Devika Fernando's Blog, page 90
June 8, 2014
The Book Club Tour - Review of 'India was One' by An Indian
India Was One by AnIndian
The Blurb
…Suddenly, he saw something shiny at the bottom of the abyss. He squinted his eyes to see what it was. He ran back to his binoculars and turned them to see what it was. Sharp barbed wires that separated the two mountains came into focus. He had come as far as he could in his country. But she was standing in another country.
He was in South India and she was in North India…
Have you ever imagined India being divided into two countries? What happens to the millions of Indians who are from South India but are now residing in North India? Kaahi & Jai were two such people who got trapped in this situation. Everything was going smoothly for them and suddenly, their world turned upside down.
How will they get together? Will India become one again?
Take an exciting journey with them from their college days in Mumbai to their life in the US and back to India when they find out that India is divided.
Buy @ Amazon.com | Amazon.in |Barnes and Noble| Flipkart| Pothi | Crossword | Infibeam | Sapnaonline Watch it
Meet the Author
The Author calls himself An Indian. We have no pics of him. But the Author does have something to say to every Indian out there....
Dear Readers,
I wanted to tell a story peppering it with Indian languages and narrating my experiences, inter-weaving them with some imaginary tale. When I mentioned this idea to my wife, her very first question was, "who is your target-audience?" That made me "think outside the box". After reading the book, you'll agree that there is no target-audience. I'd say - 10+, any sex, from any country, any ethnicity, any religion - is the intended audience.
When I wanted to tell a story, I wanted to "lull" the reader into thinking that they are just reading a travelogue. Making them wonder where (if at all anywhere) the story is going. Is it just another boring experience written by a NRI? AND THEN BOOM. It hits you. Suddenly, along with the characters, the reader's dream-world shatters.
This book is broken up in 3 parts. And it is intentional. Let me explain why.
The first part is about the Indian culture. Most Indians (in India) already know it. But what about NRIs? They may find it nostalgic. And what about their kids. They may have a better understanding about their roots and culture. And the non-Indian find it very fascinating.
The second part is about life in the US. Readers who are in the US may find it a bit like a travelogue. However, others may find it very interesting. Those who can't be here get a glimpse into the US life of an Indian (and the US life in general).
The third part is for everyone.
Hence, you'll notice that different people react differently to this book. There is something for everyone.
I hope this helps you.
Thank you,
An Indian
The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 and lived in New York. This book is for those who like travel, history, romance, culture, cuisine, sports, political-thriller, etc. It’s dubbed as a realistic-fiction. A fiction based on some real events. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
He is very clear about his Target Audience..
table.tableizer-table { border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif font-size: 12px; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; }
Audience How will the reader benefit? Age 10 and above Will learn about India Any Religion Will Understand India Indians in India Will feel proud of India NRIs Nostalgic moments Kids of NRIs Will connect with their roots Non Indians Will want to visit India People who Love India Will know what the book is conveying People who want to know about India Will fall in love with India
Stalk him @
My Review
I have read this book and enjoyed it immensely. Here is the review I previously published:
I’ve always been fascinated by the way a country like India can be so full of innumerable states and languages and ethnicities and different cultures, and yet be “one” – so this book sounded very promising. Considering the background and its conflicts, the concept of the country being divided into South India and North India, much like South Korea and North Korea, doesn’t seem far-fetched at all and is portrayed in a shocking way that makes it even more credible.
“India was One” by An Indian is a book that makes you think and that is filled with interesting information. The latter is provided in sentences or whole paragraphs in italic that follow the introduction of a word, food, custom or traditional concept. This sort of interrupts the reading flow, but is also a good way of learning more about India and of emphasizing how different yet unquestionably Indian all of it is. Whether you know most of it—like me—or not, these side notes are well-written and help to paint the bigger picture.
To me, the story is divided into three parts. The first third is reserved for introducing the two protagonists Jai and Kaahi and getting to know them. They meet at campus, fall in love, spend joyful days with friends and family and get married. All of it reads almost too good to be true. There’s no conflict at all, not even lying dormant. That, however, is just as well, because it will highlight the contrast between the rosy life before and the terrors after the division of the country. The author also uses this part to establish a cast of people who come from all corners of India, always illustrating their background. Everything is part of the puzzle that seems impossible to piece together after the separation of the two Indias.
The second third focuses on the happy couple’s life after they migrate to the United States of America. Being half Asian and half European, I could relate to or at least imagine a lot of what they went through. They are still happy, but now they have to face new experiences and the reader can sense a storm cloud looming. Some chapters deal with Jai and Kaahi travelling to Europe, which was fun to read for me and portrayed as credibly and well-researched as the rest of the book.
The last third hits you hard. From one moment to the other, smiles and success and affection turn to tears and fear and separation. You can hardly believe that you’re reading the same book. The author shocks you with his all too real description of a country and its people torn apart cruelly. Husband and wife are left stranded in the two halves of India, fighting a losing battle to be reunited. Everybody’s suffering is palpable and you are gripped by the story, racing toward the end that is uncertain until it swoops down upon you. This last part of the book is the one where the writing is most powerful.
There are some nice little touches to “India was One” that had me like it even more. First, there are the sketches that are full of life and details and fit the exotic image of the book. Second, you’re treated to some Hindi words spelled out in the Devanagari script, including phonetic translation and English meaning. Third—if my basic Hindi skills don’t fail me—the hero’s name means “victory” (Jai) and the heroine’s name means “story” (Kahaani), which is just perfect considering their story and role.
Due to the unusual writing style and the conflict occurring so late, this might not be a read for everybody. I, however, really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to everybody who wants to get to know more about India. Asians / Indians will also find a lot to treasure and ponder. I understand why the author prefers to remain anonymous.
The Book Club Spotlight - 'India was One' by An Indian
India Was One by AnIndian
The Blurb
…Suddenly, he saw something shiny at the bottom of the abyss. He squinted his eyes to see what it was. He ran back to his binoculars and turned them to see what it was. Sharp barbed wires that separated the two mountains came into focus. He had come as far as he could in his country. But she was standing in another country.
He was in South India and she was in North India…
Have you ever imagined India being divided into two countries? What happens to the millions of Indians who are from South India but are now residing in North India? Kaahi & Jai were two such people who got trapped in this situation. Everything was going smoothly for them and suddenly, their world turned upside down.
How will they get together? Will India become one again?
Take an exciting journey with them from their college days in Mumbai to their life in the US and back to India when they find out that India is divided.
Buy @ Amazon.com | Amazon.in |Barnes and Noble| Flipkart| Pothi | Crossword | Infibeam | Sapnaonline Watch it
Meet the Author
The Author calls himself An Indian. We have no pics of him. But the Author does have something to say to every Indian out there....
Dear Readers,
I wanted to tell a story peppering it with Indian languages and narrating my experiences, inter-weaving them with some imaginary tale. When I mentioned this idea to my wife, her very first question was, "who is your target-audience?" That made me "think outside the box". After reading the book, you'll agree that there is no target-audience. I'd say - 10+, any sex, from any country, any ethnicity, any religion - is the intended audience.
When I wanted to tell a story, I wanted to "lull" the reader into thinking that they are just reading a travelogue. Making them wonder where (if at all anywhere) the story is going. Is it just another boring experience written by a NRI? AND THEN BOOM. It hits you. Suddenly, along with the characters, the reader's dream-world shatters.
This book is broken up in 3 parts. And it is intentional. Let me explain why.
The first part is about the Indian culture. Most Indians (in India) already know it. But what about NRIs? They may find it nostalgic. And what about their kids. They may have a better understanding about their roots and culture. And the non-Indian find it very fascinating.
The second part is about life in the US. Readers who are in the US may find it a bit like a travelogue. However, others may find it very interesting. Those who can't be here get a glimpse into the US life of an Indian (and the US life in general).
The third part is for everyone.
Hence, you'll notice that different people react differently to this book. There is something for everyone.
I hope this helps you.
Thank you,
An Indian
The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 and lived in New York. This book is for those who like travel, history, romance, culture, cuisine, sports, political-thriller, etc. It’s dubbed as a realistic-fiction. A fiction based on some real events. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
He is very clear about his Target Audience..
table.tableizer-table { border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif font-size: 12px; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; }
Audience How will the reader benefit? Age 10 and above Will learn about India Any Religion Will Understand India Indians in India Will feel proud of India NRIs Nostalgic moments Kids of NRIs Will connect with their roots Non Indians Will want to visit India People who Love India Will know what the book is conveying People who want to know about India Will fall in love with India
Stalk him @
My Review
I have read this book and enjoyed it immensely. Here is the review I previously published:
I’ve always been fascinated by the way a country like India can be so full of innumerable states and languages and ethnicities and different cultures, and yet be “one” – so this book sounded very promising. Considering the background and its conflicts, the concept of the country being divided into South India and North India, much like South Korea and North Korea, doesn’t seem far-fetched at all and is portrayed in a shocking way that makes it even more credible.
“India was One” by An Indian is a book that makes you think and that is filled with interesting information. The latter is provided in sentences or whole paragraphs in italic that follow the introduction of a word, food, custom or traditional concept. This sort of interrupts the reading flow, but is also a good way of learning more about India and of emphasizing how different yet unquestionably Indian all of it is. Whether you know most of it—like me—or not, these side notes are well-written and help to paint the bigger picture.
To me, the story is divided into three parts. The first third is reserved for introducing the two protagonists Jai and Kaahi and getting to know them. They meet at campus, fall in love, spend joyful days with friends and family and get married. All of it reads almost too good to be true. There’s no conflict at all, not even lying dormant. That, however, is just as well, because it will highlight the contrast between the rosy life before and the terrors after the division of the country. The author also uses this part to establish a cast of people who come from all corners of India, always illustrating their background. Everything is part of the puzzle that seems impossible to piece together after the separation of the two Indias.
The second third focuses on the happy couple’s life after they migrate to the United States of America. Being half Asian and half European, I could relate to or at least imagine a lot of what they went through. They are still happy, but now they have to face new experiences and the reader can sense a storm cloud looming. Some chapters deal with Jai and Kaahi travelling to Europe, which was fun to read for me and portrayed as credibly and well-researched as the rest of the book.
The last third hits you hard. From one moment to the other, smiles and success and affection turn to tears and fear and separation. You can hardly believe that you’re reading the same book. The author shocks you with his all too real description of a country and its people torn apart cruelly. Husband and wife are left stranded in the two halves of India, fighting a losing battle to be reunited. Everybody’s suffering is palpable and you are gripped by the story, racing toward the end that is uncertain until it swoops down upon you. This last part of the book is the one where the writing is most powerful.
There are some nice little touches to “India was One” that had me like it even more. First, there are the sketches that are full of life and details and fit the exotic image of the book. Second, you’re treated to some Hindi words spelled out in the Devanagari script, including phonetic translation and English meaning. Third—if my basic Hindi skills don’t fail me—the hero’s name means “victory” (Jai) and the heroine’s name means “story” (Kahaani), which is just perfect considering their story and role.
Due to the unusual writing style and the conflict occurring so late, this might not be a read for everybody. I, however, really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to everybody who wants to get to know more about India. Asians / Indians will also find a lot to treasure and ponder. I understand why the author prefers to remain anonymous.
June 7, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday - Introducing 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes'
You might have read snippets shared on Facebook from my work in progress, my second contemporary romance novel. I had chosen the working title Second Chance, but now I'm ready to reveal to the real title, the blurb and some short excerpts. I'm currently working on the last chapter and feeling really excited about it. *drum roll* Here's this week's Sunday Sneak Peek:
Kaleidoscope of Hopes - A second chance at love? Kaleidoscope of Hopes
Blurb:
High hopes mean big disappointments.
Nadia has learned that lesson the hard way. Single, struggling to make ends meet, and hurt by the past, the last thing she needs is another complication. When her new boss – a handsome, secretive widower with a child – moves in next door, their worlds collide. Sweet hopes bloom again, but both of them are burdened by tragic secrets. Should she give love a second chance?
Teasers:
After a moment’s silence, he asked, “What kind of demons do you have to battle?”
Nadia's fingers stopped fidgeting and tightened their grip on the bracelet. Was she ready to share this with him? What if he turned into one of the demons in the end?
“Betrayal. Disappointment. Missed chances. Loneliness. Lack of ambition. Naïveté. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“Would you mind if I broke one of my own rules?”
What was she supposed to answer to that? Scrambling in her mind for something that wouldn’t put her in the line of fire, but that she could also live with, she settled on, “I don’t think it is up to me to judge if you go against self-set rules."
Did she imagine it, or was that the inkling of an admiring smile scurrying across his face?
“What if it involves you?"
His gaze was more intense than ever.
She could feel her throat going dry. Why the devil couldn’t this man just get it over with, and spare her all this dread?
“I…I don’t understand, sir.”
Lucas was not who she had thought, and would never be who she wanted him to be. Period. That was her strategy for getting over him and on with life.
But when did strategies ever do a woman in love any good?
Now with him here, her carefully laid plans scampered off through the backdoor like dogs let loose, and she was left with the memories of her hurt and the vestiges of her longing for him.
Kaleidoscope of Hopes - A second chance at love? Kaleidoscope of HopesBlurb:
High hopes mean big disappointments.
Nadia has learned that lesson the hard way. Single, struggling to make ends meet, and hurt by the past, the last thing she needs is another complication. When her new boss – a handsome, secretive widower with a child – moves in next door, their worlds collide. Sweet hopes bloom again, but both of them are burdened by tragic secrets. Should she give love a second chance?
Teasers:
After a moment’s silence, he asked, “What kind of demons do you have to battle?”
Nadia's fingers stopped fidgeting and tightened their grip on the bracelet. Was she ready to share this with him? What if he turned into one of the demons in the end?
“Betrayal. Disappointment. Missed chances. Loneliness. Lack of ambition. Naïveté. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“Would you mind if I broke one of my own rules?”
What was she supposed to answer to that? Scrambling in her mind for something that wouldn’t put her in the line of fire, but that she could also live with, she settled on, “I don’t think it is up to me to judge if you go against self-set rules."
Did she imagine it, or was that the inkling of an admiring smile scurrying across his face?
“What if it involves you?"
His gaze was more intense than ever.
She could feel her throat going dry. Why the devil couldn’t this man just get it over with, and spare her all this dread?
“I…I don’t understand, sir.”
Lucas was not who she had thought, and would never be who she wanted him to be. Period. That was her strategy for getting over him and on with life.
But when did strategies ever do a woman in love any good?
Now with him here, her carefully laid plans scampered off through the backdoor like dogs let loose, and she was left with the memories of her hurt and the vestiges of her longing for him.
Review: 'Call Off The Search" by Natasja Hellenthal
I love animals, and I am a vegetarian, which is why the blurb and teasers for "Call off the Search" by Natasja Hellenthal caught my interest. I’m glad I got the chance to read it because it goes farther than most fantasy novels, and it made me think and question a lot.
The story sounds straight-forward enough: Sula, the last of the Comyenti on planet Bhan, is trying to survive among people, who have slaughtered her race brutally in the past because they have the ability to change into animals – and let’s not forget their pointy ears, high intelligence and love for nature. She has promised her mother to search near and far for another of her kind and keep their race alive – but fate has something else in store for her. She meets the human Felix and falls in love with him. Just when the two have brought a beautiful daughter into the world and are happily married, Shazar finds her. He is also a Comyenti and striving to fulfill the same daring mission (as well as hiding a dark secret connected to the boy Twello and to the tragic priestess Ashanna).
What I loved most about "Call Off The Search" is the battle between two extremes, and the struggle to find a middle way that benefits all. Isn’t this what life is about? Can’t you see the Comyenti as a substitute for all the ethnic groups and minorities and people who dare to be different, and are therefore harassed and oppressed by society? And isn’t it proof that there is no one right and wrong, but a lot of partly-wrong and partly-right? The author weaves a tale full of emotions, moral lessons, personal struggle and higher values.
Sula as a heroine is a wonderful choice. She is strong and stubborn, but she doesn’t make hasty decisions or let herself depend too much on others. I loved her transition from reluctance to all lovey-dovey to realistic and emotional. The choice she has to face between her own good and the greater good, between love and attraction, between her heart and her conscience, is anything but easy. Throw in the fact that she is also drawn to the human Feline, her girlfriend, whose role in the plot is much more than the reader initially suspects.
Of course, to me is was a plus point that Sula is vegan, and that Felix and his people are portrayed as nature-loving. It was magical to read about the Mindmerge and the Heartmerge, and to watch the main protagonist transform into various animals.
Hellenthal pulls you right in with the powerful, heart-wrenching first chapter, and develops a story arc that is filled with tension and wisdom, romance and magic alike.
Be warned: This book ends on a magnificent cliffhanger and makes you want to get your fingers on the sequel "Children of the Sun".
I can’t wait to see where the author will lead the characters, because all of them are so authentic and full of potential.
About the Author
Mrs Hellenthal is residing in the UK, with her partner, two small children, two small dogs and a cat who all follow her around the house at the same time.
She is an eco-warrior, animal lover, vegan and her hobbies include outdoor activities such as hiking, wild camping, swimming and snowboarding. She grows her own vegetables and loves to get her hands dirty in the garden. If there is any time left she loves to write speculative fiction that entertains people but at the same time makes them think. Her work has been described as 'thought-provoking'.
'The Queen's Curse' was her debut novel and has received some great reviews.
It's a heroic Spiritual Fantasy novel in the old tradition, yet with original and surprising elements. It attracts attention from a wide range of people, as it deals with many issue's such as: justice/injustice, power, freedom,adventure, magic, immortality, intrigue, soul searching, love, life, loss, near death experience, and sword and sorcery.
In this book the author explores more than the ancient battle between good and evil so common in Fantasy literature. What is evil and how does someone become bad? Available for Kindle and in Paperback.
In her writing she deals with big psychological and ethical themes and struggles of life such as death, love and loss and tries to build strong characters as realistic as possible, for even though the genre is Fantasy she wants people to feel connected with her heroes and villains as they would with their real life people.
Mrs Hellenthal is influenced by writers such as Marion Zimmer Bradley and Tanith Lee, Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse.
She is currently working on Book 2 in the Epic Fantasy series, The Comyenti Saga, 'Children Of The Sun' which will be released Summer 2014!
Book 1 in the series, 'Call Off The Search' was published on the 26th of December 2013 and is available both for Kindle and in Paperback.
'Chained Freedom', a stand alone fairy-tale for adults but part of the Comyenti Series, was released in February 2014.
Please like and share her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natasja-Hellenthal
For the latest news and updates follow her blog on http://natasjahellenthal.wordpress.com or Twitter on @natasjahellenth
The Queen's Curse - Natasja Hellenthal
The story sounds straight-forward enough: Sula, the last of the Comyenti on planet Bhan, is trying to survive among people, who have slaughtered her race brutally in the past because they have the ability to change into animals – and let’s not forget their pointy ears, high intelligence and love for nature. She has promised her mother to search near and far for another of her kind and keep their race alive – but fate has something else in store for her. She meets the human Felix and falls in love with him. Just when the two have brought a beautiful daughter into the world and are happily married, Shazar finds her. He is also a Comyenti and striving to fulfill the same daring mission (as well as hiding a dark secret connected to the boy Twello and to the tragic priestess Ashanna).
What I loved most about "Call Off The Search" is the battle between two extremes, and the struggle to find a middle way that benefits all. Isn’t this what life is about? Can’t you see the Comyenti as a substitute for all the ethnic groups and minorities and people who dare to be different, and are therefore harassed and oppressed by society? And isn’t it proof that there is no one right and wrong, but a lot of partly-wrong and partly-right? The author weaves a tale full of emotions, moral lessons, personal struggle and higher values.
Sula as a heroine is a wonderful choice. She is strong and stubborn, but she doesn’t make hasty decisions or let herself depend too much on others. I loved her transition from reluctance to all lovey-dovey to realistic and emotional. The choice she has to face between her own good and the greater good, between love and attraction, between her heart and her conscience, is anything but easy. Throw in the fact that she is also drawn to the human Feline, her girlfriend, whose role in the plot is much more than the reader initially suspects.
Of course, to me is was a plus point that Sula is vegan, and that Felix and his people are portrayed as nature-loving. It was magical to read about the Mindmerge and the Heartmerge, and to watch the main protagonist transform into various animals.
Hellenthal pulls you right in with the powerful, heart-wrenching first chapter, and develops a story arc that is filled with tension and wisdom, romance and magic alike.
Be warned: This book ends on a magnificent cliffhanger and makes you want to get your fingers on the sequel "Children of the Sun".
I can’t wait to see where the author will lead the characters, because all of them are so authentic and full of potential.
About the AuthorMrs Hellenthal is residing in the UK, with her partner, two small children, two small dogs and a cat who all follow her around the house at the same time.
She is an eco-warrior, animal lover, vegan and her hobbies include outdoor activities such as hiking, wild camping, swimming and snowboarding. She grows her own vegetables and loves to get her hands dirty in the garden. If there is any time left she loves to write speculative fiction that entertains people but at the same time makes them think. Her work has been described as 'thought-provoking'.
'The Queen's Curse' was her debut novel and has received some great reviews.
It's a heroic Spiritual Fantasy novel in the old tradition, yet with original and surprising elements. It attracts attention from a wide range of people, as it deals with many issue's such as: justice/injustice, power, freedom,adventure, magic, immortality, intrigue, soul searching, love, life, loss, near death experience, and sword and sorcery.
In this book the author explores more than the ancient battle between good and evil so common in Fantasy literature. What is evil and how does someone become bad? Available for Kindle and in Paperback.
In her writing she deals with big psychological and ethical themes and struggles of life such as death, love and loss and tries to build strong characters as realistic as possible, for even though the genre is Fantasy she wants people to feel connected with her heroes and villains as they would with their real life people.
Mrs Hellenthal is influenced by writers such as Marion Zimmer Bradley and Tanith Lee, Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse.
She is currently working on Book 2 in the Epic Fantasy series, The Comyenti Saga, 'Children Of The Sun' which will be released Summer 2014!
Book 1 in the series, 'Call Off The Search' was published on the 26th of December 2013 and is available both for Kindle and in Paperback.
'Chained Freedom', a stand alone fairy-tale for adults but part of the Comyenti Series, was released in February 2014.
Please like and share her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natasja-Hellenthal
For the latest news and updates follow her blog on http://natasjahellenthal.wordpress.com or Twitter on @natasjahellenth
The Queen's Curse - Natasja Hellenthal
June 6, 2014
Featured: Australian Author Kandy Shepherd
When I found out that my author friend Kandy Shepherd was born in Sri Lanka and named for Kandy, the city I live in, I decided I just HAD to get to know more about her.
Thanks a lot for revealing some fascinating facts about yourself and your writing, Kandy! It's a pleasure to feature you, and I hope you'll come here to check out your Sri Lankan 'roots'.
Dolphin Bay? This setting looks like paradise to me! Guest Post: Settings
Hi Devika, thank you for having me as a guest on your blog.
As an author, I love creating settings for my books. The settings can be real—such as Sydney or San Francisco—or spring from my imagination but are heavily influenced by real-life places I have visited.
Born in Sri Lanka to an expat English father and Australian mother and living in India, England and Ireland as a child, I guess it was inevitable that as an adult I would want to see more of the world.
Now I call Australia home, but I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a number of places in Asia, Europe and the USA. Many of the places I’ve visited have inspired both settings and characters for my stories.
I use my experiences to create appropriate settings where my characters play out the plot and also to create authentic backgrounds for them. My award-winning romantic comedies Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is are set in San Francisco. What better place for characters who are crazy about dogs?
My best-selling contemporary romance The Castaway Bride is set on an imaginary tropical island in the far north of Queensland, Australia. The idyllic setting was as much a part of the romantic fantasy as the plot—it almost became a character!
I created the fictional small coastal town of Dolphin Bay, on the south coast of New South Wales Australia, as a setting for three Harlequin Romance novels: The Summer They Never Forgot (February 2014; The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner (July 2014) and A Diamond in Her Stocking (December 2014).
To create Dolphin Bay, I plundered vacation memories of quaint towns, pristine beaches and unspoiled bushland to create Dolphin Bay. One review of the book says the setting “is described so beautifully, readers will almost feel the sand between their toes”.
But setting isn’t just about descriptions of cities or beaches. The power of any setting is the way it shapes the characters: their views on life, their goals and motivations, their yearnings and dreams. My imaginary small town setting is important both for the characters who want to live there and the characters who want to get out!
Like me, the characters who populate the pages of my books often have a yen to see the world. They experience life outside of their home-town, too. The time they’ve spent in France, the USA, India, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore or Indonesia affects the person they have become.
No matter where I might travel, my stories and characters are always with me. Even on an indolent tropical vacation, those characters in my head are always poking their noses in and suggesting ways the location might affect them and the way they behave on the pages of my books. Needless to say, a camera and notebook are always on hand. Because if I set a scene or a chapter or a book in a different country, I like to get the details right!
Kandy Shepherd - Romance Author About the Author
Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She is traditionally published in contemporary romance by Harlequin and Berkley Sensation as well as self-publishing best-selling romance. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends. Visit her website http://www.kandyshepherd.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter
Kandy’s second Dolphin Bay story for Harlequin Romance, The Tycoon and The Wedding Planner will be released on July 1, 2014
The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner
When one wedding leads to another...
Kate Parker distracts herself from her memories by keeping busy--and how better than organising weddings for Dolphin Bay’s sweethearts? But tall, dark and handsome tycoon Sam Lancaster’s arrival suddenly has Kate forgetting where she has left the confetti…
And mysterious Sam will be around a while longer than the cutting of the cake--because he’s got to oversee Kate’s building project! There’s no time for distractions…but is it time to stop running from happiness, now it’s led them to each other?
The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner - Kandy Shepherd 
The Summer They Never Forgot - Kandy Shepherd
Thanks a lot for revealing some fascinating facts about yourself and your writing, Kandy! It's a pleasure to feature you, and I hope you'll come here to check out your Sri Lankan 'roots'.
Dolphin Bay? This setting looks like paradise to me! Guest Post: SettingsHi Devika, thank you for having me as a guest on your blog.
As an author, I love creating settings for my books. The settings can be real—such as Sydney or San Francisco—or spring from my imagination but are heavily influenced by real-life places I have visited.
Born in Sri Lanka to an expat English father and Australian mother and living in India, England and Ireland as a child, I guess it was inevitable that as an adult I would want to see more of the world.
Now I call Australia home, but I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a number of places in Asia, Europe and the USA. Many of the places I’ve visited have inspired both settings and characters for my stories.
I use my experiences to create appropriate settings where my characters play out the plot and also to create authentic backgrounds for them. My award-winning romantic comedies Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is are set in San Francisco. What better place for characters who are crazy about dogs?
My best-selling contemporary romance The Castaway Bride is set on an imaginary tropical island in the far north of Queensland, Australia. The idyllic setting was as much a part of the romantic fantasy as the plot—it almost became a character!
I created the fictional small coastal town of Dolphin Bay, on the south coast of New South Wales Australia, as a setting for three Harlequin Romance novels: The Summer They Never Forgot (February 2014; The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner (July 2014) and A Diamond in Her Stocking (December 2014).
To create Dolphin Bay, I plundered vacation memories of quaint towns, pristine beaches and unspoiled bushland to create Dolphin Bay. One review of the book says the setting “is described so beautifully, readers will almost feel the sand between their toes”.
But setting isn’t just about descriptions of cities or beaches. The power of any setting is the way it shapes the characters: their views on life, their goals and motivations, their yearnings and dreams. My imaginary small town setting is important both for the characters who want to live there and the characters who want to get out!
Like me, the characters who populate the pages of my books often have a yen to see the world. They experience life outside of their home-town, too. The time they’ve spent in France, the USA, India, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore or Indonesia affects the person they have become.
No matter where I might travel, my stories and characters are always with me. Even on an indolent tropical vacation, those characters in my head are always poking their noses in and suggesting ways the location might affect them and the way they behave on the pages of my books. Needless to say, a camera and notebook are always on hand. Because if I set a scene or a chapter or a book in a different country, I like to get the details right!
Kandy Shepherd - Romance Author About the AuthorKandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She is traditionally published in contemporary romance by Harlequin and Berkley Sensation as well as self-publishing best-selling romance. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends. Visit her website http://www.kandyshepherd.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter
Kandy’s second Dolphin Bay story for Harlequin Romance, The Tycoon and The Wedding Planner will be released on July 1, 2014
The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner
When one wedding leads to another...
Kate Parker distracts herself from her memories by keeping busy--and how better than organising weddings for Dolphin Bay’s sweethearts? But tall, dark and handsome tycoon Sam Lancaster’s arrival suddenly has Kate forgetting where she has left the confetti…
And mysterious Sam will be around a while longer than the cutting of the cake--because he’s got to oversee Kate’s building project! There’s no time for distractions…but is it time to stop running from happiness, now it’s led them to each other?
The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner - Kandy Shepherd The Summer They Never Forgot - Kandy Shepherd
May 30, 2014
Featured: Poetry by Jaye Tomas
I write and read not only prose, but also poetry. So it's only logical that I want to feature some wonderful poetry on my blog. Ladies and gents, give it up for Jaye Tomas and her thought-provoking poems that play in my head like songs and mini-movies.
Poems
Standing In The Shallows
There are storms in me and thunder and rain
warm like tears
like a wild rolling ocean
and I invite you to ride the waves with me
there are songs in me like drumming
like the sighing of a cello
like humming bees vibration and I vibrate with all this music
with all this sound and in the night
my mouth moves even in sleep
as I dream of all the things I want to tell you
I want to paint in huge swaths of color covering whole hillsides
paint all the moods cradled inside me
but there are pockets of shadow too and you need to see the shadow sides to know where the sunlit ones are
to appreciate the warmth you have to know what it's like to shiver
and if knowing me is too wild
too erratic
if what you love is calm and being certain and never getting messy never getting emotional or sometimes waving red flags just to see what bull will chase you
then stay indoors during the storm
stay on the shore
I will miss you
I look for you from the crest of the rolling water
and wave if I can see you
standing safely in the shallows
Broken Molds
I was melted by your smile
and dazzled
diverted
not noticing I was being poured into a mold I could not fit in
had not looked for
asked for
but any flaws were fully mine
starkly loudly labeled
there are so many truths and you spoke them all
yelled them all
layered them like colored sand in a bottle
and like sand it smothered me and my lips shut tightly
and I stood there
painfully molded
and listened as you shamed me for not fitting
and listened to the door groan closed
and I was left mute
motionless
until the sound waves from all my silent screaming shattered the glass and I rode the dune
all the way to the bottom
looking up at the clouds erasing the blue sky and wondering when I loved you
I am spreading out
like a spilled drink
and I want to climb again
to see the view from the top and then decide if I should keep climbing further
and I will start the journey
in my own skin and leave those sandy scraps of peeled picked off labels
and broken cheap plastic mold
in the sand
Mistral
Is it the wind calling?
Is it the wind that calls me?
I can feel it rising and the thoughts bloom like night poppies
narcotic and fragrant
they come with the southern winds
with the smell of hot oil and herbs and sweat
Is it the wind calling?
am I to accept its invitation
am I to follow
ignoring the underscents of rage
of piety
and the crumbling perfume of old passions
too long hidden away
they smell like daylight trapped for years in an abandoned house
what will that wind tell me
if I dare answer? If I turn my face toward it
wrinkled like last autumns apples
will I breathe in its whisper and let it fill me
billowing my lungs like sails and
feel it lift me
let me fly to meet and follow the winds call
Or will the scents disappear
dissolve like dreams traces as you wake
leaving me feeling naked and emptied and slightly ashamed
because I wanted that wildness
that untamed wild wind wrapping around me and the magic blown into this world
settling its dust on me
Listen
is it the wind calling me?
Jaye Tomas About the Author
Jaye Tomas has been a "scribbler" all of her life, but the Internet provided a way to more easily share it. Creating Chimera Poetry (blog & Facebook page) has been an incredible experience. The fact that anyone reads what she writes is a constant source of amazement and gratitude to her. She is working hard behind the scenes getting ready (fingers & toes crossed please) to publish her first book of poetic scribblings. There is a huge probability that there will also be a second. The ink is always fighting to be heard.... Her biggest obsession is books and her reading tastes are eclectic to say the least: Tolkien, Lovecraft, Gaiman, Plath, Ellison, Christie, Aaronovitch, Yeats, Blake, King, Barker, Straub, Lopez, Pyper, Maugham, Poznansky, Funke, Taylor .....to name a very few. Originally from the windy suburbs of Chicago she now resides in the UK. Lately she has been casting her eyes in the direction of Italy, but hasn't completely settled on that.....yet. It may be back to the USA, it may be Edinburgh, it may be Gallifrey..... the beauty of the story is in the journey, not the arrival.
http://chimerapoetry.wordpress.com/ (Blog)
https://www.facebook.com/jaye.tomas.7 (Jaye Tomas on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/chimerapoet (Chimera Poetry on Facebook)
@JayeTomas1 (Twitter)
Poems
Standing In The Shallows
There are storms in me and thunder and rain
warm like tears
like a wild rolling ocean
and I invite you to ride the waves with me
there are songs in me like drumming
like the sighing of a cello
like humming bees vibration and I vibrate with all this music
with all this sound and in the night
my mouth moves even in sleep
as I dream of all the things I want to tell you
I want to paint in huge swaths of color covering whole hillsides
paint all the moods cradled inside me
but there are pockets of shadow too and you need to see the shadow sides to know where the sunlit ones are
to appreciate the warmth you have to know what it's like to shiver
and if knowing me is too wild
too erratic
if what you love is calm and being certain and never getting messy never getting emotional or sometimes waving red flags just to see what bull will chase you
then stay indoors during the storm
stay on the shore
I will miss you
I look for you from the crest of the rolling water
and wave if I can see you
standing safely in the shallows
Broken Molds
I was melted by your smile
and dazzled
diverted
not noticing I was being poured into a mold I could not fit in
had not looked for
asked for
but any flaws were fully mine
starkly loudly labeled
there are so many truths and you spoke them all
yelled them all
layered them like colored sand in a bottle
and like sand it smothered me and my lips shut tightly
and I stood there
painfully molded
and listened as you shamed me for not fitting
and listened to the door groan closed
and I was left mute
motionless
until the sound waves from all my silent screaming shattered the glass and I rode the dune
all the way to the bottom
looking up at the clouds erasing the blue sky and wondering when I loved you
I am spreading out
like a spilled drink
and I want to climb again
to see the view from the top and then decide if I should keep climbing further
and I will start the journey
in my own skin and leave those sandy scraps of peeled picked off labels
and broken cheap plastic mold
in the sand
Mistral
Is it the wind calling?
Is it the wind that calls me?
I can feel it rising and the thoughts bloom like night poppies
narcotic and fragrant
they come with the southern winds
with the smell of hot oil and herbs and sweat
Is it the wind calling?
am I to accept its invitation
am I to follow
ignoring the underscents of rage
of piety
and the crumbling perfume of old passions
too long hidden away
they smell like daylight trapped for years in an abandoned house
what will that wind tell me
if I dare answer? If I turn my face toward it
wrinkled like last autumns apples
will I breathe in its whisper and let it fill me
billowing my lungs like sails and
feel it lift me
let me fly to meet and follow the winds call
Or will the scents disappear
dissolve like dreams traces as you wake
leaving me feeling naked and emptied and slightly ashamed
because I wanted that wildness
that untamed wild wind wrapping around me and the magic blown into this world
settling its dust on me
Listen
is it the wind calling me?
Jaye Tomas About the AuthorJaye Tomas has been a "scribbler" all of her life, but the Internet provided a way to more easily share it. Creating Chimera Poetry (blog & Facebook page) has been an incredible experience. The fact that anyone reads what she writes is a constant source of amazement and gratitude to her. She is working hard behind the scenes getting ready (fingers & toes crossed please) to publish her first book of poetic scribblings. There is a huge probability that there will also be a second. The ink is always fighting to be heard.... Her biggest obsession is books and her reading tastes are eclectic to say the least: Tolkien, Lovecraft, Gaiman, Plath, Ellison, Christie, Aaronovitch, Yeats, Blake, King, Barker, Straub, Lopez, Pyper, Maugham, Poznansky, Funke, Taylor .....to name a very few. Originally from the windy suburbs of Chicago she now resides in the UK. Lately she has been casting her eyes in the direction of Italy, but hasn't completely settled on that.....yet. It may be back to the USA, it may be Edinburgh, it may be Gallifrey..... the beauty of the story is in the journey, not the arrival.
http://chimerapoetry.wordpress.com/ (Blog)
https://www.facebook.com/jaye.tomas.7 (Jaye Tomas on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/chimerapoet (Chimera Poetry on Facebook)
@JayeTomas1 (Twitter)
May 29, 2014
'Playing with Fire' - Get to know the protagonists
Instead of posting another excerpt or teaser (I'll spam you with more of those soon enough), I want to present the character profiles for the two main characters of my upcoming novel "Playing with Fire" today.
Felicia, the heroine Name: Felicia Wolverton
Element: Fire
Job: librarian
Character profile: stubborn, enthusiastic, short-tempered, energetic, straight forward, passionate, determined
Likes: spicy food, Latin music, dragons, warm colors, revealing clothes, light, heat
Dislikes: lies, cold, rules, boredom, conformity
Quote (from the book): "And why the hell shouldn’t I? You keep sitting on your high horse, to use your metaphor, and try to teach me all kinds of things, but I’m still waiting for you to come up with any kind of explanation. Do you never feel the need to find out whether there are more of our kind? Where we come from? Where we can go? Why we are special? What our destiny is?"
Joshua, the hero Name: Joshua Norton
Element: Ice
Job: private investigator
Character profile: confident, calm, intelligent, secretive, detached, patronizing, ruthless
Likes: power, cold, water, books, fantasy art, hiking
Dislikes: drama, rules, superficiality, crowds, attachment
Quote (from the book): "We can’t live like ostriches that stick their head under the earth whenever they sense danger. We have to allow that other part of ourselves to live, but rein it in and keep it on a leash, so it won’t run away and get us into trouble. Life is all about control."
P. S.: Before you ask me: No, he's not a vampire - but he does have some vampire characteristics. ;-)
Felicia, the heroine Name: Felicia WolvertonElement: Fire
Job: librarian
Character profile: stubborn, enthusiastic, short-tempered, energetic, straight forward, passionate, determined
Likes: spicy food, Latin music, dragons, warm colors, revealing clothes, light, heat
Dislikes: lies, cold, rules, boredom, conformity
Quote (from the book): "And why the hell shouldn’t I? You keep sitting on your high horse, to use your metaphor, and try to teach me all kinds of things, but I’m still waiting for you to come up with any kind of explanation. Do you never feel the need to find out whether there are more of our kind? Where we come from? Where we can go? Why we are special? What our destiny is?"
Joshua, the hero Name: Joshua NortonElement: Ice
Job: private investigator
Character profile: confident, calm, intelligent, secretive, detached, patronizing, ruthless
Likes: power, cold, water, books, fantasy art, hiking
Dislikes: drama, rules, superficiality, crowds, attachment
Quote (from the book): "We can’t live like ostriches that stick their head under the earth whenever they sense danger. We have to allow that other part of ourselves to live, but rein it in and keep it on a leash, so it won’t run away and get us into trouble. Life is all about control."
P. S.: Before you ask me: No, he's not a vampire - but he does have some vampire characteristics. ;-)
May 24, 2014
Sneak Peek Sunday: Excerpt from 'When I see your Face'
Cathy froze and her head shot up to meet his eyes. Michael was standing right in front of her, surprisingly close. He was looking at her neck instead of her face. Slowly, his hand crept up from her arm, over her shoulder to the bare skin close to her neck. His touch set her on fire, kept her rooted to the spot and aching for more with the simple feel of his slightly calloused fingers—yet another difference between him and Mark—against her moist skin and the pulse hammering beneath his thumb. She had no idea what he was doing, but was dimly aware of her heart beat on overdrive. He seemed to have noticed because a moment later he did look into her eyes. There was that intense emotion again, like hunger and something else warring inside him and claiming her as his. It was a gaze that made her fantasize. They were locked like that for she didn’t know how long. His face came closer and closer still, her breath stopping, his breath a faint breeze on her lips that had parted. Would he kiss her now? Would she let him?
If you want to find out what happens next, here's where you can buy 'When I see your Face':
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ISK51P8
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/415664
Rave review for my debut :-)
If you want to find out what happens next, here's where you can buy 'When I see your Face':
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ISK51P8
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/415664
Rave review for my debut :-)
May 23, 2014
Cover reveal for my upcoming book 'Playing with Fire'
I'm planning to publish 'Playing with Fire' (Book 1 of the 4 Elements of Love Series) in a month's time, and I can't wait, I have to share the cover with you all now. I'm quite in love with. ;-)
If you play with fire, prepare to get burned – or to fall in love.
Blurb
Sparks fly when Felicia and Joshua meet. Discovering her inner fire and unleashing unimaginable powers makes her realize that all her life, she has been hiding her true self. When buildings burn and people are in danger, the tempting game of playing with fire becomes serious. Will their love and desperate struggle for control save her life, or will the fire magic turn itself against its mistress?
Excerpt
http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/sn...
If you play with fire, prepare to get burned – or to fall in love. Blurb
Sparks fly when Felicia and Joshua meet. Discovering her inner fire and unleashing unimaginable powers makes her realize that all her life, she has been hiding her true self. When buildings burn and people are in danger, the tempting game of playing with fire becomes serious. Will their love and desperate struggle for control save her life, or will the fire magic turn itself against its mistress?
Excerpt
http://www.devikafernando.com/blog/sn...
May 21, 2014
The curse and blessing of having a vivid imagination
Having a vivid imagination is a blessing for a writer – but I can also be a curse at times, especially in real life when it's not connected to reading and writing. I want to share an anecdote and some thoughts to illustrate the two sides of the coin.
Imagine the Unimaginable Vivid imagination - a curse
This incident actually happened during my childhood in Germany. I must have been about 7 or 8 years old. My parents had befriended another couple in the village and their daughter J and I were thrust together to play. She was a year younger than me, but we got along fine. One day when she was searching for one of her toys in her room and couldn’t find it, this story just popped into my head. I told her that the little people living under the earth must have stolen it. They lived in tunnels and burrows underneath gardens and houses and knew magic. They controlled small animals and sent moles out through mole hills and rats out through rat holes to find food and toys and useful things from human households for them. I really warmed to the topic and told her we’d use the next meetings for hatching a plan and for digging in the garden to find their hidden underground dwellings. Next thing I know, J’s parents had called my parents and told them in no uncertain terms to keep their lying daughter to themselves. Apparently, they had found her digging a hole in the garden and she had spilled the beans about my story. I got scolded and wasn’t invited to play with her again.
Now here’s the thing: It hadn’t felt like lying to me. My vivid imagination had gotten the better of me and I had spun a tale, but I hadn’t exactly told a lie. In a mix of loving a fantastic adventure and actually believing that magic like this was possible, I had shared what was on my mind. Little had I known that other children were not like me, that she would be unable to recognize the story for what it was. From that day on, I fought to understand that I was different and that stories were best kept to my mind or books…
Vivid imagination - a blessing (in disguise)
Now, roughly 20 years later, I’m glad that I can imagine anything and everything so easily, because it’s one of the tools a writer most certainly needs. My vivid imagination makes it easy to slip into a character’s shoes and walk through their life, to think out a scene and to create worlds. It’s also the reason why I react to visual writing prompts so powerfully. I just have to look at a picture, and I can feel a whole story unfold in my head. While reading, imagining the happenings makes the story twice as great.
A vivid imagination also helps with the important advice of “show, don’t tell” that authors should heed. If you write down that a character is a loner, the reader may or may not believe it. If you describe her curled up with a book alone at home while everyone else is out and about partying, or if you share a scene of awkward social interaction, it’s much more believable and comes alive.
Sometimes, letting your imagination run free is a wonderful way of escaping. When I feel sad or bored, when I can’t sleep or when I need to distract myself from something unpleasant, I switch to imagination mode and get lost in my own little world, most of the time focusing on a story idea or reliving things read.
Imagine the Unimaginable Vivid imagination - a curseThis incident actually happened during my childhood in Germany. I must have been about 7 or 8 years old. My parents had befriended another couple in the village and their daughter J and I were thrust together to play. She was a year younger than me, but we got along fine. One day when she was searching for one of her toys in her room and couldn’t find it, this story just popped into my head. I told her that the little people living under the earth must have stolen it. They lived in tunnels and burrows underneath gardens and houses and knew magic. They controlled small animals and sent moles out through mole hills and rats out through rat holes to find food and toys and useful things from human households for them. I really warmed to the topic and told her we’d use the next meetings for hatching a plan and for digging in the garden to find their hidden underground dwellings. Next thing I know, J’s parents had called my parents and told them in no uncertain terms to keep their lying daughter to themselves. Apparently, they had found her digging a hole in the garden and she had spilled the beans about my story. I got scolded and wasn’t invited to play with her again.
Now here’s the thing: It hadn’t felt like lying to me. My vivid imagination had gotten the better of me and I had spun a tale, but I hadn’t exactly told a lie. In a mix of loving a fantastic adventure and actually believing that magic like this was possible, I had shared what was on my mind. Little had I known that other children were not like me, that she would be unable to recognize the story for what it was. From that day on, I fought to understand that I was different and that stories were best kept to my mind or books…
Vivid imagination - a blessing (in disguise)
Now, roughly 20 years later, I’m glad that I can imagine anything and everything so easily, because it’s one of the tools a writer most certainly needs. My vivid imagination makes it easy to slip into a character’s shoes and walk through their life, to think out a scene and to create worlds. It’s also the reason why I react to visual writing prompts so powerfully. I just have to look at a picture, and I can feel a whole story unfold in my head. While reading, imagining the happenings makes the story twice as great.
A vivid imagination also helps with the important advice of “show, don’t tell” that authors should heed. If you write down that a character is a loner, the reader may or may not believe it. If you describe her curled up with a book alone at home while everyone else is out and about partying, or if you share a scene of awkward social interaction, it’s much more believable and comes alive.
Sometimes, letting your imagination run free is a wonderful way of escaping. When I feel sad or bored, when I can’t sleep or when I need to distract myself from something unpleasant, I switch to imagination mode and get lost in my own little world, most of the time focusing on a story idea or reliving things read.
