Preeti Shenoy's Blog, page 42

A relaxed Sunday (blog marathon post 19)

Some time back, I have having a conversation with my writer friends. And we were all discussing relationships.

We all agreed on the following:





On this topic, here is an interesting article:

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/relationships/facebook-relationship-insecurity-study



My Sunday was a lovely, relaxed one. We watched Udta Punjab. (Loved it, though I found it very disturbing). Then we had a family conversation about it. We always discuss the movies we watch. The essence of it, how it panned out, how we can relate to it in real life, what we learnt from it, how it could have been different and all of that. It is wonderful, to have these conversations, which I really enjoy, especially as I get very interesting perspectives, from both my children, as well as spouse.

Here is a picture from my day today:


 Till tomorrow! Ciao!

________________________________________________


  Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price!http://preetishenoy.com/

The worst advice you ever heard about writing (blog marathon post 18)

image courtesy: www.Pixabay.com

Time and again, I have heard people giving advice about writing. After having written seven books,(touch wood, all best-sellers) I have learnt a lot more than what I knew before I started my writing career.
Today I thought I would compile a list of some of the worst 'advice' or 'suggestions' or 'friendly tips' I have ever heard about writing. If you heed any of these, you can be sure, you will get no writing done.

1. You have to wait for inspiration to strike.
2.Nobody will want to read that.
3. What you write is 'ordinary'.
4. You probably have a writer's block
5.Your writing is not 'literary' enough.
6.You need to wait till you get some experience.
7.Your idea has been done before.
8.Your writing is a 'not my kind', and that is why I find it boring.
9.Cut out one third of what you write.

and the final one:
10. Come on, you can always write tomorrow.


If you ever hear any of the above, please discard it immediately and do not get discouraged.Keep writing from the heart.
And yes, read, read, read a lot!
___________________________________
 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price!http://preetishenoy.com/

Chennai Launch of Why We Love The Way We Do.(Blog mararthon post 17)

So it was a really hectic day for me today.
The day started with my Interaction at IWA. I met women from Japan and US, and some other countries.I was told that my session was great!

Here are a few pictures:
 The IWA president opening the Interaction. In conversation with me is Sandhya Sridhar, who founded Page Turn Publishers. She is also an author. She conducted the session superbly and it was a pleasure interacting with her. Do check out Page Turn books. They are lovely little romances---something like desi version of Mills and Boon. I have just started reading Page Turn books and am liking them.

Here is another picture of me and Sandhya. We hit it off well!




 Signing the  books and interacting with the IWA  members, after the session.

In the noon, I had a meeting with my publishers, who took me out for a lovely lunch at the Taj. We had a wonderful time.

In the evening, I again had an event at Starmark, Avenue Mall. The crowd was large, the interactions were superb, and once again I was told it was a fabulous session. Here are pictures.


Interacting with the readers and signing the books.
See the crowd. There were easily over a hundred people as many were standing (not captured in the pic)


Posing for the mediaAfter that I met one of my closest friends. I have known her since we were both 10 ! I feel blessed for that friendship. She has never missed an event of mine in Chennai. We went out and had a GREAT time.

Am exhautsed now--but very very happy!
Feeling blessed.
(I think we should be grateful for all the things going right in our lives)

Till tomorrow!
_____________________


 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price! http://preetishenoy.com/

Chennai Launch of Why We Love The Way We Do.

So it was a really hectic day for me today.
The day started with my Interaction at IWA. I met women from Japan and US, and some other countries.I was told that my session was great!

Here are a few pictures:
 The IWA president opening the Interaction. In conversation with me is Sandhya Sridhar, who founded Page Turn Publishers. She is also an author. She conducted the session superbly and it was a pleasure interacting with her. Do check out Page Turn books. They are lovely little romances---something like desi version of Mills and Boon. I have just started reading Page Turn books and am liking them.

Here is another picture of me and Sandhya. We hit it off well!




 Signing the  books and interacting with the IWA  members, after the session.

In the noon, I had a meeting with my publishers, who took me out for a lovely lunch at the Taj. We had a wonderful time.

In the evening, I again had an event at Starmark, Avenue Mall. The crowd was large, the interactions were superb, and once again I was told it was a fabulous session. Here are pictures.


Interacting with the readers and signing the books.
See the crowd. There were easily over a hundred people as many were standing (not captured in the pic)


Posing for the mediaAfter that I met one of my closest friends. I have known her since we were both 10 ! I feel blessed for that friendship. She has never missed an event of mine in Chennai. We went out and had a GREAT time.

Am exhautsed now--but very very happy!
Feeling blessed.
(I think we should be grateful for all the things going right in our lives)

Till tomorrow!
_____________________


 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price! http://preetishenoy.com/

Greetings from Pondicherry --a photo post: Blog marathon post 16

This is going to be a very short post as i am blogging from my phone and am stuck at a place where there's no wifi!! I had a wonderful time today at Pondicherry. Those who have read my book #teafortwoandapieceofcake know what a special bond i have with this place. Here are a few pics clicked today:

 



 


 




 Will post again tomorrrow! For those in Chennai, come and meet me at Starmark, Avenue road, on 17th at 6.30 pm. http://preetishenoy.com/

Hindu Lit for Life Special session on Friday (blog marathon post 15)

The Hindu Lit For Life is having a special session on Friday. 17th June at Starmark Chennai. I would be in conversation with Sandhya Sridhar. If you are in Chennai, do drop in. I would love to see you.

Whenever such events happen, my publishers usually send an official invite. But for my readers I always create a personal invite, which is what you see above. Both invites are equally valid! :)

Here is the official invite:


 Since Chennai is one of the cities I grew up in, it holds fond memories. If you have folks in Chennai, who have read my books and want to meet me, please do share this with them.

And of course, if you have already bought copies of my book(s) and want me to sign them for you, please do  get them.

Will post again tomo.
Bye!http://preetishenoy.com/

Five things you can do to help you find serenity in a busy day (blog marathon post 14)

Often, we find ourselves overwhlemed as we rush through our day. We wake up, hit the snooze button, oversleep. Then rush to work. Get caught in traffic. Curse the traffic (especially if you are a Bangalorean :) )
We wade through the day, rushing to complete one task after the other, and before we realise it, it is duk. We trudge back home, have dinner in front of the TV watching Game of Thrones (or whatever you watch), spend time with loved ones or flatmates or whoever you are living with, and finally hit the bed, exhausted.

How do we find calmness and serenity amidst this routine?

Here are five things that work for me.

1. Start day with ten minutes of meditation: Very often when we start the day, we have a residue of the previuos day left. It plays on our mind, worries us, and brings us down. I have discovered this meditation, which is just ten minutes. I put on my headphones and listen to it, before I get out of bed. It helps a LOT to start the day on a positive note.



2. Take a technology break to walk outside: Leave your phone in the cubicle. Or at home. If you have greenery anywhere, near where you work, take 10 minutes off and walk on the grass, barefoot. It works wonders. Do not carry your phone. Be disconnected. Observe the blades of grass, insects, flowers. When you get back, close your eyes and try to recollect what you saw. This gives your brain a boost.

3. Write a short note : This one works superbly for me. I have many journals. One of them is a gratitude journal. If you do not have a gratitude journal, write a little note to yourself, expressing thanks to the Universe for 5 things that have gone right that day, since morning. It will fill you with renewed energy and will place you in a place of peace.

4.Watch a peppy dance number:



A friend sent this to me yesterday. I loved it!! I watched it thrice. Take a small break to energise yourself with a peppy number. Research (and personal experiecne) tells us that music can change our mood, recharge us with energy, and make us calmer.


5.A cup of tea/coffee:  This one is self-explanatory. I happen to LOVE a strong cup of Ethiopian Latte. Take a tea/caoffee break. And yes, leave that phone behind :)

Tell me if these tips work for you, and add your own.

See you tomorrow!
_____________________________

 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price! http://preetishenoy.com/

A one word challenge! to kick-start your creativity (blog marathon post 13)

A picture from my Instagram for  you:

Had this beautiful bouquet waiting for me when I got back to my hotel room, with a cheery note. It made my day.A photo posted by Preeti Shenoy (@preeti.shenoy) on Jun 13, 2016 at 8:31am PDT

Today a friend sent me a beautiful site for challenging your writing skills. It is called oneword.com
The site generates a single word randomly,  and it gives you 60 seconds to write on it. You needn't think. You just have to write.
It's like a warm-up for your brain. After that you have the option to submit your entry, and see what the others have done.
I loved the concept, and so decided to try it.
The word I got was 'setup '

Here is what I instantly wrote in one minute:

He  had set up the apartment well. He did want to impress her. He felt if she saw a clean home she would forgive him. When she entered she didn’t notice it at all. She went straight to the sofa and plonked down. ‘God what an awful day I have had’, she said.

Why do you think she has had a bad day? What had he done so bad that he wanted her to forgivehim?
If the above lines spark your imagination, and make you want to write, do write a story and post it on your blog.
If you don't want to write a story, click a photo!
If you don't have a blog and yet want to take part, use my comment box.

This is a 'just for fun' exercise. It ignited my creativity, and hence I thought I would share it with you.

That's all for today folks.
See you tomorrow! Same time, same place.
Till then----stay happy!
________________________________



 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price! http://preetishenoy.com/

Keep egos out. keep the love in. (blog marathon post 12)

Sometime back, a friend had asked me 'What plans for the weekend?'
I replied ' I am a writer. We don't make any weekend plans. We write.'


It was the same for me, this Sunday. After my short break in Mumbai, I landed in Bangalore to sunny skies and an overflowing inbox. My proofs of the new novel were waiting for me. And that's what I did yesterday. Worked.
I have also enrolled for an art course online (they are based in the US) , and I was quite excited to start that one. So soon, I will have sketches to show you.


The other thing that happened today---I was on the front page of the Times of India's Times Life.

It was about whether it is okay to share passwords and check your spouse's or partner's phone.Here's what I said.





Today, a friend (who also writes) and I were talking about communicating. Many a time, when we  communicate, we write or express what we feel. But the way it is interpreted by the other person could be completely different from what you meant.
This is precisely why when an email or a text between two people,is read by another, there can be misunderstandings.
Even between two people, when you writeor say something, the other person may read between the lines. Or may take into account your body language, or bring into it, the baggage from the past. The words then taken on a shade never intended.

If that has ever happened, the best thing to do is apologise immediately and unconditionally, if the relationship matters to you.
Ina relationship, there should never be room for ego. If you allow an egoto come in, soon it will turn into a squatter, and then become a permanent occupant, and you will not be able to get rid of that monster, who will ultimately gobble up the relationship.

Keep egos out.
keep the love in.

Till tomorrow, stay focused, spend time with your loved ones, read, relax, rejuvenate.
Look after yourself!
________________________________________

 Buy preeti shenoy's books at a fab price! http://preetishenoy.com/

A Saturday journey (blog marathon post 11)

 When I left Mumbai today it was raining. We had to wait for at least 20 minutes to get clearance to take off. I couldn't see anything outside from my airplane window, as there were rains lashing. Flight was slightly delayed.

Then I landed in Bangalore. My very cute driver picked me up ;) :)
Here is a picture:

My new cute driver