Devika Fernando's Blog, page 48

A look back on 2015 and a look ahead at 2016

Personally, 2015 hasn’t been an easy year. I lost my mother-in-law after various ups and downs. You can read a poem I dedicated to her here. There were also huge expenses to face because we’re building a house. On the other hand, there were happy moments too, of course. Just thinking of my 3 puppies warms my heart. And I made new friends, learned new things, read great books.
 
Book-wise, 2015 was exciting and kind to me.

The year started with a bang because Mike Wells and I published our FORBDDEN Trilogy, a coauthored romantic thriller that went on to become a bestseller.Shortly after that, I made another dream come true by publishing a novel set in Sri Lanka, where part of my roots lie. SAVED IN SRI LANKA is very close to my heart and many readers have told me they felt as if they had visited the island through the book. I really wanted to write an interracial / multicultural romance novel, and this was my first try and the kick-off to the Romance Round the World series.A short story of mine with a magical / paranormal twist was included in a multi-author anthology by Faraaz Kazi. You can read “Return to Escapeland” in the eBook or paperbook version of “LOVE: Lots Of Volatile Emotions”.I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge for the first time, writing one blog post each day during April in alphabetical order about the topic LOVE. If you search my blog for “A to Z Challenge”, the posts will pop up.I stuck to my plan and wrote more poems. You can read some of them here, here, and here.I became an Amazon bestselling author with several of my novels, including my debut “When I See Your Face”, which can be downloaded for free here.In December, I published Books 2 and 3 to my paranormal romance novel “Playing with Fire”. The complete FIRE TRILOGY is now out, and I’m proud of it.
​​So, what’s in store 2016? Of course I can’t be sure what will happen, but I have planned a few things.

I want to finish “Seduced in Spain” by January. It’s another contemporary romance novel for the Romance Round the World series and I’m having huge fun writing it.Stay tuned for a new series of rural romance that has taken shape in my mind and won’t leave me alone. I can’t wait to share more about the EAGLY SPRINGS novels!The first novel of the WATER Trilogy is calling me back. I wrote about half of it before giving in to Felicia’s (the main character’s) complaints and getting the FIRE Trilogy out first. It’s called “Deep Water” and features my definition of mermaids. 
As for general New Year’s resolutions, I don’t really ‘do’ those because I don’t need the dawn of a new year to make plans, initiate changes or follow through with something. I want to share more about Sri Lanka on social media, and I want to buy and read more paperbacks again. Watch out for the posts tagged #OnlyInSriLanka on Facebook and Twitter.
 
Feel free to share in the comments what made 2015 special to you, and what you’ve planned for 2016. HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

Featured - Author Interview with Robert Rand

Today I'm shining the spotlight on another author who has tried coauthoring and self-publishing. A round of applause for Robert Rand, please! Read on to grab yourself a FREE BOOK. Author Interview with Robert Rand ​1) Tell us a little about yourself and any hidden talents that are totally worth mentioning.
I'm 50 years old, I am a reformed career criminal who found freedom through writing. My hidden talent is my ability to listen.
 
2) What do you like most and least about being a writer?
I enjoy most the ability to exorcise my demons through writing and don't care much for the work involved in promoting my work.
 
3) If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
Robert R. McCammon wrote a massive novel titled Swan Song. It is an apocalyptic tale along the same vein of Stephen King's “The Stand”. To me it exemplifies the difference between good and evil. I have been both good and evil in my life and the way this novel takes the reader on the path the characters travel to find their destiny is the epitome of what a writer should strive for.
 
4) Is there anything (drink, food, writing tools etc.) that you can’t write without?
I have to have a pen and paper. Writing in long hand rather than on the computer for my first draft of any novel allows me to lose myself in the story. It is almost as if the words fall out of the tip of my pen.
 
5) Do you prefer a specific genre for reading and writing?
I write primarily crime/thrillers. However, I read everything other than YA, and erotica.
 
6) Tell us what inspired you to write “A Family Betrayal”.
A Family Betrayal is the third in the Rourk Family Saga. It takes a major turn from the first two, in that, it develops a strong female character that is essential to the story. I decided to utilize a strong female because of the respect and admiration I have for my mom. She is the strongest, most honest person I know.
 
7) Which of your books was the most challenging to write, and why?
The first Rourk novel, “Criminal Option” was by far the most challenging of my books. At the time I wrote it, I was in Los Angeles County Jail. I was defending myself and reading dozens of legal books in order to be able to mount a successful defense. But all that legalese was frying my brain! A fellow inmate suggested I spend time each day writing a book in order to free my mind from the law. What I ended up with was a means to rid myself of the pain and horror of having been kidnapped, beaten and raped when I was 10 years old. I had long maked that trauma with drugs and was finally able to get past it by giving the experience to the lead character of my novel.
 
8) If you had to describe your writing style in 3 words, what would those be?
Visual, fast, realistic
 
9) What book(s) are you tackling next?
I am working on the follow up to With Mother's Approval. I co-wrote that book with Mike Wells and am writing the sequel on my own.
 
10) Do you have any advice for other authors or aspiring writers?
Don't stop. Even if you have to force it, make time daily to put words on paper. You may never find financial success, but you will achieve more satisfaction within yourself when you complete  your novel than you ever thought possible.  Download a FREE book Follow these easy steps to receive a free download of "Criminal Option", The Rourk Family Saga, Vol. I:

Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/532882 and enter the coupon code WV98R at checkout.

This coupon expires July 1, 2016.
Please note that this book contains adult content (violence) and the site requires the user to accept adult content before allowing the book to be viewed or purchased. About the Author ​At 50 years old, Robert Rand has spent nearly 25 years of his adult life in some of California's most notorious prisons. Now a reformed career criminal, Robert lives in Arkansas with his family where he writes crime thrillers using personal experience and knowledge to create stories that some readers have dubbed "The OMG genre". With three novels in the Rourk Family Saga crime/thriller series that have 5 Star reviews, Robert Rand is giving the readers something different, exciting and uniquely realistic that keep them turning the pages! Look for my work co-authoring with best selling thriller novelist Mike Wells in the new thriller/mystery "With Mother's Approval, An Allie & Jeremy Branson Detective Novel" Look under MIKE WELLS on Smashwords!!!

Featured - "Memory of You" by Dori Lavelle

I've read and enjoyed some of Dori Lavelle's books from other series like Entangles Moments (Moments in Time, Book 1) and To Live Again (Learning to Live Again, Book 1), and I'm really looking forward to reading her latest romance novel too. *drum roll* Doesn't it look tempting? About the Book BLURB

After five years in New York, Jade Lane is back in the small town of Misty Cove, Florida. Carrying pieces of her broken heart, she's looking for a calm life in her grandmother's cottage, and hoping for a fresh start. But her plans are turned upside down when she collides with her past.
Before she even finishes unpacking, Bryce Colman shows up on her doorstep, a storm brewing in his intense blue eyes. He demands to know why she left him at the altar five years ago, why she had walked out of his life without an explanation.
As the truth comes to light, old wounds are ripped open, and both Jade and Bryce come dangerously close to getting hurt again.
*This is a standalone romance novella with no cliffhanger.*

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​http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Misty-Cove-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B017KLGM8K About the Author Dori Lavelle, is a mother, wife, and a sucker for happy ever afters and mint chocolate. Give her a great romantic thriller and a mug of hot chocolate and she'd be one happy woman.

Growing up, Dori read a lot, and when she wasn't happy with a particular ending, she wrote a different one, just for herself. Before long, she was writing stories when she should have been doing homework. The time has come for her to share the stories she cooks up inside her head. 

Join her New Releases and Giveaways newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/Ycsu5

Book Club Blog Tour - "The Madras Affair" by Sundari Venkatraman - Review & Spotlight

About the Book ​Blurb 

Sangita Sinclair was not always this successful & passionate lady, heading the NGO “Penn Urimai” for downtrodden, abused and homeless women….
 
When Sangita catches the eye of Gautam Sinclair she is a simple, homely girl; utterly unaware of her charms & capabilities. She has the devil’s own time in overcoming her inhibitions, hesitation, and her family’s orthodox and outdated rules before recognising her love for Gautam.
 
Will Gautam be able to solve Sangita’s Dilemma or will she be forever trapped in her past? Meet Gautam

Gautam has an Indian mother and American father. Built like a giant, he has brown hair and brilliant blue eyes. 
 
Gautam lives with his maternal grandparents in Besant Nagar, Madras. He used to run a business with his father in Washington DC. Giving up his high-flying career, he chooses to teach at Loyola College in Madras. Yeah, Gautam had fallen in love with the city in Tamil Nadu during his visits to his grandparents. 
 
Despite his American upbringing, he’s comfortable living in the same house as his grandparents. And does he love teaching! 
 
He’s attracted to Sangita at first sight and pursues her relentlessly. 
 
Read The Madras Affair to find out if he’s able to get together with the love of his life. 
 
Like what you see ? Get Your Book Here 
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My Review I am a huge fan of Sundari Venkatraman’s books like “The Runaway Bridegroom” and “Meghna”, so I was over the moon when she approached me with a beta-reading request for her latest romance novel “The Madras Affair”. And the book didn’t let me down at all, quite the contrary. I think it’s her best novel yet (though I have a tendency to say that after each of her new releases).
 
The story started with a glimpse of the present, where everything seemed so positive but with foreshadowing hints that I just knew something big had to be amiss. Sure enough, the next chapter was like a slap in the face.
I suffered alongside Sangita, and I could associate with her plight because the situation here in Sri Lanka is similar to the one in India, though not as severe and tragic. From that chapter on, the author had me hook, line, and sinker. She whisked me away in a maelstrom of emotions, portraying a deeply hurt heroine who had been pressed into a mould and made to obey, and felt like a caged bird to me. But she wasn’t as weak as she could have been, as the encounter with Gautam proved soon enough. And suddenly I had a different image while reading about her dilemma: a raw gem plucked from the depths of mud, with just a bit of sparkle to entice. The more I read about her – and the more she got involved with Gautam and his cajoling and admiration – the more of the gem shone through the rough shell, as if someone were polishing the stone. And once enough colours had broken through, Sangita bedazzled like the most beautiful of gemstones, showing her hidden strength, her awakened passion, and her potential.
Most of it was thanks to wonderful Gautam, a hero I have been dreaming about since. It wasn’t just his mix of India and America that is perfect, but also the way he never gives up. I loved the way he wooed Sangita, and the way he shaped her present and their future throughout the book. He too underwent a change, though much more subtle than Sangita’s immense transformation. I loved and hated the other characters with a passion.
 
As a beta reader, I look for inconsistencies in the plot, for superfluous scenes and for abrupt developments. I found none in this book. The flashbacks were neither too many nor too few and inserted in the right places.
 
I can highly recommend this novel to all those who love heroines that are anything but ordinary and refuse to be trampled upon. And to all who love reading about hunky heroes that are not ashamed to show emotions and know how to fight for what they want and what is right. The story is full of sizzle, thrill and insights into the human mind and heart. It’s thought-provoking, sensual and alive not just with the many authentic characters but also with the exotic setting of Madras, which the author clearly seems to love.
 
Rating: 5/5
​ About the Author ​Growing up on a heavy dose of fairy tales and comic books, Sundari fell in love with the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end. 
     
Soon, into her teens, Sundari graduated to Mills & Boon romances. And that got her thinking – how about such breezy romances in Indian settings? Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years. 
     
Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! Sundari had just quit her job as a school admin and was taking a break. She was saturated with reading books. That’s when she returned home one evening after her walk, took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising a perfect Indian romance had to be put into words. The dormant romantic storyteller in her finally found its calling and The Malhotra Bride was born. While she felt disheartened when publishing didn’t happen, it was her husband who encouraged her to keep writing. 
   
In the meanwhile, she landed a job as copy editor with Mumbai Mirror. After working there for two years, she moved to the Network 18 Group and worked with two of their websites over the next six years, as content editor. 
    
Despite her work schedule, she continued writing novels and short stories and had them published in her blogs. She also started blogging voraciously, writing on many different topics – travel, book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, spirituality, alternative health and more. 
    
Her first eBook Double Jeopardy – a romance novella – was published by Indireads and has been very well received by readers of romance.  
    
In 2014, Sundari published The Malhotra Bride (2nd Edition); Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven (a collection of romantic short stories) in form of ebooks.
 
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Featured - Charity Book Blitz for "The Dark Dozen: Stories for Scarborough"

The Dark Dozen: Stories for Scarborough by  Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G. Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson Genre: Horror, Science FictionRelease Date: December 2, 2015


***SPECIAL NOTE: SAVE A LIFE, BUY A BOOK*** 
This fund-raising anthology of Horror and Sci-Fi short stories was created to benefit Altoine Scarborough, a man in desperate need of a heart transplant. The stories, cover art, formatting, editing and compilation were all donated. Every penny of the royalties we receive will go to Al’s GOFUNDME project. (MW)

Vampires to ghosts to monsters—and futures we won’t want to see come true—fill this collection of dark stories that are sure to give you chills. This stellar, fan-favorite group, which includes award-winning and best-selling authors, brings a unique voice to some familiar and not-so-familiar creatures. Join Travis Luedke, C.N. Lesley, Danielle DeVor, Maer Wilson, Steven Ramirez, Jody A. Kessler, Louann Carroll, Ross G, Homer, M. Joseph Murphy, Robert P. Wills, Karenne Griffin, and Allan B. Anderson for a trip into the Darkness.


BROWN THE RECLUSE by Steven Ramirez – Ted Brown is a man slipping away from reality. Long estranged from his family and living in Seattle, he works at a job he no longer values and lately appears to be losing his memory. But when he discovers a spider in his apartment, that’s when things get really interesting.

THE RAID by Maer Wilson – Gamers are often loyal to their teammates. When Aelan and her friends tackle an evil dragon, that loyalty goes far beyond what anyone expects.

THE BONES by Danielle DeVor – Sometimes, things leave a residue, like the smell left behind when toast is burned. When a medical student brings a skeleton home to study, her child’s life will never be the same.

THE WHISPERING by Karenne Griffin – The small village of Gorland is horrified as their children kill themselves in what appear to be suicide pacts. But there is much more going on and only one child has the key.

THE DIARY OF A MADMAN by Robert P. Wills – Just because others don’t see the ghosts, doesn’t mean they aren’t real.

THE CALL: AN ANGEL FALLS NOVELLA by Jody A. Kessler – Professional shaman and cranky, anti-social ghost hunter, Chris Abeyta, finds spirits and helps them cross over to the afterlife. In his latest case, he and Juliana Crowson find the ghost of a girl trapped by time and a heart-wrenching tale of a camping trip gone terribly wrong.

THE FOUNDLINGS: JENNY’S TALE by Louann Carroll – Technology meets morality when Jenny loses her only friend. Terrified and alone she must choose between reentering the world or living the rest of her life in the dark.

MUMANS by Ross G. Homer – He found love in the most unlikely place. But could he keep the love he found?

A TALE OF TWO QUEENS AND A FROZEN HEART by Allan B. Anderson – Reily, an experienced troubleshooter, is hired to find two teams who have gone missing in a frozen wasteland. But even his skills may not be enough to survive what he discovers.

THE VAMPIRE AND THE VALIANT WARRIOR by M. Joseph Murphy – A noble thief in search of ancient treasure stumbles upon the den of a sadistic vampire.

HELL IS NEVER FULL by C.N. Lesley – When the seed of hate is sown it puts forth shoots of malice that bear flowers of evil. Time has no meaning for revenge.

DREAMS OF NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS by Travis Luedke – An author has an unexpected encounter with one of his most dangerous – and sexy – creations.

For more information about Al’s situation or to donate directly to his GoFundMe project, please check out these links below:

Any support to help save Al’s life will be deeply appreciated.
Al’s GOFUNDME Page – https://www.gofundme.com/l1911s
Al’s Facebook Page – WE HEART AL – https://www.facebook.com/We-Heart-Al-611995988938764/
Amazon – THE DARK DOZEN – http://goo.gl/H8lsPo

To read more about Al's story and how this anthology came about, visit Maer Wilson's website.




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Featured - Release Day Blitz for "An Egyptian Affair" by Cheryl Bolen

An Egyptian Affair by Cheryl Bolen Series: Regent Mysteries, #4Genre: Regency Romantic MysteryRelease Date: December 15, 2015


A fresh romance with each new mystery . . .

While Captain Jack Dryden would lay down his life for the Regent, he draws the line at endangering his wife in the dark alleyways of Cairo—the place where the Regent's friend and procurer of antiquities has gone missing.

But Lady Daphne Dryden will not be denied the opportunity to see swaying palms, crumbling pillars, and soaring pyramids in exotic Egypt. She even insists on bringing her youngest sister, Rosemary, who's enamored of all things Oriental. The Regent insists on sending Stanton Maxwell,  England's most imminent expert on Egyptology, as their interpreter and his own soldiers as their protectors.

Once in Cairo, Jack and Daphne begin their inquiries, inquiries which almost certainly cause the murder of one woman and the abduction of Lady Rosemary. Will Jack's wits—and the unexpected bravery of Mr. Maxwell—be enough to extricate them from danger and unmask the evil-doers?



Jack bolted from their tent. "What's happened?"

"Rosemary's gone!" Daphne stood just inside her sister's tent, her hand still lifting the entry flap. "Someone's taken her!"

Shirtless and barefoot, Maxwell came rushing from his tent on the other side.

"This cannot be! I never heard a word .  .  . I swore I would protect her," he said, his voice forlorn.

The rear of Rosemary's tent had been slashed through. Jack whirled around to chastise the soldier he'd asked to guard Rosemary.

The fellow was sitting in the sand directly in front of Rosemary's tent, his head bent, chin on chest, eyes closed, hugging his musket to him as if it were a cherished woman. He was sound asleep.

Jack mumbled an oath as he began to shake the soldier. He did not readily awaken. Then Jack smelled it. Laudanum. "The guard's been drugged with laudanum!"

"We need to determine if anyone else is missing," Maxwell said, his voice commanding.

Jack's eyes narrowed. "It wouldn't surprise me to discover that one of our recently hired servants is responsible for Rosemary's abduction." His gaze returned to Rosemary's tent. "Daf, can you see if anything of your sister's is missing?"

She nodded solemnly.

By now Arbuthnot had made his way to join the others. He was fully dressed except for his coat. "Are you saying Lady Rosemary is missing? Are you sure she's not just gone exploring? Didn't she express a strong interest last night in seeing the mestabas?"

Jack faced Arbuthnot and spoke in a growl. "Some vile person slashed through the back of her tent and apparently carried her off."

Arbuthnot's eyes narrowed, and he uttered a curse.

Maxwell looked forlorn. "And I promised her I would protect her."

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. I was just as close to her tent as you were, and I slept right through her abduction."

"Dear God, I hope she's not intended for white slavery," Arbuthnot said.

Daphne poked her head out of the tent and harrumphed. "They'd be sure to bring her back. My sister is not only incompetent about cleaning floors and polishing furniture, but she's never in her life lifted a hand in pursuit of tidiness."

Jack coughed, and despite the gravity of the situation, his eyes twinkled with mirth. "It appears my wife is under a misapprehension about the nature of white slavery."




Cheryl Bolen is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 20 romances, both historical and contemporary mystery. Many of her books have placed in contests, including the Daphne du Maurier (romantic suspense) and have been translated into ten languages. She was Notable New Author in 1999. In 2006 she won the Holt Medallion, Best Historical, and in 2012 she won Best Historical in the International Digital Awards and she's had four other titles place in that competition. Her 2011 Christmas novella was named Best Novella in the Romance Through the Ages. She invites readers to www.CherylBolen.com, or her blog, www.cherylsregencyramblings.wordpress.com or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Bolen-Books/146842652076424.




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Book Club Spotlight - "More Than Just Desire" by Summerita Rhayne

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Use the #MTJD and #Bollywooddivastory to spread the word
More Than Just Desire  by Summerita Rhayne
Blurb 

The Bollywood diva who regrets nothing...Piya walked out of an explosive situation three years ago. Now she's back in Bollywood and wants to regain the crown that she left behind when she ran away from Arfaaz. It seems everyone who used to idolize her has forgotten her. In the competitive world of starry glamour, the only way she can restart her career is trash the past and make some waves.
The man who wants her atonement..Arfaaz is determined to get his revenge on Piya for making a farce of their marriage and then leaving him to face the mudslinging. He forces her to keep up the appearances and stay with him so she can play the loving wife and repent on her sins. But he finds Piya isn't so easy to handle. She drives him crazy with her antics. On the top of that the attraction between them sizzles and threatens to make him forget reason.
Conflict clashes with desire..No matter how intense the passion between them gets, their ways are bound to diverge. Piya knows she cannot let this man find a way into her heart. There is too much to risk and she cannot afford to forget the real reason she has come back. Success is the only mantra she knows and really, all Arfaaz wants is revenge…
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EXCERPT 
‘You’ll divorce me?’ The sense of anticlimax she felt annoyed her. Why wouldn’t he, for God’s sake? She’d been far from an ideal partner. No man wanted a three year estranged wife surely? Or why would he allow her to remain away for so long? For no logical reason, the knowledge had a sharp edge, stabbing her insides deeply. Arfaaz’s gaze was fixed on the flush deepening on her cheeks. The colour of anger...or joy at getting her freedom? It had been a mistake to pick her up in his arms, to give in to the urge to subdue that stubborn defiance. Three years since he’d touched her, yet her bones felt as delicate under his hands as the night he’d gripped her shoulders in anger. Evoking the same remorse one might feel for handling a bird badly. She had worn a metal colored dress that night. He could still feel the slithery fabric beneath his fingers. Another of her risqué dresses, with deceptively demure full sleeves while the shocker was the back. Which was missing. He had never objected to what she wore, though primitive instincts protested. She had a media image to maintain. He hadn’t wanted to act the possessive husband. A mistake, he thought again. Even the brief brush of her body against his had lit a spark that reminded him of how possessive he’d wanted to be. She had taken enough advantage of him. The grim thought rose from a host of emotions. He’d suffered, he’d been fooled, he’d been dumped. Was he going to take it all and let her go as easy as pie? ‘If you want a divorce, you’ll have to do a small favour for me first,’ he told her. ‘Favour?’ ‘Something which is important to me. Then you’ll be free to go.’ ‘I will?’ He shrugged, letting her make what she could out of it. ‘Anyway, we can’t stand here and talk it out. Come inside. We’ll discuss it over dinner.’ ‘Yes, divorce must be one of the prime discussable topics for dinnertime conversation,’ she said waspishly. ‘For everything spectacular Piya the topnotch actress has done, this must be the downslide indeed. To tamely sit across her husband and rationally chat over the break-up of her marriage,’ he jibed harshly. ‘However, I think it’s time for you to take a step down from the pedestal.’

Meet Summerita Rhayne 
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Summerita Rhayne loves to write sensual and emotional romance. There's no knowing when some quirky - or sometimes even not so quirky - happening in daily life might trigger her right brain and then she's off craving a new story. She loves writing characters who learn and grow and find their way out of their troubles and emotional hang-ups. Hot, sensual heroes and sassy but sweet heroines mostly fit the bill in her stories. She also believes that a touch of humor never goes amiss in a book.

She divides her time between family, job and writing - and loves winding down with music, movies and the internet!

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Featured - "Callie's Christmas Countdown" by Julie Ryan

About the BookCallie is an event planner, organising weddings and corporate parties. What she'd really love however, is to organise the perfect Christmas. How difficult can it be after all? She simply needs to get her divorced parents talking to each other, sort out a Christmas Eve wedding for the daughter of a millionaire and wait for her hunky, rich boyfriend to propose. What could possibly go wrong?
 
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​
About the AuthorJulie was born and brought up in a mining village near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. She graduated with a BA (hons) in French Language and Literature from Hull University. Since then she has lived and worked as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language in France, Greece, Poland and Thailand. She now lives in rural Gloucestershire with her husband, son and two cats, a rescue cat and a dippy cat with half a tail.  She is so passionate about books that her collection is now threatening to outgrow her house, much to her husband’s annoyance, as she can’t bear to get rid of any! They have been attempting to renovate their home for the last ten years.
She is the author of the Greek Island Mystery series, Jenna’s Journey, Sophia’s Secret and Pandora’s Prophecy, each of which can be read as a standalone. She considers Greece to be her spiritual home and visits as often as she can.
 
www.facebook.com/Julieryanauthor
Twitter  @julieryan18
Blogsite www.allthingsbookie.com
www.juliesworldofbooks.blogspot.co.uk
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Featured - Author Interview with Priyanka Menon

Been way too long since I had an author over for a chat, so I'm double happy to present this awesome lady and her debut. Ladies and gents, give it up for Priyanka Menon and "The One That Got Away"! Interview with Priyanka Menon ​1) What do you like most and least about being a writer?
Being a writer is very liberating. You get to live through your characters, experience new things, visit new places, say things you probably would never say in real. For instance, I don’t think any man would be as arrogant as Mr. Darcy and say, “She is not handsome enough to tempt me.” :P
 
What I like the least about being a writer is when a story has to come to an end. In my mind, I’m always writing beyond the requisite number of words and pages that a book would have.
 
2) Do you prefer a specific genre for reading and writing?
I’m a book-dragon, honestly. There’s no specific genre that I prefer to read or write. Presently, I’m reading Isaac Asimov, Angela Carter, Manto, Johanna Lindsey, and Twinkle Khanna.
A day inside my head is Diwali in DisneyLand.
 
3) To you, what is ‘typical’ for Indian romance novels?
You know, in India we have this notion that you don’t marry one another, you marry the entire family. Or well, something along those lines at least. So naturally, love and romance also need to account for family (both immediate and extended). Indian romance novels also rely heavily on this, at least the ones that I have read so far. But what I also appreciate about Indian romance novels, that is typical to them (but not typical to romance novels outside of India) is the protagonists are not carved out of perfection. It becomes easier to relate to these imperfect characters.
 
4) Any books and / or authors who have influenced your writing?
There are too many…wayyyy too many authors and books that have influenced my writing. Jane Austen has always been a goddess for me. In recent times, Chimamanda Adichie comes pretty close to being one. In the romance genre, Penny Jordan, and Johanna Lindsey are my absolute favourites.
 
5) Use these 5 words to write a mini-story: passion, compassion, think, woman, decision
There was a strange kind of restlessness in her voice that night. Her songs were the same, but her voice…it felt different. Decision made, he walked towards her then, slowly, letting his heartbeat settle into the rhythm of her song. He’d seen this woman every day for the last three years. Every night, he sat at the same table in the crowded bar, while she sang songs of compassion, life, and love with the same unbridled passion. But tonight was different. She was different. And he wanted to know why.
He stopped just short of the stage, and whispered, “Nina?” She stopped singing then. The bar manager grunted his displeasure and the customers around started howling theirs. But he didn’t care about them. He saw only her. He saw her eyes twinkling, brighter than ever. She put her hand on the mic, whispered, “Green room in five minutes,” and went back to singing.
Exactly five minutes later, he found himself standing in front of a battered old wooden door. On it was the sign – Green Room. He knocked twice, and a soft voice said, “Come in.”
“I have an answer for you,” she said just as he perched on a small stool.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered back. He looked down at her hands then. She was wearing his ring.
*The End*
 
6) Do you find it easy or difficult to write ‘sensual / steamy scenes’?
Hahaha…no! How can you be a romance writer and be squeamish about writing sensual scenes? Although, truth be told, the only time I actually got squeamish about such a scene was when my 81 year old grandmother told me she is halfway through my book. I am sure she has read a certain scene or two. Which is probably why I haven’t asked her what she thinks of the book. *covers face*
 
7) Is there a question you have always hoped somebody would ask you? (Feel free to answer it, too.)
Whenever I would attend a book-signing, I would always imagine myself sitting where the author sat and a reader would come up to me and say, “Could I have a copy signed, please?”
I can’t tell you how excited I am since it’s happened to me! So, if anybody wants a signed copy, come, come!
 
8) Complete this sentence: A writer’s most important tool is…
(Ctrl+A+Del)
A good writer has to be a great editor.
 
9) Describe your debut “The One That Got Away” in 3 words.
“It’s out now!”
 
10) Please tell us more about your latest book(s) and plans for the future.
My book ‘The One That Got Away’ is the story of estranged best friends who try to find their way back to each other.
I’m writing another romance novel at the moment, along with a few pieces of spoken word poetry. They’re keeping me busy and laptop sleeps for only as long as I do (3-4hours).
​
About the Author Priyanka is a lecturer and spoken word poet, who literally moonlights as a romance writer – she typically writes into the wee hours of the morning. Her affair with romance novels began when she was barely out of the school room. For that she doesn’t know if she should thank or blame her aunt, who gifted her her first romance novels. For leisure, she loves watching reruns of The Wonder Years, reading comic books, and dissing saas-bahu soap operas with her grandmother. She believes she gets her writing powers from red-velvet pastries and white-chocolate mochas at Starbucks. You can write to her at priyankamenon.author@gmail.com
​ About the Book What are school friends for? Shared lunches, secrets, movies and studies. And if there is a best friend, you want to share everything with him. But do things really work out the way you want them to? Is life really fair? Shyamita and Jai know they have to go different ways once school is over. Shyamita is going to pursue dance and Jai is off to Cardiff for further studies. What happens when they meet after several years? Sparks fly, shocking them both. Before they can figure out what is happening, love strikes.

Amazon: http://goo.gl/qHkWgN
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Book Club Spotlight: "Roomies Foodies" by Meghana Chaudhary Joshi & Lakshmi Ashwin

Check out the Contest: Try the recipe in the excerpt and click pictures (with or without you). Share it on social media tagging us and win a free copy of the book!
Roomies / Foodies by Lakshmi Ashwin and Meghana Chaudhary JoshiPublisher 

Blurb The year is 2001. Two young Indian girls arrive in the U.S. for the first time, to attend graduate school and be room-mates. One’s a non-cook. The other’s kitchen skills are strictly basic. As luck would have it, both are consummate foodies. And it’s not just advanced Molecular Biology they’ll come to tackle—the daily challenge is to feed their stomachs…and souls…on a thinner-than-spaghetti budget! Part memoir, part cook-book, Roomies/Foodies compiles the experiments and culinary adventures of Lux and Meg as they stick to their resolve of eating only non-boring food! Written in a slick, hip, conversational style, this well-organized handbook bubbles with anecdotes, tips, tricks, cheater’s methods and over 60 lip-smacking recipes. Spanning an easy-to moderate spectrum of skills, Meg and Lux’s “Eureka moments” in their own kitchen will help spare YOU some painful trial and error in yours!

EXCERPT FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER 
One day, exhausted, I fell asleep on the couch in the graduate student lounge at Roswell Park, waiting for Lux. Since we were on the same research campus, we commuted and ran errands together. In those early days, we were joined at the hip. It was a lot to deal with, this new life, with its sudden and crushing study load, having to walk or take public transport everywhere (I missed my Kinetic Safari) and we were glad of each other’s company. We started taking advantage of the subway and other modes of public transport to explore our town, checking out affordable food joints. One such journey introduced us to crépes. I tried making them at home and discovered a really simple breakfast item in the process.

Serves 4
Ingredients:
Rice flour or refined flour (maida)                   1½ cupsMilk                                                                        1 cupEgg                                                                          1Slab of chocolate                                                     1ButterSugar                                                                      3 tsp
Preparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 5 minutes for each crepe               Mix the flour with milk and sugar and beat in the egg.Melt butter on a tava* or a flat non-stick pan on medium heat.Pour the flour mixture evenly in a thin layer across the bottom of the pan, coating it completely.Grate the bar of chocolate over the open side of the crepe, in a sufficient quantity to cover the top, while the other side is still cooking.Gently lift up a side of the crepe to see if it is done. It should appear slightly browned and lift easily without tearing.Fold the crepe in half over itself. The chocolate should melt and hold the 2 edges together. Remove and serve with a melting dot of butter on top.
Tip: For an interesting Cheese-n-Chocolate variation, sprinkle some grated cheese or small globs of cheese after you have sprinkled the grated chocolate. If you have no time for the grated chocolate step, make just the plain crepe and spread Nutella or jam, or cheese spread for an even quicker meal 
MEET MEGHANA CHAUDHARY JOSHI, LAKSHMI ASHWIN

Meghana Chaudhary Joshi (Meg) has worked in clinical research in the US, run her own socio-environmental venture and is currently Practice Manager with Mirai Health. She is a fitness freak who loves to travel and explore varied cuisines as much as the outdoors. Meg lives in Pune with her husband, daughter, and Golden Retriever. 
Lakshmi Ramachandran, a.k.a Lux, graduated from SUNY Buffalo with a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2006. She is presently a science writer at the National University of Singapore. Besides Science, she is passionate about food and loves to cook. She lives in Singapore with her husband and two children. 
MEET MEG AND LUX :)

Contacts them @ Facebook: www.facebook.com/roomiesfoodiesTwitter: @RoomiesFoodies
Email: roomiesfoodies@gmail.com

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Twitter: @BloodyGoodBook
Website: www.bloodygoodbook.com

Contest 
Try the recipe in the excerpt and click pictures (with or without you). Share it on social media tagging us and win a free copy of the book!
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