Devika Fernando's Blog, page 6

Release Day Blitz for "Something Old, Something New" - "My Heart's Regret" by Shilpa Suraj

Something Old, Something New
- A DRA Production
Seven bestselling authors. Seven incredible second chance romances. One epic anthology. 
What would you do for another chance with the one you love? 
Something Old, Something New - a unique novella anthology - tries to answer this question with fantastic, different, desi dramas. 
Whether it is shapeshifters or shifting interracial relationships, single moms in small towns or rich alpha heroes, friends-to-lovers or passionate ex-husbands; this anthology has something for everyone. Something Old, Something New explores the many different facets of love, forgiveness, fated mates and more in seven, distinctly Indian tales!
My Heart's Regret by Shilpa SurajAll they had was love...would it ever be enough? Samaira Reddy, the girl in the big house, the Bade Sahib's daughter, only wants one thing and one person...a life with her childhood sweetheart, her Rags.Raghav Cherukuri has always been known as the driver's son. And has also always loved his Sam, the girl he can never have and never forget. And so, he leaves her and his life in Hyderabad behind.But now, Raghav is back. A Chief Officer in the Merchant Navy, he is the success he’s always wanted to be. And yet, he has failed. Samaira is meeting the ‘perfect groom’ her family approves of…A man whom Raghav can never be.Can it finally be their time to be together? Or has their happy-ever-after passed them by?
Read an Excerpt from My Heart's Regret
“So, where does that leave us?” she asked.“Nowhere, Sam,” he exhaled. “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you.”“Bullshit.” Anger, hurt, frustration, a whole gamut of furious emotion swept through her. She turned to him and balled her hands in his shirt, yanking him forward. “You have no business giving up on us, this way. You have to give us a chance.”“Sam,” His voice was gentle and so were his hands as they pried hers from his chest. He cupped the back of her head and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “We never had a chance. Our families would never accept this. I’m your driver’s son, for God’s sake.”“You’re the man I love.” With a low groan, she grabbed his face and kissed him. Raghav froze in her arms.She poured years of pent up emotion into the kiss and the bloody statue she loved so much still didn’t respond. Humiliated tears pricked her eyes as she wrenched herself out of his arms and stood. There was nothing left to do but accept defeat. Raghav may love her but he didn’t want her in his life. Sam forced herself to turn her back on him and walk away.She’d made it a bare two feet before she was grabbed from behind. He pulled her flush against him, her back to his chest and buried his face in her hair. It took her a moment to realize his tortured breathing and harsh gasps were not desire but tears. He was crying. Slow, silent tears that wet her hair and soaked through her shirt.Her heart breaking, Sam turned and wrapped him in her arms. They held each other, fierce and unyielding, the past and present swirling together to form a protective cocoon around them.“God help me,” His tortured whisper destroyed her. “But it kills me to let you go.”“Then don’t,” she whispered back. “Please, Raghav.” He kissed her then. His lips melting against hers with a mix of passion, fury and need. A dam burst inside her and Sam rose to meet his kiss with all the love and desire bursting through her. Her hands fisted in his hair, pulling him impossibly closer. Soft, mewling sounds escaped her.  He swallowed them as he tilted her head back to deepen the kiss. His hand crept up and clasped the soft mound of her breast, just as a distant sound shattered the moment and its poor illusion of privacy. They pulled apart, chests heaving, the sound of their harsh breaths mingling and spreading until it felt like that was all she could hear. In the distance, his mother appeared on the verandah outside their room. She waved to him frantically, screaming at the top of her voice.“Raghav, come fast.” Her panicked shout had him running even before she was done. Samaira closed her eyes in despair. This nightmare of an evening wasn’t over yet.

About the Author: Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.
An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.

Giveaway:
First Prize - A Kindle
Second Prize - 6 Months Kindle Unlimited Subscription

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Featured - Cover Reveal for "Second Chance at Love" by Sudesna Ghosh

Sudesna Ghosh is one of my dear author friends and also one of the few authors by whom I enthusiastically read short stories and novellas (I normally prefer novels). So imagine my excitement when I heard that she's got a new novella coming out soon. Until it's released, come join me in squeeing over the cuteness of this cover!
​ About the Book ​Aparna and Sid were high school sweethearts. Something tore them apart seventeen years ago. Neither of them expected to get a second chance at  true love. And in the city where it all began. But someone doesn't want them to have their happily ever after. Sid has to choose between the role of a blindly devoted son and that of an independent young man who is ready to begin a new life with his first love.  

Can Aparna and Sid pick up from where they'd left off or will they have to forget each other again?
​
About the Author Sudesna (Sue) Ghosh is an Indian-American author based in Kolkata, India. She is a graduate of University of Rochester (USA) and an ex-journalist. When Sue isn’t reading or writing, she is busy doing her best to keep her rescue cats happy.
You can find her on Twitter @sudesna_ghosh and on Instagram @sudesna_meow.

Cover Reveal for the "Something Old, Something New" Anthology

Writer friends are the best friends. And if they embark on an anthology together, they're the bestest ever!
I feel truly blessed to be part of this group and this group effort. As the 'honorary Indian' in the Desi Readers Group, yours truly was invited to join six authors from India to embark on a one-of-a-kind project. *excited bouncing* Loooooook!
​ We proudly present the cover of the first DRA anthology ‘Something Old Something New’!

Along with the book release, we have planned exciting prizes to be won by the readers. The prizes are: 
- Kindle reader
- Kindle Unlimited subscription
Details to follow soon, so stay tuned… Follow the authors on their social media profiles and join the fun in our DRA Facebook group.

Seven bestselling authors. Seven incredible second chance romances. One epic anthology. 
What would you do for another chance with the one you love? 
Something Old, Something New - DRA’s first novella anthology - tries to answer this question with fantastic, different, desi tales. 
Whether it is shapeshifters or shifting relationships, small towns or big cities, childhood friends or passionate exes; this anthology has something for everyone.

Featured - Book Spotlight for "Self-editing, Editing & Editors" by Inderpreet Uppal

SELF-EDITING, EDITING & EDITORS
by 
Inderpreet Uppal


BLURB
Self-Editing, Editing, and Editors will help writers and authors demystify the nitty-gritty of editing.The Writer's Toolkit covers the basic steps needed to ensure that you have a well-edited book.Editing Simplified!Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions on :How to search for an editor, and how to negotiate and finalise the right editor?Do you need self-editing?How can self-editing help you?How to ensure that you have the best editor?Why does every writer need an editor?How to negotiate, find the right editor and have the best contract?How to ensure your work is safe and edited as per your needs?All your questions and doubts answered.The Writer's Toolkit is for Self-Editing, Editing, and Editors for a polished book and a calm author.Editing explained and why you need it.
Grab your copy @
Amazon.com |  Amazon.in | Amazon.co.uk
About the author



Inderpreet writes for her love of writing, edits manuscripts and reads endlessly. 
A sprinkling of fiction, a dash of books, and a bit of opinion add to the eclectic mix that is Eloquent Articulation, her blog.
Books, editing, writing, and blogging keep her busy whenever she gets a breather from mothering her ‘too tricky to handle son’. 
An Army brat, she now joins her adorable Army hubby across the country. "
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...

You can stalk her @          Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  


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Featured - Book Spotlight for "A Diary of Crime Stories" by Sonia Rao

A DIARY OF CRIME STORIES: 
GUT-WRENCHING STORIES OF COLOURFUL
CHARACTERS AND SHOCKING TWISTS
by
Sonia Rao



Blurb

• Did or didn’t a 5-year-old boy, who cannot hear or speak, witness a murder? And if he did, how dangerous can it become for him?

• CCTV cameras prove that a robbery was committed by a young analyst. But if she didn’t, then who did it?

• Love brings together hearts, true! But did you know it could destroy lives too?

What is a diary? It can be described as a personal book or even a safe space in which one can record one’s experiences, thoughts and ideas of both one’s outer and inner worlds. What is around us affects us. One aspect of outer world includes crime. This can take many forms: assault of all types, murder, and even fraud. Be it a differently-abled child or a woman undergoing domestic abuse, obsessive love that can lead to fraud and breakup of lifelong friendships or then honour killing - because you are not allowed to decide whom you can love and marry. Be it a modern world, urban or rural, every crime story affects us collectively.

This Diary Of Crime Stories is a collection of 3 gut-wrenching crime-reads that will leave you on the edge of your seat, with their colourful characters and shocking twists & turns, asking for more.



Grab your copy @

Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk 


About the author





"Sonia Rao is a writer, editor, and award-winning blogger. Her fiction has appeared in many prestigious anthologies such as Voices Old & New and Jest Like That (edited by renowned editor-writer Shinie Anthony).

As NaNoWriMo’s Municipal Liaison for all-India and founder of the Wrimo India group on Facebook, Sonia has motivated thousands of people in India to write a novel every November since 2011. She has also curated and edited the first Wrimo India Anthology, Vengeance—A Sting In Every Tale.

Sonia likes to believe she is ‘high-minded’ but strangely, her fave hobby is thinking up torture devices for those autorickshawallahs who consider the roads to be their personal spittoon. Who knew?"
You can stalk her @

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
  
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Exclusive Sneak Peek at My Upcoming Book

Sometimes, the time just isn't right for a story to be told.
Three years ago, the new year brought with it a new story idea. I wanted to create a small town romance series full of heart. After writing four chapters, I got distracted by a different project, and then I embarked on the Romancing the Royals series and later on the Inn Love series.

But during Christmas last year (calling 2019 'last year' is so weird!), the characters from that book suddenly started talking to me again. So I spent the past few weeks reading what I had written and adding several chapters. And now I'm so in love with this new novella and series that I just have to share it. Here's the cover!
​  
​A small town girl with a tragic past - an English billionaire with a secret - an old ranch that brings them together
 
When a handsome and infuriating stranger from England finds his way to the small American town Misty Springs and turns everyone’s lives upside down, Abigail is forced to question everything she’s ever believed in. Despite her reluctance, Thomas wiggles his way into her heart. Sparks fly, and nothing will ever be the same again. But just when she may have found true happiness, a secret threatens to destroy everything.
 
* * *
 
This sweet small-town romance novella of approximately 33,000 words is Book 1 of the Misty Springs series. Each of the books can be read as a stand-alone with a happy ending, although there are some recurring characters.

You can now pre-order the ebook here (not in all countries)! It releases on January 19th and will also be available on Kindle Unlimited.

Bookish New Year's Challenge - Days 4 - 9

Argh, I'm so behind! In my defense, I'm back to work AND I have returned to a WIP from 3 years ago which I'm currently turning into a novella to kick off a new small-town romance series! Anyway, here's me catching up with the Bookish New Year's Challenge.
​
Day 5: TBR Shelf: 2019 Progress & 2020 Starting Point

To be honest, I don't keep track as diligently as I should. I did set myself a Goodreads challenge last year, for about 60 books - and I didn't officially achieve that goal BUT I'm sure I read more than 60 books last year. I just don't log them all in, and some are free novellas or too explicit for me to mention in my reading history.
As for my to-be-read list for 2020, I don't have any specific books on it. I just go with the flow, reading whatever I've recently downloaded, what my friends or favourite authors have released, or what catches my eye in the gazillion Kindle downloads. So far, I've read five novels, and I've beta-read a novella for an author friend.


Day 6: Blogger Background Noise (Music; Podcast; TV; Screaming Children; The Apocalypse?)

Silence, please! While writing or reading, I need it to be as quiet as possible. Even instrumental music or conversation in the same room distracts me from immersing myself fully in a story. And don't you DARE talk to me while I'm reading! ;-) I love listening to music while I design book covers or promotional graphics, though.


​Day 7: Favorite Book to Movie adaptation of 2019?

I'm cheating and mentioning A Discovery of Witches because it's just so amazing (it started in 2018) and because I love the books as much as I loved Season 1 of the series.  Can't wait for Season 2 this year!!!

Also, The Witcher was fantastic but I admit I haven't read the books or played the games. *hums Toss a Coin to Your Witcher*
Honorable mentions go to Can You Keep a Secret (book to movie) and to Season 2 of Big Little Lies (though it's technically not adapted from the actual book). I enjoyed Sanditon, based on Jane Austen's unfinished novel, but the first episodes were a bit meh and the ending ruined it for me. As for His Dark Materials and Carnival Row, I couldn't really get into these two though they seemed promising.


Day 8: Read-A-Thons: Yes or No? Do any in 2019? Planning to in 2020?

Nope. I'm often to busy with juggling three jobs so I don't join write-a-thons or read-a-thons. I do read every day, though. Wouldn't want to miss it for the world!


Day 9: Physical Copies or E-Books?

I'm a bookworm and I will always love paperbacks but unfortunately, living in Sri Lanka doesn't really agree with that. The local bookstores have a horrible selection, ordering books is expensive, and I read too many books to be able to afford lots of paperbacks. So my go-to is definitely ebooks, as a self-published author too. I don't have a Kindle, I read them with the app on my computer (reading on the phone hurts my eyes). I'm a fast reader in general and I've realized I breeze through ebooks even quicker.
​
(I just realized these are three completely different genres but I loved them all. Guess I watch more diversely than I read.)

Featured - Book Spotlight for "Love in Agartha" by Sundari Venkatraman

Print Length: 213 pagesPublisher: Flaming Sun (Indie published)Publication Date: January 2, 2020Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLCLanguage: EnglishGenre: Romance, Fantasy
When Sanat Kumara usurps the job that Naavya Batra has been coveting for a long time, her instantaneous attraction towards him turns to intense dislike.
But soon, she's all in admiration for the man. When she finally decides to give herself to him, Sanat insists on telling Naavya something about her…
…something she has absolutely no memory of.
What does Sanat know about Naavya that she herself isn’t aware of? And what secrets are her cousins holding back from her?
Read this tale of fantasy which takes you to three different realms on the earth, to find out if Sanat Kumara is really what he appears to be on the surface. But what about Naavya? Will her love for Sanat hold up under the circumstances?
It would be great if you can add this book to your TBR




Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author with forty-plus titles to her credit, which have sold more than 1.5 lakh copies around the world. Her books consistently feature in the Top 100 Bestseller Lists on Amazon in both Romance and Asian Drama categories. Her latest romance novels have all been on the #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month.
As a child, Sundari loved to read books with ‘lived happily ever after’ endings. They were all about good triumphing over evil. As a teenager, her favourite books were romance novels from Mills & Boon. She was fascinated by them, so much so that she began to visualise the stories set in India.
Sundari was forty when she began her writing journey, completing the first draft of her first novel in thirty-five days. She has not looked back since.
Click here to check out all the titles by the author...

You can stalk her @                 
Grab Your Copy From



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We Promote So That You Can Write 

Bookish New Year's Challenge - Day 4

To whoever's reading my #2020BNYC posts: thanks! I know these aren't usual for me and I promise I'll get back to author interviews, book spotlights, book news, and guest posts soon. In the meantime, let's look back on 2019 again.
​

What, I need to choose? *sigh*
I can't settle on just one post but my nicest memory would be embarking on the A to Z of Writing blogging challenge that a few author friends and I organized (not about books per se). We each posted about a writing-related topic to cover the whole alphabet - sometimes with only one author/post per letter, sometimes with multiple ones or mentioning books. Here are mine:

A for Authorpreneur
C for Coauthoring
​E for Epilogue
F for First Person Narration
H for Hero Types
J for Jargon & Slang in Fiction
​L for Length
P for Prologue
​T for Titles
​U for Using the Senses

Bookish New Year's Challenge - Day 3

Late again. Is that an omen for the rest of this year? *lol*
​
This post is about the most anticipated releases this year.
​Call me weird, but I don't keep up to date with what will be released when, by whom. There are two reasons for that: Firstly, a big number of the books I read are by author friends so I just pick them up whenever they post about them online or mention them to me. Secondly, I'm not really fangirling about many contemporary authors so I don't stay up to date with them. There are a select few to whose newsletters I've subscribed so that's how I'll notice a new release (often not exactly in advance but when it's time for publication).

That being said, I can't wait to read the latest All Souls book by Deborah Harkness, so hopefully it'll come out this year. I'll also happily snatch up the new romance novels by Annie West and Kandy Shepherd that will surely hit the market. They're two of the few traditionally published authors I read eagerly.
​Oh, and there's another author whose books I'll automatically buy and actually anticipate: Sierra Simone. I'm SO hyped about the next two books in the Thornchapel series that are scheduled for release in 2020!!!