Bookish Indulgences

18 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 18, 2014 0

#BookReview :: Seduced by Murder by Saurbh Katyal

When detective Vishal Bajaj receives a call from his old flame Aditi, he is seduced into a vortex of family lies and a murder. Vishal sets out to catch the murderer, while dealing with the resurgence of an irresistible desire for Aditi that he had buried years ago. Vishal is a witty, hard drinking, tough private detective who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty as he races against time to catch a meticulous killer. Seduced by Murder weaves a web of noir and suspense that keeps the reader riveted and guessing till the end.

When Vishal leaves the corporate world and takes up his seat in a one room office, that formerly belonged to an uncle, he aspires to become a good detective. Dealing with small time cases, mostly that of cheating spouses, he gets a real break when Aditi, an old flame, gives him a call to help her with the murder in her family. As Vishal gears up to solve the case with the help of Pranay, his side-kick, and Babu, a police officer, the clues and hints take him up close and personal with the whole family…

The backbone of any mystery or thriller is its protagonist and the core of the plot. Vishal is a character we can believe in. He is smart and intelligent. His corporate background gives him an edge to work against the tide of time, the ability to handle large amount of information and the building pressure of solving the case. At the same time we also see a vulnerable side of him in the story. I, personally, liked Pranay more though and wished the author had included him more often and given him a bigger role to play.

He plot is neither very dramatic nor ingenious. However, it contains all the elements of a thriller – from questionable motives to dark secrets to multiple viable suspects, the book has it all. The author has dealt us a reasonable amount of twists and action to keep the storyline moving forward. This book is also just perfect to play a game of whodunit as the author leaves around considerable amount of hints for the readers to pick up. With his beautiful narration and simplistic language complimenting the story, this book was practically unputdownable from the beginning.

Debdatta Dasgupta November 18, 2014 0

#BookReview :: Fire Under Ash by Saskya Jain

When Ashwin, a wealthy Delhi boy, meets Lallan, a struggling student from Patna looking to make his fortune, their friendship, with their mutual love for the almond-eyed Mallika, seems to transcend the fault lines of class and privilege. But one night at a party, a fateful incident leads their worlds to unravel with consequences that change both their lives forever, and exposes the deep turmoil inherent in the frenetic energy of the new, aspiring India.

Fire Under Ash introduces us to the lives of Ashwin, Mallika, Lallan, Meera and Vinny. Ashwin is a spoilt brat born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. He was getting ready to go to Columbia University when he meets Mallika and instead goes to Azad College. Lallan is basically from Patna who comes to Azad College to pursue his Masters and fall for Mallika too. Then there is Meera, Ashwin’s sister, who is engaged to New York based Vinny. The book revolves around the lives of these people, their struggles and decisions.

The highlight of the book is its flawed characters. None of the characters have the larger than life persona that fictitious characters usually seem to have. Instead they are your regular next door people who have their flaws. The author has done a commendable job of building up each character individually with their own sets of qualities and yet keeping them relatable. I particularly liked the character of Meera.

The plot is simple and kind of predictable yet the author has managed to make it interesting by infusing doses of our very own reality into it. She has also done a great job of portraying a variety of situations in different settings. It was almost too easy to imagine the people and their stories in my mind. The language is polished yet easy to get into. The dialogue delivery could do with some work as a couple of times they seemed unreal coming from the mouths of the characters that the author has built up for us. Another drawback of the book is the very clichéd moments in the book that were a bit of a turn-off.

Overall, this made for an entertaining read.

16 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 16, 2014 2

#Interview :: Robin Matchett, #Author of Apocalypta

Rob (Robin) Matchett was born in Paris, France, in 1956 of Canadian parents, and moved to Canada at four years old. Apparently on the way, he spent hours in a porthole watching the sea, pondering existence. Now his life continues through a porthole – a regret being he didn’t remain in France a few more years. Though, embracing Canada he went native, steeped in the elements from where land-locked on the crest of a giant windblown hill, he commands from the bridge of a ship, foundered on springs, fields and forests. Still unreleased from the yoke of his servitude, he dabbles in the stars, unlocking secrets from history and the future. Many transfigurations have occurred, of which he has faithfully transcribed into various literary forms, including novels, poems and film scripts, and continues to do so. Among other eclectic interests, he is known to be well-read; enjoy wholesome kitchen garden culinary pursuits; calvados; has musical inclinations, and often known to be wired into the Grateful Dead. He is of a retiring nature, addicted to movies and documentaries, considered a professional obligation rather than lesser appraisals.

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When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?
I began to write poems when I was young though I don’t think I was conscious of being a writer at that time. In my twenties I would go off alone somewhere and write and it dawned on me this was important for me. It wasn’t until after I had written a novel and tried to publish it did I feel like a writer. Even today as I don’t make a living from writing that I find the label ‘writer’ not entirely applicable. It’s probably in my nature that I disdain any labeling at all.

What inspires you to write?
It’s not easy to be definite about inspiration. Sometimes I have a vision of some small seemingly inconsequential thing such as a woman giving birth in the wilderness, then this whole picture begins to emerge piece by piece until a new universe emerges with civilizations and people. Other times a piece of history or new information gets me thinking how wrong some traditional or accepted thinking about a subject can be. Probably the most inspiring is the freedom of writing and how glorious it is putting thoughts to words. Perhaps there is a selfish side to it – to promote oneself by the very act of writing, albeit altruistically. Another is the beauty of language as in a sonnet or well-crafted dialogue, description or story line.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
Apocalypta came about by a vision of the future approximately four hundred years from now. I was thinking how different the world was four hundred years before. If one follows that trajectory to the present day many things occur on a human, political, economic, cultural and religious level all simultaneously. Then take that template and apply it forward four hundred years, considering the changes in the last seventy years. We are evolving far quicker than ever before, unless one believes in alien-human hybridization a hundred thousand years ago.

Is there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Well, there are novels that I’ve been trying to market that have had little light!

Tell us about your writing process.
For me writing can come from a couple of things. One is inspiration. I really have to believe in the story, which has some fascinating hold on me. Two, discipline. Without it nothing gets done. Three, time. Sacrifices must be made. Work and family can take up all one’s time. Beyond that, one must just find the voice or tag line and just let it flow even if one day you cant write a paragraph or line, but the next day don’t stop trying…sooner or later the brain will respond and release the outflow.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
That’s a tough question. There are so many. Little Terrie (Flower Child) spending the night in the forest with her dog, after her mom told her to hide there to escape from these bad men. Another is the conversation between an alien ‘Johnny Appleseed’ and human scientist-author Jimmy Pidgeon about the fate of the earth and humanity. There are so many favorite scenes.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
No. Not intentionally. I like to think my characters are living breathing individuals.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
I used to write on an old chair that was lumpy and uncomfortable. I wouldn’t notice it when I wrote. Now that I have a comfortable chair I don’t write so much….!

What is your usual writing routine?
For the most part I'm a morning person, but sometimes whenever I have time.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
I read every day, sometimes three or four books or more going on. Lately ive been reading Enigma by Robert Harris. Recently I finished Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Im also reading the War that Ended the Peace by Margaret MacMillan, Meetings With Paul by Philip Krapf, and others. My favorite authors are many. I especially like Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo. I revere Edward de Vere (shake-speare) a very controversial authorship review! I like Silvia Plath and Sappho…Herman Hesse… Ursula Le Guin…so many I cant count…Laurence Gardner…Dr. Barbara Thiering…

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?
A professor friend, now deceased once, said to me to never give up on creativity – it will keep you focussed and happy.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Write about what interests you most and learn to be disciplined about it.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?
Oh…that’s tough…don’t know really. I’d like to give unknowns a chance…but here goes: Cephren could played by Russell Crowe, Cleo by Jennifer Lawrence, Trinny – Eva Green, Heyoka – Marion Cotillard, Jimmy Pidgeon – Chistian Bale, Darabak – Viggo Mortensen, Flower Child – Shailene Woodley, Remy – Garrett Hedlund, Del Barker – Benedict Cumberbatch, Old Scratch – Gene Hackman, George Washington – Denzel Washington, Runaway Dumptruck – Idris Elba, Daniel Perreault – Anne Hathaway….

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?
Spear gun, tool kit with flares, two gallon tin of dulce de leche

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
Play guitar, watch documentaries, movies, read, cook… I like to walk my farm property.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
Spend a few months touring France and Europe in a camper with trailer and motorbike.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I shave once a week…I was born in France but don’t speak French very well…every morning I eat 10% fat Mediterranean plain yoghurt either mixed with Argentinian dulce de leche or Turkish cherry jam…

What do you have in store next for your readers?
I’ve been researching and planning to write a script about the purportedly actual story of jesus (yeshua) according to the pesherim (Essenic decode of dates and metaphors – hidden meanings imbedded in the gospels and dead sea scrolls)

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?
The use of our imagination through necessity is the driving force of human progress.
The truth of our journey past and present remains in large part a mystery because of politics.

The truth is always forthcoming but few care to realize it because it runs contrary to accepted thinking.

Apocalypta is a novel about a post-apocalyptic world at the cusp of the 25th century. With the discovery of a synaptic memory chip holding the memories of individuals in the past, there is an attempt to avert a return to the terrible conflagrations of the past. This chip - 'the eyes of god' - holds salvation through the truth. The main character, implanted with the chip, bids the reader to follow history back to our present time in order to understand the future. Moreover, humanity has a chance to become members of a galactic confederation, which through various species have been instrumental in our emergence from earliest times. Many unusual characters color this story, which is ultimately about the struggle for humanity to rise to a higher place in its long quest for survival.

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1st Prize: $50 Amazon.com gift certificate and autographed copy of Apocalypta

2nd Prize: $25 Amazon.com gift certificate and autographed copy of Apocalypta

3rd Prize: Autographed copy of Apocalypta

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15 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 15, 2014 0

#SpecialFeature :: Readers' & Media Response to The Sales Room by Manu Ramesh

*** Special Feature - November 2014 ***

About the Author

The most vivid memory of R.T. Manu Ramesh’'s childhood is that of changing schools every two years owing to his father’s transferable job as a civil servant with the Government of India. It varied from a convent run by Catholic priests in white cassocks in a small town at one end of the spectrum to residential schools of ochre robed Hindu Sanyasis .He graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from the reputed RV College of Engineering, Bangalore, India, in 2006 and started his career in the IT industry as a software programmer. He however found his true calling a couple of years later when a dynamic, young, entrepreneur, invited him to join his start-up, Aurigo Software Technologies, as a part of the Sales and Marketing team. The firm was to expand in India in a big way. Playing a crucial role in the company’s growth Manu was instrumental in its foray into the India market and acquisition of first ten customers in India. He now works for an MNC and is based in San Jose, California. He is an avid tennis player and swimmer. He has an ear for music. He enjoys travelling, reading, water surfing and watching movies during free time.

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Sales Room Reviews – Readers and Media

1. “Rich experiences in a fictional format that is satirical and a page turner with vivid characterization” The New Indian Express

2. “Hilarious page-turner of a book! Unapologetically tacky yet funny one-liners keep hitting you when you least expect it, and you often end up putting aside the book for a good laugh!” Gauravjval Kundu, Reader

3. “Runs like a dairy in the life of marketing personnel. …detailed account of their lifestyle, their pleasures….and above all the camaraderie. Makes for racy reading.” The Hindu

4. “If you are an Young working Indian, this book is a must read. Very beautifully captures the essence of working in an Indian 'Start-up' and its ‘Jugaad’ attitude” Satvik Shahapur, Entrepreneur

5. “Captures every detail of what happens in Sales Teams” Techgoss, the tech grapevine

6. “Youthful account of a salesperson’s life rife with humorous sexual innuendo” Deccan Chronicle

7. “Very interesting comedy which gives every reader an idea about life at the sales room of a software startup” Vanya’s notebook ,Blog

8. “A very quick racy read – giving us a tongue-firmly-in-cheek look about a start-up based in Bangalore” Bloody Good Blog

9. “The world seldom reads or hears of startups that do not succeed…peek into the world of failing start-ups” The Hindu

10. “Clever ploy to have the ideas spread across the voices of different characters” Deccan Herald

About the Book

Rajesh Iyer, a young, ambitious salesperson, returns to ñThe Sales Roomî of Oregon Software Technologies after an aborted attempt at getting into a business school in the US, only to notice the metamorphosis of the software start-up which he had earlier been an integral part of. What used to be a rat-infested hole in the midst of a vegetable market is now a swanky, state of the art facility owned by an upcoming Bollywood star. The enthusiastic and compact team firing on all cylinders is replaced by a sclerotic and bureaucratic set up. Sales review meetings, once rife with passionate discussions, are now replete with profanities. The ill tempered angel investor's scream can be heard all the way from his villa in New York.Rajesh, now shunted into an innocuous role finds every effort made to alleviate the condition of the demoralized sales team, met with resistance. As revenues dwindle and tempers rise, Rajesh realizes he is running out of time and options. He either toes the CEO, Venky's line and becomes party to a sham or quits citing a host of plausible reasons. This hilarious narrative takes the reader from plush corporate boardrooms of Bangalore to the seedy hotels in Delhi as Oregon meanders in search of illusory customer wins. Rajesh meets several interesting characters ranging from the busty Polish graphics designer to the loquacious pimp masquerading as a taxi driver.

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Giveaway

1 Autographed Paperback Copy of The Sales Room by R.T.Manu Ramesh to a lucky Indian Resident.

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14 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 14, 2014 0

#BookReview :: Ri - Homeland of Uncertainty by Paulami Duttagupta

Ri- Homeland of Uncertainty is adapted from the National Award Winning Khasi film by the same name.

Trapped in the limbo between ideology and conscience, Manbha finds him himself part of a terror outfit. An unexpected opportunity, anger, squalor and disillusionment - followed by and armed combat and injury lead to the soul- searching that form the substance of this moving tale.

This is really a wonderful and thought provoking book.

This book is necessarily the story of Manbha, a freedom fighter. He wants independence for his land and is ready to lay down his life for it. What he is not prepared to do is stake the lives of the innocents of the state as a cost for that freedom. He did start off as a freedom fighter but takes on a path that leads him to be labeled as a terrorist. Will he be able to attain freedom the right way or would he cost the lives of hundreds of innocents along the way? Is he a true hero or just another terrorist?

The book is set in the North-East of India and the author introduces us to one of the North-Eastern state and takes us on an amazing journey of the beautiful landscapes and rich cultural heritage. She also includes the terrorism factor in the book - in fact it is the front runner. The life and needs of the people of the region is portrayed in a manner that would appeal to everyone who reads this book.

Manbha is a very powerful character and he made his own space in my heart in no time. He is a freedom fighter and has his own limits. He may have deviated from his original path, yet he holds on to his morals and never crosses certain boundaries. His ideas for his state and his plight are very clear in his heart. The other characters like Emika, Kydiah and Janet have made their presence known with their individual personas.

The author has done an incredible job of blending together many facets into creating this Novella. Her writing style in refreshing and I do applaud her efforts to bring forward the story of so many lives to the mass.

I would recommend every reader to give this book a chance.

Review Copy Received From:

13 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 13, 2014 0

#BookReview :: The Lincoln Myth (Cotton Malone #9) by Steve Berry

September 1861: All is not as it seems. With these cryptic words, a shocking secret passed down from president to president comes to rest in the hands of Abraham Lincoln. And as the first bloody clashes of the Civil War unfold, Lincoln alone must decide how best to use this volatile knowledge: save thousands of American lives, or keep the young nation from being torn apart forever?

The present: In Utah, the fabled remains of Mormon pioneers whose nineteenth-century expedition across the desert met with a murderous end have been uncovered. In Washington, D.C., the official investigation of an international entrepreneur, an elder in the Mormon church, has sparked a political battle between the White House and a powerful United States senator. In Denmark, a Justice Department agent, missing in action, has fallen into the hands of a dangerous zealot—a man driven by divine visions to make a prophet’s words reality. And in a matter of a few short hours, Cotton Malone has gone from quietly selling books at his shop in Denmark to dodging bullets in a high-speed boat chase.

All it takes is a phone call from his former boss in Washington, and suddenly the ex-agent is racing to rescue an informant carrying critical intelligence. It’s just the kind of perilous business that Malone has been trying to leave behind, ever since he retired from the Justice Department. But once he draws enemy blood, Malone is plunged into a deadly conflict—a constitutional war secretly set in motion more than two hundred years ago by America’s Founding Fathers.

From the streets of Copenhagen to the catacombs of Salzburg to the rugged mountains of Utah, the grim specter of the Civil War looms as a dangerous conspiracy gathers power. Malone risks life, liberty, and his greatest love in a race for the truth about Abraham Lincoln—while the fate of the United States of America hangs in the balance.

Steve Berry has done it again… His books seem to get better and better every time I pick one up.

Abraham Lincoln had a secret that could affect the mass population of America. This secret has been passed down from President to President until it is discovered by a group of rogue Mormons. Cotton Malone, the ex-Magellan Billet agent, is once again roped in to help salvage the situation. This time round, things are different for Cotton Malone since his lady love, Cassiopeia, is also involved. She has been sent undercover as she had been once involved with one of the rogue Mormons. Things heat up and Cotton Malone is under pressure to resolve the situation with minimum collateral damage.

The plot is interesting. It draws out a lot of history regarding the Mormon Church as it is the center of the plot. Set in multiple locations, the story takes us for a ride. Cotton Malone was probably at his best in this installment as the stakes were set higher with the involvement of Cassiopeia. I was totally involved in both the mystery and the emotional aspect of this plot. However, it was a bit difficult for me to accept Cassiopeia’s new avatar. She somehow felt a totally different person in this book. However, Steve Berry’s capacity to mix history with fiction remains as good as ever. The detailed descriptions and the infused information made are so much more interesting to read. The pace is fast and it also keeps the readers indulged with history, suspense, action and twists.

Overall, it was an interesting book at many levels and a must read for all who love thrillers.

12 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 12, 2014 0

#BookReview :: An Isolated Incident by Soniah Kamal

Zari Zoon, a vivacious girl from Kashmir, is looking forward to marrying her fiance when tragedy strikes. Next thing she know, she is on a plane to America to stay with distant relatives who have offered to give her a temporary home to help her stitch back the tatters of her life.

Billy Nabi, fiercely tender-hearted, longs to help Zari but the choices he makes will jeopardise them all.
An Isolated Incident is a story of haunting memories and yearnings of a home lost, of a faith continuously tested and questioned and of a love that blossoms against all odds.

‘An Isolated Incident’ follows the life of Zari Zoon, a Kashmiri girl. She could the girl next door, with a typical life and typical problems even while living under the threat of terrorism at all times. That is until an incident changes her life forever and she is sent abroad for a new beginning. But the new life and the journey towards it could tangle up Zari’s life yet again.

First and most important element of this book is the character of Zari. She belongs to Kashmir – a state under the constant threat of terrorism. Even with everything going on around her, she manages to build a somewhat normal life for herself only for it to be snatched away from her. She then embarks upon a new life in a new place, yet the threat never really goes away. Zari is such a character that you cannot help but feel for. The author has done an admirable job in building her up and portraying her life. Then there is Billy with his own fair share of baggage. Billy’s character could do with a bit of polish and fine tuning. I failed to connect with this character and his decisions.

The plot in itself is another fantastic element that includes a lot of issues. For instance, it gives us a look into the lives of the Kashmiris in general. It also includes a glimpse into the world of a girl who is sequestered by a, sadly enough, a very common incident and it makes you wonder about our society that is such an expert at victimizing the victims. The author has done an incredible job of portraying the situations without pointing fingers or sounding preachy. There were twists and turns in the novel that were easy to spot and though the ending was quite predictable too, it was really interesting to take this journey with Zari.

This is a well written novel with crisp language and detailed narratives. The author has set the book in multiple locations and each come with enough description so as to help the readers’ imagination. It was also a refreshing change from reading the commercial love stories that flood the Indian markets constantly.

Overall this was one hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride that wrenches your heart.

Review Copy From:

11 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 11, 2014 0

#Spotlight :: Beyond School by Chitra Anand

Title: Beyond School
Author: Chitra Anand
Category: Fiction
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing
Date: 2014
Price: Rs 124
Pages: 201
ISBN - 10: 9383562404
ISBN - 13: 978-9383562404

Beyond School centres upon the weeks leading up to 17-year-old Shail's final board exams, as his world becomes a pressure-cooker and the weight of preparing for the exams sends him fleeing rebelliously in the other direction. Along with Shail's journey from boyhood to manhood, Beyond School vividly weaves between the narratives of four main characters, seamlessly uniting the past and present of Shail, his parents-Urmila and Sushil and his mentor-Gladys, in a story that is honest, funny, heartbreaking and ultimately, incredibly human.

About the Author:
Chitra Anand was born in Mumbai. She is a postgraduate in Physics and holds an Education degree. Beyond School is her first novel inspired by her journey as an educator. Know More Inside Stories, Connect with The Author on Twitter @chtranand

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09 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 09, 2014 0

#GuestPost :: My Favorite Vampire Hunters in Film and Television by Margo Bond Collins

A Night Shift Novel

Only fifty years left before vampires rule the world.

When Dallas police detective Cami Davis joined the city's vampire unit, she planned to use the job as a stepping-stone to a better position in the department.
But she didn't know then what she knows now: there's a silent war raging between humans and vampires, and the vampires are winning.
So with the help of a disaffected vampire and an ex-cop addict, Cami is going undercover, determined to solve a series of recent murders, discover a way to overthrow the local Sanguinary government, and, in the process, help win the war for the human race.
But can she maintain her own humanity in the process? Or will Cami find herself, along with the rest of the world, pulled under a darkness she cannot oppose?

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My Favorite Vampire Hunters in Film and Television

~ A Guest Post by Margo Bond Collins

In Sanguinary, Cami Davis is a detective on the Dallas police force, and part of an anti-vampire squad. My depiction of her is absolutely influenced by my love of vampire hunters in film and television. Here's a list of some of my favorite vampire hunters:

Buffy: Because what’s not to love about a snarky blonde cheerleader with a destiny to be a vampire slayer? Add Joss Whedon’s particular brand of brilliance, and Buffy is still one of my favorite vampire hunters, even more than fifteen years after the television series first aired.

The Winchester Brothers: Normally, these are top five lists. But I’m going to count Sam and Dean Winchester from the television series Supernatural together—it’s virtually impossible to consider them any other way. Technically, Sam and Dean are monster hunters in general, and vampires make up only a small percentage of their hunts—but since Dean was once briefly turned into a vampire and Sam had to contemplate beheading his brother, I think it counts. Plus: they’re just so beautiful.

Peter Vincent: I know that the 2011 remake of Fright Night was not exactly a favorite of either critics or fans. But I love, love, love David Tennant in the role of the stage magician whose dark past makes him a vampire expert.

Blade, Whistler, and Abigail Whistler (I'm counting these guys together, too!): I love the way the Blade film series uses the conventions of vampire film and myth. The dhampir (or half-vampire) as a vampire hunter is one of my favorite semi-obscure vampire myths, and Wesley Snipes does a nice job of being a taciturn, tortured hero in the dhampir role. Film scholar Jeffrey Weinstock has claimed that the vampire film is always about technology, and Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) is the consummate tech guy. Finally, the addition of Abigail Whistler brings the kick-ass heroine into the series, making it just about perfect, as far as I’m concerned.

Pike: In the original film version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she ends up with Pike, a mechanic whose best friend is turned into a vampire. I like Pike because, like Elle in my book Legally Undead, he doesn’t want to kill vampires. In fact, he packs up to get out of town. But then he sticks around to help Buffy figure out that she is, as he says, “the guy. The chosen guy.”

I really wanted to find a film or TV version of Van Helsing to include in this list, but I just couldn’t. The movie Van Helsing was simply laughable, and the Van Helsing character in the various Dracula movies doesn’t seem strong enough. I’d love to hear about any Van Helsings or other vampire hunters I might have missed who should be considered!

About the Author

Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.

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Book Review Tours November 09, 2014 0

Spotlight :: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (The Merlin Chronicles #2) by Daniel Diehl

Fantasy lovers please take note of this sale! Tomorrow, Monday November 10, marks the start of a week-long sale of ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ the second book in the award winning Merlin Chronicles trilogy. Between November 10 and November 17 the eBook version of ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ is scheduled for a Countdown Sale on Amazon. This is how it works. On November 10 you can buy ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ eBook for only 99 cents. The price will increase incrementally, each day until on November 17 it will return to its normal price of $2.99. So grab a copy of ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’ while it is really, really cheap.

Buy Link: Amazon

After being accidentally thrown into the modern world of the 21st century, the wizard, Merlin teamed up with archaeology student, Jason Carpenter to aid him in his battle against the evil sorcerous, Morgana le Fay.

In this second book of The Merlin Chronicles, Merlin braves the mysterious depths of Morgana's underground lair in search of the alien device with which she communicates with the Dragon Lords.

Meanwhile, Jason is forced to battle his way across war-torn Central Africa in search of a legendary gem that holds the key to closing the dragon gate forever. When Merlin is captured by Morgana's thugs, Jason and Beverley, must risk their lives and the future of mankind in a desperate effort to save their friend.

In Revelations, the first book of The Merlin Chronicles, archeology student Jason Carpenter discovers a mysterious orb that has housed history's greatest wizard for 1,600 years. Forced into an uneasy alliance, Jason and Merlin are sucked into a web of deceit, intrigue, and murder in a race to outwit and outrun Merlin’s ancient nemesis, the evil sorceress Morgana LaFay, a gang of drug smugglers, and a 500-year-old Chinese necromancer. It’s a race against time to complete their quest before an army of dragons is unleashed on a vulnerable and unsuspecting 21st century world.

You can also buy ‘Revelations’ the first book in the Merlin Chronicles trilogy HERE

The final book in the series will be released in April 2015.

08 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 08, 2014 0

#SpecialFeature :: Read an #Excerpt from The Sales Room by Manu Ramesh

*** Special Feature - November 2014 ***

About the Author

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For many people across the world a candle is a romantic symbol. It conjures up an image of a fine restaurant, a romantic evening, a bottle of expensive wine, the company of a soul mate of the opposite or same sex and finally, the prospect of having sex. The sex could be a fall into any of the categories -- plain vanilla sex, break up sex, makeup sex, Bondage and Discipline (B&D), Sadism and Masochism (S&M), Dominance and submission (D&S). However for most people in India, a candle would bring back memories of terrible nights when power cuts made life living hell. For the geeks, it would be the night the power cut caused them to score two marks less than their only other geek friend, who did not incidentally experience power cut. Damn it!! Murphy’s laws. The dim light of the candle would have distracted the geeks momentarily causing them to miss problem number 5 on page 321 (boy, I usually never got to page 321), the very same problem which appeared as a two mark question. For others, the candles would trigger memories of that sleepless summer night. Sleepless, not because they were having sex all night, but because the power cut had left them swatting the ubiquitous mosquitoes which descended on them, smacking their lips as they looked at their sumptuous dinner. The reasons for these power cuts are the classic third world issues: the perennial shortage of power, the inept government officials, the odd thunderstorm, the transformer next door which gave out sparks and exploded all of a sudden.

On the positive side, the frequent power cuts or rather the not so frequent power supply provided a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs to demonstrate their creative genius. Candles were always in demand from people of every socio economic background because of which the candle industry flourished. When I say candles, I refer to the thin, white, odourless pencil shaped ones, not the multicoloured, heart shaped, scented ones which come in every imaginable colour, be it ocean blue, salmon pink, mild lavender or polka dotted and when placed in toilets makes our poop smell nice. The scented candles are a luxury an Indian could do without. She/he is accustomed to the omnipresent stench of shit and piss on the streets, so smelling it in the toilet, where these bodily wastes rightly belong, isn’t such a big deal. The more affluent invested in kerosene lamps, torch lights and another contraption termed emergency lights. The last one was a glorified torch light except that it gave out bright white light instead of the dull yellow one. It is ironical that it was called an emergency light as it was used most of the time. It would be more apt to call the regular light the emergency light and the emergency light the regular light! And finally people selling Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) and generators aggressively targeted the really wealthy. They had their sales pitches ready “You will always have power. Your fans, TVs, grinders, microwaves, hair straighteners, hair curlers and vibrators will almost always work. You will forget what darkness is. You will never have to think ‘Oops! Did I hit the save button’.”

Of late, owing to a combination of the power shortage in India, the furore about global warming and the fear of having to swim for our lives carrying a male and female of each species, generating power by eco friendly means and selling it to the government proved to be a very lucrative business model. The methods to generate the power were several. The simple, time tested hydro power, where the kinetic energy of water falling from a height ran a turbine, inundating large swathes of land in the process and providing plenty of grist to Arundhati Roy’s mill. Wind power, which involved erecting gigantic fans which gyrated to the blowing winds. Solar power, which captured the abundant energy emanating from the sun using mirrors and lenses. Many of these companies, flush with funds from the US Venture Capital (VC) firms, were run by enterprising, young, Indians who had graduated from US B Schools and knew how to navigate the corrupt Indian political system. The companies saw impressive growth and what they experienced was considered just the tip of the iceberg. Two such companies were AUM Power and Olive Green Power. Oregon was wooing these companies, trying really hard to squeeze itself into their supply chain.

Aum Power generated not only hydro power but sold power as well as carbon credits. The company, started by a banker, was now run by his two Duke and NYU MBA sons. The Venture Capitalists had directed the company to procure a project management system in anticipation of its stellar growth.

“The lead is good Venky. I don’t know how much they will spend though. The company is not huge but their revenues can go only one way. Up! It might make sense to get a foot in the door.”

“Have you worked the account?” asked Venky. “Who is the CEO? Who are we in touch with? What stage are we in?”

“We are in touch with the CFO. We have demonstrated our solution once. The company is venture funded, started by a retired banker and now run by his sons. Smart blokes, both from elite US B schools.”

The mention of B School made Venky look up. If there was one thing he disliked more than losing a deal, it was B Schools. I do not know the reasons for his almost congenital dislike. Maybe some B School grad had been really mean to him when he was a child causing irreparable damage to his psyche. Maybe, it was the fact that he wanted an MBA real bad but settled for an MS as his family could not afford the exorbitant B School fees. Before he knew it, he was married, had two kids and a company to run, so no time to go back to college. You just had to tell him that you plan to do an MBA (especially from a B School in the US) and his blood pressure would shoot up. Instantly, he would start his B School bashing “Why would you want to spend two years of your life studying when you could be making money? Real entrepreneurs never go to B School. Bill gates didn’t, Dhiru Bhai Ambani did not, hell, none of the investors in Oregon have, and I haven’t. If you are passionate about business, you start a company. You don’t go to B School.” Well Dhiru Bhai Ambani did not go to B School, but both his sons Mukesh and Anil Ambani did. Of course the fact that Venky and the Oregon investors did not study at B School, did little to tilt the argument in his favour if you looked at the abysmal state of affairs at Oregon.

“Have we finished the demonstration? Did it go well?”

I gulped. Product demonstrations were almost always pathetic at Oregon. The folks who demonstrated the product were as incompetent as the folks who took care of engineering. The team which carried out the demo was called by the fancy name, ‘pre-sales’. ‘No sales’ would have been more appropriate because Oregon invariably lost the deal when they showed the product to the prospect and the sales folks were told they did not qualify a lead very well.

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07 November, 2014

Debdatta Dasgupta November 07, 2014 0

#BookReview :: Christmas in Snow Valley - A Christmas Romance Anthology

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Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.

Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson: Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis: Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts: Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn't pursue him or even seem interested. Ty's career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.

The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart: When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own. Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit: Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend's death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she's surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell: As head of Snow Valley hospital's fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn't have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She's been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

Welcome to Snow Valley… a small town with a tight knit community that shows the world how to celebrate Christmas in style. From Polar Express to Christmas day ball to the unconventional winter carnival – Snow Valley is the place to be during Christmas.

In An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson, Lucy takes a risk by kissing a complete stranger only to get her ex-boyfriend to back off. But as fate would have it, their path crossed each other again and Cole isn’t the one to give easily. I loved the fact that Lucy and Cole, along with other members of the town, help make a family’s Christmas special even though they do not know them well enough.

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis tells us the Story of April, who brings her city boyfriend to her small town home. While there’s existing friction between the two, things start to fall apart when April’s ranch life is not something her fiancé can handle. Then there’s Wade… who has always loved April and has no intention of letting her slip through once again. I liked this story but wished that the author would have showed us more differences between Scott and April. It felt like he just up and left to make things convenient for Wade.

In Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts, we meet Kazlyn and Tyrese as they meet on campus. From sassy retorts to confident proposals, this couple lights up the story with their unconventional names and a heart touching journey. I absolutely loved Tyrese for the way he handled Kazlyn’s brothers.

The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart is the story of Molly, a girl who has great ambitions and feels that Snow Valley is not enough for them. When an unfortunate incident forces her to come back to town during Christmas, she faces the chance of heartbreak, all over again. But Christmas may work its miracle on Molly and Kevin and there may be hope for them yet.

Risking it all for Love by Kimberley Montpetit is probably my favourite story in the lot. Jessica never really got over the death of her high school boyfriend – the reason she left Snow Valley in the first place. When she is back, she visits Michael’s grave and is in for a surprise when she meets James, the pastor in training. I loved the way the author has woven in Jessica’s guilt over Michael’s death and the way she unravels the real reason behind her guilt.

In Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell, Paisley not only has huge responsibilities of organizing the different events for Christmas, she also has to fight off her attraction towards Clay Jett. Clay Jett is just as determined to worm his way into Paisley’s heart. With her expertise in planning, Paisley helps Clay to set up his new recording studio. The chemistry and history between the two is just too strong to ignore for long.

I have never read a box set of Novellas that complement each other so well. Each story overlaps the other at some point and it was fun to pin the moments that reflect in two different novellas. I also absolutely loved the character of Pastor John who appears in almost all the stories. He plays an important role in the lives of the people of Snow Valley. I also loved the way the people of Snow Valley has been portrayed – a large family of sorts instead of a just a town full of people.

Overall this box set is filled with feel good moments and amazing romance. These are a set of clean romances that will leave you wanting for more.

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$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/20/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway