Ekta R. Garg's Blog, page 88
November 7, 2018
Second review up for today!
Hello again, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my second review for the day. Here’s the opening to my thoughts on The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen:
A business owner finds herself being blackmailed by a prospective client. As the threats become more intense, she scrambles to make sense of them and learns that they may not be as random as she first thought. Mary Torjussen returns with another thriller and takes her readers through a refreshing turn of events in the cheer-worthy novel The Girl I Used to Be.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
Book review (1 of 2) now up!
Good morning, Write Edge readers, and, for those of you who celebrate it, Happy Diwali! Wishing you the brightest of lights and joy to chase away the darkest of shadows and sorrows.
I’ve posted my first book review of the day. Yes, that means a second one is coming a little later — surprise! :> The first review today is of a new book from a new publishing line. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has become editorial director of SJP for Hogarth, a Penguin Random House imprint, and the first book she’s curated is A Place for Us by debut author Fatima Farheen Mirza. Here’s the opening to my review:
A brother comes home for his older sister’s wedding after years of estrangement from his family. As the festivities progress, everyone reflects on the causes of the rift and how they might have saved themselves from heartache. Debut author Fatima Farheen Mirza offers her readers prose with heft and a story of love and family in the mostly satisfying novel A Place for Us.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
I’ll be back in the afternoon with my second review. In the meantime, wishing you a wonderful, celebratory day!
E.R.G.
November 5, 2018
And into November we go
Hello, Write Edge readers! I hope you’ve had a lovely start to your penultimate month of the year. (Sorry, I just love the word “penultimate.” And, really, how often does a person get to use it? :>) The weather is slowly but surely moving toward winter. Time to hunker down, enjoy many bowls of good soup, and let the shorter days encourage us to keep our eyes on our life goals and passions.
Writing has its own unique challenges in that regard. Maybe because in some ways it’s completely voluntary. It’s harder to set goals when we have to drive ourselves. But sometimes we just need a dose of reality. Here it is for this week’s motivational quote:
“Writing is like giving yourself homework, really hard homework, every day, for the rest of your life. You want glamorous? Throw glitter at the computer screen.”—Ketrina Monroe
Speaking of that really hard homework :>, I’ve posted this week’s short fiction. I have to say, this one was a lot of fun to write. Here’s an excerpt:
I knew the nature of our job meant that if they stopped and looked, we’d accomplished our goal. But I wanted to do more than make people look. I wanted them to ask about my day. To compliment me on my ability to stay in one position for so long. To wear with equal aplomb bikinis in the summer and heavy cardigans and wool skirts in the winter.
Read the whole story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll have a new review for you. A few months ago, celebrity Sarah Jessica Parker began a new publishing imprint under the umbrella of the Penguin Random House conglomerate. On Wednesday I’ll share my thoughts with you on A Place for Us, the first book from SJP for Hogarth (the name of her imprint.) Come back in the middle of the week for the review on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
(And I might even have a bonus review for you! More on that this Wednesday.)
Finally, on Friday, we go back to my adventures in parenting. Want new Growth Spurts? Find them at the end of this week on Growth Chart!
Have a great day and week, readers!
E.R.G.
November 2, 2018
Latest Growth Chart posted!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted the latest Growth Chart for you. Here’s a quick excerpt from this week’s parenting adventures:
“But E. likes me,” Ten protested, mentioning one of her sister’s BFFs.
“Still, no,” Twelve said.
“That’s not fair!” Ten exclaimed.
Read the whole Chart now on Growth Chart!
Have a wonderful weekend, readers!
E.R.G.
October 30, 2018
New book review posted!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you. Today I share my thoughts on Lies by T.M. Logan. Here’s the opening to my review:
A chance encounter for a man begins a chain of events that leaves him scrambling. The more questions he asks of everyone around him, the more problems it creates until he gets backed into an impossible situation. Author T.M. Logan will keep readers guessing until the end with the tight thriller Lies.
Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Happy Halloween, readers! Stay safe, warm, and dry!
E.R.G.
October 29, 2018
Monthly writers showcase today!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve been doing a lot of reading this morning to find some good pieces to share with you for our monthly writers showcase. But more on that in a minute.
First, this week’s motivational quote! Many of the quotes I share, I know, have to do with writing, but I think you can substitute any life passion you’re pursuing in the quote and find it still applies. That’s true again today.
“To me, taking risks is the point of working. What is the point if we’re not doing what we believe we’re called to do?”—Terese Mailhot, Native American author, memoirist
Now, on that showcase. This week I’ve found two longer pieces and a short one. They include a fun story about a treasure hunt, a story about a pig, and a piece about a person finding her family and pieces of herself. Read all the stories in this month’s writers showcase now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week I’ll share a brand new book review with you. This Wednesday come back to find out what I thought about the thriller Lies by T.M. Logan. Come back to The Write Edge Bookshelf for the latest review!
And, finally, at the end of the week, more parenting adventures. Want to know what the kids have been up to? Find out on Growth Chart this Friday!
Have a great week, readers, and have a safe and happy Halloween!
E.R.G.
October 26, 2018
Parenting adventures now up!
Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. Here’s a quick excerpt:
My kids are incredibly smart, but it’s nice to know I still have a little bit of an advantage over them now and then.
Go to Growth Chart now for the latest Spurts!
Have a wonderful weekend, readers, and stay warm, dry, and safe!
E.R.G.
October 24, 2018
New book review posted!
Hello, Write Edge readers! My latest book review is ready for you. Today I share my thoughts on the YA novel The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee. Here’s the opening to my review:
Twin brothers make an arrangement with an enemy in order to break a much bigger pact: the one that has kept their family apart since they were born. Along the way they’ll have to solve a murder and battle against the fantastical elements that keep their small town captive. One thing is clear to the boys: embarking on this adventure means their lives will never be the same. Author K.E. Ormsbee sets her latest YA novel in the folds of the Tennessee hills in the mostly entertaining book The House in Poplar Wood.
Read the full review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!
Have a great day, readers!
E.R.G.
October 22, 2018
The spooky season
Hello, Write Edge readers! We’re entering the season of spookiness — Halloween is less than two weeks away. Time for all things creepy and crawly and astounding to catch our attention.
Sometimes this means scary ideas or images that have nothing to do with blood and guts and ghosts. Sometimes the ideas or images that scare us the most challenge us in ways we never dreamed possible. Sometimes ideas or images come out of our subconscious, and for a writer that can bring a delicious kind of thrill, scary and fun all at the same time. After all, a writer has a tremendous responsibility, as summarized by this week’s inspirational quote:
“As writers, it is our job not only to imagine, but to witness.”—Dani Shapiro, American author
In this week’s short story, I started with a prompt that seemed fun. I had no idea what would happen when I chose it, but as I mulled it over yesterday I started framing a story idea. When I sat down this morning to write it, the prompt took me to a place I didn’t expect but thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t often write fan fiction, but that’s what I’ve done today. Here’s an excerpt:
She smoothed her skirt again and went to the door. A casual observer might have thought the staff looked industrious, busy even. Miranda could tell that no one had gotten anything of substance done in at least a day. Maybe two. If they let things slip this much when she left for a short time, what would happen if she left for good?
Read the whole short story now on The Write Edge Writing Workshop!
In the middle of the week, I’ll share a brand new book review. I’ve been reading The House in Poplar Wood by K. E. Ormsbee and will let you know what I thought of it. Come back on Wednesday to find out what I thought of it!
At the end of the week, of course, it’s back to parenting adventures. Read all-new Spurts this Friday on Growth Chart!
Have a wonderful day and week, readers!
E.R.G.
October 19, 2018
Parenting adventures now up!
Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest adventures for you. Today’s post is about something near and dear to my heart: language. Here’s an excerpt:
I can’t read or understand Chinese, but the girls can. Maybe, by watching movies with Chinese subtitles and speaking Hindi at dinner and using English to navigate life, Twelve and Ten will learn in a new way about what the world needs more of today: compassion for others.
Read the whole Chart now on Growth Chart!
Have a lovely day and weekend, readers!
E.R.G.
