Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 40
February 3, 2022
First Thursday R.E.A.D.s for 2022 now up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted the first installment of the first Thursday R.E.A.D.s for this year. This month I’m doing a deep dive into The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen. Today I’ve shared my thoughts on the book as a Reviewer. Check it out now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Stay warm and safe out there, readers. Take care of one another and then yourselves.
E.R.G.
February 2, 2022
Book review now up!
Hello from snowy Central Illinois! The white stuff hasn’t let up all day, and neither has the wind. Which means it’s a perfect day to curl up with a good book.
Speaking of which, I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Black Cake by debut author Charmaine Wilkerson. Here’s the opening to my post:
Estranged siblings receive a powerful message after their mother’s death revealing a secret. As they try to decide what to do with the information, they must also try to find a way back to one another. Debut author Charmaine Wilkerson uses lush descriptions in a book with a slightly wobbly plot in her first novel Black Cake.
Read the rest of the review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Stay warm, take care of each other and then yourselves, and have a wonderful rest of your day, readers!.
E.R.G.
January 31, 2022
Celebrating 12 years this week!
Hello, Write Edge readers! Many of you who have been around for a while probably know that this week is birthday week around here — The Write Edge turns 12! It’s also my birthday, which makes February the best month of the year.
(I also happen to know a lot of other people with February birthdays, and a few of them even share the day with me. Candles and cake all around!)
Blogging and talking to all of you every single week like this has taught me so much, and I’m so grateful I get to do it. Thank you for your support and grace. It means the world to me!
The support goes two ways, of course. It’s the last Monday of the month, so today is our writers’ showcase. I’m sharing nonfiction and fiction alike. Check out all of the amazing work I read right now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll post my new book review. Tomorrow sees the release of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson. Find out on Wednesday what I thought of this debut. You can check out the review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Also, this month I return to one of the newer features around here: Thursday R.E.A.D.s. If you haven’t read one before, this feature appears quarterly and it’s where I spend the month delving into a book as a Reviewer, Editor, Author, and a Dreamer of stories and books. Find out later this week what book I’m examining for this month’s R.E.A.D.s!
Finally, on Friday, it’s back to Instagram. We’re expecting quite a bit of snow in the middle of the week, so I imagine I’ll be posting my share of powder on Friday. See those pictures as well as others, including a preview of next week’s book review, on Instagram on Friday!
Thank you again, dear readers, for everything! Take care of each other and then yourselves, and be sure to bundle up out there!
E.R.G.
January 28, 2022
Newest parenting adventures posted!
A very good evening to you, Write Edge readers! It’s been a while, but I’ve posted my latest Growth Chart for you. Today I share thoughts on driving — specifically, teenagers who drive. Here’s a short excerpt of the post:
I instruct her carefully, patiently (even though some days I want to step on the accelerator for her,) and let her absorb the ways of the road.
Read the whole Chart now on Growth Chart!
Remember to take care of each other and then yourselves, readers! Have a great weekend, and stay warm!
E.R.G.
January 26, 2022
Book review now up!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! It’s so cold here in Central Illinois this morning that if you’re outside and you take in a deep breath, it’s like you’re inviting winter to settle into your lungs. Brrr!
Fortunately, there are plenty of fun things to read to keep us all warm. Speaking of which, I’ve posted this week’s book review for you. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on the debut, The Appeal, by author Janice Hallett. Check out the opening to my post about this murder mystery:
The members of a community theater group come together to support one of their own through a family tragedy, but tensions mount as people accuse one another of lies and deceptions. When someone in the group dies, everyone becomes a suspect. Author Janice Hallett uses the epistolary approach that starts with intrigue but loses steam halfway through her debut novel The Appeal.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Weather like this makes me think of the holidays; if you’re in the mood for a holiday book, check out my novella The Truth About Elves that the Midwest Book Review called “literary hot chocolate.” Get more info now!
And, of course, take care of each other and then yourselves, readers. Have a great Wednesday!
E.R.G.
January 24, 2022
Last full week of January!
Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s the last full week of January, and it’s a blustery one here in Central Illinois. I think the man on the radio said our low tonight would be a “balmy” 9 degrees. That might mean an extra blanket tonight.
In the meantime, I’m writing and reading and sharing all of that with you. First, my latest short story for the week. In a slight departure from other things I’ve posted recently, I decided to go with a sweet little scene. Life doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom all the time, right? We can also agonize over the more “commonplace” situations too, because we all know that when we’re in the middle of those moments those circumstances don’t feel so common after all.
To that end, here’s the once-sentence excerpt for this week’s story.
“Shhh! The baby only just went to sleep, and Ritu is finally sleeping as well.”
Read the whole thing now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
This past Friday on Instagram, I teased the book I’m reviewing for this week. Tomorrow sees the release of The Appeal by Janice Hallett. Find out on Wednesday what I thought of the novel on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
And, finally, Friday brings more Instagram posts and an introspective Growth Chart about — what else? — kids growing up. :>
Before everything else, of course, take care of each other and then yourselves.
Have a great week, readers!
E.R.G.
January 21, 2022
Happy Instagram Friday!
Hello, Write Edge readers! Another Friday and more Instagram posts for you. Find out what I’m reading for next week’s review by checking out my #bookreviewpreview, get a sneak peek at what I’m writing, and more. Head on over to the app/site now and use my handle, @EktaRGarg, to find me. You can see previews of the photos here on the home page, and you can also find the pictures on my Facebook author page.
Have a good weekend, readers. Stay warm, and remember to take care of each other and then yourselves.
E.R.G.
January 19, 2022
Midweek bonus!
Hello, Write Edge readers! Apologies for not posting on Monday. It was a day off for the kids, as many of you probably already know with your own families, which makes it a little harder to dedicate whole swaths of my day to writing/posting. However, I did get to this week’s flash fiction, which I’ve had time to polish and now post for you. Here’s the one-sentence excerpt:
A last memory clicked into place, and when her eyes popped open sweat beaded her brow.
Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
Next, this week’s book review. As promised on Instagram last week, this week I’m giving you my thoughts on A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham. Here’s the opening to my post:
A woman is forced to relive the memories of a horrific crime from her childhood when similar crimes begin happening again. As she fights to maintain some normalcy, she begins to suspect that the new crime wave is connected to her. Author Stacy Willingham gives readers a solid debut in the mostly compelling but sometimes problematic novel A Flicker in the Dark.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
On Friday I’ll share what I’m reviewing for next week (look for it on my posts with #bookreviewpreview) as well as other fun things from my corner of the world. Check out older posts using my handle, @EktaRGarg, or check them out on my Facebook author page.
Don’t forget to take care of each other and then yourselves, readers!
E.R.G.
January 14, 2022
Instagram posts now up!
Happy late Friday, readers! I waited until now to post my latest Instagram pictures because I wanted to share what we were having for dinner tonight — virtually anyway. 
Take a look at that as well as some cool books I now own and other fun stuff from my week. Go to Instagram and find me with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or visit my Facebook author page. You can also see little previews right here!
In the meantime, take care of each other and then yourselves, readers. Have a great long weekend!
E.R.G.
January 12, 2022
Book review posted!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the brand new book The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. Here’s the opening to my post:
Two women are connected to a tragedy by a house in a well-to-do neighborhood. As one tries to make sense of what happened, the other wants to forget the entire incident. Author Diane Chamberlain returns with her attention to detail in the compelling yet incomplete novel The Last House on the Street.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Take care of one another and then yourselves, readers!
E.R.G.
