Manali Manan Desai's Blog, page 51

ELLIE AND ORIN PROPHECY by Gagan Saini

Book blurb:

The life of Ellie was going reasonably alright with her grandmother, Father, Step-Mother and Step-brother Arum, until on her 13th birthday when her grandmother went missing. When she was nowhere to be found, her uncle from bakery came to help. He revealed the truth of her grandmother that she was a fairy and was abducted by an evil King. Ellie and Arum decided to rescue their grandmother. The only problem was to go in the star world and face an army of monsters.

Genre: Fantasy fiction

Pages: 253

Format: Kindle eBook/paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 230.45 INR/$3.77Paperback: 298 INR/$7.00

My Ratings: 3.7/5

Ellie, an eleven year old Delhi girl lives with her grandmother, step mom, little brother and father. Her life isn’t ideal but her grandmother, who is also her best friend helps make everyday a little better than what it is. But one day, her grandmother goes missing and a whole lot of things about her identity and past life are revealed, which leaves Ellie on the brink of a challenge, whose success or failure can literally decide the fate of the universe. Does Ellie take on this challenge and does she succeed in overcoming it? Read the book to find out.

Age is no barrier for doing the right things.

What I liked about the book:
—> I read a book in this genre (fantasy fiction) after a long time and it was a throwback to all my favourite reads in this genre, especially a lot of elements of Percy Jackson.
—> The bonding between the grandmother (Himakshi) and her two grandchildren (Ellie and Arum)
—> How the grandmother, Himakshi, prepares Ellie for what is it come under the garb of stories and fairy tales.
—> Ellie’s birthday scenes, how both of them are so different from each other and how things change over the course of just a year. I also liked how despite the first one being simpler in comparison, is still special for Ellie (especially the midnight cake cutting ceremony)
—> The whole episode around the football match, right from how Ellie forms the team to how they go on to win.
—> How Ellie applies simple academics and sports funda to her real life challenges and successfully overcomes them by applying these.
—> The story effectively shows us that age does not matter when it comes to being smart or facing a challenge.
—> The character of the grandmother, Himakshi, who is such an ideal and inspiring woman, right from being a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and even a warrior.
—> I loved all the female characters/warriors right from Himakshi, to Priyanka and Ekam.
—> Ellie’s and Himakshi’s decision to return to Delhi with their Earth family.

What I did not like about the book:
—> A good story which loses so much charm because of poor editing. (I honestly would not have hesitated from giving this one a 5/5 or 4.8 if the book was well edited)
—> I wanted to know what happened with Maya and Arun( Ellie’s step mom and father), and how they were brought to the fairy land.
—> I wish there was more of an active role for Arum, Ellie’s younger brother.
—> The language is very colloquial and lacks strong narrative.Some of the scenes which had great impact value could not come out well purely because of this.
—> The name ‘Moti’ that Ellie gives to the dog ani human which I found to be very stereotypical and demeaning (this is more of a ‘me’ problem though)

Quotable quotes:
—> That’s why these are called dreams because they don’t make any sense.
—> We should always be thankful for what we have got. You must not compare yourself with others. You will always find people in better condition and worse condition than you.
—> It’s good to have some targets and dreams, you can look forward to achieving them. Just don’t compare yourself with others. The only person you should compare to is yourself. Always learn from mistakes, try to improve, and become the best version of yourself.
—> Even if you are afraid don’t show it. Confidence will breakdown the opposition’s confidence.
—> Keeping anger in the heart is like holding fire in your hands. It won’t do anything to the fire but will burn your hand. Angry emotions alter your mental peace.
—> First, deserve then desire.
—> Problems are going to come for sure in life, you cannot control it, however how we react to it; can be controlled. Our response to the problem determines the severity of the situation.
—> “I don’t need much. Just earning enough to survive.”
“It’s your choice to survive. You could live a better life.”
—> We all make choices and we must live with it. Things don’t go as planned always.
—> It’s not being clever; it is all about making quick decisions and making use of what you have.
—> Us humans have highly evolved brain. This is our biggest power and advantage.
—> When you face an opponent, don’t focus on their strengths. Focus on yours. Thinking about their power will put you in a discouraged state of mind and it will affect your ability to handle the situation. This is true for all situations, all challenges you might face in your life.
—> Teachers should give extra attention to the students who are struggling to get good marks.
—> We should celebrate our every small achievement; tomorrow will bring even bigger success.
—> Expecting high marks from everyone is just beyond my understanding. Scoring low marks does not mean you are a less worthy human being, you might good at something else.
—> Everything happens for a reason. When we don’t understand that reason, we get frustrated.
—> It’s not only the speech that makes a person a leader. It’s the intention of the words, the honesty, and the courage to stand against odds.
—> Everyone is afraid. Fear is of different types. But it all depends on how you handle it. While leading people or facing a strong opponent, one can feel scared but the key is, to not show it.
—>It is easy to judge others. We never know how someone is going through any situation.
—> Life teaches us everything. We cannot be ready enough for anything.
—> The key is to move on in life. What happened in the past cannot be changed, so why ruin our present?
—> If anything got them through that hard time was love between them which never faded.
—> People are afraid of things which they don’t understand.
—> Once someone is dead all you are left with memories and regret, what if I could have done this or that.
—> Whatever it is. Even there is a half chance, we should try. How many options do we have?
—> “If everyone has one ruler, what will they fight for?”
“You cannot bring peace by killing innocent people.”
—> No kingdom or morals or anything can survive on the foundation of broken hearts.
—> We should always have a plan of escape and survival.
—> “Is it good to save some lives and let others die, knowing you can save them?”
—> “You should not make fun of things you don’t understand.”
“What’s wrong with having little fun conversation. You joked before, isn’t it?” “Sharing a joke and making fun are different things.”
—> The world is changed by those who tried even their victory wasn’t sure, the things were not in their favor.
—> Everyone is scared in certain situations. The way you handle it, will make you or break you. To fight with a situation or to run away from a situation is entirely your decision, but it is just a matter of decision.
—> It’s up to you to figure out. The ones who care about you, cannot be there always to make decisions for you. It’s your journey. All the decisions you make will shape your destiny.
—> Whatever happens; happens for a reason. Most of the time it is a part of a bigger plan which we don’t understand. Stop holding yourself responsible
—> He has got his gifts. You have got yours. Nature has given everyone unique gifts.
—> The brain of humans has evolved considerably over time. The difference between us and animals is that we can teach our kids history. So, the mistakes which we made, you don’t have to repeat. This wisdom kept on passing from generation to generation.
—> We all have our gifts and powers. You should know yours and concentrate on those to get the best of the situation. If you focus on the strength of your opponent, you will feel low in confidence and it will reduce the ability to confront them.
—> To solve a problem, you must understand the problem first before thinking of solutions.
—> You are more powerful than you think. A motivated spirit can do anything. Size, age, and power become insignificant in front of motivation.
—> “Well, I don’t know how to make a slave. All I know is to make friends. If you want to be my friend you are welcome.”
“What is a friend?”
“A friend is someone who is always there for you, no matter what.”
—> “You know uncle, in my school they gave us a group activity once and I was a part of the winning group. The secret of our success was delegation.”
“What do you mean?”
“We can’t go together everywhere given that time is not on our side. We have to go in different directions.”
—> Everyone makes their own decisions and face results and consequences accordingly.
—> Don’t be angry.Anger diminishes the thinking power of the brain.The things which are not in our control, we can’t do anything about them. If we can’t do anything about it, why become angry.
—> Fighting gives us at least a chance of winning. The spirit of solders corresponds to their leader. If you will be in high spirits they will be as well, and if you think cowardly, they won’t be able to fight as well.
—> What is meant to happen, would happen anyhow.
—> The only chance to win is to fight.
—> “Who decides whose perspective is right?”
“Any perspective that does not involve the loss of innocent lives is right.”

Buying details:

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Author’s social media links:

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Interview on Booked For Books

Note: This interview was originally posted on booked4books.com

The world is so full of stories waiting to be shared.



The book cover of Manali’s latest book The Art of Being Grateful and Other Stories

DECEMBER 14, 2020

An Interview with Manali Desai 

Booked4Books became a platform for the Digital launch of Manali’s latest book, ‘The Art of Being Grateful’ in the month of July. Now, with the launch of the paperback/hardcover version, she give us details about her book and a sneak peek into her exciting journey.

B4B:- For those who don’t know could you start by telling us a little bit about your latest book The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories? 

Manali:  So, my latest book The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories is a collection of 8 short stories (flash fiction rather). These are a mixed bag of all genres like horror, thriller, romance, a slice of life, etc.

The book has been getting great reviews so far and has been liked and appreciated by people of all ages (including you[image error]

A Picture Perfect Christmas by Rebecca Hemlock

Book Blurb:

What happens after the “happily ever after?” Rachel and Daniel Andrews have been through so much together since their marriage. After a car crash and long days of endless pain, Rachel hopes Christmas morning with her new husband will be one she will never forget.

Genre: Fiction/Short Story/Romance

Format: Kindle eBook

Pages: 6

Price: 73 INR/$0.99

My Ratings: 3.8/5

This one is a cute short story about a couple who have been through some tough times together but their relationship has withstood the test of time. It is the perfect Christmas read to remind us to take care of those we love.

What I liked about the book:
–> There’s an overall Christmasy feeling in the narrative.
–> It doesn’t tend to be preachy despite giving away so many important subtle messages like how relationships are not always smooth or how the small things matter when it comes to our loved ones.
–> It’s the perfect read to get you into the mood for the festive season.
–> In just 6 pages, the story is an ideal quick, easy and relatable read.
–> How Rachel’s and Daniel’s gifts for each other are so thoughtful and sweet.

What I did not like about the book:
–> I wish there was more context to Rachel’s accident, like what exactly happened. That bit seemed a bit hazy.

–> For the price it asks, its way too short.
–> With just two characters, the story seems a little off-putting.

Quotable quotes:
–> Something about Christmas always puts her in the mood to bake cookies.
–>She liked to think of their house as cozy instead of small. It was their first place together and she was thankful for it. The smallness made her feel safe and protected.
–>As Daniel read the story of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus, Rachel pondered on how much the holy couple went through during the time of their child’s birth. She thought about how much Joseph must have loved Mary to marry her despite what everyone had assumed about Mary.
–>Marriage was a happy yet difficult road, and you had to be very strong to make it work.
–>”Don’t take my picture!” she protested, shielding her face from his view.
“You look beautiful, and I want to always remember this Christmas. Our first Christmas.”

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

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Love Failure by Sreehari P V

Book blurb:

How do we cope when someone whom we loved with all our heart leaves us forever?
How can we remain hopeful that after we cross the river of sadness, love will find us again on the other side?

This is the story of Ryan and Jane, two lovers hopelessly in love with each other or so they thought until they had to face the first true test of their relationship.

Genre: Fiction/Short Story

Pages: 17

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 79 INR/$ 0.99

My Ratings: 3.9/5

This is a story about a couple who think they are perfect for each other. They’re so engrossed in keeping each other happy, that they forget everyone else around them including those they care about. This short story teaches us that love isn’t always hunky dory and that it takes many things to make a relationship last.

What I liked about the book:
–> Right on the first page it points out that physical beauty doesn’t matter when you truly like a person.
–> It teaches us that just pretending like there are no problems, doesn’t mean there are actually no problems.
–> It leaves an important message that for a girl, her father will always be the man she loves the most and for a boy, a mother will always be the woman he loves the most.
–> Tells us that just because we’re in a relationship or have a partner, we should not forget other relations especially our family and friends.
–> Rightly points out that no matter what our misgivings and however badly we behave with our parents, they’re always ready to welcome us with open arms and that their love is the only one that is unconditional.
–> Through Jane and Ryan’s relationship, we learn how it is important to communicate with our partner and be honest about our feelings. If don’t like something about them, tell them; if you want to counter their point of view, say it and most importantly don’t let your ego come in between the relationship.

What I did not like about the book:
–> I wish there was more to Jane and Ryan as individuals; we only get to know them through their relationship with each other and their parents.
–> It felt like Ryan’s relationship with his mom was written in a more heartwarming way than Jane’s with her father.
–> It was annoying to see that neither Ryan nor Jane spoke up about their true feelings and that none of their friends intervened even after realizing that they were wrong.

Quotable quotes:
–> Sure, he did not have the perfect looks. But for Jane, Ryan was much more than perfect for he had vowed to be with her in good and bad times, to protect her against all harms even if it means putting his own life at stake.
–>’What do you think makes us different from people like Kevin and Tina?’
‘Because we love each other’s imperfections and we together make us perfect.’
–>Remaining single was nowhere near to as easy as they thought it to be. Everywhere they went, they could find only couples, some hugging, some kissing and many others holding hands. And to make matters worse for them, their best friends had fallen hopelessly in love.
–>Of course many men would come into her life with the promise of love and finally she would end up loving one of them for the rest of her life. But there was just one man in her life who had started loving her from the time he waited for her birth and would go on to love her forever. It was her dad.
–>He knows it might be a very long time before he finds someone to love again and that it might be an even longer time before he finds someone who will stay with him for the rest of his life. But until then and even later he had his mom to love him. His first love and undoubtedly the most beautiful woman that he saw in his life.

Buying details:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

A Woman in a Million by Monica Wood

Book blurb:

Warm, funny and heart-breaking, this short-story prequel to THE ONE IN A MILLION BOY – the book on everyone’s lips – will make you laugh and cry with the turn of a page. If you loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Shock of the Fall, this is for you…

There’s someone you should meet. But, before you do…

She’s just turned one hundred. She doesn’t want a birthday party. Or a TV interview. She’s too busy practising for her driving test. And hoodwinking church visitors with magic tricks.

She’s Miss Ona Vitkus. And she’s one in a million.

What readers are saying about A WOMAN IN A MILLION:

‘A touching story and so well told. Excellent book’

‘The characters, the plot and the writing are something very special indeed‘

‘A wonderful short story about a remarkable woman. Ona has so much spirit, I immediately loved her‘

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 41

Format: Kindle eBook

Price: 0 INR/$0.00

My Ratings:

Buying links:

Amazon IndiaAmazon.com

Author’s social media links:

Website

In Conversation With Sandeep Pawar

Rashedur Ryan Rahman says,

“Your comfort zone is a place where you keep yourself in a self-illusion and nothing can grow there but your potentiality can grow only when you can think and grow out of that zone.”

Being someone who was never able to stick to a job for more than a few years (and sometimes just months), the corporate life was something that never appealed to me. I gave up the tag of being ’employed’ some years back to pursue my love of writing and reading. So, naturally, when I came to know about a book titled Thank God I’m Fired, I was curious to check it out and when the blurb told me that the story was about someone who did not like his corporate job, I was sold right away.

It hardly came as a surprise that I enjoyed reading it immensely. In fact, TGiF was one of the most fun books I have read this year.

Sandeep Pawar, the young author of this book, also happens to be someone I have become well-acquainted with over the past few months and he too, has read my book The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories

so when I asked him if he would like to come as a guest on the #AuthorCollaborative segment, he was game for it!

In the session, we discussed our books, writing journeys and what makes us tick as writers.

My questions to Sandeep focused on his book TGIF and a few other things.

He answered them in his trademark funny style and the conversation became even more fun as he went on to ask some of his own questions to me.

The best part though was the rapid fire, which revealed a side of us which was probably unknown to us and most of the people who know us.

You can listen to our responses to the above questions in the video below:

Would you like to check the books highlighted in the session? Below are the Amazon links to both:

Thank God I’m Fired on Amazon India Thank God I’m Fired on Amazon.com The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon India The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Amazon.com

Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020 by Sabarna Roy

Book blurb:

To readers of Sabarna Roy’s Random Subterranean Mosiac: 2012 – 2018, his latest slim and elegant volume titled Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020: Letters, Ideas, Conversations and Poems comes as another delightful read. In this two-part volume, packaged with a selection of his poems, Roy explores the concepts of duality and constancy in discussions with his daughter. Presented as conversations over coffee and desserts, the talks extend to diverse topics with Lolita at one end and marine conservation at the other. In his poems, Roy and his alter-ego, Sandy, soothe and shock you in turns until you burst out of the last page, breathless and asking for more.

Sabarna Roy’s characters are all around us. He has dabbled in poetry, prose, plays and non-fiction with equal elan and delved into the emptiness and futility of life reminding us of the masters in the trade.
Two quotations from Sabarna Roy’s works will prove the above stated point:
“A question leapt into his mind: Is it possible to achieve true happiness by living a solitary life or is it important to lead a community life where one instinctively believes that one’s own desires are insignificant compared to the desires of others and one works towards fulfillment of their desires as if they are one’s own?

Many questions crossed his mind. Did he secretly crave to believe in god? Was he looking for a god to deflect his loneliness or was his loneliness actually a sense of pride, which was an obstruction between him and his god?

Genre: Fiction/Poetry

Pages: 71

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 75 INR/ $3.00Paperback: 149 INR/$6.00

My Ratings: 4/5

This book is part fiction and part conversational, with thought provoking opinion pieces on a myriad of topics right from Literature to philosophy. It also has poems which are more like individual stories told in verse.

What I liked about the book:

—> It made me reflect on my opinions and ideologies around popular topics such as Marxism or literature works like Lolita.
—> Though it’s a short read of just 70 pages, it draws you in and you’re tempted to either read it slow or read it over and over again to get the essence right.
—> Each piece has layers and layers of messages and opinions.
—> Most of the poems haven’t been titled and instead have been dated, leaving them open to interpretation and a form of curiosity about the story and content contained in them.
—> My most favourites were the letter that talks about Lolita, the conversation about Marxism and the poems January 16, 2020, Jallianwala Bagh – 100 years and January 28, 2020.
—> It’s a stimulating read, which will stay with you for a long long time.

What I did not like about the book:
—> Some pieces and lines were complex to comprehend (and if that’s the case with someone like me who reads regularly, it would make it even more difficult for others) and thus bordered on being boring.

Quotable quotes :
—> I WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IF HUMBERT IS NEAR MY DAUGHTER. AT THE SAME TIME I WOULD NOT LIKE MY DAUGHTER TO BE LOLITA – a skewed product of American initial consumerism and pop-culture.
—> In life, there are certain things that are within our control, and a lot many things that are beyond our control. The aggregate of determinate and indeterminate factors makes life indeterminate. Uncertainty is closely associated with indeterminateness as indeterminate problems are likely to have multiple solutions.
—> We could be slaves, masters, slave-masters, and master-slaves in varying orders. This is better understood with the post-modern development of psychiatry.
—> Marx failed to establish the relationship between the development of human brain and prolonged malnourishment due to years and years and years of impoverishment. The proletariat of the capitalist society were mostly the progeny of landless peasants of a feudal society. Could thought leaders have emerged out of this class, having undergone the duress of relentless economic inequity, because of which their brains could not have been fully developed due to abject poverty and hunger?
—> What happened with Marx was, because of his theory’s altruistic aims, revolutionaries wanted to adapt his theory to validate their ideas of a social and political revolution. His theory should have been given time to integrate with emerging realities. It should have been made into a more forceful, ever-emerging and visionary economic and political idea. People like Trotsky tried but faced death at the hands of Stalin. There have been many other Trotskys and many other Stalins in history. Sadly.
—> In spite of mammoth inventions, and discoveries of mankind, we have not been able to fully grasp the duality of love, and lust in human relationships.
—> All of us are swinging between the extremes of this pendulum. Where and how we exist at any given point in time is very complex to figure out.
—> Another duality is the transition of a tyrant to a benevolent, or a benevolent to a tyrant. Such revolutionary transitions happen because of traumatic circumstances. Real life stands testimony to this phenomenon. Another duality is peace of solitude and craving for an audience.
—> How will we achieve true empathy? By intellectual understanding and realization or practice. It can be argued that it is a fine balance of both.
—> Everything is in a state of constant transition and it is change which is constant? In an era of uncontrolled greed and hunger for power, how will mankind realise its infinitesimally small place in the universe? In this river of life, how will mankind achieve transitional duality and not constancy?
—> I feel intoxicated by the sighting of stars, planets and
moons – galaxies and constellations
—> I loved cutting deals, by hook or crook; I looked at
anybody as competition and abhorred it
Yet, we returned to each other in one body
—> love is not an opportunity
It is my dear, grace
You have to be capable of loving and be loved
—> One day you will ask me which is more important. My
life or yours? I will say mine and you will walk away not
knowing that you are my life.
—> With all the intelligence that the human race has
We have learnt very little from our life experiences
Sadly
—> Success is not significant; your love in pursuing your
passion is paramount irrespective of consequences
—> life is meaningless and full of futilities; yet
the struggle to make life happier for one and all
will always make you richly happy; try it
—> It is in self-death that man makes an independent choice
—> I roam around with a surge in my heart
I know not what It
keeps me going around the planet
I roam around with a surge in my heart
I know not what
—> You have adopted civilization and you fear death
I have adopted nature, adopting death
—> Between this mask and that mask, there are millions of faces
Between this face and that face, there are millions of masks
—> No answers, only questions obfuscating my line of view
—> Thinking of the ravaged and corrupted crisscrosses in
this part of the world that has happened with time; there
are only shadows and no objects to find anymore
I am not sure who I am: slaving for whom and master of what art
—> In life people around you count on you
And, by the time you learn from your actions out of
ignorance, a disaster has rocked your boat
—> Life is burdensome – family, work and trying to live a decent life
—> debauchery is a result of the way you are built, a part of it can be controlled,
and a part of it you have to give in to.
—> Devoted love as a phenomenon is a dying art

Buying details:

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Author’s social media links:

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Soul Seances by Dr.Jyuthica Laghate

Book blurb:

Soul Seances is an account of the daily conversations between a soul and its body, who is a middle aged Punjabi lady named, Jeeva Sharma. The book has a deeper message of soul awareness, introspection and reflection and importance of living a soulful life in the modern hustle bustle. The book in one of its kind fashion speaks volumes about the saga of how the protagonist ,Jeeva, was a typical, society fearing girl, who knew suppressing herself every time to fit in to the groove. Her soul feels choked and on one rainy midnight decides to take on a unique mission to make its master realise her true self, her J factor and how living without stress, peer pressure, validation and social accreditation can make her feel truly empowered. The instances mentioned in the tale are relatable, very much relevant in the contemporary existence and will force the reader to reflect upon every little thing in their life and understand the intriguing nature of relationship between their body, brain and soul. The issues focused in the book touch upon the various spheres of human life simply from enjoying rains, travel, to living and carving a life of your own and your real own terms. The book is a short yet expansive description of the numerous mute conversations that we have with our mind and soul. So many times, many of us feel disheartened and depressed due to causes external to us and we try to thrive on validation from the society and the power of now or the magic of nature is not understood by us. Life can feel stretched and treacherous. The book is filled with many anecdotes and true life relevancies that can motivate each one to really think deep and hard as to who they really are, what they seek and how can they live and change for better.

Genre: Fiction/ Spiritual Self Help

Pages: 71

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 100 INR/ $2.99Paperback: 150 INR/$4.50

My Ratings: 4/5

This book very poignantly points out that learning to listen our inner voice is essential. Jeeva, the protagonist of this story, has learned to listen to the voice of her soul. Her regular conversations with her inner voice are what form the essence of this book, which teaches us how and why we all need to do the same and what are the advantages of doing so.

What I liked about the book:

—> The conversations of the protagonist with her soul are completely relatable because we’ve all experienced that inner voice which tells us a lot but somehow we tend to ignore it.
—> Besides teaching us to care for the soul, it also provides knowledge on various other subjects.
—> Rightly points out that the only validation we should seek and which matters the ,is our own.
—> The character of Jeeva, who is instantly likeable because of her vulnerability and her growth journey.

What I did not like about the book:
—> Tends to be monotonous and preachy.
—> For all its teaching, I wish it also gave a few practical tips on how to listen to the soul/inner voice.

Quotable quotes:
—> The world is extraneous and therefore does not need to be pleased every second.
—> Our friends, family, wider social circle, infact most of our usual troupe adhere to the utopian model of the world, where everything is and should be ideal. How intriguing! It’s like reinforcing, the valley is not deep, although it falls under theclassical definition of one, or life is just a bed of roses and not thorns.
—> When you say, I like something, where does that likeness come from? Can you spot a particular area or is there this faint voice that keeps saliently pushing you, guiding you, identifying what is that you want?
—> There is this voice inside me which is limitless, it just knows what it wants and it keeps telling me the deepest of secrets, sensations, reactions to things I am normally not exposed to.
—> Soul séances is not this planchette or a ghostly intervention but a dynamic talk with your inner self that you have so conveniently forgotten. The reasons might be multiple, but the consequence is singular, one of darkness and sinister.
—> Whenever you are gloomy or feel slightly under because of life and its tormentation in general, look inside you.. You have that light, that incandescent healing flame that can be your friend, parent or simply a pathgiver.
—> The problem is you have brilliance within but you choose to acknowledge the darkness and nebulas of distrust and despair.
—>”When we think about water, what is the first thing that flashes in your mind? “
“Purity and Clarity.”
Oh! Lovely. But, the most intrinsic and powerful property of water is its flow. You can’t really obstruct it. It flows continuously through streams, rivers, oceans and takes any form, shape and contour. What, if human mind is like that?
—> As humans, you feel stuck, stagnated. You feel limited and helpless so many times. Something happens against your wish, you are disconsolate. You are slightly overweight and you will feel concerned that the society will not willingly accept you. But, your soul is limitless.
—> It is a task, to explain a person about something that is not visible.
—> Truth, almost always is impossible to digest and that is the power of the soul.
—> By definition, truth is something that remains constant anywhere on this earth. The real truth is, fellows, you all have your souls, your life long batteries which charge you every second. The moment you realise, a force within is the one that presides over you, you will feel empowered and liberated because now you know, anything that is disruptive is outside.
—> You can’t be static all the time. Being in a single mood or frame is not the essence of the soul and therefore your body. Your existence has a myriad of moments, good, bad, magical, worst. The sum total of all that makes you human. The imprints of all those experiences, every single one of them is in me, your soul.
—> The real worship begins with submission, utter faith and belief that the universal power is there in you, guiding and protecting you.
—> I was on cloud nine. This is what a true soul feels when its body or the master really senses the power that nature has attributed to them. It is about enjoying that every cell, tissue and organ in you and above all that centered feeling that your soul is protecting you, nourishing you, pampering you and holding your back.
—> You are way too precious to fall prey to the opinions and notions of the world. The world may not agree with you, but does that mean you are wrong? Or they also might have lacked somewhere in understanding and perceiving you.
—> When you said, I like to live alone and experience the moment, that never meant you were anti-social but just that you thrived on silence. When you spent time meditating for hours and chanting mantras, it didn’t mean you were a weirdo but it was like metamorphosis- A larva was trying to be a butterfly. When you took the brave decision to switch your career, that was not out of frivolousness but you listened to me, your inner voice. You always had the magic of communication and conviction in you and that was your soul purpose and see today, you are so much more content.
—> A soul and body are not counterproductive. A soul exists to support the body to the fullest and not impair it. Soul is like a Duracell and the body a torch, which is helpless without the cell.
—> Most of the human beings crave for validation, acceptance and appreciation. Most of you are sad because someone else didn’t appreciate you, or acknowledge your talent, or called you names or was just not expressive or rude and ignorant.
—> It is supposedly quite a mental thing to have the will to keep getting better and better and strive for perfection every single day.
—> In life, often, so many of you almost try to live to keep others happy all the time. Infact, that is an unreachable goal because getting recognition from others is often like the longest, treacherous walk, where even if you are on the top of a mountain, you tend to feel extremely fatigued.
—> The constant hunger to get appreciation is just like a black hole, which has no end really.
—> Since centuries, human joy has been dependent upon recognition from peers, family and the wider community. In essence, it is about getting social accreditation that you are good, friendly, kind and so on. But, the most ruthless question that I wish to ask is what you think are the key attributes of your personality.
—> Love is a human need as much as food, clothing and shelter. If one gets true love, they feel on the top of the world. But, why do many of you feel vulnerable or extremely hurt when someone from outside, hurts you verbally or your loved one sometimes quarrels with you on petty matters. Those are the real testing times because, you actually have the limitless power to feel happy and strong come what may.
—> Not an idealistic cliché but the magic of nature is such that, human beings can bounce back from any challenge, sorrow, disappointment, guilt or pessimism.
—> Most of your lives are mired in working to get validation, acceptance and regard. For instance, when you are looking pretty you want compliments, when you have cooked with lot of effort you need a pat on your back, when you have passed the exam with flying colours you need a celebration. But all these good and bad moments are transitory and fleeting. They are not permanent.
—> Limitless power is a difficult entity to explain but it is relevant in every step of human life.

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My Books Get An Offline International Presence via Zowiezo Damesmode

Douglas H. Everett said,

“There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.”

Mostly tagged as being a dreamer and sometimes called either ‘brave’ or ‘foolish’, I belong to the category of people who refused and refuses to tie myself to the tag of being ’employed’. It was this, that eventually led to my calling as a writer and I can proudly say that though it was a brave step, it has been a very fulfilling one indeed. I have been a freelance writer and editor, cum blogger, since the past three and a half years now, and am also the proud mama of three book babies.

[image error]Me with two of my paperback books (The Untold Stories and The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories )

Yes! Since my decision to go rogue, I have published three solo books (and co-authored two books). These book babies have been well received on online platforms, with two of them being bestsellers on Amazon India. The latest book, The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories hit the bestsellers list in multiple categories on Amazon India, in just a few hours of its release. Although, this is a proud worthy feat in itself and the books have a great online presence, it always gives me a pang that the books do not have an offline presence, or are not available in many bookstores (they are available in Crossword Surat).

So, when I recently moved to the Netherlands, I had one goal clear in my mind, which was to make my babies more visible in the international offline market. The city and I currently live in (Tilburg, Netherlands) served this purpose of mine and how!

On my regular bouts of grocery and other miscellaneous shopping in the neighbourhood, I had noticed a charming boutique and always felt attracted towards it. The clothes and boots that were displayed in its windows never failed to leave me gawking or staring. So, when one fine day I saw a stacks of books displayed here, I knew my this was the perfect abode for my book babies.

The very next day, I approached the shop owner and guess what? She agreed to display (and sell) my books at her cutesy boutique. It goes without saying that my joy knows no bounds now!

Here’s a sneak peak into the boutique and me posing like the happiest person on this planet.

[image error]Me with Birgit, the owner of Zowiezo



[image error]My books in the window display of Zowiezo



[image error]Me holding the book in the window display of Zowiezo



[image error]Me with my books displayed inside Zowiezo



[image error]Me with my books @ Zowiezo

What I learnt through this experience:

If you want something bad enough, yes, the universe will conspire to provide it you, but that final plunge of faith and courage has to be taken by you. The attitude/approach towards writers, authors and books is different in each country. Where in India I had to (and still have to) struggle to convince bookstores to keep my books in display, this isn’t the case in Netherlands (and I believe in most European countries). In India, most bookstores (especially the big names) charge a bomb for displaying and selling your books, but that’s not so in the Netherlands.

Know more about this store through the below links:

Zowiezo Damesmode website Zowiezo Damesmode Instagram Zowiezo Damesmode Facebook

Amazon links to my books:

The Untold Stories Amazon.com The Untold Stories Amazon India The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories Amazon.com The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories Amazon India

Publisher links to my books:

The Untold Stories on Ukiyoto.comThe Untold Stories on Ukiyoto India The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Ukiyoto.com The Art of Being Grateful & Other Stories on Ukiyoto India



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In the Shadow of Inheritance by Manjiri Prabhu

Book blurb:

A haunting dream. A sinister legend. Mesmerizing love.

The appearance of a mysterious and attractive stranger in the small town of Adeli changes Tara’s life forever. She’s now the heiress to the Khanolkar Rajwada in Mahabaleshwar. However, the palatial home that is her ancestral legacy is also full of people with deep, dark secrets and one of them is her father’s murderer. Evil lurks in the shadows, as does love. But Tara can’t rely on anyone as someone out there is determined to prove the legend right and to finish the incomplete murderous task of the past.
Read on to find out what Tara’s fate will be . . .

Genre: Fiction/Drama

Pages: 297

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

Kindle eBook: 125.24 INR/$14.00Paperback: 160 INR/ $23.25

My Ratings: 4.2/5

Family ties and inheritance always find a way to find you. Tara leads an idyllic life in the small town of Kesarli in Goa.But as she grows up, her desire to explore beyond the confines of her palatial home and little town, takes her to Panchgani. Life takes a 360 degree turn when she begins to discover that her roots might be tied to the Rajwada, a beautiful mansion situated not far from her college in Panchgani. Her growing feelings for the mysterious Sarang who takes care of the Rajwada and its business, makes matters even more complicated. Will Tara unravel the answers to her past? Read this family drama to find out.

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What I liked about the book:
—> Begins with a bang and hooks you in the right manner to read more, right away.
—> All the female characters, right from the three central ones of Tara, Rohini and Meerakka, to the side characters like Bela, Sanika and even the many house-help characters, were fierce and independent in their own way, and an aura of ,haters around them which helped keep the curiosity of the suspense in the story, intact.
—> The way the Rajwada and its beauty has been described. It made me wish for it to exist in reality so I could visit and admire it someday in person.
—> The build-up of the suspense around what happened so many years ago is kept intact till the end, making the reader doubt all the characters about who the culprit would be (We even begin to doubt the hero Sarang at may points)
—> The twist in the end, where Tara is made to believe the culprit is somebody else, and then it turns out to be somebody entirely different.
—> The whole story is very visual in its narrative and it felt like I was living it or watching a movie. I believe it would be a visual treat if turned into a movie/series someday because it has all the right elements.
—> How it proves that legends and talks about spirits and supernatural beings, are a mere tool of convenience planted by people to make way for their own selfish means.
—> How the culprit doesn’t turn to be someone from Tara’s obvious band of suspects (though I had an inkling as to who it might be. But that’s a curse of having read so many thriller and suspense books)


What I did not like about the book:
—> The family tree and various relationships were kind of confusing; I especially kept trying to figure out and ensure whether Tara and Sarang were related or not. And at many instances I had to go back to figure out where a character first appeared and what was his equation in the entire story/plot.
—> I wish there was more to Tara’s earlier life and relationships, especially with Kirit.

Quotable quotes:
—> Sometimes, it really doesn’t matter what you want from life. Where you live, whom you meet, the successive events in your life . . . because destiny has already taken over and planned its own course—and all you do is follow the path set out for you.
—> Who cared about looks when there was so much to eat and do?
—> ‘At this rate, you’ll never get a husband. Men prefer sweet, gentle women with the right, delicious touch to the fingers,’ she warned.
‘And I want a husband with a delicious touch to his fingers!’
—> All mothers are partial to their daughters, regardless of the reality.
—> Destiny has strange ways of its own. When something has to happen, nothing can stop it.
—> I really needed to get a hold on my treacherous facial expressions.
—> It was naturally most disconcerting when someone made you the target of an unblinking stare.
—> You may be surprised, but back home I used to be called the ugly duckling!’
‘I suppose that was so because only ugly ducklings turn into such beautiful swans.’
—> A question asked must secure a satisfactory answer
—> I was too old to be pampered like a kid but distance had instilled in me a keen appreciation of the people in my life. My intolerance had now matured into genuine appreciation and fondness. I had grown too sensitive to want to hurt her feelings.
—> ‘Hope’ was like a horsewhip. Compelling me to chase dreams—that too unattainable ones!
—> You can only control your emotions, not destiny.
—> It’s unfair to form opinions before giving someone a chance to prove their worth.
—> I wanted to look my best today because I believed in first impressions. It was of the utmost importance to create a favourable impression.
—> When one is determined to achieve something, the urge acts as a motivation for success.
—> ‘Are you telling me that you’re not thinking of boys, clothes, food or money?’ he asked with a merry twinkle in his eyes.
‘You seem to have had a good teacher. I was thinking of all those things and more. Sometimes, women do think of more important matters in life. For example, more boys, more clothes, food and money!’
—> It’s good to smile. One can face life’s problems better that way.
—> A person’s mind is like an onion. You’ve got to peel the layers off before you can reach the core. And even then it may not be such a pleasant task, with the eyes burning and watering.
—> We all act pig-headed at times.
—> Isn’t it strange, or you could call it convenient, how one labels coincidences as a supernatural happening?
—> We do get carried away in the process of proving our point.
—> Greed can make a person do anything.
—> Distance, physical and mental, was an inevitable part of life.
—> We were good friends but one could never say when greed would raise its ugly head.
—> Aren’t all human beings toys—living puppets? God holds the main strings and hands the sub-strings to people like me—people who are capable and responsible.
—> You must learn to forget the past, and learn to live for the present. What has happened was destiny and there’s no point looking back and feeling miserable.

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