Devika Fernando's Blog, page 39

Featured - Book Club Spotlight on "My Last Love" and Guest Post by Falguni Kothari

Guest PostWhat kind of scene and emotions do you find the easiest and most difficult to write (e. g. something funny / sad / suspenseful / dialogue / descriptions / backstory / quarrels)?

Hi Devika.

To answer the latter half of your question about difficult-to-write scenes, I’ll pick suspenseful scenes only because I haven’t attempted one yet, and therefore have no idea whether I’ll find it difficult to attempt or not. I imagine that a suspense novel may need some careful crafting and so will be difficult to execute on the whole. Each scene will have to be tight and fast-paced and yet descriptive and emotional, moving the story forward. A suspense novel has a lot going on within its pages, and its scenes will have to reflect that.
​
As for the easy scenes…I find that when I know my novel and its characters well, the scenes practically write themselves. But if I’m unsure of plot or where the story should go, that’s when I hit the road bump. It doesn’t matter what kind of scene it is—funny, sad, sexy, angst-filled—I have to know “what happens next” in the story and to my characters.
On the whole, I’d say that any scene, emotional or action-packed, is doable if I know my character and his or her story. 
Book Spotlight
MY LAST LOVE STORY 

BY 

FALGUNI KOTHARI





BLURB


Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes’s, Me Before You, My Last Love Story is a heartbreaking and poignant tale about the complexities of trauma and whether love can right a wrong. 
*** 
I, Simeen Desai, am tired of making lemonade with the lemons life has handed me. 
Love is meant to heal wounds. Love was meant to make my world sparkle and spin. Love has ripped my life apart and shattered my soul. 
I love my husband, and he loves me. But Nirvaan is dying. I love my husband. I want to make him happy. But he is asking for the impossible. 
I don’t want a baby. I don’t want to make nice with Zayaan. 
I don’t want another chance at another love story. 
***WARNING*** Weepers, keep tissues handy.
Grab your copy @
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About the author

Falguni Kothari is a New York-based hybrid author, and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a semi-professional background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful and cultural threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. When not writing or dancing, she fools around on all manner of social media and loves to connect with readers.
My Last Love Story is her fourth novel.
You can stalk her @

                     

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Featured - Book Club Spotlight for "Rightfully Wrong, Wrongfully Right" by Varsha Dixit #askvarsha

#askvarsha contest
Ask Author Varsha Dixit a question on your blog and she will answer you in her own unique way. Watch out this space for more. Only the best questions will be selected.

My Question for #askvarsha is…
What do you think is important when writing an argument / a quarrel or fight between characters?

RIGHTFULLY WRONG, WRONGFULLY RIGHTbyVarsha Dixit


Blurb
Love is in the air again…this time it’s steamy, bold and manipulative!
Gayatri and Viraj both are products of childhood trauma. Yet they were able to survive, one because of her shrewdness and the other because of his genius. Rightfully Wrong Wrongfully Right, the final part in the best selling ‘Right and Wrong’ love trilogy is the story of these two damaged souls.
Gayatri Dutta, the poster child for rich spoiled diva is fighting to escape a life of servitude her tyrant father is hell bent on pushing her into. Her past string of failures have her backed against a wall. Lonely and desperate!
Viraj is a con who uses his genius to perpetuate his isolation. His life once of violence and abuse has left him cynical and cold. He shuns the society and its hypocrisies. 
And then Gayatri and Viraj cross paths. She needs him and he despises her.
To Viraj, Gayatri, is the epitome of all that he despises, shallow, manipulative and the kind who uses her beauty as a weapon. Or is she?
Gayatri sees Viraj only as a means to an end. She is sure that Viraj with his nerdy demeanor, owlish glasses and crude behavior will be easy to manipulate and walk over. Only he isn’t!
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Excerpt from #RWWR‘I can do this, I can do this, I can...’ Gayatri wound her fingers tightly around her cellphone as she made her way to the cubbyhole Viraj called his office. I did not expect a freaking hug, but a polite ‘how are you’ wouldn’t kill that man. She rapped her knuckles on the door.Viraj swung the door open. ‘What?’ His brows were furrowed and his lips, pursed.Gayatri remembered what Nikhil had said to her once. Dr Viraj owns and runs this lab. He was the only one you needed to impress! ‘It’s my first day here!’ Gayatri could hear her voice shake. ‘Could you tell me...’Gayatri scuttled out of Viraj’s way as he leaned out. ‘Find an empty room, do your work there. You are free to leave any time you want. You are free to come or to not come.’ The door shut on her face.Flabbergasted, Gayatri kept staring at the door. What just happened? She cleared her throat. I should not piss him off anymore. ‘Thank you for this…this job.’ Her voice was as uncertain as the look on her face.Viraj tugged the door open again. Gayatri flashed a smile at him and opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her short. ‘I don’t like talking. Find a room and stay there.’ He shut the door on her again. Asshole! Gayatri fisted her hands and retreated. I can do this! I am doing this! Bigger picture, please! Gayatri paused and peeped inside the first lab that she stumbled upon. The place was quiet except for a low hum of machines. Gayatri pushed the doors open and walked inside the lab. It was empty. ‘Does anyone else work here besides the mad scientist?’ She leaned against one of the steel racks. The door flew open behind her. With a big grin she turned to greet the person coming in. ‘Hi! I—’ she froze. It was the mad scientist with a bunch of papers in his hand.Viraj noticed Gayatri at the same time. A familiar irritation flashed in his eyes. ‘Not this room. Not my lab! Find another room!’ He spoke with cool authority.‘I was just looking!’ Gayatri smoothed her ponytail trying to mask her nervousness. He had her in knots.Giving an indifferent shrug, Viraj walked past her. Gayatri got a whiff of his aftershave; it smelled clean and crisp, like water with a twist of lemon. At least he doesn’t stink like his manners! Gayatri stood there quiet and confused.A loose paper slipped from Viraj’s hand and landed on the floor.‘You dropped some paper!’ Gayatri said, her voice friendly. ‘Ignore it. Like you, it is not going anywhere.’ Viraj pulled a portable stool and took a seat in front of an electronic panel fixed to a bigger panel.Gayatri gritted her teeth and grinned with the ferocity of a wild animal that could pounce any moment.Unknown to her, Viraj gave a similar smile except his was more like the wild animal that had pounced and won.‘I’ll go and find a room. Thank you!’ Swiveling on her heel, Gayatri headed for the door.Something stopped her—her father’s face and the realization that two weeks ago she had physically fought for herself, and now she had to fight again but with her mind instead of hands. I have to win over Mr Madness. Maybe I could wear a beaker over my head and tattoo the periodic table on my arms!‘If you are trying to open the door telepathically, let me be the first to tell you it is not working!’ Gayatri exhaled noisily. Scathing and sarcastic, what more could a woman ask for? Taking a few calming breaths, she slowly pivoted to face Viraj, specifically his back as he sat hunched fiddling with the panel in front of him. â€˜I’m sorry if I have offended you somehow. I really need this job. And also, I’m qualified for it. I can show you my degrees. I can really make a difference here.’Hearing Gayatri’s words and her apologetic tone, something melted inside Viraj...again. But to keep up appearances, he turned rude. ‘I’m busy!’ he barked. â€˜Please Mr Viraj, give me—’ Just then, without warning, someone swung the door open. Gayatri wasn’t prepared for the push. ‘Ouch!’ She toppled. Her desperate hands grabbed the first thing in the vicinity—a steel rack. The rack shuddered violently and some of its contents landed on the floor.‘What the hell!’ Viraj bellowed jumping to his feet.Gayatri winced. A large electrical component had crashed into her hand ‘The door just opened, pushing me in,’ she said shaking her arm in pain. Viraj glared at the door. He instantly lost the frown and his mouth eased at the ends. ‘Oh it’s you! Come inside!’Huh, Hyde turns Jekyll! Gayatri spun around.A timid, bespectacled, five-foot-nothing girl, her long hair in a tight braid, clad in a pastel-coloured salwaar kameez, stood at the door. Her skin was smooth and her hands kept tugging at the dupatta around her neck ‘Sorry to interrupt! Dr Kalra wanted to show you some tests he is about to run in lab 2.’ She then glanced at Gayatri. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was an accident.’Gayatri was about to speak but Viraj cut her off. ‘She’s fine. Let’s go!’Viraj went out with the girl, not even sparing a glance at Gayatri.Astounded, Gayatri watched them leave.
Urghh…the shit-faced scientist actually smiled and that too at that girl! Gayatri kicked the steel rack. It shuddered again! Shoot! Before anything else would fall on her, Gayatri went after the scientist and the simpleton.

Did you like the excerpt? Author Varsha Dixit offers you four of her chapters free.

Read the First Four Chapters Free!!
About the author

Varsha Dixit
Varsha Dixit, the bestselling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free,Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.
You can stalk her @
                       

    

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Featured - Book Blitz for "New England Dreams" by Pia Fenton

About the Book​Genre:  YA contemporary romance (US high school setting, UK heroine)
Release Date:  25th July 2016
Book 4 of the Northbrooke High series (can be read as a standalone)
When opposites attract, can dreams come true?
Staying in New England for a few months is just what Sienna Randall needs after all the family problems she's been dealing with at home in London. Romance is the last thing she's expecting, so it's a total surprise when she ends up kissing a guy she meets on the flight.
Kyle Everett is Sienna's complete opposite –  he’s clean-cut and preppy, she has piercings and pink dreads. But he can’t resist making out with her. He is, after all, Northbrooke High’s number one player. Except Sienna's different from other girls. He’s definitely expecting to see her again – until they're separated by irate airline officials before he can get her number.
Then fate throws them together once more, but when Sienna turns up in Kyle's home room, neither admits to having met before. The chemistry between them is still there though – should they let it have free rein or should the attraction stay in their dreams?
 
 
EXTRACT
Kyle smiled and changed the subject. ‘You got any more piercings then? You know, hidden ones?’ He wiggled his eyebrows at her and it looked so stupid she couldn’t help but smile back.
‘None of your business,’ she told him.
‘Oh, so you do? Now I’m curious.’
‘I do not. And even if I did, I wouldn’t show you.’
‘Oh, yeah? Hmm. So tell me, how does it feel to kiss with snake bites?’ He was suddenly staring at her mouth intently and Sienna felt a shiver run through her. God, but he was hot. Seriously hot. And he was so close. She was very tempted to just reach over and grab him.
And why not? No one would ever know.
She shook herself mentally, but some devil made her smile again. She looked up at him from under her lashes, the way she’d seen other girls do when they were flirting. She’d never managed it because she was too shy, but for some reason, she had no trouble doing it now. ‘You tell me,’ she said, the challenge clear in her voice.
His eyes opened wide and he drew in a sharp breath. Then he grinned. ‘Okay, you’re on.’
The next thing she knew, he had bent his head slightly to the side and captured her mouth with his in a long, slow kiss that almost melted her bones. He ran his tongue over the snake bites, nipping at one playfully, then kissed her again, properly, deeply. When he stopped he brought up a hand to cup her cheek. ‘I like it,’ he whispered. ‘A lot.’
So did Sienna, but she didn’t get a chance to reply, because he started kissing her again and this time he didn’t stop. Which was just as well, since she didn’t want him to. In fact, she didn’t come to her senses until some air steward pulled Kyle off her and she realised with flaming cheeks they’d ended up lying across all four middle seats, making out thirty thousand feet up in the sky.
‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ the crewman hissed, looking from one to the other.
Sienna wondered the same thing. She must have lost her mind.
 
BUY LINKS
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
​
About the Author​Pia Fenton (who also writes as Christina Courtenay) is a chocoholic and confirmed couch potato, allergic to exercise of any kind (except maybe swimming).  Although born in England, she has a Swedish mother and was brought up in Sweden so she was a bit of a mixed up kid. When she was a teenager, she moved with her family to Japan.  From there she had the opportunity to travel in the Far East and other parts of the world, which was great fun.  She also got to go to an American high school in Tokyo, together with kids of 138 other nationalities, and had the best time of her life!
Pia loves:  reading and writing (YA obviously, but also anything historical, time slip and paranormal), dogs, genealogy, listening to rock music and doing various craft projects very badly.  (It’s the trying that counts, right?)
Pia’s first YA novel New England Rocks (published by Choc Lit, Aug 2013) was short listed for The Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Award for Best Romantic Young Adult novel 2014.  She’s also won some awards for her adult historical books.
 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/christinacourtenayauthor/
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/PiaCCourtenay
group twitter https://twitter.com/paisleypiranhas )
Goodreads Author Page:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4112359.Christina_Courtenay
Instagram:  paisleypiranha
Blogs:   http://christinacourtenay.com/?page_id=278
              https://paisleypiranha.wordpress.com/
Websites: http://christinacourtenay.com/
                  https://sites.google.com/site/paisleypiranha/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/piacourtenay/
​
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Featured - Book Blitz for "A Jersey Bombshell" by Georgina Troy

About the BookGenre: Chicklit
Release Date: 17 June 2016
Publisher: Accent Press
Book 4 of The Jersey Scene series (can be read as a standalone)
​
Gabriel has returned to the island of Jersey after ten years abroad to help his aging showbiz parents revive their failing Art Deco hotel. This proves to be something of a challenge, especially as his singer father and actress mother are more concerned with staying in the limelight than keeping track of the cash-flow. Gabriel isn’t going anywhere fast … 

Meanwhile, he’s stunned to find that the hotel’s new receptionist is the girl he fell in love with years earlier in Vietnam, and someone who is tied to Jersey is the last thing she needs …

ADD TO GOODREADS
​
BUY LINKS
AMAZON UK
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​ About the Author​Georgina Troy lives in Jersey, an island fifteen miles off the coast of France. She's a hopeless romantic and enjoys spending time day-dreaming about heroes on one of the nearby beaches with her three rescue dogs. When Georgina realised that no one else was writing books about the beautiful wind-swept beaches and intriguing inhabitants of her island home, she decided she had to provide some.
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorginaTroyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/georginatroy
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7224225.Georgina_Troy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahcarr9/
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/1/107875573365392188870/posts
LinkedIn: https://je.linkedin.com/in/deborah-carr-2b086015
Blog: http://georginatroy.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.georginatroy.co.uk/
​
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Teaser Tuesday Excerpt from "The Prince's Special Bride"

In exactly 10 days, my first royal romance The Prince's Special Bride will be released, and I'm so excited about it. This novel was a new challenge for me, but huge fun to write. And I've already started on Book 2, The Prince's Stubborn Bride.
You can find the pre-order links for Book 1 here and enjoy a discount price. And now, whet your appetite with this exclusive Teaser Tuesday excerpt.
​ Excerpt ​And still the balloon was rising, aiming for a maximum height of around 4,000 feet and gliding effortlessly through the spectacular sunset skies.
A hand gripped the railing of the basket so close to hers that it almost touched it.
“It takes your breath away, doesn’t it?”
Marie forgot all about the view, focusing on Christian so close she could smell him, almost feel his heat and strength.
“It does.” She smiled at him, her heart fluttering again when he returned the smile and looked infinitely more gorgeous.
There were fine lines on his face, and she wondered again how he was holding up with all the work. Being a prince certainly seemed to entail as much energy and effort as leading a big business.
“I enjoy it even more than flying,” he said, turning to lean against the basket’s side and look at her rather than at the landscape beneath them. “Although I have to say that sitting behind the joystick of a plane is a bigger thrill than anything else.”
Her eyes widened. “You can fly?”
He nodded. One of his hands reached for a stray tendril of her hair that the wind whipped between them, but he dropped it. “Yes, small aircraft and military aircraft. I underwent pilot training during my year in the army.”
She nodded, impressed but somehow not surprised. It seemed there wasn’t much he couldn’t do or didn’t know.
“How are you holding up?” he asked, leaning a little closer and lowering his voice although nobody was paying them any attention.
“I’m alright…I guess.” Her smile wavered.
It wasn’t easy being among so many high-society people, constantly looked down upon. Oh, nobody was offending her or even taking much notice of her, but she was always on the sidelines, aware of the quizzical looks and the distance everyone kept—everyone except Selene, who treated her like an equal and sometimes switched to native French when talking to her, although they had never shared anything personal.
“I think I found a friend,” she offered, not wanting to make him worry on her behalf, not wanting to sound silly and admit to feeling lonely and useless all the time.
“Ah, the warm-hearted young woman from France, I take it?”
She nodded, her eyes wide. “Have you been observing me?”
His eyes crinkled with a secretive, slow smile, weaving a seductive net around her, trapping her close. “Always.” His voice was only a whisper now. “You’re in my thoughts when you shouldn’t. I never really let you out of my life, no matter how busy I am.”

Featured - Book Club Blitz for "That Same Old Love" by MV Kasi

THE SAME OLD LOVE
BY
M.V. KASI

Blurb
A former bad girl with a past...
Mahi had hit the rock-bottom. All she wanted to do now was to start over and lead an uncomplicated drama free life in her hometown, Hyderabad. But unfortunately, some people never forgive or forget, and hold on to their grudges for a very long time.
A former nerd who hates her and wants her gone...
Samrat, a highly successful entrepreneur was Mahi's former classmate and current neighbor. Mahi had effectively ruined his higher educational prospects with her false allegations. She along with her similarly mean friends had also made his sister Ananya's life miserable during their college days. And to make matters even more complicated, Ananya is married to Mahi's first love, Sidhu, whom Mahi had callously left behind to marry a person of her parent's choice.
Watch the sparks fly...
When Mahi and Samrat butt heads at every turn, they are caught up in a fierce, but unwanted attraction that leads them into an exciting wild fling with no strings attached. But what would happen when one of them is no longer happy with their arrangement, and begins to demand more, wanting everything... 
A humorous, heartwarming, sexy story of redemption, friendship and love.

Grab your copy @
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Amazon.com.au | Amazon.ca

Excerpt
Mahi sighed. "Samrat, I've already told you that I'm not that mean and aggressive girl from our college days anymore." Samrat didn't want to agree with her because that would mean that he will have to acknowledge that to himself. "Don't forget rude and immature along with being a liar." Her eyes flared, and she snapped out at him. "You were an arrogant ass, who has always felt superior to me with your holier-than-thou attitude. I would never like someone like you Mahi," she imitated him mockingly from the night fourteen years ago. Samrat was taken aback and a little shocked at the reminder. "But I guess one of things that didn't change about me is that I've still got a temper and some pride left," she said calmly. Samrat felt disgusted at himself for acting like some throwback cultural police. Women's dressing was the last thing he ever bothered with or even cared about. Mahi saw the disgust on his face. And that was her final straw. She began walking determinedly towards the door and then locked it. "What are you doing?" he asked, feeling slightly wary. She watched him, while walking slowly towards him with an exaggerated swing to her hips. "You are right. Maybe, I haven't changed. Maybe you are right to fire me for 'inappropriate behavior'," she whispered sultrily. When she was close enough, she held his shirt collar ends with both her hands, and dragged his head down towards her. Samrat could have easily resisted, but his brain was no longer functioning. He felt hypnotized and was staring at her bright red lips, expecting her to kiss him. But he just felt her nuzzle him around his neck and shoulders. After a few seconds, she pushed him away with a devilish smile on her face. "Now you can fire me. I'm sorry for what I did to you and Ananya all those years ago. But for your behavior towards me in the past three months, you can go to hell and stay there! You're so full of shit with your reasons to find fault with me and to fire me," she hissed and stormed out of the door. Samrat had no clue of what she had done, until he checked himself in the phone camera. He was shocked to see red lipstick kissing marks all over his pristine white collared formal shirt. He had a few meetings coming up in a few minutes and no spare clothes or even a jacket to cover up. He also wouldn't be able to pass through the office spaces without the red lipstick marks showing on him like beacons. He should be outraged, or even furious, but what he felt was something different. He kept telling himself several times that he was simply staying close to Mahi because he was trying to find a reason to fire her, which he now did. But at the back of his mind, even he knew what the real reason was. The signs were there all along, which he had been ignoring. He was slowly getting obsessed with her. With her playfulness, her smiles, and also because of seeing her regularly at his workplace and near his home. He had been going to work regularly, and sitting there thinking about her, wanting to see her all the time. The great inventor and entrepreneur known for his practical and cool headed ways, was almost wild with jealousy over harmless interactions or hugs. And it was jealousy over the woman who had almost ruined his life. Samrat cursed viciously. Again. ***** Mahi was upset and mad when she left the office building. She informed her team that she wasn't feeling well and would take rest of the day off. They would soon know that she was fired for inappropriate behavior. "Maybe, he'll even throw in assault charges. For the dirty sinful slut daring to touch his esteemed holiness," she muttered as she got into her house. She thought she was finally settling into a good schedule. She had a great job that she enjoyed. And after work, she visited her aunt almost every day at her new place. She met Rajeev there most of the times when he visited his mom. He got a great job offer in the city that he took up. Rajeev left a message on her phone asking her if she was free in the afternoon. She replied back that she was at home and would be making Singapore street noodles that he really liked. As she lay on the bed, she realized that even with the job and a routine, something was still missing. She was missing having friends and some major companionship. Even when she was trapped in an abusive relationship, she had always liked socializing. Dinesh had tried to isolate her, and keep her from making any meaningful attachments. So she had only ended up with very few acquaintances during the past fourteen years. She couldn't do anything about the companionship because she didn't want to go through another drama episode in her life. Either she hurt the men who loved her or they hurt her. But she could do something about friends. She socialized with her coworkers as much as possible during the working days, but they were all so young, and even if they weren't, everyone seemed to be busy with their own personal lives. She needed some friends from her age group, and someone who could connect with her way of thinking and actions. She had never made any long lasting friendships in her earlier childhood, since she was called 'naughty' and a 'bad influence'. But soon she had learnt how to control and then temper her behavior near the right people, making some really good friends in college. When she got married at twenty-one, she had to give up her friends as one of the promises she made to her then-newlywed husband. Sighing loudly, she thought of her gang from her college days and missed them like crazy.
Read Chapter One here...


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hello I am MV Kasi and I am a romance addict. :-)

When I am not working in a full-time job or taking care of my family, I sneakily read at least 3 or 4 romance books of all possible genres within a week. I love reading books that are witty, humorous, heartwarming, hot and definitely with a happily-ever-after.

After sinking my teeth into hundreds of books over the years, I had an aha moment one day and started writing my first romance book. For three months straight I worked day and night until finally, I finished it. Then of course, I re-read what I wrote, cringed and deleted most of it and started over again. Finally, I had a version of it ready that I was satisfied with (somewhat). But after getting positive feedback from well-meaning friends and family members, I decided to self-publish it on Amazon.

Although my story takes place in India, featuring Indian characters, I'm hoping that it can be enjoyed by readers all around the world. Especially since romance has no boundaries when it comes to a sizzling one featuring a sassy heroine and a hot alpha hero.
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Featured - Book Club Blitz for "Dancing with Demons" by Nidhie Sharma

DANCING WITH DEMONSbyNidhie Sharma


Blurb

Karan Pratap Singh is on the brink of winning the Amateur Boxing Championship, when in a moment, he loses it all. His fall from glory seems fuelled by ruthless arrogance and an out-of-control anger management problem. That, however is just symptomatic of a deeper issue. Buried under layers of his fractured subconscious lies a childhood secret he cannot come to terms with.
Sonia Kapoor is a beautiful, volatile young woman with a secret that torments her at night but a secret that she feels no guilt for.
When fate throws Karan and Sonia together in Mumbai, their personal demons and pasts collide and stir up trouble in their fragile and uncertain present. But, is redemption possible without forgiveness?
Dancing with Demons is a fast-paced action drama of love, loss and resurrection.
Grab your copy @
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Watch It...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Book Club introduces Nidhie Sharma to you
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. When did you start writing?
My journey into the world of storytelling began way before I graduated with honours in English literature and was offered scholarship by the university. The early formative years took me into the world of the Panchatantra and classic English literature while I also watched my mother paint. At the same time, I got introduced to the joys of adventure sports too since my father was in the Armed forces. On hindsight, I think these early influences shaped my storytelling ability, albeit in a visual way.
I read voraciously through my teenage years and graduated to Booker prize winning novels quickly. I think reading good literature is hugely instrumental in widening mental horizons and giving the reader an ability to comprehend complex characters, their emotional and physical graphs, along with a unique insight into the geo-political landscape of the times the novel is set in. All of this is a fantastic bedrock and training ground for good writing.
I started experimenting with poetry and short stories initially, and a lot of the early writing during my childhood happened under the open sky in my garden, lying on the grass, dreaming about heroes, action and adventure.
At the age of twelve, I had written what might now be called a Novella. It was about the daily exploits of a girl and her group of friends and how they explored a new part of the nearby jungle every day, in search of wild animals, thrills, and adventure. It was autobiographical of course and my delighted parents had it printed and bound into a small book. They treasure it to this day.
Studying English literature in college helped me enormously in comprehending and interpreting works of literature and soon after, I started to write book reviews for national newspapers. I also wrote short stories every single day during those college years and I think that has helped me hone my craft.
I realize now that writing a drama set in the world of combat sports, which most critics have called visual and action packed, is no accident. Dancing with Demons is a sum total of all my early influences and experiences.

2. How would you describe your book Dancing with Demons? What prompted you to write a book on boxing?
‘Dancing with Demons’ is a gripping romance drama set against the backdrop of combat sports in India. It is the story of two fallen souls who must vanquish their inner demons to become the people they were destined to be. When the story begins, Karan Pratap Singh, an  angst-ridden boxer and the mysterious and volatile Sonia Kapoor are angry and emotionally damaged by their pasts and when fate throws them together in Mumbai, their personal demons and pasts collide and stir trouble in their fragile and uncertain present. "It was some night. Thunder and lightning playing, chasing one another like two furtive, carefree lovers, oblivious to the havoc they were wrecking. Sonia put her hand out of the window as the bus started to hurtle down the highway, to Mumbai. A sliver of lightning fell on the trees just ahead of them, setting a large bush on fire. Then thunder roared again... Perhaps this was an appropriate setting for what was to follow...two tumultuous lives on a head-on collision course.”
This book explores if redemption is possible without forgiveness and also delves into the depth and unsaid connection that Karan and Sonia have with each other. In fact, Sonia’s poems in the novel throw light not only on self-love and forgiveness but also on the passionate and intense relationship that these two anti-heroes share.
“I know I’m not easy to loveOn somedays there’s no God aboveAnd maybe it’s a messed up worldInto which we have been hurledAnd maybe I remind you of youSo Love yourself darling, to love me too”
Overcoming one's limitations or demons is essential in order to fulfill one's true potential. That is the real core of this story. The good thing is, millions of people find a way to battle and overcome their inner demons. So there is hope for everyone and 'Dancing with Demons' is about that hope. It's about the light at the end of the tunnel.
This novel is a fast-paced story of love, loss and resurrection for both Karan and Sonia.  
3. What prompted you to write a book on boxing?
I was brought up in an army background that exposes you to adventure and the outdoors very early on. Having studied in various army schools across India, I trained in karate, horse-riding and attended adventure camps. Camping, trekking, hiking along with all the unforgettable misadventures shaped my love for the outdoors.
As a teenager, I watched live boxing matches as well. They fascinated me no end. Two men beating the hell out of each other while spectators egged them on. I noticed that every time a boxer bled in the ring, the audience cheered even louder. Human reaction to violence only shows how deep and primal that instinct is and this totally fascinated me back then. I started to watch boxing championships on the internet. Soon I was following the sport like a fan and started going for the big fights to Madison square garden while I was studying filmmaking in New York. I met boxers and coaches out of curiosity and interest. I spent time inside boxing gyms and also started to train and spar.
Personally, I love the raw athleticism in this sport and the fact that it is a skillful craft, needing strategy and forethought . Also, when the boxers fight, it is almost like a dance in the ring, lyrical and rhythmic, and that has drawn me to it visually as well. Given my exposure and interests, I think the stage to write Dancing with Demons, was set long ago.
4. What inspires you to write?
A lot of things actually but my mother’s abstract paintings have been my greatest inspiration. Almost nothing inspires me more than a work of art, even a great piece of music for that matter. The outdoors and the sight of a rising sun sometimes triggers the need to put pen to paper. Since I enjoy observing life and am particularly fascinated by human duality and contradictions, I spend a lot of time creating complex and flawed characters and then throwing them into a world I am familiar with. The writing that follows is automatically organic and un-manipulated. Ultimately for me, it’s almost always about exploring and learning something new through the process of creation.
5. And do you ever have a writer's block? What do you do to get rid of it?
I am very passionate about the stories I want to tell and on most days I don’t feel the block but when I do, I think discipline helps. I’ve realized through personal experience that showing up in front of that laptop every single day is the only way to beat it.

6. Who are your favourite writers and poets and have they in anyway motivated you to be better at your craft? If so, how?
My favorite writers are Rohinton Mistry, Ian Mcewan, Maya Angelou, Kiran Desai, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Samuel Beckett, John Donne and T.S Eliot, to name a few. The unparalleled quality of their writing is a huge motivation for any young storyteller and I’m no exception. Like I mentioned earlier, my journey into the world of writing began with reading good literature and I strive every single day to better my craft.
7. Apart from writing what are your other interests?
I enjoy the outdoors, adventure sports, photography, watching plays and music of all genres.
8. You are also a filmmaker, how do you juggle between both the crafts?
The first step for a Writer-Director like me is to put an interesting story in place and once that is accomplished, then it’s all about visually interpreting and executing it.
As a filmmaker, I think I  am lucky to have a unique advantage by virtue of being a novelist too. It has given me a deeper understanding of story, characterization, plot, subplots, genres, mood and tone,  all of which are an essential part of building an engaging narrative, be it for a movie or a novel. I also have greater understanding of the source material (the novel) and the training to adapt it for the screen. Infact, I have already finished adapting ‘Dancing with Demons’ into a screenplay and thoroughly enjoyed the process.
Although Cinema and literature are principally two different mediums, both aim at telling an interesting story well and despite their own unique challenges and audiences, I think it is possible to straddle them equally well if one has the talent, passion and training for storytelling.
Personally, I fell blessed that I am able to juggle between these two crafts and I’m having a lot of fun doing so.
9. Finally, what is your next novel going to be about and where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I write every single day and am sure the next story will find me soon enough.
The journey for ‘Dancing with Demons’ is still on and my full focus and energies at the moment are on directing the film.
I am a filmmaker-novelist and that’s all I know, so that’s where you’ll find me even five years down the line.


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Featured - Book Club Blitz for "The Secret of God's Son" by Usha Narayanan

BOOK BLITZ
THE SECRET OF GOD'S SONbyUsha Narayanan



Blurb
The seas will devour the glorious city of Dwarka.
People will forget your name and your Gita!
May the world perish!
May the world perish!'
With this cruel curse on Krishna, Queen Gandhari plunges mankind into the unspeakable evil of the Kali Yuga. 
It is up to Pradyumna to try and reverse the dire prediction. To journey into terrifying realms, confront Yama and Shiva, and to vanquish the Kali demon. In order to do so, he must shed all that holds a mortal back—his arrogance, his fears, his baser instincts… He must lead his people out of the swirling vortex of greed, disease and misery. And there is one powerful weapon still…the secret surrounding Pradyumna’s origin.  
Will he uncover it in time to fight off the cataclysm? 
In the answer lies the destiny of all humanity! 

Grab your copy @
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About the author

USHA NARAYANAN
Usha Narayanan had a successful career in advertising, radio and corporate communications before becoming a full-time writer. She is the author of The Madras Mangler, a suspense thriller, and Love, Lies and Layoffs, a light-hearted office romance. The Secret of God’s Son is the sequel to her bestselling book, Pradyumna: Son of Krishna, which was published in July 2015. 
When she’s not juggling travel, writing and interviews, Usha reads everything from thrillers to romances, provided her cat isn’t fast asleep on her Kindle. She would love to hear from her readers here: author@ushanarayanan.com 
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Praise for Pradyumna: Son of Krishna: 
“Usha Narayanan has taken a quantum leap . . . to the outright spine-tingling narrative from the leaves of a time before. This book is Indian writing coming of age" Femina
"Like the best of our mythological tales, this too, is a multilayered one . . .There is valour, there is cowardice, there is glory, there is shame, there is sex, lies and deception" The Hindu
"This engrossing tale takes readers on a mythological saga" Times of India

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Featured - Book Blitz for "Baby's Got Blue Eyes" by L. M. Krier

About the Book​Genre: Crime thriller > serial killer
Release Date: Feb 2015
​
Someone is dumping bodies on DI Ted Darling's patch and he's not happy. Ted's a good solid copper, in an old-fashioned way, with an excellent clear-up rate. He's not at all like your average cop and has his own unique way of dealing with any prejudice his differences bring him. No heavy drinking, no failed marriage, just a steady, long-term relationship. He and his partner have cats, not kids.

But this serial killer seems to be running effortless rings round Ted and his team. Every promising lead just takes them up another frustrating blind alley.

Then it starts to get personal …
 
BUY LINK
http://hyperurl.co/kbmj37
​ About the AuthorRetired journalist, freelance copywriter and copy editor Lesley Tither writes under various pen names for different genres. Already well known for travel memoirs as Tottie Limejuice, Lesley also writes crime fiction under the name L M Krier.
Lesley's first crime thriller, 'Baby's Got Blue Eyes', was published in February 2015, followed by 'Two Little Boys' in June 2015. Books 3 and 4 in the DI Ted Darling series, 'When I'm Old and Grey' and 'Shut Up and Drive' are now available and Book 5 in the series will appear later in 2016.

"Sell the Pig" is the first in a series of travel memoirs describing how Lesley, writing as Tottie Limejuice, decided to make the move from the UK to France to start a new life, taking with her an 89-year-old mother suffering from vascular dementia. The story continues in three further books, 'Is That Billinge Lump?', 'Mother, Was It Worth It?' and 'Biff the Useless Mention'. A fifth book in the 'Sell the Pig' series is scheduled for release later in 2016.

Her first children's fiction book, writing as L M Kay, will be published later in 2016. 'The Dog with the Golden Eyes' is an exciting children's crime thriller.

Lesley also writes under the collective pen name of Jilli Lime-Holt, together with authors Jill Pennington and Janet Holt. Their first joint book, Take Three Birds, was published in December 2014.

Lesley is a former journalist, working as both a criminal court and coroner's court reporter. She also worked as a case tracker for the Crown Prosecution Service, and for a firm investigating irregularities in offshore finance. Her other jobs have included owning and running a holiday riding centre and acting as a 'charity mugger', lying in wait to sign up shoppers for a wildlife charity.

Lesley's interests centre around nature and wildlife and encompass dogs, wild camping and organic gardening. She lives in the Auvergne region of Central France and holds dual French/British nationality. Her current dogs are two rescued border collies.
 
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LMKrier/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tottielimejuice
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13476159.L_M_Krier
Blog: http://tottielimejuice.com/category/latest-news/
Website: http://tottielimejuice.com/
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Featured - Book Blitz for "The Secret of Hillcrest House" by Melanie Robertson-King

About the BookGenre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Release Date: April 16, 2016
Publisher: King Park Press

Sometimes there’s more to a house than bricks and mortar .
Hillcrest House is one such place. Perched on a cliff in the picturesque town of Angel Falls, there is more to this Victorian mansion than meets the eye. When referring to the house, the locals use the word haunted on a regular basis. Strange visions appear in the windows, especially the second-floor ones over the side porch. Even stranger events take place within its four walls.
Rumour has it, the original owners, Asher and Maggie Hargrave, never left their beloved home. They claim the couple and their family are responsible for driving people away. Over the years, Hillcrest House has changed hands numerous times. No one stays long. Renovations begin then stop and the house is once more abandoned. The latest in this long line of owners is Jessica Maitland.
Will Jessica be the next one to succumb or will she unravel The Secret of Hillcrest House?

Melanie Robertson-King's latest novel serves up a delightful blend of the supernatural and spicy romance, Lynn L. Clark, author of The Home Child, and Fire Whisperer & Circle of Souls: Two Novellas of the Supernatural, & The Accusers

Intrigue, dark buried secrets, hot romance and a neat twist in the tale make this riveting reading, Sheryl Browne, MA Creative Writing, Choc Lit Author
A fun read that keeps you guessing right up to the surprise ending, Dayna Leigh Cheser, Author of Janelle's Time, Moria's Time, Adelle's Time, & Logan's Time.
 
 
EXCERPT
 
The wind picked up making it difficult for Jessica to return the contents to the pouch. As she turned to place them in her purse, a face and hands appeared in the window over the side porch. “There’s someone in there,” she gasped, pointing to the location.
“Keys. I’ll need them unless you want me to break in.”
Transfixed by the image, Jessica couldn’t look away. She extended her arm and dropped her ring holding her house and car keys into his hand.
“You stay here,” he ordered before sprinting to the front of the house.
The face appeared to be that of a young child. After a few minutes, the image faded. She blinked thinking it vanished because she’d stared at it for so long, but even that didn’t help.
Frightened by the disappearance, she dashed after the officer.
When she stepped through the door, the pungent smells of damp and stale assailed her nostrils. Out of habit, Jessica reached for the light switch. She discovered an old-fashioned push button one indicative of knob and tube wiring. That was another expense she wasn’t prepared for.
At one time, the dark wainscoting in the foyer shone. Now it was dull, dingy and covered with dust. The paint above it and on the ceiling had peeled and curled. Flakes littered the floor and stairs. She grabbed a loose piece of paint from the wall and gave it a tug. It pulled away with little resistance.
Two large rooms stood on either side of the main hall. Jessica entered the one to her left. Pocket doors, off their tracks, cut off part of the large doorway. Yellowed wall and ceiling paper hung from crazy angles. The plaster it once covered now exposed. Sheets covered the furniture. At one time, they had been white but now, layered with dust. Jessica thumped her hand down on the back of a sofa forcing a cloud of the grubby powder into the air. Choking, she scurried out and into the room across the corridor.
It, too, was in the same state but in here, boards didn’t cover the windows. Sun shone through grimy panes of glass, and dust particles floated in the air trapped by the beams of light.
The sound of footfalls on the stairs echoed through the house. Jessica turned. She gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth. On the back of a sheet-covered sofa, lay a pristine, long-stemmed red rose.
The officer stepped into the room, securing his truncheon to his belt. “I thought I told you to stay outside.”
She didn’t reply. Stood shaking and pointing at the flower. Tried to speak but no sound came out. The room started swimming in front of her eyes. Her mouth went dry. She felt cold and clammy.
Jessica came to outside on the verandah with no idea how she got there or what happened.
“You fainted,” the cop said. “I caught you before you fell and brought you out into the fresh air.”
She stared at him and nodded only half understanding what he told her.
“By the way, I’m Alain Fournier.” He flashed a smile revealing brilliant white, perfect teeth. “And you are?”
“J-Jessica Maitland.”
“There was no one anywhere in the house. I’ve checked it from top to bottom.”
“But …,” she sagged against his shoulder.
How could that be? She saw the face in the window and the hands pressed against the glass. If no one had been inside the house, how did that rose get there? It was fresh. Not wilted. It made no sense. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. Tired from the long drive and concentrating on the GPS directions, all she wanted was sleep.


Buy Links
Amazon.ca http://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Hillcrest-House-Melanie-Robertson-King-ebook/dp/B01EEJOIXW/

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Hillcrest-House-Melanie-Robertson-King-ebook/dp/B01EEJOIXW/
​
Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Hillcrest-House-Melanie-Robertson-King-ebook/dp/B01EEJOIXW/
​ About the AuthorMelanie Robertson-King has always been a fan of the written word. Growing up as an only child, her face was almost always buried in a book from the time she could read. Her father was one of the thousands of Home Children sent to Canada through the auspices of The Orphan Homes of Scotland, and she has been fortunate to be able to visit her father’s homeland many times and even met the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) at the orphanage where he was raised.
 
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Melanie-Robertson-King-221018701298979/
Twitter: @RobertsoKing https://twitter.com/RobertsoKing
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6543072.Melanie_Robertson_King
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-robertson-king-72298065
Blog: Celtic Connexions http://www.melanierobertson-king.com/wp02/
Website: http://www.melanierobertson-king.com
​
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