Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 81

Book review now up!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman. Here’s the opening to my review:

In his first nonfiction book, Fredrik Backman uses all of his literary skills while penning a book-length letter to his son. By combining humorous parenting anecdotes with memories of his life before becoming a parent, Backman blends days past and the present and future in his signature style. His whimsical writing in his novels touches readers’ hearts, and the effect is just as charming and heartfelt in his latest book Things My Son Needs to Know about the World.

Read the full post now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a lovely day, readers!

E.R.G.

Busy, busy Monday :>

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve had a busy start to the week. Enjoyed every minute, make no mistake, but it’s been busy. Beta reading, judging a short story for a contest, and working on my novel. In between something had to give, and this week, unfortunately, it was my weekly short story post. But never fear! I’ll have it up next week.

In the meantime, I want to share this week’s motivational quote. The point in these inspiring words, of course, is that one should always keep eyes and ears open to anything that might inform your life’s passion.

“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.” ― Orson Scott Card

As I said, no new short story this week, but I will have a brand new book review. Bestselling author Fredrik Backman has released his first nonfiction book, and I received my own copy of it last week. Find out this Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf what I thought about Things My Son Needs to Know About the World!

On Friday I’ll be posting new Instagram pics. You can go now and browse my previous pictures. Find me with my handle @EktaRGarg.

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Here’s a quick excerpt:

My blood pressure had risen, and it took a considerable effort to stop talking. I don’t want to be one of those parents who just lectures needlessly for hours at a time. There is a considerable amount of power in silence, in stating the point and then just staying quiet after that to let it sink in.

Read the whole post now on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Book review posted!

Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you! Here’s the opening to my post on The Invited by Jennifer McMahon:

A woman and her husband decide to build their dream home in the woods. The land they buy for it, however, comes with a tragic history, and they begin to wonder whether the ghosts of the past are happy to stay back there. Author Jennifer McMahon leads her readers on a meandering but ultimately satisfying journey in her latest novel The Invited.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a good night, readers!

E.R.G.

Basking in the sun

Hello, readers! Today feels like a summery sort of day here in Central Illinois. I hope you get a taste of summer sometime this week too! We’re coming off of several days of rain, so this weather is definitely a treat.

Good weather always offers a bump in inspiration. Speaking of which, here’s this week’s motivational quote. Once again, it speaks to the writing process, but I think it can apply to any life passion you pursue. Nothing refines the end goal like revisiting and revising one’s efforts, right?

“When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. … This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.” — Stephen King

To that end, I’ve also posted this week’s short story. Here’s a quick excerpt:

As an automated voice came on and asked her to leave a message, she bounced twice in her chair then lowered her voice half a register, softened it, and made it sound like a sunset on a Caribbean beach.

“Mr. Paulson? This is Amelia, and I’d love it if you could call me back. I’ve got something for you.”

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

Earlier yesterday I started reading a new book and hope to have it finished for you to review sometime on Wednesday. Currently I’m immersed in the world of The Invited by Jennifer McMahon. Come back in the middle of the week to find out what I thought of it by visiting The Write Edge Bookshelf!

On Friday we go back to a full-fledged post on my parenting adventures. Find out what the kids and I have been up to on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic day and week, readers! And because the weather finally allows it, do take a moment to stop and smell the flowers (any type!) once in a while. :>

E.R.G.

Picture this! (New Insta-pics)

Hello, Write Edge readers! For those of you who haven’t started following me on Instagram yet, please do so! I’ve posted my latest photos today. Find me via my handle, @ektargarg. And if you’re not on Instagram but still want to see the pictures, check out my Facebook author page.

Have a fantastic weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Surprise — a book review!

Hello, Write Edge readers, and surprise! I know I started the week saying I didn’t have a new book to review, but this one surprised me. I opened it on my Kindle yesterday morning and finished it earlier today, so I knew I had to share my thoughts with you. Today I’m letting you know what I thought of The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth. Here’s the opening to my post:

When a well-off woman winds up dead, the police ask her daughter-in-law pointed questions. The daughter-in-law insists on her innocence but knows the fractious relationship with her husband’s mother wasn’t exactly a secret to anyone. It may, in fact, just lead the police right back to her doorstep with an arrest warrant. Author Sally Hepworth keeps readers glued to the pages of her whip-smart new book The Mother-in-Law.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a fantastic rest of the week, readers!

E.R.G.

May is almost here!

Hello, Write Edge readers! We’re almost into the month of May. Weren’t we all just clinking champagne flutes for the new year?

I hope all is well in your respective corners of the world. In mine, I’m fighting a minor cold, more of an annoyance than anything else, and soldiering on in my writing and editing work. Oh, and reading. Always reading. :>

All of these things feed into my life’s passion and dream: to become a published novelist. For those of you who also harbor big dreams, you know you have to go at them full throttle. You also have to understand the nuances of your chosen work, something that this week’s motivational quote reminds us:

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ― Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright

It’s the last Monday of May, which means our monthly writers showcase. I’m not necessarily a fan of poetry, but I spotted a poem that caught my attention. That and two prize-winning stories are on the docket for this month. Read all of the pieces now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!

Unfortunately there won’t be a new book review this week; the book I’d intended to review turned out to be so dismal that I couldn’t even finish it properly. I skimmed the last few pages instead, so I decided not to bother any of you with my criticism of it. I will, however, share a list of what’s on my nightstand right now and next up in my reading queue. Find out what I’m reading next this Wednesday on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Finally, this Friday I’ll share some new Instagram pics. I have to say, I’m starting to understand the appeal of the app, even if I’m still trying to figure out how it all works. Want to catch up on my previous pictures? Check them out on my Insta handle @EktaRGarg. Not on Instagram? No worries; you can always see them on my Facebook author page.

Have a fantastic week, readers!

E.R.G.

Parenting adventures up!

Happy Friday, readers! I’ve posted my newest parenting adventures for you. Here’s an excerpt:

“You know, I’m kind of looking forward to the cello recital tomorrow,” Ten said out of the blue.

I did a double-take and sneaked a glance to my right at Twelve; she looked just as startled.

“I definitely think I’m going deaf in one ear now,” [she] murmured.

Read all the Spurts now on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic evening and weekend, readers!

E.R.G.

Double duty (or, All hail the novel!)

Hello, Write Edge readers! My apologies for not posting on Monday. I’m working like gangbusters on my novel (!!) and had to make a choice that day with the limited time I had. Obviously you all know what choice won out, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t thinking about you. So today’s post does double duty for Monday and today.

First, our motivational quote of the week. Sylvia Plath is often remembered for the tragic end of her life first and her writing genius second, but her poetry exploded onto the literary scene and continues to touch hearts today. She wrote from a deeply personal place and reminds us, in this week’s quote, that we should have the courage to do the same whenever we’re pursuing a life passion:

“[E]verything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” ― Sylvia Plath

I strive to use my guts in this fashion every single day. :> Sometimes it’s easier than others. Sometimes our limited life experience can actually allow us to extrapolate to other thoughts and ideas. That’s kind of the idea behind this week’s new short fiction. Here’s a quick excerpt:

A pause. “Maybe…a glass of juice?”

“A smoothie?”

“A double extra large jumbo strawberry milkshake from McDonald’s!”

Laura laughed, and her tears faded. “I don’t think that’s even a real thing.”

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

I’ve also already posted this week’s book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on My Last Lament by James Willam Brown. Here’s the opening to my review:

A girl barely survives the Nazi occupation of her village by running away with a family friend and a Jewish refugee. As the three make their way across the country, they will lose and find one another and themselves countless times before the war ends. Author James William Brown tries to follow his characters but lets the story meander in the rambling novel My Last Lament.

Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

For those of you keeping track of the revised calendar, this Friday we go back to parenting adventures. It’s a brand new Chart with all new Spurts and craziness. Come back for that at the end of the week on Growth Chart!

Have a fantastic day and rest of the week, readers!

E.R.G.