Pamela Q. Fernandes's Blog, page 43
February 23, 2014
The value of good health
As I write this its been 5 days of pure misery. 5 days of being sub par at everything. 5 days of a nagging headache, running nose, itchy eyes, hacking cough and voice that could make John Mayer jealous. 5 days of being under the weather. Food tastes insipid, music sounds crass, and I almost could not hear my system even as it was playing at home theatre volumes. You look but you don't see, you walk, because your legs are taking you somewhere, you struggle to breathe because if you don't you feel like the world moves in slow motion. You regurgitate your meal, because you don't know you've eaten too much or because it was too little to sustain you. The throb in your head is so bad that banging your head against the wall is tempting. You feel like you are being teleported to work, you tweet, reply to emails as if its an out of body experience. People are talking to you or so it seems.Voices on the phone seem to be coming from another galaxy.
Then all of a sudden you start to convalesce. Things begin to change. You suddenly can hear the birds chirping clearly as your Eustachian tubes open, you can smell the overdose of perfume on your skin you tried to make up for the previous loss of smell, you feel the sunlight warming your skin, you look around and decide to do something about the stacks of papers on the desk, the floor that needs mopping and take out the trash. You gain spirit, take a bit of an apple, sit down at your computer happy that some normalcy is returning and that's when you truly understand the value of good health.
On my playlist: Jessica Simpson, A little bit goes a long way
Then all of a sudden you start to convalesce. Things begin to change. You suddenly can hear the birds chirping clearly as your Eustachian tubes open, you can smell the overdose of perfume on your skin you tried to make up for the previous loss of smell, you feel the sunlight warming your skin, you look around and decide to do something about the stacks of papers on the desk, the floor that needs mopping and take out the trash. You gain spirit, take a bit of an apple, sit down at your computer happy that some normalcy is returning and that's when you truly understand the value of good health.
On my playlist: Jessica Simpson, A little bit goes a long way
February 19, 2014
Download Seoul-mates free
Hey folks just for a limited time period that is up to 28th Feb, I would like to offer all my readers a code to download my novella Seoul-mates free from http://www.indireads.com/books/seoul-mates/
Here's the code enjoy-
seoul-mates-val2014
Here's the code enjoy-
seoul-mates-val2014
February 13, 2014
My Valentine story in paperback 'STORIES FOR MY VALENTINE'
Happy Heart's Day folks. Well last year on this very date my first romance novella was published as an e-book. This year on the very same date, 14th Feb 2014 my short story 'If it's meant to be' has been published in the anthology, 'STORIES FOR MY VALENTINE.'
This story was conceived for contest in the category of Arranged Love. And it won in its category being placed in the anthology. Smelling a new copy with my short story is a new high, that I can tell you with much joy. As I sit typing this I can barely stop smiling :)
As is tradition have prepared a cake whose photo refuses to get uploaded here.
But will give you a link to check out my book. Here's the link, Stories for my Valentine. There are so many wonderful stories here of people of different ages finding love. There surely is something in it for you. So big shout out to Pageturn Publisher's Chennai, my editor Sandhya Shridhar and all my fellow authors. Cheers. Spread some love folks. Happy Valentine's day all. xoxo
This story was conceived for contest in the category of Arranged Love. And it won in its category being placed in the anthology. Smelling a new copy with my short story is a new high, that I can tell you with much joy. As I sit typing this I can barely stop smiling :)
As is tradition have prepared a cake whose photo refuses to get uploaded here.
But will give you a link to check out my book. Here's the link, Stories for my Valentine. There are so many wonderful stories here of people of different ages finding love. There surely is something in it for you. So big shout out to Pageturn Publisher's Chennai, my editor Sandhya Shridhar and all my fellow authors. Cheers. Spread some love folks. Happy Valentine's day all. xoxo
February 11, 2014
I hate @StarSportsIndia
I did not want to type this post. But for the 100tH time already, can we stop with the freakin cricket and broadcast some real sports. It happened with tennis. They didn't show all the Australian Open matcHes, few which they felt were important, with unseeded players during the rounds.
They almost always do it with soccer. Cristiano received his Balloon D Or and well crappy star sports had no idea. Now its the Winter Olympics and we're flooded with luge and alpine skiing. Their reason probably is that we had Indians participating. In that case, does star sports know that at the last winter Olympics we did have an Indian figure skater who has a sibling who also skates for the country. I bet not.
I am sitting day after day hoping that maybe today they will show some figure skating instead of luge. I am a huge fan of the Russians at figure skating. I love the enthusiasm of Plushenko and I'm falling in love with Julia's skating. She is going to be the next star after Kim Yuna. Please oh please, is it wrong to hope telecasting that instead of luge. And if they tell me its on HD, well they can buzz off. I pay for 8 sports channels, 6 of which belong to them. Is it so hard to move luge to HD and figure skating to the normal sports channel. Or is it possible to cove the entire Olympics since events are scheduled without too much overlap. I mean for curry's sake the next one will be in four years at Pyeonchang, Kim Yuna, Mao Asada, Plushenko and Davis/ White, Moir/ Virtue will be history.
Why oh why star sports India are you being so cruel?
For now, you suck. There I said it.
I'm not the only one with complaints. Check out star not sports @starsportsindia as they parody the truth of a crappy Star Sports India.
Go Plushenko, Julia + Yuna
They almost always do it with soccer. Cristiano received his Balloon D Or and well crappy star sports had no idea. Now its the Winter Olympics and we're flooded with luge and alpine skiing. Their reason probably is that we had Indians participating. In that case, does star sports know that at the last winter Olympics we did have an Indian figure skater who has a sibling who also skates for the country. I bet not.
I am sitting day after day hoping that maybe today they will show some figure skating instead of luge. I am a huge fan of the Russians at figure skating. I love the enthusiasm of Plushenko and I'm falling in love with Julia's skating. She is going to be the next star after Kim Yuna. Please oh please, is it wrong to hope telecasting that instead of luge. And if they tell me its on HD, well they can buzz off. I pay for 8 sports channels, 6 of which belong to them. Is it so hard to move luge to HD and figure skating to the normal sports channel. Or is it possible to cove the entire Olympics since events are scheduled without too much overlap. I mean for curry's sake the next one will be in four years at Pyeonchang, Kim Yuna, Mao Asada, Plushenko and Davis/ White, Moir/ Virtue will be history.
Why oh why star sports India are you being so cruel?
For now, you suck. There I said it.
I'm not the only one with complaints. Check out star not sports @starsportsindia as they parody the truth of a crappy Star Sports India.
Go Plushenko, Julia + Yuna
February 1, 2014
Oman through my eyes..
Well I haven't been able to get all the pics that I liked and wanted but I will post what I did manage to scavenge. I had recently been to Oman and decide dto do a post on the same.
In Oman I was mostly on the road to Samail and Nizwa. I stayed with some wonderful people who on the last day drove me around Muscat which was the highlight of my trip. Unfortunately I was largely miserable in Oman because unlike Mumbai, NYC or even Angeles city it has no form of public transport. And there is virtually no life there. No day life, no night life. It is arid and dry. And being the independent, inquisitive, bird that I am, I almost died of boredom.
I've said to many and have to say this again, if you want to be an ascetic, you don't need to go to Tibet. Oman will do just fine.
Most of the land is covered with undulating rock mountains and date palms which happens to be the specialty of Samail. The first time you see those huge mountains in the day it is awe inspiring, but then you see one, you seem them all. The roads are cut between these mountains, the homes/villas spaced really far and no person is out on the road or walking. By the way there are very few buildings that have more than three floors in Oman. Homes or bungalows is the typical residence here, wit three or more families sharing one. Buildings are mushrooming in Muscat but elsewhere, its like stepping into life three decades ago. Everybody is in a car. That's the only form of accepted technology.
If you're into forts and architecture there are things to see. The Sultan's palace is one such place with beautiful corridors and a garden. Its best to visit in the evening while taking a walk along the beach, also makes for some splendid time. While the Omani people are very friendly, its hard to find expats who will mingle and do much. From the immigration to the malls, Omanis are respectful and helpful.
Sultan's palace, Muscat
The place has one church for the whole country in Muscat and if you need to do anything, have fun, go to the mall, beach picnic you have to travel to Muscat for it which is crazy, given that you have no vehicle for the same. In short its a nice place to see, maybe work too, but there's nothing else you could possible do in Oman to socialize. Maybe you could go to the wadis (which are shallow rivulets everywhere in Oman) and swim with friends. But for the young and restless, its drab.
The Sultan's first boat, and his yacht behind
So that's it for this week.
Songs on my playlist: A little bit by Jessica Simpson. Happy weekend.
In Oman I was mostly on the road to Samail and Nizwa. I stayed with some wonderful people who on the last day drove me around Muscat which was the highlight of my trip. Unfortunately I was largely miserable in Oman because unlike Mumbai, NYC or even Angeles city it has no form of public transport. And there is virtually no life there. No day life, no night life. It is arid and dry. And being the independent, inquisitive, bird that I am, I almost died of boredom.
I've said to many and have to say this again, if you want to be an ascetic, you don't need to go to Tibet. Oman will do just fine.
Most of the land is covered with undulating rock mountains and date palms which happens to be the specialty of Samail. The first time you see those huge mountains in the day it is awe inspiring, but then you see one, you seem them all. The roads are cut between these mountains, the homes/villas spaced really far and no person is out on the road or walking. By the way there are very few buildings that have more than three floors in Oman. Homes or bungalows is the typical residence here, wit three or more families sharing one. Buildings are mushrooming in Muscat but elsewhere, its like stepping into life three decades ago. Everybody is in a car. That's the only form of accepted technology.
If you're into forts and architecture there are things to see. The Sultan's palace is one such place with beautiful corridors and a garden. Its best to visit in the evening while taking a walk along the beach, also makes for some splendid time. While the Omani people are very friendly, its hard to find expats who will mingle and do much. From the immigration to the malls, Omanis are respectful and helpful.
Sultan's palace, MuscatThe place has one church for the whole country in Muscat and if you need to do anything, have fun, go to the mall, beach picnic you have to travel to Muscat for it which is crazy, given that you have no vehicle for the same. In short its a nice place to see, maybe work too, but there's nothing else you could possible do in Oman to socialize. Maybe you could go to the wadis (which are shallow rivulets everywhere in Oman) and swim with friends. But for the young and restless, its drab.
The Sultan's first boat, and his yacht behind So that's it for this week.
Songs on my playlist: A little bit by Jessica Simpson. Happy weekend.
January 29, 2014
The end of January..already?
I can't believe how fast this month is over. I should have had a wonderful post out last week about Oman and the lovely photographs I took while I was recently there. I had some snaps of Muscat, and the wadis on the road to Nizwa & Bidbid, but for the life of me I can't seem to extract the pics out of my phone. I know what a ditz I am- so hang tight.
Plus Nadal's loss at the Australian open had me feeling morose. I actually cried because he lost. While I think Stan is a great guy and he deserved to win, I just felt :(
So Jan is actually over and I'm over my head working, writing, hustling, studying, reading, reviewing and when I lie down every part of me is in pain. When my alarm buzzes, I can think of a dozen expletives rushing through my brain, but then my brain remembers, 'suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret' and I am raring to make the next 86,400 seconds count.
To my followers, I just heard from some of you that my posts aren't going to your mail. While the RSS people I think are having them delivered straight to their mail, I want you followers to let me know if you're getting my posts or not.
The widgets will have to be tweaked or changed in that case.
Has anyone seen Comedy Central's predictions of 2014? Hilarious :)
On my playlist now: Canonball by Lea Michele
Plus Nadal's loss at the Australian open had me feeling morose. I actually cried because he lost. While I think Stan is a great guy and he deserved to win, I just felt :(
So Jan is actually over and I'm over my head working, writing, hustling, studying, reading, reviewing and when I lie down every part of me is in pain. When my alarm buzzes, I can think of a dozen expletives rushing through my brain, but then my brain remembers, 'suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret' and I am raring to make the next 86,400 seconds count.
To my followers, I just heard from some of you that my posts aren't going to your mail. While the RSS people I think are having them delivered straight to their mail, I want you followers to let me know if you're getting my posts or not.
The widgets will have to be tweaked or changed in that case.
Has anyone seen Comedy Central's predictions of 2014? Hilarious :)
On my playlist now: Canonball by Lea Michele
January 18, 2014
In conversation with Neelima Vinod
This week instead of letting me rant about all that's not right or left in the world, I decided to talk to Neelima Vinod, author of 'Unsettled.' Neelima has recently been featured on the Indian express in recognition for her literary accomplishments. So lets hear what she has to say this weekend.
Q. Neelima what is Unsettled all about?
Unsettled is about a woman’s search for love. A couple on the verge of a break up go to an ancient hundred roomed house to look for the Scrolls of Love that could be the elixir that can save their marriage. They come face to face with an Indian femme fatale, a vampire seductress known as a Yakshi. She guards the Scrolls with a ferocity the couple do not anticipate.
The story is part paranormal romance and part oral story telling of myth. In this story the vampire seductress is not just blood and gore; she represents a woman who has so much to give and has been silenced for too long.
Q. Can you share some light on the main characters in Unsettled?
My favourite character is Shankara Shastry, the court poet of five hundred years ago. He’s a man in love with learning and the written word. Poems fly out of his quill and his tryst with the Yakshi changes his destiny.
I talked about the Yakshi but did I tell you that she is a bit of a shape shifter?
Divya is unhappily married to an architect called Raghav. Both of them consult Dr. Ray and he advises them to visit the hundred roomed house.
Q.Is there a character that you yourself hate in Unsettled??
Hate? No I don’t think there is, not at all. Without love, it is very hard to write.
Q. How distant is reality from your writing?
Not that far. Imagination is concrete, sometimes more than so-called reality around me.
Q. Are you a realist or a fantasist?
Strangely both.
Q. Do you think the romance we see in books actually exist?
It does for some people and for some like the Yakshi in the story love is something one must pine for.
Q. The most memorable quote or moment in the book?
Here’s a passage I like when Shankara the poet meets the Yakshi: A woman in white, the woman in Divya’s dreams, the woman her grandmother described, Thathri, unhappy Thathri. She hovered in the air ever so slightly; you could never tell if you didn’t look carefully. Shankara had never seen hair such as hers; Meenakshi’s paled in comparison. Her eyes were lotus buds and he fell into their quicksand depths with a passion. Suddenly he receded into the shadows of his imagination and she was all. He followed her into the house while a dog howled in the distance.
Q. Can I ask your favourite character the vampire seductress from the book a few questions? Sure. Fire away.
Q. What is love according to you?
Love is everywhere and I will hold on to the idea of it even if it leaves me cold.
Q Any regrets?
Oh yes. I regret the poems I could not write and the poems I fell in love with. It was a lonely five centuries in the hundred roomed house. Now at least I have my readers.
Q What do you think of your creator?
She must stop sitting with her nose in books and get writing! And she must write poems always. Tell her that. Well if you want to get in touch with Neelima you can read her blog at http://neelthemuse.wordpress.com or if you want to read more about 'Unsettled' check this out here. Thanks Neelima. That's all for this weeks folks. Hope you're enjoying the Australian open. I hope Benoit Paire will be the surprising dark horse of this tournament, and all my fav players are through to the next round yay. Well happy weekend all. Song on my playlist now: Compass by Lady Antebellum
Q. Neelima what is Unsettled all about?
Unsettled is about a woman’s search for love. A couple on the verge of a break up go to an ancient hundred roomed house to look for the Scrolls of Love that could be the elixir that can save their marriage. They come face to face with an Indian femme fatale, a vampire seductress known as a Yakshi. She guards the Scrolls with a ferocity the couple do not anticipate.
The story is part paranormal romance and part oral story telling of myth. In this story the vampire seductress is not just blood and gore; she represents a woman who has so much to give and has been silenced for too long.
Q. Can you share some light on the main characters in Unsettled?
My favourite character is Shankara Shastry, the court poet of five hundred years ago. He’s a man in love with learning and the written word. Poems fly out of his quill and his tryst with the Yakshi changes his destiny.
I talked about the Yakshi but did I tell you that she is a bit of a shape shifter?
Divya is unhappily married to an architect called Raghav. Both of them consult Dr. Ray and he advises them to visit the hundred roomed house.
Q.Is there a character that you yourself hate in Unsettled??
Hate? No I don’t think there is, not at all. Without love, it is very hard to write.
Q. How distant is reality from your writing?
Not that far. Imagination is concrete, sometimes more than so-called reality around me.
Q. Are you a realist or a fantasist?
Strangely both.
Q. Do you think the romance we see in books actually exist?
It does for some people and for some like the Yakshi in the story love is something one must pine for.
Q. The most memorable quote or moment in the book?
Here’s a passage I like when Shankara the poet meets the Yakshi: A woman in white, the woman in Divya’s dreams, the woman her grandmother described, Thathri, unhappy Thathri. She hovered in the air ever so slightly; you could never tell if you didn’t look carefully. Shankara had never seen hair such as hers; Meenakshi’s paled in comparison. Her eyes were lotus buds and he fell into their quicksand depths with a passion. Suddenly he receded into the shadows of his imagination and she was all. He followed her into the house while a dog howled in the distance.
Q. Can I ask your favourite character the vampire seductress from the book a few questions? Sure. Fire away.
Q. What is love according to you?
Love is everywhere and I will hold on to the idea of it even if it leaves me cold.
Q Any regrets?
Oh yes. I regret the poems I could not write and the poems I fell in love with. It was a lonely five centuries in the hundred roomed house. Now at least I have my readers.
Q What do you think of your creator?
She must stop sitting with her nose in books and get writing! And she must write poems always. Tell her that. Well if you want to get in touch with Neelima you can read her blog at http://neelthemuse.wordpress.com or if you want to read more about 'Unsettled' check this out here. Thanks Neelima. That's all for this weeks folks. Hope you're enjoying the Australian open. I hope Benoit Paire will be the surprising dark horse of this tournament, and all my fav players are through to the next round yay. Well happy weekend all. Song on my playlist now: Compass by Lady Antebellum
January 10, 2014
Happy 2014 all
Its been a busy 2013 and I only hope that 2014 gets even better. I know I am eleven days late for a New Year's post. But I'm still here. A bit off-schedule.
First up Happy new Year. Thanks Berta for your wonderful card all the way from Goa. This year I got cards from all the people I did not give cards to. So I have added you to my next year's list of resurrecting a dying tradition.
Also a big shout-out to all my cousins who were at the wedding. You guys are all great dancers.
Another great thing has been that my novella is now available on Amazon, Apple iTunes, Flipkart, Pothi, ibookstore, Barnes & Nobles, Diesel books Sony Smashwords Kobo Versent books AllRomance Ebooks Omnilit and Goodreads.
I know that's a lot of places. :)
But I must also have you know that being a write is also a hustle every day, especially when you have a tiring day job that has nothing to do with it.
Another good thing has been my interview with Pat Bertram, author of A Spark of Heavenly fire.
Do check it out on her blog here
A big shout out to her as well.
Judy and Willie out there hello to you too. Stay warm.
Music on my playlist: Gabriel Shadid Time will remember us.
Quote for the week:
First up Happy new Year. Thanks Berta for your wonderful card all the way from Goa. This year I got cards from all the people I did not give cards to. So I have added you to my next year's list of resurrecting a dying tradition.
Also a big shout-out to all my cousins who were at the wedding. You guys are all great dancers.
Another great thing has been that my novella is now available on Amazon, Apple iTunes, Flipkart, Pothi, ibookstore, Barnes & Nobles, Diesel books Sony Smashwords Kobo Versent books AllRomance Ebooks Omnilit and Goodreads.
I know that's a lot of places. :)
But I must also have you know that being a write is also a hustle every day, especially when you have a tiring day job that has nothing to do with it.
Another good thing has been my interview with Pat Bertram, author of A Spark of Heavenly fire.
Do check it out on her blog here
A big shout out to her as well.
Judy and Willie out there hello to you too. Stay warm.
Music on my playlist: Gabriel Shadid Time will remember us.
Quote for the week:
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas everyone
Just wanted to wish everyone a blessed Christmas...
Have a wonderful Christmas season. I hope all have got their cards.
God bless all
Have a wonderful Christmas season. I hope all have got their cards.
God bless all
December 19, 2013
Christmas music
Can you hear the sound of bells jingling?
Well if you haven't heard the carolling on the street or the drums marching by. Too bad. Everyday we are serenaded by the groups of adults, oldies, children, teenagers singing their most preppy Christmas tunes. And I have a list of albums that you should check out as you decide what to buy for Christmas. Personally through Christmas week I just leave the internet radio on where they have Christmas music 24/7 365 days a year. You can find one on tunein or allchristmasinternetradio. Depending on my mood I switch stations. But sometimes the airwaves can be thin and signals get fogged up. Then I just go on to some favourites.
If you're a Jazz lover do pick Micheal Buble's Christmas special - he has a very jazzy way of doing it and it sounds upbeat, especially party kind. While I have only heard the 2011 version, I believe he has one for this year too.
If you want something calmer and homely I guess Celine Dion's album - These are special times is for you. I love the French carols and also the duets that she has with Andrea Bocelli + R Kelly. She brings her own comfort while singing these. I usually play this when we're at meals or prepping something. Its just beautiful.
Of late I have absolutely fallen in love with Celtic and opera music. The quartets of flute, harp, violin and cello are just divine. There are two albums here that you should give a listen to. On the instrumental side is Dan Gibson's Solitudes which has beautiful arrangements of Christmas carols.
Another Celtic version would be the album Celtic woman- Home for Christmas. If you love opera music, then Il Divo's album The Christmas collection is just the thing for you. I feel with their rich voices this quartet can actually manage to sing like a whole range choir. You have to listen to some of their renditions though. Stunning. I'm embedding it from youtube for your listening pleasure.
Josh Groban's Noel- I love his version of What Child is this? It almost always moves me to tears.
Then You cannot do with Boney M's Feliz Navidad, Brenda Lee's Rocking around the Christmas tree, Nat King Cole's - Christmas song, Jim Reeves - White Christmas. I could build this list to two hundred.
But what takes the cake is the Gloucester Cathedral choir.
There is plenty of good Christmas music for every taste and liking. There's no better way to express this joy and love that one feels at Christmas time than in music. So when you have your parties this year, can we please ditch the Bollywood noise and stick to the music of the season.
Happy Advent people, one more Sunday to prep. Squeeze confessions on to your list of to-do's.
See you soon.
Well if you haven't heard the carolling on the street or the drums marching by. Too bad. Everyday we are serenaded by the groups of adults, oldies, children, teenagers singing their most preppy Christmas tunes. And I have a list of albums that you should check out as you decide what to buy for Christmas. Personally through Christmas week I just leave the internet radio on where they have Christmas music 24/7 365 days a year. You can find one on tunein or allchristmasinternetradio. Depending on my mood I switch stations. But sometimes the airwaves can be thin and signals get fogged up. Then I just go on to some favourites.
If you're a Jazz lover do pick Micheal Buble's Christmas special - he has a very jazzy way of doing it and it sounds upbeat, especially party kind. While I have only heard the 2011 version, I believe he has one for this year too.
If you want something calmer and homely I guess Celine Dion's album - These are special times is for you. I love the French carols and also the duets that she has with Andrea Bocelli + R Kelly. She brings her own comfort while singing these. I usually play this when we're at meals or prepping something. Its just beautiful.
Of late I have absolutely fallen in love with Celtic and opera music. The quartets of flute, harp, violin and cello are just divine. There are two albums here that you should give a listen to. On the instrumental side is Dan Gibson's Solitudes which has beautiful arrangements of Christmas carols.
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Another Celtic version would be the album Celtic woman- Home for Christmas. If you love opera music, then Il Divo's album The Christmas collection is just the thing for you. I feel with their rich voices this quartet can actually manage to sing like a whole range choir. You have to listen to some of their renditions though. Stunning. I'm embedding it from youtube for your listening pleasure. Josh Groban's Noel- I love his version of What Child is this? It almost always moves me to tears.
Then You cannot do with Boney M's Feliz Navidad, Brenda Lee's Rocking around the Christmas tree, Nat King Cole's - Christmas song, Jim Reeves - White Christmas. I could build this list to two hundred.
But what takes the cake is the Gloucester Cathedral choir.
There is plenty of good Christmas music for every taste and liking. There's no better way to express this joy and love that one feels at Christmas time than in music. So when you have your parties this year, can we please ditch the Bollywood noise and stick to the music of the season.
Happy Advent people, one more Sunday to prep. Squeeze confessions on to your list of to-do's.
See you soon.
