Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 3

Latest installment of R.E.A.D.s now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! This month I’ve been doing a deep dive into This American Woman, the memoir by Indian immigrant mom comedian Zarna Garg. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on the book as an Author. Check out this installment now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! You probably noticed that I didn’t post anything on Monday, yet anyone who follows me on Instagram may have seen my #bookreviewpreview yesterday. I’m mulling some different strategies for handling Instagram posts to make them easier to manage for me and also, admittedly, to drive traffic. For now, I’ll be posting single posts on Instagram five days a week instead of four on Fridays. Let’s see what happens with that!

If you missed the post or aren’t on Instagram, today I’m sharing my thoughts on The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker. Here’s the opening to my review:

A psychiatrist comes across the case of a lifetime when a single mother who he’s treating goes missing multiple times. As the psychiatrist gets to know his patient better, he begins questioning everything he thought he knew about his profession as well as his own reality. Author Karen Thompson Walker balances science fiction and science fact in her new, thought-provoking book, The Strange Case of Jane O.

Read the whole thing now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Second R.E.A.D.s installment now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! This month in my Thursday R.E.A.D.s, I’m doing a deep dive into the memoir This American Woman by Indian immigrant mom comedian Zarna Garg. Check out what I thought of the book as an Editor in this week’s post.

Have a great night, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Wednesday! Last week I shared in my #bookreviewpreview that the latest book in my #readinglist was Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by debut author Hwang Bo-reum. What did I think of this debut by the South Korean author? Well, I’ve posted my review for you, and here’s the opening to that post:

A woman walks away from a personal crisis and opens a bookstore in an attempt to recenter her life. As she begins employing people and interacting with those who become regulars, the woman experiences the healing she’s so desperately craved for years. Debut author Hwang Bo-reum’s first novel falls squarely in the genre of healing fiction with likeable characters and relatable personal challenges in the smash hit from South Korea, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great night, readers!

E.R.G.

Hello to May and…sweatshirts??

Hello, Write Edge readers! The month of May has officially started, and here in Central Illinois we went from beautiful mid-70s weather back to sweatshirts over the weekend when we got rain and the temps tumbled. They’re supposed to go back up a little this week, but it’s still going to be a cooler start to the month.

Never fear, however! There’s plenty going on, book-wise, in the world and here on the blog. First, though, your Monday Motivation, and, writers, this one’s for you. As I’ve mentioned here and on social media, I’m proud to be on the board of directors of Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp. This organization has the singular goal of bringing writers together every year for a workshop/retreat/book coaching sessions all in the same week. Three different experiences for two separate genre tracks — All-Fiction writers and Speculative Fiction (think fantasy, horror, and science fiction, among others.) The best thing about Bookcamp, though, is that it’s purposely kept small so that in addition to instruction and mentorship, writers can have meaningful connections with one another about their book-length works.

We only have a handful of spots left, and the week includes all meals and your stay for an incredibly affordable price. Click on the graphic below for more information!

Last week on Instagram in my #bookreviewpreview, I shared that I #amreading Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Korean author Hwang Boreum. This novel is part of the newest reading craze known as healing fiction. What did I think of it? Find out on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

We go back to the Bookshelf on Thursday for my Editor installment in this month’s Thursday R.E.A.D.s. I’m taking a closer look at This American Woman by Indian immigrant mom comedian Zarna Garg. Check out the first installment here before this Thursday’s post!

Finally, on Friday, we go back to shenanigans on Instagram. Missed previous posts? Find me on the app with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

Instagram posts now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I hope you’re having a great week. I’ve posted my latest pics on Instagram, and it’s a book-heavy posting this week. Find out what I #amreading in my #bookreviewpreview and more now on the app. Find me with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a great weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

First Thursday R.E.A.D.s installment up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! This month I’m going to do my Thursday R.E.A.D.s deep dive into This American Woman by Zarna Garg. If you want to know my thoughts on this book as a Reviewer, check out the first installment of my analysis by going now to The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Last week in my #bookreviewpreview on Instagram, I shared that I was reading The Edge of Yesterday by Rita Woods for this week’s review. What did I think of this historical science fiction novel? Here’s the opening to my post:

A woman finds herself time traveling to her own city a century earlier. As she grapples with the effects her travel has on her current life, she must figure out how to manage the changes without losing everything. Author Rita Woods tries to give readers a historical perspective through time travel in a book that ultimately doesn’t succeed in her newest novel The Edge of Yesterday.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great evening, readers!

E.R.G.

A few spots left in Bookcamp! and the last week of April

Hello, Write Edge readers! Spring is truly underway. Here in Central Illinois, we have lovely temperatures and everything is blooming. It’s a wonderful time to be here, and I’m grateful that we are.

It’s Monday, which is when I offer my (informal) Monday Motivation. Writers, there are still some spots left in the Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp happening this June in Racine, Wisconsin. This week-long event is a retreat, a series of workshops, and an opportunity for book coaching. Two tracks — all-genre fiction and speculative fiction — allow for plenty of room and time to meet others who write in the same hemisphere you do, and you get plenty of one-on-one time with agents, editors, workshop instructors, and other writers during the sessions and in between. I’ve been to several writing conferences, and Bookcamp truly is unique. I encourage you to check it out:

Last year was my first time at Bookcamp, and I had such a wonderful time and found so much meaning in the experience that I joined the board of directors. I don’t assign my loyalties lightly; when I commit to something, I’m there 100 percent because I believe in it 100 percent. It would be great if you could join us in Wisconsin! If you have questions, feel free to email me and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Last Friday I shared in my #bookreviewpreview what I #amreading for this week. Want to know what I thought of the time travel, magical realism novel The Edge of Yesterday by Rita Woods? Find out on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Thursday, we jump into a new month and a new quarter, which also means a new Thursday R.E.A.D.s. Find out later in the week which book I’ll be diving into for you during the month of May back on The Bookshelf.

Finally, on Friday, it’s back to Instagram and my writing and non-writing shenanigans. If you missed previous posts, find them now on the app with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

Happy World Book Day! and a new review

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s World Book Day — yay! — and I have a new review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the romantic thriller debut by author Aisha Saeed. Saeed has written many books for younger audiences; this is the first adult book she’s written, and here’s the opening to my post on it:

When a high-profile matchmaker finds herself in the middle of a scandal after one of her matches implodes in public, she learns that someone is out for revenge. She’ll have to work with her best guy friend and her team to figure out what’s going on before there’s further threat to her life…or her reputation. Young adult author Aisha Saeed debuts with a romantic thriller that mostly hits all the right marks in her newest book The Matchmaker.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.