Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 17

A new Biblio Breakdown and Instagram posts

Good evening, Write Edge readers. I’m so excited, because after a whole year I’m back with my writing podcast, Biblio Breakdown. In today’s episode, I share how to make an unlikable character totally lovable within the context of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Check out the episode now on my author website.

I’ve also put up my latest Instagram posts. See what I’m reading for next week’s review, my new editing tip, and more. Find me on Insta with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

For those of you who celebrate the holiday, have a wonderful Easter with family and loved ones. And please, everyone, no matter where you are in the world, tell a loved one you care about them this weekend. Life is too short not to.

Have a good weekend, readers.

E.R.G.

Book review now up

Good evening, Write Edge readers. I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the debut Off the Air by Christina Estes. Here’s the opening to my post:

A reporter out to prove she can handle a big story gets mixed up in a murder mystery when a local celebrity is killed. She discovers following her instincts isn’t getting her the scoop she wants and decides to get information by any means necessary—even if it means getting in trouble. Author Christina Estes leans into her experience as a reporter to great effect in her wholly entertaining debut, Off the Air.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Hug a loved one this week readers; send an email; text them. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

Last week and this week and all the days in between…

Hello, Write Edge readers. I know I’m late in posting last week’s content, but it’s been on my mind and I wanted to make sure I get it to you. So we’re going to do things a little differently in today’s post…

First, I wanted to make sure you saw my review from last week. I shared my thoughts on The Day Tripper by James Goodhand. Here’s the opening to my post:

A man discovers he is time traveling through different eras of his life but doesn’t know what started the travel or where and when it will lead him. As he struggles with waking up in a new year and time every single day, he pieces together the possibilities of where his life has gone and how difficult it might be to change the trajectory of his fate. Author James Goodhand takes readers on an emotional journey that might slow down in spots but is worth the wait in his latest book The Day Tripper.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Now, for this week’s writing post. It’s the last Monday of the month, which means my writers’ showcase where I share the few bits of writing from around the web that caught my eye. You can find them now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop.

On the book review blog this week, I’ll be giving you my thoughts on Off the Air by Christina Estes. Find that review in two days on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Finally, Instagram. I’ll be sure to update it on Friday. Find out what I’m reading for next week’s review, a writing/editing tip (this is new!), something of my own writing that I want to share, and a reminder to keep dreaming.

Thank you, as always, for your support, readers. I’m trying as hard as I can to get back to a regular routine and rhythm, and I’ll continue trying.

Tell a loved one you care about them this week. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

Survived the Ides of March…

Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Monday. We’ve survived the Ides of March but are now dealing with the fickle March weather. The high today is 39. Tomorrow it’s going to be 60 degrees. I keep wondering if I should just stay inside until the weather decides what it wants to do…

Being inside, of course, means more writing time, and now that I’m back at my desk, I’m getting more of it. First up is this week’s haiku. I didn’t know, when I set this goal for myself to write a new haiku every week this year, that I’d be using this compact space to process so many feelings, but that’s what I’m doing. As I told someone today, some days are good days and some days are bad days. Sometimes they’re both. You might get a little sense of that in my newest poem. Check it out on The Write Edge Writing Workshop now.

Last week you saw my #bookreviewpreview of the book I’m currently reading. On Wednesday you’ll get to find out what I thought of The Day Tripper by James Goodhand. Look for my review in the middle of the week on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Finally, it’ll be back to Instagram on Friday. I know this past week I was a day late to post, but I’m glad I finally did so. It’s weird to get back to “normal” life, but it has to happen eventually, right? I’ll give you a little peek into my writing life and nonwriting life at the end of the week. Find previous posts with my handle, @EktaRGarg, on Instagram or on my Facebook author page.

And I’ll end with my standard reminder: hug a loved one, readers. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

Instagram posts now up

Hello, Write Edge readers. I know I’m a day late, but I wasn’t going to let the weekend end without posting my latest photos on Instagram for you. Check out what I’m reading, what I saw on spring break, and where you can come meet me in person if you’re in Central Illinois any time soon. Find me on the app with my handle, @EktaRGarg.

Hug your loved ones, Write Edge readers. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

Coming back to my writing

Good morning, Write Edge readers. I’ve been away from the blog for a while, I know. I’ve spent the last six weeks experiencing a variety of emotions and helping loved ones through what is truly an indescribable time. But after some careful thought and consideration, I decided it was time to come back to this little corner of the internet that has sustained me through so much in these 14 years.

I’d intended to post my latest haiku on Monday, but the day got away from me. I did write it, though, so I went ahead and posted it today. You can find it now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop.

(I think, when it comes to my haiku explorations, that this year will be one where I mine my feelings and thoughts on losing Dad. This week’s poem is about finding solace, which is a good thing.)

I’ve also posted this week’s book review. I read Becky Hunter’s debut, One Moment, which is, ironically enough, about death, loss, and the people we hold closest to us. Here’s the opening to my review:

Two best friends learn about love and loss when one of them dies and the other must deal with the remains of their friendship. When the living friend meets the person responsible for her friend’s death, she is forced to confront her complicated feelings. Author Becky Hunter takes readers through an emotional journey that is completely relatable from start to finish in her debut, One Moment.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

I’ll also be coming back to Instagram on Friday, although I’m not sure what I’ll be sharing. However, it’s time to move forward on that platform as well. For previous posts on the app, use my handle, @EktaRGarg.

Thank you, readers, for letting me come back into your world. Please tell your loved ones you care about them. You never know what changes life will bring without warning.

Always,

E.R.G.

Going on hiatus…

Hello, Write Edge readers. Life is what happens while we’re busy making plans, the saying goes. I lost my father on Saturday and am going to be taking a hiatus from the blog for the month of February. Thank you for your understanding and patience. I promise that when I come back, I’ll be back with the writing you’ve come to enjoy and appreciate.

I’m so proud to be my father’s daughter, and I had the immense privilege of writing his obituary. You can find it here.

As I’ve been saying for a while now, tell your loved ones you care about them. Life is too short not to.

Ekta

Instagram posts now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest pictures to Instagram. Find out what I’m reading for next week, what I’ve done this week, and more. Check them out with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a great weekend, readers, and remember to tell a loved one you care about them. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers, from the foggy Midwest. It’s been a challenge to drive today because of how limited the visibility has been, but it’s also perfect book reading weather. My dream would be to have this kind of weather for about two weeks and nothing but a pile of books as my sole responsibility!

In any case, today I’m sharing my review of the book I showcased on Instagram on Friday in my #bookreviewpreview. Today I offer my thoughts on The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Here’s the opening to my post:

A dangerous family deals with the consequences of their ruthless ways. Death skips from family member to family member, from generation to generation, but eventually becomes enamored with the family himself. Author Elizabeth Gonzalez James leans into her own family’s history for the root of a story that starts with a lot of gusto but ends in a quiet breeze in her new book The Bullet Swallower.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Also, speaking of books, if you love supporting indie authors and also enjoy sci-fi/fantasy books, check out LitRing’s Close Encounters of the Bookish Kind to discover new sci-fi/fantasy reads and for a chance to win cool prizes!

Have a great week, readers, and remember to tell a loved one you care. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.

An icy Monday, pesky taxes, and more

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s an icy, slippery Monday here in Central Illinois. I’ve spent a good portion of it in front of my computer dealing with that pesky governmental thing known as taxes. At one point my 15-year-old came into the studio for moral support, and I told her to try not to grow up. She took one look at my screen and said, “Working on it.”

In any case, the form is completed and submitted, taxes have been paid, and now I’m here to share this week’s content with you. First up is my the next poem in my #yearlonghaikuproject. Read that now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop.

Last week I shared my #bookreviewpreview for this week’s new release. On Wednesday I’ll tell you what I thought of The Bullet Swallower by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. Check it out on The Write Edge Bookshelf.

Finally, on Friday, we’re back to Instagram with new photos. Missed previous ones? Use my handle, @EktaRGarg, to see them on the app, or visit my Facebook author page.

One more thing for you sci-fi/fantasy fans out there! LitRing is doing an awesome promotion of books by indie authors. Take a look here for their Close Encounters of the Bookish Kind and enter for cool prizes!

Have a great week, readers, and remember to tell a loved one you care about them. Life is too short not to.

E.R.G.