Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 51

Book review posted!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Ryan R. Campbell’s literary short story collection And Ampersand. Here’s the opening to my post:

A young swimmer gets in the water only to have the race cut short. A camper takes his girlfriend on a romantic trip just before they get caught in a mudslide. A grieving husband tries to make sense of losing his wife to a drunk driver then picks up a drunk hitchhiker. These plots and more fill author Ryan R. Campbell’s debut short story collection And Ampersand.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a wonderful day, readers!

E.R.G.

Hello, spring!

Good afternoon, Write Edge readers! We’re officially moving toward spring (of course, I say that now, but last year in late April we got snow over a Friday/Saturday, so, really, who knows?) The weather is warmer, and many of us in Central IL are wearing short sleeves. Finally!

We’re at the start of another week, which means we have to get off the ground with this week’s motivational quote. This one, I think, speaks to those big life goals I keep talking about — those passions we’re all pursuing and fighting for every day. It’s easy, sometimes, to feel lost or unsure of ourselves. In moments like those, maybe the best course of action is to put one foot in front of the other:

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.” — Thomas Carlyle

I’ve also posted my short story for you. Here’s a quick excerpt of it:

“Date of birth?”

She confirmed that as well as the address and bobbed on her toes.

“Your test results came back positive, ma’am.”

Read the whole piece now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll share my latest book review with you. This Wednesday I’m offering thoughts on the debut literary short story collection And Ampersand by r.r. campbell. Find that on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And, on Friday, we’re back to Instagram and more fun photos. Find out what I’m up to with writing and life on my profile with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or by checking out thumbnails of the pictures here on the home page. Come back Friday for more fun details!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a fantastic day and week, readers!

E.R.G.

Latest Instagram posts up!

Happy Friday, Write Edge readers, and for those of you who celebrate it, a happy early Easter! I’ve posted my latest Instagram pictures for you. They include my #bookreviewpreview for what I’m reading for next week as well as other fun tidbits from this past week. Check out all of my posts with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or take a peek at the thumbnails here on the home page.

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a lovely weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review up!

Good evening, Write Edge readers! I’ve finally gotten a chance to post this week’s book review, which is about Sunflower Sisters by historical author Martha Hall Kelly. Here’s the opening to my post:

Three women must wrestle with their personal challenges as they try to stay alive and keep their loved ones close during the Civil War. When their paths cross, they do all they can to hold fast to their convictions that fall on either side of the Union/Confederacy divide. Author Martha Hall Kelly rounds out her trilogy about the relatives of the famed Ferriday family in the historically deep but ultimately lightweight novel Sunflower Sisters.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Sleep well, readers!

E.R.G.

Spring, here we come!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! We’ve officially passed the spring equinox here in the northern hemisphere, which means warmer weather is on its way. For those of us who live farther north, we’re excited about shedding our heavy winter jackets. If that means light sweatshirts for a little while, so be it. We’re just thrilled to see the sun for long stretches.

It’s Monday, so that means our motivational quote first. I read an interesting article this morning that talked about the necessity for writers and other artists to find meaning in their own work. There are millions of people creating art every single day. We can’t sit around waiting for others to find meaning in what we express — we have to find meaning in it for ourselves and then share it with others. I’d like to think that this week’s quote speaks to that same idea of necessity, of how much an artist has to look inward in order to share something of worth.

“Story is to human beings what the pearl is to the oyster.”—Joseph Gold

Today is also the last Monday of the month, which means our monthly writers’ showcase. I have stories that will make you do a double-take and those that might leave you feeling a little sad. They’re still beautiful, all the same. Check out all of them on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll share a brand new book review with you. Martha Hall Kelly, the author of the incredible book Lilac Girls and Lost Roses is back with another historical fiction novel, this time set during the Civil War. Come back Wednesday to find out what I thought about Sunflower Sisters on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And on Friday, it’s back to Instagram posts. Find out what images have captured my mood and mind, along with my #bookreviewpreview for next week. Check it out at the end of the week on Instagram, and find previous posts using my handle, @EktaRGarg.

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a lovely day, readers!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures posted!

Good evening, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my parenting adventures for this month. Check out this excerpt:

The short version of this story is that Twelve spent Tuesday and Wednesday at home attending school from a comfy chair and ottoman set. By Wednesday afternoon, she could put some weight back on her right foot. She was limping, but she was mobile.

She was also antsy.

Read the whole post now on Growth Chart!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a lovely weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

A good evening to you, Write Edge readers! I’ve finally gotten the chance to post my book review for you. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Firekeeper‘s Daughter by debut author Angeline Boulley. Here’s the opening to my post:

When a young Native American woman witnesses a horrific crime, she’s approached by law enforcement for help on solving a much bigger problem. As the teen tries to make sense of the threat to her community, she also fights to save it. Author Angeline Boulley writes with confidence and authority in her debut young adult novel Firekeeper’s Daughter.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a great night, readers!

E.R.G.

Last full week of March!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Here we are close to the end of the month, in the last full week of it, actually. The weather is starting to get better in many places, and hope is starting to lift spirits. It’s also starting to make people a little careless when it comes to the pandemic.

Please. Wear a mask. Stay socially distant. Wash your hands. Find out about the vaccine. We’re closer now than ever before at beating this. Help the effort by staying patient.

Okay, enough of the PSA. :> We’re off and running on a full week of content here. First, it’s our motivational quote for the week, and, actually, maybe we need to circle back to the PSA for just a minute. If you make efforts in your community, others will see you. That’ll definitely make a difference. One of our oldest presidents made a note of it.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”—John Quincy Adams

This week’s short story is about an older gentleman who is being sought for advice. People in the story world think of him as a leader because of his age. Here’s a quick excerpt of my newest work:

“Wouldn’t you know it, my number never did come up but Daddy’s did. After he came home in a box, Momma pretty much stopped talking altogether. I did my best to take care of her, but she just didn’t look at anyone the same way. Sometimes she’d reach out and straighten my hair or my collar or what-have-you, but she never said much of anything at all.

Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In last week’s #bookreviewpreview, I announced I’d be reviewing Cloudmaker this Wednesday. Unfortunately that book has been added to my DNF (Did Not Finish) pile. I’m hoping to have a review of Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley for you this Wednesday. We’ll find out together in the middle of the week what book shows up on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

And, on Friday, it’s back to parenting adventures. Find out what the kids and I are up to; come back to the blog at the end of the week to Growth Chart!

I’ve already done the PSA, so I won’t bug you with it again, but, please, take care of yourselves and one another. Even if it’s hard.

Have a lovely day and week, readers!

E.R.G.

Latest Instagram posts up!

Good evening, Write Edge readers! Just getting ready for bed for the night, but I couldn’t shut down my computer before telling you I’ve posted my latest pictures on Instagram. Check out what I’m reading for next week’s book review, what we ate for dinner tonight, and more. Find it all now with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or take a quick peek at the thumbnails here on the main page.

Wear a mask; stay socially distant.

Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a great weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on The Memory Collectors by debut author Kim Neville. Here’s the opening to my post:

When a young woman with a unique ability to feel emotions meets another person like her, she has to decide whether she’ll trust her new acquaintance with her deepest secrets. As the two begin working together, the woman learns to harness her ability for the good of others and herself. Author Kim Neville showcases her Canadian hometown of Vancouver in the well-intentioned but somewhat faulty novel The Memory Collectors.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Wear a mask; stay socially distant. Wash your hands; find out about the vaccine.

Have a wonderful day, readers!

E.R.G.