Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 29
January 25, 2023
Book review now up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. Here’s the opening to my review:
A young teen stuck inside his home because of the pandemic forges a new bond with his great-grandmother. As he encourages his great-grandmother to talk about the past, he learns the valuable lesson that resilience takes on many forms. Author Katherine Marsh brings to her target audience the immediacy of not one but two current world events while emphasizing the universal themes in her newest novel The Lost Year.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a fantastic day, readers!
E.R.G.
January 23, 2023
The last full week of January!
Hello, Write Edge readers! Today I’ve been feeling the effects of one of my most favorite things to do, and that actually inspired today’s Workshop entry. As a quick recap, I decided to give myself a new writing challenge for 2023 for The Write Edge Writing Workshop. That includes a new haiku on the first Monday of the month but also on the fourth Monday if a month has five Mondays total. Since January happens to be one of those months, I thought I’d write a haiku about how I’m feeling today. Check out the latest writing exercise now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll have a brand new review for you. Last week saw the release of the middle grade novel The Lost Year by veteran author Katherine Marsh. Want to know what I thought of her newest book? Find out on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Speaking of books, good reviews are rolling in for In the Heart of the Linden Wood. Check out this author interview I did with Feathered Quill, and then click on the link below the interview to read the review the site did. It’s clear that readers want to visit Linden and spend as much time there as I did! And if you visit my author website now, you can do just that by getting the book earlier than the release date of February 7!
Finally, I know I didn’t get around to posting the latest bits from my writing life on Instagram this past Friday, but I’ll have plenty of fun stuff to share at the end of this week. Find previous posts on Instagram with my handle, @EktaRGarg, on my Facebook author page.
Have a wonderful week, readers! Stay warm!
E.R.G.
January 18, 2023
Book review now up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita. Here’s the opening to my review:
A detective investigates a case related to a personal tragedy. In order to do so, she’ll have to face one of her greatest fears and deal with the residents of a small town who all share a building. Author Iris Yamashita puts her screenwriting talent to work in her entertaining, compelling debut novel City Under One Roof.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Speaking of books to read, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, my original fairy tale for adults, releases in February. It answers the question, “What happens after ‘happily ever after’?” Pub day is February 7, 2023, but if you order it from my author website, I’ll send you a copy early!
Get your copy of In the Heart of the Linden Wood now!
Have a wonderful week, readers!
E.R.G.
January 16, 2023
It’s the middle of January!
Good evening, Write Edge readers! It’s the middle of January, and today is the third Monday of the month. In the new writing challenge I’ve set for myself for 2023 on The Writing Workshop, today I’ve posted a piece written about something in threes. I also decided that the third Monday of the month will be for creative nonfiction. Check out my first creative nonfiction piece in threes now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop.
On Friday on Instagram, I gave a quick preview of this week’s book for review. In the middle of the week, I’ll share what I thought of City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita. Find that review on The Write Edge Bookshelf.
Finally, at the end of the week, it’s back to Instagram and more pictures from my life both writing and non-writing related. Find previous posts on Insta with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.
Have you pre-ordered your copy of In the Heart of the Linden Wood yet? If not, go now to my author website to do so, and I’ll send you a signed copy before the release date of February 7, 2023!
Stay warm this week, readers!
E.R.G.
January 13, 2023
Instagram posts now up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’m thrilled today to share my Instagram posts with you, especially because one of them shares high praise for In the Heart of the Linden Wood. I’m so glad this original fairy tale of my heart is making its way in the world, slowly but surely. The book comes out on February 7, but you can get your copy early by heading to my author website and ordering it for yourself now!
Check out what else I’m up to in my reading/writing/other life by visiting Instagram with my handle, @EktaRGarg.
Have a fantastic weekend, readers!
E.R.G.
January 11, 2023
New 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 House in the Pines by Ana Reyes. Here’s the opening to my post:
A young woman still dealing with the death of her best friend is horrified to learn that another person has died in the same mysterious way. As the woman sets out to discover the truth behind the odd circumstances, she must face her own buried memories. Author Ana Reyes impresses in parts with her debut but struggles to pull the entire story together in The House in the Pines.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Happy Wednesday!
E.R.G.
January 9, 2023
Second Monday means second person!
Hello, Write Edge readers! As I announced last week, in 2023 I’m going to push myself to try new things in my writing. While I’ve written a few pieces in second person before, I thought it might be an interesting challenge to spend every second Monday of the month this year doing even more of it.
I have to admit, this makes me think of writing and stories in a way that I’m not used to. My brain was getting more into a literary fiction kind of feel with this one, and I’ve posted this year’s first attempt at writing in second person. Here’s an excerpt:
I run my fingers over boxes in the cookie aisle now, thinking of that salty-sweet combination. Thinking of you. You were right, you know. We do have to balance the salty and sweet.
Check out the whole piece of flash fiction now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll share a brand new review with you. The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes released last week, I’ll let you know what I thought of it. Find that review on The Write Edge Bookshelf on Wednesday.
Finally, on Friday it’s back to Instagram posts and more fun with In the Heart of the Linden Wood. Readers are already loving it! Check out this review on The Feathered Quill.
Also, the book officially releases on February 7, 2023, but I have author copies to send anyone who pre-orders this fairy tale for grownups directly from my author website. Go there now to see how to do that!
Stay safe and warm, readers. Have a lovely week!
E.R.G.
January 6, 2023
First Instagram posts of 2023!
Happy Friday, Write Edge readers! I’ve put up my first Instagram posts of 2023, and with my new book releasing in a month I have to admit the content this week is a little heavy on In the Heart of the Linden Wood. Reviews are starting to come in, and readers are loving this original fairy tale! Check out this new review from Feathered Quill Reviews. I’m so excited and grateful!
You can find my latest Instagram posts with my handle, @EktaRGarg. If you want to get your own copy of Linden, go now to my author website and I’ll send you a signed copy before the release date!
Have a wonderful weekend, readers! Stay healthy, and have fun!
E.R.G.
January 4, 2023
Newest book review now posted!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I have my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Blaze Me a Sun by Swedish author and criminologist Christoffer Carlsson. Here’s the opening to my post:
On the night that the prime minister is murdered, a small town in Sweden is shocked by a horrific local crime. A police officer obsesses over what happened, even as the criminal taunts the police that he’ll strike again. As time passes, the officer and the town’s residents try to figure out how to move forward as cynicism about the state of their country. Renowned criminologist and award-winning author Christoffer Carlsson draws on his expertise to offer readers a thoughtful, compelling novel in Blaze Me a Sun.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Stay warm, readers, and take care of yourselves!
E.R.G.
January 2, 2023
Happy 2023, Write Edge readers!
Happy new year, Write Edge readers! I’m so excited about 2023! I have some new features to announce for The Write Edge Writing Workshop, and I’m a little more than a month away from the release of my original fairy tale, In the Heart of the Linden Wood. This book will appeal to those of you who loved The Chronicles of Narnia and The Secret Garden when you were younger. It’s about a grieving king who must save his kingdom from a threat by going on a quest. Along the way, he’ll have to rescue hostages and mend another broken heart by putting it back together piece by piece, all while trying to figure out whether he’s worthy of his crown. For more information on pre-ordering a signed copy from me, go to my author website now!
Now, on to the new features on The Write Edge Writing Workshop! I started this arm of the blog about 10 years ago as a way to challenge myself to get better in the craft, and every year I try to up the challenge. In 2023, I’ll share a new haiku with you on the first Monday of the month on The Workshop. The second Monday will bring you my efforts at writing stories in second person. On the third Monday, I’ll write stories about things in threes. On the last Monday of the month, I’ll continue to support other writers with my monthly writers’ showcase. If there’s an extra Monday (as there is in January,) I’ll share an extra haiku with you on that fourth Monday and do the showcase on the fifth Monday.
To that end, check out my first haiku of 2023 by going now to The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
This past weekend, I previewed on Instagram the book I’m reviewing for this week. Find out on Wednesday what I thought of Blaze Me A Sun by Christoffer Carlsson. You can check it out on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Finally, on Friday, it’s back to Instagram posts from my writing and non-writing lives. Find previous posts on Insta with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page!
One change to note. Even though it was a really hard decision, I’ve decided to retire my parenting blog called Growth Chart. While I absolutely enjoyed sharing my parenting adventures for you, I thought long and hard over the Christmas break about what’s best for the blog and my writing, editing, and publishing goals going forward. Growth Chart was a way for me to share with family, friends, and other parents my joys and frustrations in parenting. While it definitely gave me some practice in writing, it was always more of a fun project rather than a serious venture. As I looked for ways to streamline The Write Edge and its extensions, I knew I had to stop posting on Growth Chart. I don’t know if I’ll keep the blog itself up; I’m still mulling that decision. But I’ll no longer post to it.
Those of you who read and enjoyed it, I hope you can understand and also that you’ll find other content here to enjoy and share.
Have a wonderful week, readers! I’ll be back on Wednesday with my new book review.
Here’s to magic and hope for the new year!
E.R.G.
