Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 61

Latest Thursday R.E.A.D.s entry now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s the third week of our book analysis — the Thursday R.E.A.D.s — and this week I’m examining The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins as an a.uthor.

Some critics have complained about the length of the book and its supposedly liberal leanings. I think Collins was doing what most a.uthors do when they’ve built a complex, three-dimensional world with love and care. She was exploring that world and giving us the opportunity to explore it with her.

Read the whole post now on The Write Edge Bookshelf Thursday R.E.A.D.s!

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay hydrated, and have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

New book review up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on The Last Piece by Imogen Clark. Here’s the opening to my post:

After receiving some news, a woman takes an impulsive trip to Greece. When she comes home, her family will have to deal with the outcome of the journey and where it leads them. Author Imogen Clark tries hard to build the emotions but lets down character development in her latest novel, The Last Piece.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a wonderful day, readers! Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay hydrated!

E.R.G.

Holding our breaths for the future…

Hello, Write Edge readers, and happy Monday once again! Here in Central Illinois, we’re starting school this week. Parents all around town and the state will be holding their breaths as they let their children go back to classrooms (to varying degrees.) Bar none, this has been the hardest decision to date that my husband and I have made as parents. Knowing we’re not in it alone makes it slightly better. Once again, the pandemic finds ways to bring people together.

We’re also all together when we pursue life passions and encourage one another. Earlier today I heard from a writer on Twitter who is feeling a little down after getting rejections on her manuscript. We were able to encourage one another a little, and I shared the following motivational quote with her. I hope this helps all of you who have a dream in your heart and a goal in your eyes.

“The will to write is more important than any amount of talent. Commitment is more important than talent. Determination is more important than talent.”—K.M. Weiland

Speaking of writing, I’ve posted my latest short story for you. Here’s a quick excerpt:

Celeste turned in the direction of the voice, wincing as she did. Lucinda still lay on the table where Celeste had strapped her down for their “experiment.” Someone—maybe a crew member—had untied the straps and helped bandage Lucinda up, but her color didn’t look so great.

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

In the middle of the week, I’ll share a new book review. This Wednesday I’ll let you know what I thought about The Last Piece by Imogen Clark. Find out what I thought of it on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Also on the Bookshelf, this week brings the third installment of Thursday R.E.A.D.s. All this month, I’ve been doing a deep dive into The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. Find out this week what I thought of the book as an a.uthor!

Finally, more Instagram posts this Friday! Looking forward to sharing those with you again, readers.

Have a fantastic day and week, everyone. Stay healthy, stay safe, and wear a mask!

E.R.G.

Instagram pics up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest Insta posts. Check out an indulgent purchase, what I’m reading these days, and what makes me yip in excitement. :>

You can see the thumbnail pictures here on the home page, but to see these and other photos (with their captions) go to Instagram and use my handle, @EktaRGarg. You can also visit my Facebook author page for these fun pictures and other content exclusive to Facebook.

As always, stay home, stay healthy, stay hydrated, and have a great weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Newest Thursday R.E.A.D.s post up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my next installment in my new Bookshelf feature, Thursday R.E.A.D.s. This whole month, I’m doing a deep dive into The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins. Here’s an excerpt of my look at the book as an e.ditor:

Enter Coriolanus Snow. Thanks to the trilogy, we know Snow’s ultimate fate. Ballad, then, allows us to see how he got there. He’s the protagonist, the main POV character for the entire book. As I said last week, Ballad functions as his origin story.

Read the whole post now on The Write Edge Bookshelf Thursday R.E.A.D.s!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review posted!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the July release Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel. Here’s the opening to my review:

A cellist arrives at her summer home ready for some alone time with her boyfriend. When events upend her plans and her family starts infringing on her space, she’ll have to figure out where the boundaries are—including her own. Author Amy Poeppel returns with a sweet story about the bonds that tie family to one another in the lightweight but well-written novel Musical Chairs.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great evening, readers!

E.R.G.

Head down, eye on the goal

Hello, Write Edge readers! We’re close to the end of summer break. Who knew we’d actually get to this side of the summer? The way this year has progressed, every day feels like a week and every week a month. But here we are, considering our back-to-school plans and how to keep our kids safe while also giving them what they need for their education.

It’s a difficult question that can be driven by the age of the child to the protective measures schools, districts, cities, and states are putting into place. Although I’m not posting a new Growth Chart this week, for those of you who are parents know that I’m right there with you in terms of agonizing over the right choice. I feel that responsibility as keenly as you do.

That’s why it’s so good to have a passion to pursue. Not to hide from life’s realities, but to spend your energy in different ways. Sometimes pouring one’s self into another activity completely unrelated to everything else allows us to come back tired in body but re-energized in spirit. We see new solutions and possibilities.

The ability to innovate and to keep searching for answers is, really, one of the things that  makes our country so great. Here’s a reminder, from this week’s motivational quote, to keep your head down and your eye on the goal, no matter what it might be today:

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”—Ayn Rand

Next, this week’s short fiction. The kids have been burning through episodes of ABC’s Once Upon A Time, and I’ve watched many with them. My mind started skipping down fairy tale fanfic lane, and I came up with today’s micro fiction. It’s too short to post an excerpt, but you can find it now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

In the middle of the week, I’ll share a new book review with you. This Wednesday I’ll let you know what I thought of the recent release Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel. Come back for it on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

It’s a full week around here; this Thursday I’ll post the second installment of my newest book analysis feature on the Bookshelf. This week I’ll let you all know what I thought of Suzanne Collins’s The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes as an e.ditor. That’s coming on Thursday for Thursday R.E.A.D.s!

Finally, on Friday, more Instagram posts. Want to know what’s new in my world? Check out past pictures with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page!

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

New Instagram pictures up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! Happy Friday! I’ve posted my latest pictures to Instagram. They include what I’m reading now, a peek into my writing studio, and supporting other writers. Check it out now with my handle, @EktaRGarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Have a fantastic weekend, readers, and remember to stay home, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay hydrated!

E.R.G.

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

Happy Thursday, readers! It’s the third quarter of the year, and we’re back to Thursday R.E.A.D.s. At the beginning of this 10th year of blogging, I decided to add a new feature to The Write Edge Bookshelf where I do a deep dive into a book for a month. In February I examined The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. Then came Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owns in May.

This month, I’m digging into The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the new Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins. You can start with my observations on the book as a r.eviewer.

Enjoy the latest installment of Thursday R.E.A.D.s, everyone!

E.R.G.

 

 

Newest book review posted!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the new YA novel It Came from the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti. Here’s the opening to my post:

In order to get out of trouble for a science experiment gone wrong, two teens convince their entire town that aliens have landed. Soon the hoax spins out of their control, and the brothers have just as hard a time as anyone else remembering that the aliens “came” because of them. Author Chelsea Sedoti treats her characters with humor and compassion in the funny YA novel It Came from the Sky.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great day, readers!

E.R.G.