Rakhi Jayashankar's Blog, page 65
May 3, 2017
Spotlight- The Indus Challenge by R. Durgadoss
THE INDUS CHALLENGEbyR. Durgadoss
Blurb
Bharat is in chaos. While the kingdoms fight each other, Alexander’s forces gather for the assault, their leader lured by tales of supernatural weapons and the elixir of immortality. Only one man can save the subcontinent from domination by the Greeks: the young Chandragupta Maurya, trained under the aegis of the ‘dark brahmin’, Chanakya.
When an ancient seal is found, sharing the secrets of the brahmastra, the redoubtable weapon of the Mahabharat, it is up to Rudra, young commander of the Mauryan Nava Yuva Sena and lifelong friend and confidante of Chandragupta, to decode it. Along with his fellow commandos, and with the able guidance of his guru, Rudra embarks on a quest that takes him from the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to the seas of Rameshwaram, hunting the clues that will lead him to the brahmastra. On the way, he meets the Chiranjivis, ancient beings tasked with divine duties, and learns the secrets behind his own birth and his mysterious powers.
But Rudra must be careful, for not all enemies were dispersed with the death of the mighty Alexander. Treachery lurks in the home, and when Rudra is framed for the attempted murder of his sovereign, he must pull every trick at his disposal to reveal the enemy, and save his kingdom from plunging, once more, into bloodshed and chaos.
A historical, mythological adventure story, The Indus Challenge is sure to appeal to readers interested in the storied past of India and the legends woven into its soil.
Read an excerpt of The Indus Challenge here:
Prologue330 bc
The Macedonians and Greeks came with Alexander the Great to the Hindu Kush range. They were mesmerized by the land of the gods, snow-covered, forested mountains higher than Olympus. The sun rising and setting among the glistening peaks painted a breathtaking picture. They were entranced by the stories of the magical kingdoms of the air; of the heavens; of Vishnu and Shiva; of cities in the sky inhabited by sky demons. They were fascinated by the story of Surya, the sun god, who galloped across the sky each day in his golden chariot, pulled by the five horses, while down below in the dark bowels of the earth were giant serpents, red-eyed, flesh-eating demons and other creatures of the underworld.
It was at this time that the people of Bharat were looking inwards, while the Macedonians aggressively explored outwards and wanted to conquer the world. The kingdoms of Bharat were threatened by the aggressive Macedonians. No king or kingdom was free from the aggressor’s attack. Fragmented kingdoms, disunity and distrust among the rulers made these kingdoms an easy target for the Macedonians.
During this period, several events are shrouded in mystery—what brought Alexander to India? How did he die at such a young age? What were the origins of Chandragupta Maurya? How did a young lad of humble origins take on a mighty king? How did a poor Brahmin pundit help a poor young man rise to power from nowhere? What extraordinary powers did Chandragupta possess that made him so successful? Who were his key generals? Who won wars for him? The questions are endless.
There are several seemingly unconnected dots, as the history of this time is shrouded in deep mystery. Rudra effortlessly unlocks the ancient secrets and aligns the unconnected dots. Mystery unravelled; secrets decoded…
In the second avatar (Janam Two) as Rudra during the tumultuous times of Alexander and Chanakya, he offers stunning clues and revelations. His decrypting skills leave a trail that answers several mysteries in our rich history.
At last, Rudra, heading the Nine Unknown Men Army (NUM), has arrived to decode the secrets to save humanity from cataclysm and extinction.
1Parthiva year, 306 bc, Kartika (November) month, Friday evening.
The Massaga fort in the Hindu Kush had surrendered to Rudra, the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan army. He was taking stock of the situation. At this hour, a cry hit his ears. ‘Meri raksha karo! (Please save me from the barbarians!’) A woman’s shrieking voice reverberated against the mountains.
‘Why does this lady cry so?’ asked Rudra, looking curiously at his companion. He turned in the direction from where the voice was coming. To his surprise, he saw two cages in which two persons stood, chained. There was a young woman around twenty-two years old, and in the other cage was a bright young lad.
Rudra looked at the cage closely. The woman was gorgeous, seductive, shapely. Her hair was kohl-black, and cascaded over her shoulders. She had thin eyebrows, velvety eyelashes, sea-nymph ears, a sharp nose, shiny white teeth, almond-shaped eyes and glossy skin.
She was wasp-waisted, and her pouting, luscious lips conveyed her displeasure. Her hips and bust were almost of equal size. Her perfect shape reminded him of many icons of beauty he had seen. Her fleshy rounded back attracted his attention.
Rudra realized that he was going overboard ogling at the young women. But in spite of her beautiful features, she seemed to be a fading flower, possibly due to her weakness and exhaustion.
He turned his head towards the surrendered commander of the opposing army, Dharma Sena.
‘Dharma Sena, who are these caged persons?’ asked Rudra.
‘Forget these idiots, Commander. Let me take you round the fort.’ Dharma Sena said, ‘This is Massaga, the great fort city of the Asvakas, the tribe of horsemen. To the south and west are gigantic rocks which defy climbing. To the east is the swift-flowing mountain torrent, the Masakavati river. This famous fort is situated on a hill 6,000 feet high and has a circumference of twelve miles. At the top of the fort, there is arable land requiring a thousand men to cultivate it. This land is capable of feeding more than 30,000 men indefinitely. There are also perennial springs and reservoirs. Every hill here is a natural fort, Commander. Every man here is a horse soldier, Commander. A mighty rampart of stone, brick and timber surrounds the fort, which also has a moat on three sides and the river on the fourth.
‘Commander, “Masika” means “serpent’s hole”, a name indicating the supposed impregnability of the fort and the valour of its defender.’
‘I realize how impregnable your fort is, Dharma Sena. I had to use my best skills to tame you and your fort. By the way, I am impressed by the seven gates leading to the citadel. Can you give me an overview of your fort, Dharma Sena?’
‘You have sharp eyes, Commander. You noticed our seven gates? I am impressed. Let me show you around.’
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About the author
A consistent Top Rank holder and a Gold Medallist throughout his academics, Mr. Durgadoss has had a career spanning 30 years comprising of depth from industry and width from management consultancy as highlights. He has held various senior management positions in top notch companies. Having travelled extensively on consulting assignments, he has interacted with prominent International Bodies like the UNIDO, Investment Bankers and companies held by Professors of Harvard Business School. He has a rare exposure to multiple cultures namely, MNCs, Home grown large groups, family concerns and public sector undertakings during his career. He is blessed with 360 degree analytical skills, which in turn emanates from his all round experience as a Functional head, General manager, Entrepreneur and a Board director. He is an advisor on the board of Directors of several companies benefiting the organizations with his remarkable cross functional skills and his up to date knowledge. Currently he is the Group Director – Finance and Strategy, House of S.T.Bhatia, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition he is the chief mentor, coach and Co – Promoter of Icon Management Services (IMS), UAE. Unceasing ‘Value Addition’ and not just ‘Validation’ is the mantra of success for IMS, a multi – disciplinary management consultancy organisation. He has multi-sectoral / cultural/ territorial/ functional exposure with proven track record of success. He is a PhD on Corporate Governance which involves CSR dimensions. He has delivered several lectures in various forums on Character, Competence and Consciousness (3Cs) towards the society and also has several articles to his credit.
Track travelled...
Raising the altitude from a functional entrant to a functional champion, extending his width as a management consultant of a Big 4 firm, he took up the profit centre head position, with a challenging revival assignment in the mid nineties.
Then he moved up to the entrepreneurial mode by taking up the role of a Managing Director of a new venture. Due to several macro economic factors, the venture went into deep trouble. He faced the worst disaster of his life on this venture, losing money, peace and friends, who invested along with him. From the brink of bankruptcy, he fought back to reach the basin of wisdom & wealth in the current assignment as the Director of a large group based in Dubai. The turbulence he went through during this phase tested his character & confidence. Now, along with Dr. Yerram Raju, his co-author, he has penned down this book on Character driven Competence, which elucidates practical ways of ‘Winning without Sinning’. He always says ‘Momentum leaders don’t wait for the waves; instead they build their waves and ride on them’.
After having fought the greatest wars in the deep chambers of his soul, he came triumphant, obtained his PHD in Corporate Governance and now presents the book with the worldly wisdom, gained by him during his career.
‘Experience is the greatest from of Education’ says Dr. Durgadoss.
You can stalk him @
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May 2, 2017
The Ethical Doctor by KAMAL Kumar Mahawar-Review
Book Name - The Ethical DoctorAuthor - Kamal Kumar MahawarPublisher - Harper CollinsNumber of Pages - 272 Publishing Year - 2016Edition -PaperbackPrice -350
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Rating : 5.0
My Review
These days there is noone who has not been hospitalized due to one disease or other. `There is noone who, at least once hospitalized, cannot relate to the book, the ethical doctor. The book is an unflinching account of all the ill practices prevalent in the health care sector. In other words there is nothing more to be written on medical ethics and unethical practices in the sector.
Sponsored medical conferences and impact factor influenced journals are matters that are beyond the ccomprehension of laymen. To state the truth, I was completely unaware of this practice and if not for the book, I would still remain ignorant of the same. This is only one example of what explosive information doctor Mahawar shared in the book.
I would say that books like these do not need reviewers since this is a complete book, and I could not find any negative point because what's in store for the readers is a far cry from what we actually know.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
Dr Kamal Kumar Mahawar is a practising medical doctor who has had the opportunity of reflecting on a range of ethical and systematic issues that plague health care in India. He writes regularly on subjects pertaining to Indian health care in India Medical Times.
Following his graduation from Calcutta Medical College and post-graduation from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and University of Liverpool, Dr Mahawar has been working as Consultant General and Bariatric Surgeon with National Health Service (City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust), United Kingdom. He is actively involved with research and is the editor of several reputed scientific journals. Dr Mahawar is also the co-founder of science portal Webmed Central.
Shiva by Subhadra Sen Gupta- Review
Book Name - Shiva Author - Subhadra Sen GuptaPublisher - Red Turtle (Rupa)Number of Pages -40Publishing Year -2017Edition -Hardback Price -295
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Rating : 4.5
My Review
Shiva, the lord of destruction has mesmerized the masses always. Tales of Shiva has bewitched the devotees irrespective of their ages. Subhadra Sen Gupta, in her book Shiva brings forth three tales of Lord Shiva for the little readers.
The second story is about how Shivalinga came into existence. While an argument occurs between the three god, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, as to who is the most powerful god, Lord shiva starts glowing, the glow without a beginning and end. The third story is about how Shiva destroyed three demons in one arrow.
Through a mystifying narration, author hooks the little readers with the book. The target readers are grown up children. The myth is narrated in detail with the support of illustrations. As I have mentioned before , Subhadra Sen Guptas books have the power of developing a reading habit in children. This time, the illustrations were less probably since the target readers are elder childres, nevertheless more illustrations would have added some brownie points.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
April 29, 2017
Own it by Sallie Crawcheck
Book Name -Own itAuthor - Sallie CrawcheckPublisher -Crown BusinessNumber of Pages -258Publishing Year -2016Edition -kindlePrice -7.65
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Rating : 4.0
My Review
Own it is an inspirational, motivating and realistic book. Authoress has proved her mettle in the genre. Her experiences and knowledge will excite every women. The book tells us that nothing is impossible. Being a business woman myself I could relate to the book. The narration is professional.
A new kind of career playbook for a new era of feminism, offering women a new set of rules for professional success: one that plays to their strengths and builds on the power they already have.
Weren’t women supposed to have “arrived”? Perhaps with the nation’s first female President, equal pay on the horizon, true diversity in the workplace to come thereafter? Or, at least the end of “fat-shaming” and “locker room talk”?
Well, we aren’t quite there yet. But does that mean that progress for women in business has come to a screeching halt? It’s true that the old rules didn’t get us as far as we hoped. But we can go the distance, and we can close the gaps that still exist. We just need a new way.
In fact, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future, says former Wall Street powerhouse-turned-entrepreneur Sallie Krawcheck. That’s because the business world is changing fast –driven largely by technology - and it’s changing in ways that give us more power and opportunities than ever…and even more than we yet realize.
Success for professional women will no longer be about trying to compete at the men’s version of the game, she says. And it will no longer be about contorting ourselves to men’s expectations of how powerful people behave. Instead, it’s about embracing and investing in our innate strengths as women - and bringing them proudly and unapologetically, to work.
When we do, she says, we gain the power to advance in our careers in more natural ways. We gain the power to initiate courageous conversations in the workplace. We gain the power to forge non-traditional career paths; to leave companies that don’t respect our worth, and instead, go start our own. And we gain the power to invest our economic muscle in making our lives, and the world, better.
Here Krawcheck draws on her experiences at the highest levels of business, both as one of the few women at the top rungs of the biggest boy’s club in the world, and as an entrepreneur, to show women how to seize this seismic shift in power to take their careers to the next level.
This change is real, and it’s coming fast. It’s time to own it.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
Buy books from Amazon,
Rating : 4.0
My Review
Own it is an inspirational, motivating and realistic book. Authoress has proved her mettle in the genre. Her experiences and knowledge will excite every women. The book tells us that nothing is impossible. Being a business woman myself I could relate to the book. The narration is professional.
A new kind of career playbook for a new era of feminism, offering women a new set of rules for professional success: one that plays to their strengths and builds on the power they already have.
Weren’t women supposed to have “arrived”? Perhaps with the nation’s first female President, equal pay on the horizon, true diversity in the workplace to come thereafter? Or, at least the end of “fat-shaming” and “locker room talk”?
Well, we aren’t quite there yet. But does that mean that progress for women in business has come to a screeching halt? It’s true that the old rules didn’t get us as far as we hoped. But we can go the distance, and we can close the gaps that still exist. We just need a new way.
In fact, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future, says former Wall Street powerhouse-turned-entrepreneur Sallie Krawcheck. That’s because the business world is changing fast –driven largely by technology - and it’s changing in ways that give us more power and opportunities than ever…and even more than we yet realize.
Success for professional women will no longer be about trying to compete at the men’s version of the game, she says. And it will no longer be about contorting ourselves to men’s expectations of how powerful people behave. Instead, it’s about embracing and investing in our innate strengths as women - and bringing them proudly and unapologetically, to work.
When we do, she says, we gain the power to advance in our careers in more natural ways. We gain the power to initiate courageous conversations in the workplace. We gain the power to forge non-traditional career paths; to leave companies that don’t respect our worth, and instead, go start our own. And we gain the power to invest our economic muscle in making our lives, and the world, better.
Here Krawcheck draws on her experiences at the highest levels of business, both as one of the few women at the top rungs of the biggest boy’s club in the world, and as an entrepreneur, to show women how to seize this seismic shift in power to take their careers to the next level.
This change is real, and it’s coming fast. It’s time to own it.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
April 28, 2017
The 365 days by Nikhil Ramteke- Review
Book Name - The 365 daysAuthor - Nikhil RamtekePublisher - Write India PublishersNumber of Pages -192Publishing Year -2016Edition -Paperback Price -138
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Rating : 4.0
My Review
After reading the book I was left wondering if the author is a Malayali. Never in the recent times did I read a book that portrays Kerala and Keralites with this level of authenticity. From the history to culture, living standards to change in dialect, outlook to prejudice, author has sketched a perfect picture. Shijukutty, the protagonist is a Malayali fisherman, who sets out to 'Persia', as middle east is colloquially termed in Kerala.
On reaching the dream haven, Shiju realizes that all is not the same as he imagined. Instead of a heavenly abode, he finds himself stacked among numerous workers in a Labour camp in the middle of the desert, without a sight of greenery. Thenceforth the unforeseen, unforgettable and unprecedented incidents bring him amidst a rollercoaster ride.
Author has done a thorough study on the life of Kerala and being an NRI himself, portraying the expatriate life could not have been more realistic. Intense care has been invested in the minute details. Nevertheless there was a slight lag in the whole narration. Some areas author delved too much into the details, which didn't flatter the storyline. Book cover is excellent and innovative. Author's effort is commendable. Being a Malayali myself I can vouch for the fact that the life of an average, middle income expatriate Malayali could not be depicted with more authenticity.
This review is in return of a free book from the author
About the author
Nikhil Ramteke is an M-Tech in Chemical Technology .He is currently working as a Production Manager in a leading multinational FMCG giant -IFFCO, since 8 years. Born & brought up in Nagpur Maharashtra, he currently stays in Sharjah, UAE. Apart from his passion of writing, he is a qualified painter, nominated photographer & an avid traveller. Intrigued by Indian labor's situation in gulf, he narrates a heartbreaking story & his experience in UAE. The 365 days is his debut novel.
Understanding the Black Economy and Black Money in India by Arun Kumar
Book Name - Understanding the Black Economy and Black Money in IndiaAuthor - Arun KumarPublisher - Aleph Spotlight Number of Pages -144Publishing Year -2017Edition -HardbackPrice -399
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Rating : 3.5
My Review
November 8, 2016 is a date which will be written in bold letters in the Indian Economic history. Demonitization came as a bolt from the dark to common citizen in India. Even though the intention behind the same is novel, whether the attempt was a success our failure need to be seen. Aun Kumar, through his book Understanding the black economy and black money in India lays bare the real definition and sources of black money and analyses the outcome of demonitization.
The initial part of the book gives an awareness about the whole black money scene. We have been fed upon a wrong notion that major part of the black money lies in the real estate sector. Author states that unlike the General notion, black money cannot be studies in a single dimension. The book is educational, insightful and well rehearsed.
Nevertheless, author takes a prejusdistic and biased stand. In lieu of a systematic pros and cons analysis, author has shunned the idea as outrageous and stupid.
Overall the book is academically high graded yet going with antagonistic wave.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
April 25, 2017
Beneath a Rougher Sea by Susmita Bagchi- Review
Book Name - Beneath a Rougher SeaAuthor - Susmita BagchiPublisher - Jufic BooksNumber of Pages -278Publishing Year -2016Edition -PaperbackPrice -299
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Rating : 4.0
My Review
Mind is an array of thoughts. What kin of thoughts traverse decides how our mental situation is molded. Beneath a rougher sea delves into the life of a psychiatrist, Aditya, who treats people with different types of mental instabilities.
The professional experience of Aditya is depicted with utmost authenticity. The unpropitious experiences of Aditya's patients are sketched without an iota of exaggeration. Contrary to the cliches we have been witnessing in books and movies, authoress has succeeded in depicting the psychological problems as any other diseases in lieu of the prejudiced, overworked horrible scenes. The book throws life into the the inability of the society to accept psychiatric problems even in this era.
The level of finesse shown in the narration of Aditya's professional was lacking while depicting his past. The narration as well as the dialogues were amateurish in the flashback. The climax is refreshingly different. Authoress has shunned the cliches.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
Susmita Bagchi has published eight novels, seven short-story collections and a travelogue, all in Odia. Her work has been translated into English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Among her many awards are the Odisha Sahitya Akademi award and the Utkal Samman. She lives in Bangalore with her husband Subroto. They have two daughters, Neha and Niti.
April 20, 2017
Teenage Diaries- The days that were by Saurabh Sharma-Review
Book Name - Teenage Diaries- The days that wereAuthor - Saurabh SharmaPublisher - Leadstart Publishing PVT LtdNumber of Pages - 320Publishing Year -2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 325Buy books from Amazon
Rating : 3.5
My Review
It's all about relating. If you can relate with a school and college life, when students are caught having a drink or taking a puff, when students bunk classes and roam around, play flames to know the future of the relationship and many more silly things, you will love this book. Though set in an overworked formula of a best seller- love , friendship, sex and life,- author has given a different reading experience with a quirky narration.
As mentioned before the plot is cosmopolitan but the narration, even though outstanding, fails to appeal to everyone due to the overuse of dialects. For someone who is not well versed with these slangs, this will affect the flow. However, an average Indian would not find it difficult to relate the same.
What pinched me is the overindulgence of booze and unnecessary squeezing in of intimate sequences. A little more focused perspective could have been involved. Considering the fact that the target audience is in the Teens, all these could be overlooked.
This review is in return of a free book from the author
About the author
Being born in a middle class family has its own perks and limitations. The biggest perk is that one will be able to complete his engineering and MBA and the biggest limitation is that one will have to complete his engineering and MBA. Saurabh sharma, being a middle-class boy from Baroda, did his engineering from NIT, Allahabad and MBA from NMIMS, Mumbai. Currently an Associate Director at Flipkart, in his free time, he loves to write, play tennis and strum guitar. His debut novel is a tribute to some of the truly amazing friendships that he has developed over the years. His penchant for storytelling has led to his witty writing style, which has got rave reviews from across. He is currently staying in Bangalore with his wife. He is currently giving finishing touches to his 2nd novel, which will be a sequel to Teenage diaries. You can reach out to him on Facebook, via mail at storytellersaurabh@gmail.com or via twitter @Storybazsaurabh.
w(ealth) w(ine) w(oman). man.life by Jyothirllatha Girija- Review
Book Name - w(ealth) w(ine) w(oman). man.lifeAuthor - Jyothirllatha GirijaPublisher - Cyberwit.netNumber of Pages - 357Publishing Year - 2016Edition - PaperbackPrice - 350Buy books from AmazonRating : 4.5
My Review
Life is a mirage that entices us but when we comes near the reality we will realize that all those we accumulated in our life are just illusions. Man will never realize this truth and behind wealth, women and wine.
Jyothillatha Girija, through her book w(ealth) w(ine) w(oman). man.life, divulges the most underrated yet painful and relevant reality of life
A parallel plot of four culprits escaping from the prison by bribing the officials, add spice to the plot. The way authoress interwove the two plots is brilliant. Two of the prisoners Amir Khan and Raja start a fake firm to pursue their drug trafficking business. They conspire against Raahul and by hook and crook, brings Raahul and Sona to their office as their employees in the pretense of helping a poor family. The story becomes interesting when the two plots crosses and a third plot of a commissioner who indulges in a clandestine investigation against a corrupt minister who was a goon and presently hands in glove with anti-social and anti-national elements.
The story is fast paced and surely engages the readers. There are a lot of current scenarios depicted in the book. The eyeopening message conveyed in the book does not seem forced. The general theme of the book is feminism and at some points a little over the top misandry. However it has been mentioned that the negative assessment doesn't include even men. The part including Sona was unfortunate and could have been put forth in a different way. This night be a biased view of a mother but I wanted to see the family react differently to her plight.
The narration is excellent and the dialogues added cherries to the cake. I was awestruck to see how, authoress at her age, came up with dialogues that are new-Gen.
This review is in return of a free book from the publisher
About the author
Born in 1935, Jyothirllata Girija started writing in Tamil for children first in 1950 and then was introduced as an adults writer by ANANDA VIKATAN in 1968. She has more than 500 short stories, 25 novels, 50 novellas, 3 full-length plays, several articles on social issues, translation of major part in Tamil of Kiran Bedi s As I see it etc. to her credit. She has won 20 awards so far for her Tamil creations. Her teen-agers novel which already won an award in Tamil Nadu was translated in Ukraine and released during the Festival of India in Moscow in 1987. As for her creations in English, introduced by Vimla Patil of Femina in 1975, she has written about 36 short stories in the Indian periodicals THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY OF INDIA, FEMINA, EVE s WEEKLY, PRATIBHA INDIA, YOUR FAMILY, FICTION REVIEW, WOMAN S ERA, MOVIELAND (MALAYSIA), THE SUNDAY (INDIAN) EXPRESS, THE WEEK END and EVE S TOUCH. Several articles on social and political issues in ALIVE and OPEN PAGE in THE HINDU. Long rhyming poems in couplets that were serialized in POET, Chennai - edited by late Dr. Krishna Srinivas - viz. Ramayana in Rhymes, The Story of Jesus Christ, Voice of Valluvar (Tirukkural, The Tamil Veda), Pearls from the Prophet (300-odd sayings of Prophet Muhammad in verses), Song on the Sun God (English rendering in verses of Aditya Hrudayam) and The Living God at Puttaparthi, in quatrains. Gandhi Episodes, based on Mahatma Gandhi s autobiography, is being serialized now in In METVERSE MUSE, (Visakhapatnam), edited by Dr. H. Tulsi. Also several single poems in anthologies of various poetry magazines of India.
April 8, 2017
Cynthia Roberts tells the story behind the title
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Behind the Title
(Creation of a Love Story)
By Romance Author Cynthia Roberts
Creating romantic fiction has been a passion of mine, ever since I was old enough to understand the connection between the sexes. I think I was twelve, when I wrote my first love story and like most young minds; I truly thought it was a masterpiece.
Theres another masterful connection that has been going on now for centuries, and that, is the one between music and literature. There is a full alphabet of songs that have been written retelling a work of literature as far back as the 18th century.
If I Die Young by The Band Perry was based on a poem, Lady of Shallot. Love Story by Taylor Swift is loosely based on Romeo & Juliet. The artist Stings Moon Over Bourbon Street was based on an Anne Rice Novel, Interview With A Vampire.
More interesting though, the anatomy of a song has also within its lyrics a pretty fascinating back story as well. For more than five decades, authors have been creating fictional pieces and bringing readers deep inside the lyrics. I grew up listening to my moms collection of romantic ballads from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Those lyrics have forever been embossed into my brain, I still sing along whenever I hear them. Lyrics like those back then told a story, and they were so strong, and emotional, their affect were everlasting.
I have a library of love songs on iTunes I listen to religiously, while I write, as a source of inspiration and a tool that gets me in the mood and mindset I need to be in. It is from this list, I began to formulate a series of ideas, followed by cryptic notes on paper, and finally the creation of my Love Song Standards Series. I made a list of the songs I connected with personally, whittling it down to thirty-five. That number was quite overwhelming and I thought virtually impossible to create that many scenarios. So, I chipped away at the songs and their lyrics, until I decided on a top ten.
I had made a commitment to myself to finish one book a month throughout 2016, writing a chapter every day, leaving me ample time to polish and edit each one. I knew from the on-start, what I wanted my covers to look like. They had to resemble each other in a way that would tie them together, but strong enough for them to stand on their own. My designer Covers by Ramona did an exceptional job tying all my ideas together.
After Book 6, Chances Are, was completed, my brain was fried. I took a short reprieve and switched it up a bit with a Romantic Suspense, A Pawn for Malice. Happily, the first two books of my series received a 5-Star Readers Favorite Award, which ended my promotion efforts. I was forced to take an extended break due to personal issues that had set me back both physically and emotionally. My focus now is to both promote my series and finish the final four titles All The Way, Its Impossible, Sincerely, and Unforgettable.
If youre a lover of contemporary romance, please do check out my Love Song Standards Series. I know youll be pleasantly pleased. Buy links and descriptions are available on my website at RomanceAuthorCynthiaRoberts.com. If you subscribe to my mailing list, we can stay in touch as to when the other titles are completed PLUS youll receive a complimentary copy of Book 1, Unchained Melody. All that I ask is for you to please, please share an honest review at the online retailer you use most. It will help me dramatically towards promoting my book and the series.
Hugs from me to you.
" This is definitely a novel that I would read again. It is going to stay on my bookshelf for a very, very long time." Readers' Favorite
Behind the Title
(Creation of a Love Story)
By Romance Author Cynthia Roberts
Creating romantic fiction has been a passion of mine, ever since I was old enough to understand the connection between the sexes. I think I was twelve, when I wrote my first love story and like most young minds; I truly thought it was a masterpiece.
Theres another masterful connection that has been going on now for centuries, and that, is the one between music and literature. There is a full alphabet of songs that have been written retelling a work of literature as far back as the 18th century.
If I Die Young by The Band Perry was based on a poem, Lady of Shallot. Love Story by Taylor Swift is loosely based on Romeo & Juliet. The artist Stings Moon Over Bourbon Street was based on an Anne Rice Novel, Interview With A Vampire.
More interesting though, the anatomy of a song has also within its lyrics a pretty fascinating back story as well. For more than five decades, authors have been creating fictional pieces and bringing readers deep inside the lyrics. I grew up listening to my moms collection of romantic ballads from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Those lyrics have forever been embossed into my brain, I still sing along whenever I hear them. Lyrics like those back then told a story, and they were so strong, and emotional, their affect were everlasting.
I have a library of love songs on iTunes I listen to religiously, while I write, as a source of inspiration and a tool that gets me in the mood and mindset I need to be in. It is from this list, I began to formulate a series of ideas, followed by cryptic notes on paper, and finally the creation of my Love Song Standards Series. I made a list of the songs I connected with personally, whittling it down to thirty-five. That number was quite overwhelming and I thought virtually impossible to create that many scenarios. So, I chipped away at the songs and their lyrics, until I decided on a top ten.
I had made a commitment to myself to finish one book a month throughout 2016, writing a chapter every day, leaving me ample time to polish and edit each one. I knew from the on-start, what I wanted my covers to look like. They had to resemble each other in a way that would tie them together, but strong enough for them to stand on their own. My designer Covers by Ramona did an exceptional job tying all my ideas together.
After Book 6, Chances Are, was completed, my brain was fried. I took a short reprieve and switched it up a bit with a Romantic Suspense, A Pawn for Malice. Happily, the first two books of my series received a 5-Star Readers Favorite Award, which ended my promotion efforts. I was forced to take an extended break due to personal issues that had set me back both physically and emotionally. My focus now is to both promote my series and finish the final four titles All The Way, Its Impossible, Sincerely, and Unforgettable.
If youre a lover of contemporary romance, please do check out my Love Song Standards Series. I know youll be pleasantly pleased. Buy links and descriptions are available on my website at RomanceAuthorCynthiaRoberts.com. If you subscribe to my mailing list, we can stay in touch as to when the other titles are completed PLUS youll receive a complimentary copy of Book 1, Unchained Melody. All that I ask is for you to please, please share an honest review at the online retailer you use most. It will help me dramatically towards promoting my book and the series.
Hugs from me to you.
" This is definitely a novel that I would read again. It is going to stay on my bookshelf for a very, very long time." Readers' Favorite
