and playing his piano. Incidentally, music forms the backbone of the story of his novel. 



17 April, 2018

#Spotlight :: Better With You by Rachel John




  

 Paige Parker has no time for romance. She’s too busy building up her house-flipping business. But when a charming guy comes between her and the house she wants, Paige is a little more torn than she expected. For a girl who’s always gone with her firm business sense, she’s not sure how to trust her heart. When it comes to dating, Shaun Randall is not about to get serious with anyone. He has his mother to take care of and enough family secrets to keep him running from any girl who gets too close. Spending time with Paige starts out as a means to get the house he wants, but every time he thinks it’s time to bail, he finds himself drawn in a little more. When is it worth taking a chance on love? 
 

  Praise 
"I have to say this story was freaking awesome! I breezed through it in an afternoon." 
"I loved this sweet romance story. The characters were believable and there were some funny moments. I've also read (and loved) the first book in the series, but you could easily read this as a standalone."
 
  EXCERPT

Shaun Randall could spot a bad date from a mile away, and this one at a nearby table was obviously not going well. The guy’s first mistake was bringing a girl to a sports bar and sitting where he could watch the game, while she sat and toyed with her lemonade. The football game only mildly interested him, and he couldn’t help checking back, more and more certain this was a first, maybe second date scenario and not a girlfriend/boyfriend situation. There was definitely an awkward newness vibe going on between the two. Plus, she was way too dressed up for a sports bar, while her date was in cargo shorts and a T-shirt. Watching the guy down his third beer and order another one gave Shaun the push he needed. Thanks to his six foot, four inch height and his bright red hair, Shaun stood out for all the wrong reasons. He was not the best-looking guy there. But he did have one gift, and that was understanding women and how to talk to them. It didn’t always mean he said the right thing. He liked messing with people almost as much as he liked flirting. In this case, he could do both. He took a last sip of his Coke and went to make his move. If things went badly, it would be a fun story for later. He planted his hands on their table and waited until she noticed him. “Hi, cuz. I’m so glad I found you. Your mom’s been trying to get a hold of you. Is your phone on silent?” Dark brown eyes framed in long lashes stared at him, her forehead knotting in confusion. She was even more beautiful up close. “Hey, man, you’re blocking the TV.” Her date weaved his head around him, groaning when the play didn’t go the way he wanted. “Oh, you’re right.” The girl held up her phone, hiding a slight smile. “I did miss some calls. Jeremy, I need to go. Sorry to cut our date short.” Jeremy looked at Shaun and then at her, finally paying attention. “Come on. I need you to be my designated driver. And who’s this guy?” “My … cousin.” She pulled out a couple of bills and dropped them on the table. “Call a cab, it’s on me. Sorry the date didn’t work out.” She strode off, throwing her purse strap over one shoulder, and Shaun had to jog to catch up. 



      

Rachel John is the author of books filled with awkward humor and sigh-inducing romance. When not burning dinner or chasing kids, Rachel can be found working on family history, writing, reading, or putting off writing by staring at Facebook. She lives in Arizona with her understanding husband, four crazy kids, and a desert tortoise.

  Also by Rachel John
   
  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in Paypal Cash Ends 4/30/18 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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

16 April, 2018

April 16, 2018 0

#BookBlitz :: I Owed You One by Madhu Vajpayee


About the Book:




Publisher: LiFi Publications Pvt. Ltd.
ISBN: 978-9386191281
Format: Paperback
Pages: 258 pages
Price: 275/-







Dev Khanna has a perfect life with his loving wife Radhika and son Neel in Melbourne, Australia. But there is something from his past that keeps gnawing him, an open wound that is a reminder of a debt. His present is very flourishing and future promising but what happens when the past comes knocking? As the skeletons begin to tumble one after other from the cupboard it is now threating his present.

Join Dev on a journey that spans across the tall skylines of Melbourne, the royal Dilwalo ki Dilli to the dingy streets of Moradabad as he battles love, religion, politics and fear questioning his own beliefs at every step. Will he be able to make peace with his past and save his future? Will humanity lose this battle against everything else?

Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon

Feedback for the Book:


5 Stars “With an intriguing and powerful theme, the author has chosen a realistic and suspenseful plot with all its subplots tied very well. The characters are realistic and believable. Descriptive writing style along with the confident tone of narration with the extremely good use of vocabulary made it easier for understanding. The suspense that starts building up in the midway is being handled with utmost care and is taken care that it does not loses its grip and holds the capacity to keep the readers engrossed till the last page.” ~ Nikita onAmazon

5 Stars – “Entwined in the backdrop of a courageous young man who let go his turmoiled past and commits himself to love and fulfill his duty without self-interest to be an ultimate winner, the author constantly reminds and beautifully conveys that secularism means humanism and peaceful coexistence. The book has all the makings of a Bollywood blockbuster. A must read for everyone...” ~ Namita Dimrion Amazon


4 Stars “The story line is no less than a thriller. It has all the elements for a perfect entertaining read. Romance, action, drama, mystery, socio-political angle and lots of thriller. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this unpredictable tale of Dev and travelling across continents with him to witness what is the extent one can go for a loved one. There are some scenes that left me goose bumps, because of how real it all felt.” ~ PrivyTrifles

About the Author:
Dr. Madhu Vajpayee- the writer is born somewhere in those hospital corridors where she has spent the last two decades of her life. Witnessing life at such close quarters pushed her to capture the enigma of life in her words and slowly it became her passion. After writing several medical papers and chapters in books, she started her journey in the literary world. Seeking Redemption was her first fiction book which is now followed by I Owed You One.

Having done her graduation, MBBS from King Georges Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow she went ahead to pursue her post-graduation, MD from AIIMS, New Delhi. She was a faculty at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi having been associated with management of patients living with HIV/AIDS. She is now settled in Melbourne, Australia with her family, where she is devoting most of her time to writing, the passion that she couldn’t pursue earlier because of the demands of medical profession and commitment it requires.

When not creating stories, Madhu enjoys reading and traveling.

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