Sunanda J. Chatterjee's Blog, page 4

Walking on the Path of Indie Publishing by Rubina Ramesh

Walking on the Path of Indie Publishing
by 
Rubina Ramesh


 This booklet is temporarily pulled down and will be available soon. In the meantime, if you want to get a copy of the booklet, you can write to the author and ask for a copy at rubinaramesh1973@gmail.com

Now that you have decided to become an Indie author, here are a few tools you will need. 




The Topics covered are: 

1. What it takes to be an indie author 
2. Why have you chosen this path? 
3. Components of Indie Publishing 
4. Tools needed for writing. 
5. The Big Eight Brothers of Social Media 
6. Facebook Marketing: Promotional not Ad. 
7. Checklist for Facebook Marketing before your book is published: 
8. The Other Platforms for Marketing 
9. How to start a newsletter? 
10. Different forms of editing. 
11. The art of Cover Making 
12. Formatting of Manuscript 
13. Sample copyright page. 
14. Contacting reviewers 
15. Mind-Blowing Cover Designers' links 
16. Hashtags for Instagram Marketing and Twitter Marketing 
17.100 Facebook Groups to start off with your Book Marketing 

Hope this book is beneficial to the new authors out there. I, for one, learned a lot while writing and researching about it. 

Email to the author to get a copy of this book rubinaramesh1973@gmail.com

Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger, book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her first literary work was published in her school magazine. It gave her immense pride to see her own name at the bottom of the article. She was about 8 years old at that time. She then went to complete her MBA and after her marriage to her childhood friend, her travel saga started. From The Netherlands to the British Isles, she lived her life like an adventure. After a short stint in Malaysia, she finally settled down in the desert state of USA, Arizona.  Living with her DH and two human kids and one doggie kid, Rubina has finally started living the life she had always dreamed about – that of a writer.


Connect with the author:
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads




Other books in this series
Why Go Indie? 6 Reasons for Self-Publishing  Vol 1by Devika Fernando
Walking on the Indie Path Vol 2Can be presently found in her blog www.rubinaramesh.comby Rubina Ramesh
The Art of Ghostwriting Vol 3by D. R. Downer
Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP Vol 4by Sundari Venkatraman
Fears and Doubts of a Writer Vol 5By Reshma Ranjan
Boosting Book's Sales with a Riveting Blurb! Vol 6 By Ruchi Singh


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10 Ways to Fill that Empty Nest

Although the Empty Nest Syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis, many parents experience depression, loneliness, and grief after a child grows up and leaves home. It is especially true when the youngest child leaves the nest.
 
This fall, thousands of eighteen-year-olds will prepare to start their next phase of life and leave doting, caring, loving parents with empty nests and emptier hearts. Over the summer as financial aid packets, campus visits, and roommate selection were completed, parents got busy buying extra-long bed sheets, table lamps, comforters, and pillows and will soon face the end of an era.
 
I know. I went through this twice. I sent my son off to college ten years ago but I had my baby home. But last week I dropped my daughter off to college in the other side of the country and returned to a quiet home. No prattling about friends, no painting toenails together, no dancing in the kitchen to ABBA. At least until Thanksgiving.
 
Since March when I realized that she would be leaving home for a school a five-hour-flight away, I became disenchanted with life. I didn’t write any new novels, and my work-in-progress simply wasn’t progressing. The plot didn’t stimulate me and I found no interest in the character arc.
 
So I sat down and wrote about dealing with The Empty Nest.
 
For the better part of two decades, you, as parents, have focused all your efforts to bring your child to this stage in life. And now that it’s time to let go, it’s hard. Friends will preach: “You’ve taught them the right values; allow them to stretch their wings.”
 
Some parents feel overwhelming sorrow for which they may need a doctor. But most can attain fulfilment despite the void your child’s absence creates.
 
Here’s a list of things you can pursue actively as you make the transition:
 
1.     Stay connected: For the first few months, have your child text you every day. A simple “good morning” will suffice. Or a photo of the dorm room, a selfie with the roommate, an artistic photo of dining hall food (which is never as good as your cooking), the football field—anything will do. Just a ping to let you know they are alive and healthy. And demand a phone call every week, even if it’s just to tell you that they had an okay day, or that they miss you, or that they don’t. It’s more for you than for them, but they owe you. You’re probably paying their tuition. You deserve proof of life.
 
2.     Off-season vacations: Go on trips during late spring and fall when resorts and parks are less crowded, the weather is pleasant, airfares and hotels are reasonable, and dinner reservations are easy. But save some vacation for your child’s holidays because if she visits, you want to make the most of it. Of course, she might be too busy to come home, with internships or jobs or new relationships. You could visit her in her college town—keep it a surprise—and rent an Air B&B. When she finds the dining hall closed for the holidays, tell her you’d be happy to cook her favorite meal; you’re just a ten-buck Uber ride away. Who knows? She might bring a friend. Or a significant other you didn’t know about.
 
3.     Reconnect with your spouse/friends: Go out for a drink on a weeknight; you don’t have to set a “good” example. Pretend to be on a first date with your spouse. Call that fun friend you’ve lost touch with. Put on makeup. Flirt. Eat that chocolate cake without guilt; your kid is busy packing the freshman fifteen. Have that midnight cappuccino. You don’t have to rise early to drop anyone off to school.
 
4.     Visit the dreaded Aunt Muriel: Everyone has that relative who lives three hours away, who no one really likes, but family obligations force you to visit every once in a while. Your kid is not in the backseat complaining she’d rather be spending the weekend with her friends. It’s your Aunt Muriel. You have to face her. Spare your child. You’re someone’s Aunt Muriel. Be the good one.
 
5.     Take up an art class: I took one when my son went to college, even though my little one was still at home. I learned brush strokes with high school kids, college kids who lived at home, empty nesters, and grandmas. All gave advice on how they or their loved ones dealt with a child going to college. We went out for coffee and to art museums. We painted, talked, and shared life stories. The painting supplies are still lying in a pile in the back of my closet; perhaps it’s time to rummage through them.
 
6.     Learn a new skill: Take a community college course. Maybe creative writing, accounts, finance, or computer programming. Learn golfing or take tennis lessons. But do it with other older people during school hours on weekdays, because watching kids smash the ball across the court will remind you of your child and all the tournaments they won. You might get boastful, and no one likes a showoff.
 
7.     Take a yoga class and learn meditation: Don’t pretend you didn’t add pounds or lose your fitness in all those years you took care of your baby. It’s time to put you first. A supple body and a calm mind go a long way toward a happy, healthy life. And if you haven’t already discovered, yoga pants are comfy. You might surprise your kid with a headstand. Perhaps the upside-down view will make sense of your topsy-turvy world.
 
8.     Take up bike riding: Don’t skip this paragraph just because the last time you biked was when you were ten. Since then, your legs have just pressed the gas pedal and brakes as you ferried your kid to and from school activities and extracurriculars. The first few times you bike, your thighs will burn. But the breeze on your face and your improving fitness will make up for it. Or—as I’m planning—get a tandem bike. Let your spouse take the front seat so you can slack off pedaling and go for the ride just for fun. Stop for coffee and a bagel. No one is waiting at home.
 
9.     On big holidays if your child cannot come home: She’s spending Thanksgiving with friends. She’s not shunning your love; she’s finding her place in life. Go watch a movie. Accept the invitation from friends you never see. Invite friends and family and cook a big meal. Volunteer at a school, a hospital, or a soup kitchen. Others’ difficulties will put yours in perspective. Don’t forget to take a selfie and post it to your social media. Tag your child to show you’re doing just fine, even if you’re not. Piling guilt on them will make them resent you.
 
10. Don’t get a pet: And if you have older, married kids, do not suggest they have a baby. Or if they have a baby, do not take over parenting. Remember your interfering mum-in-law—the pacifier fight, the bath-before-bedtime argument, and the daycare-versus-nanny quarrel. She was trying to do her best for her kid through yours. Don’t be her. If you have a grandkid who could, possibly, perhaps reside in the hole left by your child, just offer to babysit when his parents need it. Because you have yoga class. Besides, nobody could ever replace your child.
 
But at the end of the day when you’ve tried everything: you had cereal for dinner and finished the bottle of wine and your kid is already asleep on the other coast (or partying) and all your friends and family have given up on you and their advice doesn’t help anyway and visiting your child’s old room only makes you feel worse—take a long, hot shower and cry like a baby.
You’ve done your best.
And that’s enough.
 

BOLLYWOOD FIANCE FOR A DAY by RUCHI VASUDEVA

Print Length: 172 pagesPublisher: Indie published Publication Date: May 6, 2018Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishAvailable on Kindle UnlimitedGenre: Romance 
Studious Dr. Vishakha never dreamed that winning a date with Bollywood heartthrob Zaheer Saxena would land her in an unusual deal to benefit both of them. Zaheer wants to ward off unwanted attention from his leading lady and agrees to help her save her face. It's just like a business arrangement for Vishakha - except that she hadn't factored in the unwanted, yet extremely potent attraction this movie star would hold for her. But she has to keep in mind that make believe is his talent - before she begins to wish this were a dream that would come true...
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR





Ruchi Vasudeva is a doctor by profession, a teacher by vocation and an author by destiny. After debuting by publishing with Harlequin, she now writes emotional and amusing stories for Amazon.
You can stalk her @                 
Grab Your Copy From



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Book Blitz: Cherished by Reshma Ranjan

Print Length: 95 pagesPublication Date: March 20, 2018Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishAvailable on Kindle Unlimited Genre: Romance 
The last thing Sujal Verma had expected while working out that evening was a desperate call for help. 
For Sunanda, life was like a romantic movie, all dreamy and beautiful, until trouble comes from close quarters. 
Was history repeating itself? Will Sujal be able to save Sunanda from the trauma and pain? Will the reality crush her wings or will she hold on to her buoyant nature and not let the smile on her lips fade away?
All actions have consequences. The consequence of Sunaina's actions in A Promise (Book 2 in the series) plays out in her step-sister Sunanda's life in this novella.
Cherished is Book 3 of the Verma Clan’s Sanctum Series and the conclusion of A Promise. It is the story of a girl who wakes up from a nightmare to realize that the world could be as colorful as the movies she loved to watch. 
Cherished can be read as a standalone book as well. 
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR





Reshma Ranjan is a passionate romantic who loves literature and has been driven by the romance in nature and the serenity and humbleness of this universe, one who made up her own happy endings in her imagination for every movie or every book with a sad ending.
Also a voracious reader but for which she believes she never could have started writing. Pssttt... And is completely addicted to Barbara Cartland romances. 
You can stalk her @
       
                        
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Interview: Narrator Rebecca McKernan

Rebecca Mckernan is a narrator of audiobooks who recently completed my book Shadowed Promise. 

Here's the transcript of her interview:

Yours was the loveliest voice I found among those who auditioned for my book. You're so talented and easy to work with. I really enjoyed working with you, and hope our next project together, my book Fighting for Tara will be as much fun.

Let's get started:

​1. How did you get into narrating for audiobooks?

I felt that I needed a change from my previous career, as a burlesque performer. One day, after leaving a voice message to a friends, she said to me, 'Bec, you have a really lovely voice- have you ever thought about narrating audio books?' So I looked into it, and that was that!

2. What's your favorite genre to narrate?

I'm not sure that I have a favourite genre per se- what I love to narrate are books which are told beautifully. I love evocative, romantic language, gorgeous imagery, writing which is quite poetic. Whether that's a factual account of the second world war, or a love story set in a fantasy universe, so long as the writing is beautiful, I love to narrate it.

3. What's your favorite genre to read in general? What do you do for fun?

I love a good dystopian novel. Something which takes me away whilst still having roots in reality- a distorted vision of things hopefully never to come. For fun, I'm a very social creature- I adore being surrounded by the people I love, cooking, drinking wine, entertaining. I'm also never happier than when soaking in the bath, surrounded by candles, reading Kazuo Ishiguro to my boyfriend.

4. What inspires you? 

People. Real situations which I can draw from and bring elements of into my work. Travel. I think travel is the most inspirational thing a person can do, a line to people you'd never meet, cultures you'd never experience, wonders you'd never see, if you didn't leave your own home, your own comfort zone. Barring that, any documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

5.You are classically trained vocalist. Tell us about that experience and how it helps you in narration.

In my (much) younger years I trained as an opera singer, and since then have trained and worked extensively in musical theatre, as well as straight theatre. I think my classical training allows me to make subtle differences to a character's voice, so that each is distinguishable without being caricatured. It allows me to respond to a director's desires in a thoughtful, realistic way, and produce something with authenticity, which, I hope, enables a listener to emotionally connect with. It's also really handy for when I'm required to sing in my audio books!

You can find her here:
Website
Facebook

Book Blitz: Finding her Way by Ruchi Vasudeva

Print Length: 16 pagesPublication Date: February 12, 2018Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishAvailable on Kindle Unlimited Genre: Short Story 


What does marriage mean for an Indian girl? Whether she marries for love or by arrangement, she’s forced to obey unreasonable demands. But she also wants to live her life on her own terms.

Avni is such a girl. When the man she loves and cares for wholeheartedly, throws her a curve ball, she chooses to walk away. What comes next for Avni?


It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR






About Ruchi Vasudeva in her own words:
I'm a doctor by profession, a teacher by vocation and an author by destiny. The writing bug has long resided in me and a contest held by Harlequin for Indian authors gave me a golden opportunity to have my dream realized. I debuted in August '13 with my book 'Bollywood Fiancé For A Day'. I write romantic fiction with conflicted characters who come into their own in their quest of reaching out for love. I love to write about spirited heroines getting hurtled out of their daily life as soon as they cross paths with their rather challenging heroes. 
I keep busy juggling writing with my medical job and family life with my doctor husband and two wiser-than-thou teens. When not bent double over the laptop, I might be found with my nose in books or munching nachos at the movies or glued to the telecast of Team India or Chennai Super Kings in action. Sometimes I drag myself for walks and surprisingly discover they are rather good for brewing story ideas! 

You can stalk her @                 
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The Trouble with Love, Book 3

“You float through life like a piece of driftwood. Aimless. You have nothing to strive for.”

Wellington Estates heiress Danielle Riley has everything her heart desires. But for the first time, she wants something she cannot have: Mike, the poor, proud, talented athlete, whose mother is working class, whose family is beneath hers.

Mike Melgoza works hard for a living and bears a terrible secret, a secret that clouds his decisions, that pollutes his relationships. He mistakes Danielle’s generosity for pity, spurning her love and everything she represents.

Brokenhearted, Danielle embarks on a journey to rural India to find purpose, and her life transforms in ways she hadn’t imagined possible. But neither distance nor time can make her forget Mike.

When fate throws them together again, can they resist their mutual attraction?
​
Book 3 of the Wellington Estates, “The Trouble with Love” is a stand-alone romantic saga about privilege, prejudice, and defying social norms.

Author Interview: Vidya Murlidhar

[image error] The Adventures of Grandpa and Ray Vidya Murlidhar, Author        Sharon Dev, Illustrator
Today I interviewed author Vidya Murlidhar on her new book "The Adventures of Grandpa and Ray."

Congratulations on your lovely children's book.

What inspired you to write this book?
Watching my young son and his grandfather enjoy the little moments of life is what inspired me to write this book. Often when the two of them eagerly watched a squirrel 's scurried movements, happily held out their bowls for a second serving of ice cream or broke out into raucous laughter while watching Gilligan's island, I could not help but wonder how similar they are. Both were in very different stages of their life. One was a rookie and another a veteran yet when they were together it was as if life had skipped a few stages in between.

You write children's books but what is your favorite genre to read.
Growing up I would read any book that I could lay my hands on. Of late though, I truly enjoy reading essays and short stories. When I started writing a few years ago, essays, poetry and short stories are what came easily to me. You can find my work at  mommyhooddiary.wordpress.com .  Books on mind-body connection and energy medicine also intrigue me. 

What's your writing process? Is it difficult to coordinate with an illustrator, and do you both take each other's input to change the story?
My childhood friend, Sharon Dev, has illustrated the first book and is working on the next ones in the series. Of our collaboration, I can only say that the experience has been wonderful. All I had to do was hand over the poem to Sharon. She brought the words to life, a life full of sparkle. I could not have asked for a better partner. Working with a childhood friend has its advantages. You hearts beat in sync. 

Do you write full time? If, not tell us about your 'other'  job.
I would say the most important  job I do is of a mom, wife,  daughter-in-law, daughter, sister and friend (clichéd but true). I  also work part time as a medical interpreter and will soon begin to volunteer at a hospital as a reiki practitioner. Writing is a calling, it's so much more than a career. I write whenever there is a deep urge within me to write. 

What's your advice to aspiring authors? What has worked for you as far as marketing?
My advice to all aspiring authors would be to write from the heart. When you do that, it touches the reader. It may not always sell but you will be impacting another's life in a beautiful way. Heartfelt connections with my readers around the world has been the biggest gift my blog has given me. As for marketing, I am still learning the ropes with my newly published book. Maybe I will be in a better position to advise on this aspect in a few months from now.

Top Author Websites for 2017 Writer Awards Team

Sharing this cool and unexpected recognition. My wesbite was selected out of 1500 author websites by the Writer Awards Team looking for sites with the highest quality and unique design. I am honored and humbled :-)

Interview with Cover Designer Carrie Peters

Today I interviewed Carrie Peters who designed the beautiful covers for my romantic saga series, The Wellington Estates, with more to come in the future. I love working with her for several reasons, the most important of which are the 5 A's: Accessibility, Ability, Affability, Alacrity, Affordability.

How did you get into ebook cover design?
Well, first I started off as an author. =) I won a few contests, wrote a few books, then decided to learn how to make my own cover. I'd been in website design for years, so I knew graphics. I could certainly apply that to ebooks right? Wrong! It's a whole different world...trying to get images to look great at the big size and readable at the small size. Trying to lure people in with my designs. Finally I took a class on cover design and fell in love. THIS was fun! Almost every week I take tutorials from YouTube and classes online to learn more of my craft - and the better I get. (At least I like to think so!)

How long have you been creating covers?
Since 2013. My first cover was for one of the ladies in my first book cover class. From there, it blossomed and about 2 years later I started cheekycovers.com. Now it has grown mostly by word of mouth.

What's your favorite genre for covers?
I'd have to say romance, simply because it's what I read the most. I've done sci-fi and horror, contemporary and historical romances, plays, romcom and westerns, and almost all of the genres of romance. Lots of mysteries and thrillers too!

What are your favorite sites for stock photos?
You know, that truly depends on what the customer is looking for. Historicals you almost always have to purchase on a site that caters to that genre - novelstock and periodimages. Erotica is another specialized few websites. For contemporary and thrillers, I mostly use depositphotos and shutterstock.

Which authors do you regularly work with?
Oh, gosh, there's so many I love - if an author sticks with you, you become more than just an employee, you become FRIENDS. Donna Cummings who writes historical and contemporary romance, Julie Smith who writes mystery and thriller. Miranda Nading who writes sci fi and apocalyptic novels, Lisa Leuthesser who writes erotica and romance. And of course, Sunanda Chatterjee has become a new friend of mine as well. =)
​
Do you also write books? If yes, do you or would you make your own covers?
I have written several books and yes, I would definitely make my own covers! Unfortunately I know I wouldn't do it well. I'm too close to my writing and I'd drive myself crazy with it! 

Here's her website.
​http://cheekycovers.com
https://www.facebook.com/CheekyCovers/
http://monarchcottages.com