Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 76

First of two book reviews up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! First, a moment to remember the lives lost on this day 18 years ago. It’s hard to grasp the concept that so much time has passed, but no matter how much time does #WeWillNeverForget.

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I’m sharing with you the first of two book reviews for today. I read Bridge to Us by Jeanne Felfe. Here’s the opening to my review:

A woman finds herself separated from her husband without warning; a man loses his wife in tragic circumstances. When they find their way to one another, they’ll have to decide whether they can forget their pasts and move ahead together. Author Jeanne Felfe leads readers through a sweet albeit anti-climactic love story in Bridge to Us.

Read the entire review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Also, be on the lookout later today for my second review. Have a good day until then!

E.R.G.

Circling back to my routine…

Hello, Write Edge readers! Well, I have to say, last week was not fun. Thankfully, I’m working on circling back to my routine this week, albeit slowly. All things happen for a reason; I firmly believe it. So I have to believe that this minor setback in my writing routine has happened for a reason too.

In the meantime, as I said, I’m working on getting back to my routine. That starts with our motivational quote for the week. Anything worth doing, people say, is worth doing well. Sometimes that means several attempts. Even the greatest artists knew this:

“The main thing I try to do is write as clearly as I can. I rewrite a good deal to make it clear.”—E.B. White

Next comes my attempts at writing after not doing so for about 10 days. I don’t know if this is necessarily one of my favorites, but it was reassuring to put my fingers on the keyboard again after so long. Check out an excerpt from this week’s short story:

“This is ridiculous,” her father said aloud, getting to his own feet. “The debt concerns Master Warren and myself. Kia should not be included in this conversation at all.”

“Father!”

“No, Kia,” he said. “The debt is mine. The choices I made to incur it were mine. The repayment will be my responsibility as well.”

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

In the middle of the week, I’ll share two new book reviews with you. The first will be of Bridge to Us by Jeanne Felfe; the second will be of Long Gone by Paul Pilkington. Come back on Wednesday for both new reviews on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Friday it’s back to a brand new post on parenting adventures. Find out what happened with the girls when I got sick. Check it out on Growth Chart at the end of the week.

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

The best-laid plans…

Hello, Write Edge readers! Do you ever have those days when you make all sorts of plans to get a bunch of stuff accomplished, and the entire itinerary gets dumped on its head?

That was this week for me.

Between worrying about family in the path of Hurricane Dorian, waiting on an internet outage that lasted nine hours, and then getting sick, it has been the least productive week in a long time.

I did manage to post new Instagram pics, though, so do check them out with my handle, @Ektargarg, or on my Facebook author page.

Fingers crossed that next week is better. Have a good weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day, readers! I’m on the road today and will be getting home late, so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful day with family and friends. Stay safe, take care of one another, and enjoy those end-of-the-season barbecues.

See you back here on Wednesday with a new book review. Have a wonderful day!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures up!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest Growth Spurts for you. Here’s a quick excerpt:

I turned to my younger daughter, and she cracked a smile. She couldn’t help it, even though she really wanted to hold onto that grumpiness. After a minute or two, she started helping with the groceries too.

Maybe this is the key to world peace. Forget diplomacy. Just offer everyone Fruit Loops.

Read all of them now on Growth Chart!

Stay safe this long weekend, readers, and enjoy the last bit of summer!

E.R.G.

New book review posted!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’m posting my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on the newly-published biography The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller. Here’s the opening to my review:

In 1934 the world witnesses a medical miracle: the birth of a set of identical quintuplets who survive. The Dionne family welcome their daughters but soon learn the girls will be claimed by many people far from the small Canadian town they call home. Author Sarah Miller offers extensive research and sources for her chronicle of this fascinating, yet heartbreaking story in The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a wonderful day, readers!

E.R.G.

Talent to share and spare!

Good morning, Write Edge readers! What a pleasure it is to come to you on this last Monday of the month with so many excellent pieces of writing to share. More on that in a minute, though.

First, I’d like to share this week’s motivational quote. For those of us chugging along in creative fields, it can be a challenge at times to feel like we’ve accomplished a specific goal. Our efforts feel concrete and intangible all at the same time. We make decisions with our heads and our hearts in equal measure.

That’s why I offer these quotes. I’m sure anyone in any field can find inspiration from them by adapting them to fit a particular field, but creatives (in my humble opinion) need an extra dose of moral boosting. Not surprising considering, as I said, that we let our hearts lead at times.

With that, here’s this week’s quote, taken from a book that I absolutely adore:

“You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone’s soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That take will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift.”–character Mr. A.H., The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Now, on to this month’s writers’ showcase. There is work by an author posting his novel-in-progress as well as an established writer. And there’s poetry! (I know — me and poetry??) I hope you enjoy all of these pieces. Go check out all of these works now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

Next, in the middle of the week, I’ll share a review of a brand new book with you. Tomorrow is the publication date for The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller. Miller writes about a medical marvel and the events that followed it. Find out what I thought about the book on Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, I’ll share brand new parenting adventures with you. Find out more on Friday on Growth Chart!

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

The latest Instagram posts

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest photos to Instagram. Check them out with my handle, @EktaRGarg. This week I share a picture of a book that I reviewed, summer foliage, and the signal that fall is here. Not on Instagram? Check out my Facebook author page for those pics and other fun stuff.

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

New book review up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. I have immense respect for Anupama Chopra and the team she’s put together at the website Film Companion, so I was really excited when I found out about her book In Conversation with the Stars. It’s all celebrity interviews, including ones with Shahrukh, Ranbir, and Ranveer (three actors close to my heart. ;>) Here’s an excerpt of my review:

The announcement of a book of her collection of interviews with some of the biggest names in Bollywood today…seemed like a natural supplement to the world of Film Companion. With Chopra’s accessibility to the stars and her ease with interviewing them, the book should have offered readers deeper insight into the world of these celebrities. It does, and yet it doesn’t.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a fantastic night, readers!

E.R.G.

Back to Monday!

Hello, Write Edge readers! It’s Monday, and I’m back to my regular routine. The summer is almost over, and we’re close to starting school around here. That means all kinds of fun stories. :>

But first, some motivation. Parents might be tempted, at the start of the school year, to take a shortcut or two. I love the following quote. It reminds us that shortcuts aren’t a bad thing, and that’s true whether you’re talking about making lunches or following your life’s passion:

“Shortcuts are okay as long as they’re not compromises.”—character Willo in _The Recipe Box_ by Viola Shipman, author

Now for this week’s short story. In a way, it’s also about shortcuts. Again, sometimes they can come in handy. Sometimes they also present themselves in the strangest of ways. Here’s an excerpt:

With another groan, he forced himself to roll onto his side and waited a minute for the ocean inside of his brain to stop rolling. Then he pushed up to a sitting position. He gripped the edge of the bed as hard as he could to keep from throwing up, closed his eyes again, and hung his head.

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

On Wednesday I’ll have a brand new review for you, and this week’s book is a little different. Some people may not know this, but I’m a Hindi film buff. I love Bollywood in all its over-saturated, loud, melodramatic forms. When film critic Anupama Chopra announced a new book of celebrity interviews to be published in tandem with the fifth anniversary of her film platform Film Companion, I just had to get a copy for myself. Find out in the middle of the week what I thought of In Conversation with the Stars on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

At the end of the week, it’s back to Instagram Friday. Want to see previous pictures? Check them out via my handle, @EktaRGarg, or my Facebook author page.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.