Preethi Venugopala's Blog, page 14
November 28, 2017
Newbie Corner: Interview with Swati Sarangi
Today on 'Newbie Corner', we have Swati Sarangi, a young Electrical engineer, and a promising poet. Swati says she inherited her creative genes as there are many published writers in the paternal and maternal sides of her family.
Welcome to Newbie Corner, Swati.
Facebook profile || Facebook page || Quora Account || Twitter Handle || Mirakee Account Blogs: Creative Constellation || Words to World || Gambling Through EE
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing?
First of all, thank you, Preethi Venugopala ma’am, for this opportunity. I’ve been following this blog for many years and always appreciate your efforts towards creativity by balancing personal and professional lives very well.
I’m currently pursuing Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering. I’ve completed my B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Indira Gandhi Institute Technology, Sarang, Odisha. I have my roots from Odisha. I’ve always been very inclined towards reading and writing since my childhood. I was always so fascinated by the way my father composed poems and essays for us to present in various competition. I remember to have composed my first poem about “Mother” when I was in standard 6th to fulfill my desire to compose. That’s where and how my journey of writing began.
What is your favourite genre of writing?
AddiQtd book of poetry
My favourite genre of writing is poetry. I always feel fascinated to express my feelings with a limited set of words.
Who inspires you the most and to whom would you dedicate your creative growth?
As per the famous saying, 'charity begins at home'. I received my inspiration to write from my father who used to compose poems and articles for us (me and my sister) to recite in various competitions. Influenced by his writing style, I started to weave a dream to write. My reticence nature adds to the list of reasons for expressing myself through written words. Later on, the inspiration to write came from the appreciation from teachers, friends, and family. Slowly and steadily it became an intense passion for me. Many members from my paternal and maternal side have been published writers even though they have not taken up writing as a full-fledged career option. So, needless to say, writing is in my blood!
What kind of a writer are you? Do you plot the entire novel/story or make it up as you write?
I generally compose poems, articles, essays, non-fiction. I’ve written two-three pieces of fiction till now, to be frank. If I get a chance, I will surely design a plot of my own.
Do you have a favorite place to write or a scheduled time to write every day?
I’ve not confined my writing to anything or any place. I let my ideas flow freely over the pieces of paper. I have even composed poems during some of the uninteresting lectures or labs during my school and college days. Digital era has made my work even simpler by providing different apps for writing and sharing one’s creative work. I’ve been successful enough to grab many words of appreciation for my works in an app (in google play store) called Mirakee where I write under a profile name of swati7writes. I’ve been maintaining a very strict schedule of writing a diary since last 7 years. It has proved to be the best method of stress buster.
Who are your favorite authors and what is the genre that you like reading most?
I have a deep respect for writers and poets across the globe. This list includes Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Munshi Premchand, Robin Sharma, R K Narayan, Shakespeare, Ruskin Bond, Kiran Desai, R L Stine etc. I prefer non-fiction and short stories the most as concentration on novels require a hell lot of patience.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?In 10 years hence, I see myself working in a reputed organization in a respectable post. It’s difficult to guess the place and position where I would be, but I can definitely rely on the driver of my life, Almighty to carry me to the destination. On the personal front, I see myself more matured, confident and experienced in the field of my expertise and learning new thing to add to my list. I can visualize myself growing and enriching experiences of my life through various constructive hobbies that I’ll still be nurturing them.
Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
I would never like to write about something that is hateful and against anybody or religion or promoting violence in any form. I would never write anything which has the power to incite the mass in a negative way. I am appreciable about the constructive power of writing.
How much important do you think marketing is to the success of a book?
Marketing is very very important to present your work to the world. It’s one of the methods to reach the readers otherwise the works become obsolete with the passage of time. Feedback and words of appreciation from the readers for one’s work always function as catalysts in the process of creation. No growth is ever possible without it. Today’s digital era of social media has completely revolutionized the concept of marketing and promoting and made it less sophisticated. Reaching a wide range of readers of different age group and taste has become very easy. It has also opened up the gate of improvement for the writes.
What is the message that you want to convey to the readers through your writing?
There are several ways to express one’s thoughts and opinions. Writing is one those media to be used for the purpose. Remember! passion is something that always stays alive even in the darkest hours even when there’s little chance for its survival. I try to put my deepest feelings into producing something which is beneficial to the world. If my writing motivates my readers in any way, I shall feel very obliged!
Here are the links to some of Swati's works. Do check them out and encourage this newbie.
Shades of life-2
The Seasons December Issue of Writer’s Ezine The Stage Agnishatdal Book-1 Agnishatdal Book-2
Agnishatdal Annual Digest 2017: Agnidal 1
The Bibliograph
Welcome to Newbie Corner, Swati.
Facebook profile || Facebook page || Quora Account || Twitter Handle || Mirakee Account Blogs: Creative Constellation || Words to World || Gambling Through EE
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin writing?
First of all, thank you, Preethi Venugopala ma’am, for this opportunity. I’ve been following this blog for many years and always appreciate your efforts towards creativity by balancing personal and professional lives very well.
I’m currently pursuing Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering. I’ve completed my B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from Indira Gandhi Institute Technology, Sarang, Odisha. I have my roots from Odisha. I’ve always been very inclined towards reading and writing since my childhood. I was always so fascinated by the way my father composed poems and essays for us to present in various competition. I remember to have composed my first poem about “Mother” when I was in standard 6th to fulfill my desire to compose. That’s where and how my journey of writing began.
What is your favourite genre of writing?
AddiQtd book of poetry
My favourite genre of writing is poetry. I always feel fascinated to express my feelings with a limited set of words.
Who inspires you the most and to whom would you dedicate your creative growth?
As per the famous saying, 'charity begins at home'. I received my inspiration to write from my father who used to compose poems and articles for us (me and my sister) to recite in various competitions. Influenced by his writing style, I started to weave a dream to write. My reticence nature adds to the list of reasons for expressing myself through written words. Later on, the inspiration to write came from the appreciation from teachers, friends, and family. Slowly and steadily it became an intense passion for me. Many members from my paternal and maternal side have been published writers even though they have not taken up writing as a full-fledged career option. So, needless to say, writing is in my blood!
What kind of a writer are you? Do you plot the entire novel/story or make it up as you write?
I generally compose poems, articles, essays, non-fiction. I’ve written two-three pieces of fiction till now, to be frank. If I get a chance, I will surely design a plot of my own.
Do you have a favorite place to write or a scheduled time to write every day?
I’ve not confined my writing to anything or any place. I let my ideas flow freely over the pieces of paper. I have even composed poems during some of the uninteresting lectures or labs during my school and college days. Digital era has made my work even simpler by providing different apps for writing and sharing one’s creative work. I’ve been successful enough to grab many words of appreciation for my works in an app (in google play store) called Mirakee where I write under a profile name of swati7writes. I’ve been maintaining a very strict schedule of writing a diary since last 7 years. It has proved to be the best method of stress buster.
Who are your favorite authors and what is the genre that you like reading most?
I have a deep respect for writers and poets across the globe. This list includes Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, Munshi Premchand, Robin Sharma, R K Narayan, Shakespeare, Ruskin Bond, Kiran Desai, R L Stine etc. I prefer non-fiction and short stories the most as concentration on novels require a hell lot of patience.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?In 10 years hence, I see myself working in a reputed organization in a respectable post. It’s difficult to guess the place and position where I would be, but I can definitely rely on the driver of my life, Almighty to carry me to the destination. On the personal front, I see myself more matured, confident and experienced in the field of my expertise and learning new thing to add to my list. I can visualize myself growing and enriching experiences of my life through various constructive hobbies that I’ll still be nurturing them.
Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
I would never like to write about something that is hateful and against anybody or religion or promoting violence in any form. I would never write anything which has the power to incite the mass in a negative way. I am appreciable about the constructive power of writing.
How much important do you think marketing is to the success of a book?
Marketing is very very important to present your work to the world. It’s one of the methods to reach the readers otherwise the works become obsolete with the passage of time. Feedback and words of appreciation from the readers for one’s work always function as catalysts in the process of creation. No growth is ever possible without it. Today’s digital era of social media has completely revolutionized the concept of marketing and promoting and made it less sophisticated. Reaching a wide range of readers of different age group and taste has become very easy. It has also opened up the gate of improvement for the writes.
What is the message that you want to convey to the readers through your writing?
There are several ways to express one’s thoughts and opinions. Writing is one those media to be used for the purpose. Remember! passion is something that always stays alive even in the darkest hours even when there’s little chance for its survival. I try to put my deepest feelings into producing something which is beneficial to the world. If my writing motivates my readers in any way, I shall feel very obliged!
Here are the links to some of Swati's works. Do check them out and encourage this newbie.
Shades of life-2 The Seasons December Issue of Writer’s Ezine The Stage Agnishatdal Book-1 Agnishatdal Book-2
Agnishatdal Annual Digest 2017: Agnidal 1 The Bibliograph
November 3, 2017
A Royal Affair: Excerpt
A ROYAL AFFAIR
Get the book here: AmazonChapter 1
London, March 30, 2009
For Jane, the route to sanity began and ended with Indian food. The subtle flavours of its ingredients had a remarkable way of erasing bad memories and bringing back the good ones. Like a psychedelic, it took her into a world she had left reluctantly. It kept her connected to the person who had introduced the delectable cuisine to her. She had tried to forget. But Vijay—Prince Vijay Dev Varman of the erstwhile Royal family of Sravanapura, to be precise—had proved to be one unforgettable person. All these years, she had relegated him to the farthest corner of her heart with great difficulty. Even there, he had created nothing but ruckus. She transferred the rice and butter chicken curry she had ordered from the nearby Indian restaurant onto a plate. She ate a spoonful and immediately waded into dangerous territory. Glimpses of deep brown eyes, demanding lips and sounds of laughter surfaced and swam in her mind’s eye, assaulting her senses. This was the reason she'd refrained from eating Indian food all these months. Not to mention the intolerable yearning that followed. Yet, today it had become necessary. Memories had been prodded out. Unexpectedly.As she was wiping down her sink after dinner, her doorbell sounded. Her Mum stood on the doorstep wearing a veritable scowl. Jane let her in, wondering what had prompted her to drive from Surrey to London on a Monday evening. “Why is your phone switched off?” Margaret Worthington demanded the moment she entered the flat. Sniffing the air, she glowered at Jane. “Indian takeaway! Again?”Jane looked away to avoid her glare. Why had she come today of all days?“Would you like some tea? I was about to make some,” Jane asked, attempting a change in topic. But Margaret was, after all, the indisputable warrior. No one could thwart her moves.“Yes. But before that tell me this. When are you planning to stop torturing yourself over that Indian boy?”“Mum! You are imagining things. It is just food. I have moved on.” Jane crossed her fingers behind her back. She won’t lie again, she promised herself. Just this time. “You are not fooling me anymore, love. Susan told me you refused to go on a date with Harry, again. Is that how you plan to move on?”Jane would have happily wrung the neck of her traitorous friend. But she couldn’t blame her entirely. Her mother was an expert in making people talk. Seriously, the Scotland Yard should avail her services.“I don’t like Harry. And he is my senior, the executive editor. It won’t work. But I swear, it has nothing to do with Vijay,” she mumbled, taking quick steps towards her kitchen in a bid to escape more enquiries.“You are a bad liar, love. Right now, I feel I'm inside an Indian house than in my British daughter’s flat.”Jane grimaced. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t help picking stuff that reminded her of Vijay. The little brass lamp that she used as a decor piece would have fitted well into the prayer room of an Indian house. She had seen a similar one in Vijay’s room. The throw pillows were designer ones from the Indian store with a motif she remembered seeing on one of Vijay’s sweaters. The CDs she collected were of old Hindi movie songs and ghazals, Vijay’s favourite ones. They used to enjoy the soothing melodies cuddled on the sofa in his room. During the interlude, he would explain the lyrics to her. Some other trinkets were gifts from Vijay, items she should have thrown away if she really wished to forget him. But instead, they constituted her remembrance chest. Love emerged from them and often took her on trips down the memory lane. Like her two Chinese fisherman tea bag holders. She perched them on two cups and wound the thread of the tea bags on their hooks. While she waited for the water in the kettle to boil, the two tiny figures opened up the vista of how they had come into her possession. Jane had met Vijay at a party organised by the Oxford University Hindu Society. Being an Indophile, she had grabbed the chance to eat authentic Indian food and enjoy some Bollywood dancing. After a sumptuous dinner, she had stood in the dessert section with an empty plate, confused by the many choices. She had turned to the person next to her for guidance; it had been Vijay. “Let me recommend these Jalebis. Only the one with the strongest of wills can resist these.” He had said while loading a ridiculous number of Jalebis into his own plate. She had loved the sweet Jalebis. The lively chat that followed had made them aware that they shared more in common.Out of the many colleges which were part of Oxford University, they belonged to the same college. Vijay was an undergraduate student in Economics and Management while her chosen course was Oriental Studies. By the time they parted, they had exchanged numbers and a promise to keep in touch.Next day, she had turned to him for help again to clear her doubts for an assignment in Sanskrit, her subject of specialization. She had been surprised to realize that not many Indians understood Sanskrit. Luckily, Vijay was one of the few in the campus who did, making her approach him often for help. They had become best friends before long. Two months later, Vijay had dragged her along to help another Indian girl, his classmate, to shop for a party she was hosting. At the Indian store, Jane had become fascinated by the pair of cute, ceramic teabag holders shaped like Chinese fishermen but had kept them back, since they were too expensive for her. Vijay, who had noticed her interest, had gifted them to her, ignoring her many protests. His classmate hadn't liked it. "Sod off. He is my boyfriend, you bitch," she had snapped at her when Vijay had stepped out to attend a call. Jane always hated confrontation and had kept aloof the rest of the day.Vijay soon suspected something was amiss and questioned her when she refused to attend the party that night. "Leave me alone, Vijay, I am not interested." "Will you care to explain why?" he had asked, his voice reflecting his confusion."I don't want to become the third wheel, you know! You can enjoy your time with your girlfriend."“Girlfriend? Who?”“The host of today’s party.”"What? She is just a friend. But you are more than that, don't you understand?" he had asked with an intense look in his eyes.“But—”“If I have ever thought of anyone as my girlfriend, it is you, Janet. I have fallen in love with you. Hopelessly.” And Jane had lost herself in the promises conveyed by his words and his liquid brown eyes. Somewhere during the hours they had spent together, she realized, she too had fallen in love with him. Then he had touched her cheeks, a featherlight caress. With wonder, she had watched him bend down and claim her lips. The flood of feelings rendered by that tender first kiss had blown away all her doubts. She had responded, clutching at his coat lapels and crushing his lips. It had been magical. The memory made her cheeks grow warm. The kettle whistled, ending her reverie. She poured the boiling water into the two cups and watched the tea steep. Dropping sugar cubes into them, she walked to the tiny hall where her mother was still scrutinising Jane’s belongings and handed one cup to her. “I can’t understand you. Even after all his lies and deceit, you still love him? You broke up with him, didn’t you? Hadn’t he come home determined to talk to you and make you understand? Instead of facing him, you had run off to Aunt Molly’s place. You need to learn to face your fears and clean up your act, love.” Margaret regarded her from under narrowed eyes while sipping the tea Jane handed over to her.Jane’s romance with Vijay had acquired green signals from her mother and other members of her family easily. He was a regular at her home during weekends. They had been a couple since the first year of college. Even during her year abroad, he had visited her home regularly. The time away had just deepened their relationship. She had understood the extent to which she loved him. Yet, never even once during the three long years had she suspected that blue blood flowed through his veins or that he was capable of lying. Until that wretched day three days after their graduation.Jane shook her head to ward off painful memories. She made Margaret sit on the couch and prepared herself to break the news that she had received today. How would her mother take it?“Mum, I guess you will have to hear more about India now. I have been selected to head a team doing a documentary on the ancient monuments constructed by the Hoysala kings in South India. I have to leave for India in two weeks.”Margaret blanched. Then she snapped.“Refuse the offer. Or else, resign. I don’t want you to go to that godforsaken country.”“It is a promotional transfer, Mum. Also, I will be the anchor of the documentary.”“Whatever! I don’t want you to go. India has never been kind to the Worthingtons. Tell me you refused the offer already.”“Mum, stop being a drama queen. I haven’t accepted it yet. But I can’t let go of such a great opportunity.”“You can. And you will after I tell you what transpired at home today.”Ah! So, there was some drama. In her boisterous and noisy family, everyone meddled in the other’s business if you qualified as their loved one.
What had happened now?
Get the book here: AmazonChapter 1London, March 30, 2009
For Jane, the route to sanity began and ended with Indian food. The subtle flavours of its ingredients had a remarkable way of erasing bad memories and bringing back the good ones. Like a psychedelic, it took her into a world she had left reluctantly. It kept her connected to the person who had introduced the delectable cuisine to her. She had tried to forget. But Vijay—Prince Vijay Dev Varman of the erstwhile Royal family of Sravanapura, to be precise—had proved to be one unforgettable person. All these years, she had relegated him to the farthest corner of her heart with great difficulty. Even there, he had created nothing but ruckus. She transferred the rice and butter chicken curry she had ordered from the nearby Indian restaurant onto a plate. She ate a spoonful and immediately waded into dangerous territory. Glimpses of deep brown eyes, demanding lips and sounds of laughter surfaced and swam in her mind’s eye, assaulting her senses. This was the reason she'd refrained from eating Indian food all these months. Not to mention the intolerable yearning that followed. Yet, today it had become necessary. Memories had been prodded out. Unexpectedly.As she was wiping down her sink after dinner, her doorbell sounded. Her Mum stood on the doorstep wearing a veritable scowl. Jane let her in, wondering what had prompted her to drive from Surrey to London on a Monday evening. “Why is your phone switched off?” Margaret Worthington demanded the moment she entered the flat. Sniffing the air, she glowered at Jane. “Indian takeaway! Again?”Jane looked away to avoid her glare. Why had she come today of all days?“Would you like some tea? I was about to make some,” Jane asked, attempting a change in topic. But Margaret was, after all, the indisputable warrior. No one could thwart her moves.“Yes. But before that tell me this. When are you planning to stop torturing yourself over that Indian boy?”“Mum! You are imagining things. It is just food. I have moved on.” Jane crossed her fingers behind her back. She won’t lie again, she promised herself. Just this time. “You are not fooling me anymore, love. Susan told me you refused to go on a date with Harry, again. Is that how you plan to move on?”Jane would have happily wrung the neck of her traitorous friend. But she couldn’t blame her entirely. Her mother was an expert in making people talk. Seriously, the Scotland Yard should avail her services.“I don’t like Harry. And he is my senior, the executive editor. It won’t work. But I swear, it has nothing to do with Vijay,” she mumbled, taking quick steps towards her kitchen in a bid to escape more enquiries.“You are a bad liar, love. Right now, I feel I'm inside an Indian house than in my British daughter’s flat.”Jane grimaced. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t help picking stuff that reminded her of Vijay. The little brass lamp that she used as a decor piece would have fitted well into the prayer room of an Indian house. She had seen a similar one in Vijay’s room. The throw pillows were designer ones from the Indian store with a motif she remembered seeing on one of Vijay’s sweaters. The CDs she collected were of old Hindi movie songs and ghazals, Vijay’s favourite ones. They used to enjoy the soothing melodies cuddled on the sofa in his room. During the interlude, he would explain the lyrics to her. Some other trinkets were gifts from Vijay, items she should have thrown away if she really wished to forget him. But instead, they constituted her remembrance chest. Love emerged from them and often took her on trips down the memory lane. Like her two Chinese fisherman tea bag holders. She perched them on two cups and wound the thread of the tea bags on their hooks. While she waited for the water in the kettle to boil, the two tiny figures opened up the vista of how they had come into her possession. Jane had met Vijay at a party organised by the Oxford University Hindu Society. Being an Indophile, she had grabbed the chance to eat authentic Indian food and enjoy some Bollywood dancing. After a sumptuous dinner, she had stood in the dessert section with an empty plate, confused by the many choices. She had turned to the person next to her for guidance; it had been Vijay. “Let me recommend these Jalebis. Only the one with the strongest of wills can resist these.” He had said while loading a ridiculous number of Jalebis into his own plate. She had loved the sweet Jalebis. The lively chat that followed had made them aware that they shared more in common.Out of the many colleges which were part of Oxford University, they belonged to the same college. Vijay was an undergraduate student in Economics and Management while her chosen course was Oriental Studies. By the time they parted, they had exchanged numbers and a promise to keep in touch.Next day, she had turned to him for help again to clear her doubts for an assignment in Sanskrit, her subject of specialization. She had been surprised to realize that not many Indians understood Sanskrit. Luckily, Vijay was one of the few in the campus who did, making her approach him often for help. They had become best friends before long. Two months later, Vijay had dragged her along to help another Indian girl, his classmate, to shop for a party she was hosting. At the Indian store, Jane had become fascinated by the pair of cute, ceramic teabag holders shaped like Chinese fishermen but had kept them back, since they were too expensive for her. Vijay, who had noticed her interest, had gifted them to her, ignoring her many protests. His classmate hadn't liked it. "Sod off. He is my boyfriend, you bitch," she had snapped at her when Vijay had stepped out to attend a call. Jane always hated confrontation and had kept aloof the rest of the day.Vijay soon suspected something was amiss and questioned her when she refused to attend the party that night. "Leave me alone, Vijay, I am not interested." "Will you care to explain why?" he had asked, his voice reflecting his confusion."I don't want to become the third wheel, you know! You can enjoy your time with your girlfriend."“Girlfriend? Who?”“The host of today’s party.”"What? She is just a friend. But you are more than that, don't you understand?" he had asked with an intense look in his eyes.“But—”“If I have ever thought of anyone as my girlfriend, it is you, Janet. I have fallen in love with you. Hopelessly.” And Jane had lost herself in the promises conveyed by his words and his liquid brown eyes. Somewhere during the hours they had spent together, she realized, she too had fallen in love with him. Then he had touched her cheeks, a featherlight caress. With wonder, she had watched him bend down and claim her lips. The flood of feelings rendered by that tender first kiss had blown away all her doubts. She had responded, clutching at his coat lapels and crushing his lips. It had been magical. The memory made her cheeks grow warm. The kettle whistled, ending her reverie. She poured the boiling water into the two cups and watched the tea steep. Dropping sugar cubes into them, she walked to the tiny hall where her mother was still scrutinising Jane’s belongings and handed one cup to her. “I can’t understand you. Even after all his lies and deceit, you still love him? You broke up with him, didn’t you? Hadn’t he come home determined to talk to you and make you understand? Instead of facing him, you had run off to Aunt Molly’s place. You need to learn to face your fears and clean up your act, love.” Margaret regarded her from under narrowed eyes while sipping the tea Jane handed over to her.Jane’s romance with Vijay had acquired green signals from her mother and other members of her family easily. He was a regular at her home during weekends. They had been a couple since the first year of college. Even during her year abroad, he had visited her home regularly. The time away had just deepened their relationship. She had understood the extent to which she loved him. Yet, never even once during the three long years had she suspected that blue blood flowed through his veins or that he was capable of lying. Until that wretched day three days after their graduation.Jane shook her head to ward off painful memories. She made Margaret sit on the couch and prepared herself to break the news that she had received today. How would her mother take it?“Mum, I guess you will have to hear more about India now. I have been selected to head a team doing a documentary on the ancient monuments constructed by the Hoysala kings in South India. I have to leave for India in two weeks.”Margaret blanched. Then she snapped.“Refuse the offer. Or else, resign. I don’t want you to go to that godforsaken country.”“It is a promotional transfer, Mum. Also, I will be the anchor of the documentary.”“Whatever! I don’t want you to go. India has never been kind to the Worthingtons. Tell me you refused the offer already.”“Mum, stop being a drama queen. I haven’t accepted it yet. But I can’t let go of such a great opportunity.”“You can. And you will after I tell you what transpired at home today.”Ah! So, there was some drama. In her boisterous and noisy family, everyone meddled in the other’s business if you qualified as their loved one.
What had happened now?
October 26, 2017
Cover Reveal: A Royal Affair
When we begin writing a story, we have no idea how it is going to turn out. Sometimes, a story which begins as a short story might turn into a full-length novel.
I began writing 'A Royal Affair' as a short story and yes, it didn't remain one for long. I loved the characters I created and it turned out to be a novella on the borderline of being a novel.
I have always been fascinated by Indian royalty. You can find the wide-eyed wonder of a tiny girl, who visited the Mysore Palace first time during her school days, reflected in the pages of this book. I owe a lot to my parents who took me with them wherever they went and told me stories and answered my never-ending questions.
I was initially apprehensive about writing a foreign character, that too of a native English speaker as the main character. Taking a shortcut, I made her an Indophile, someone who loves everything about India. Also, love is universal, isn’t it? Soon, she took on the shades of a particular Indophile friend of mine. Thank you, Jean Spraker, I have not known another Indophile like you. I hope you like Jane.
And yes, the family I created has more stories to tell so it will be a series. There will be a new book in the series which will talk about yet another story from the same family.
I enjoyed writing this book as it required plenty of research. I read multiple books about Indian royals while researching this book, the main ones being ‘A Princess Remembers’ by Maharani Gayatri Devi, ‘The Ivory Throne’ by Manu Pillai, ‘The White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple and ‘Pataudi, the Nawab of Cricket’ edited by Suresh Menon. I am thankful to these authors for giving me a rough framework to create the Sravanapura Royals, a fictional royal family bearing the legacy of a 500-year-old dynasty, with a modern outlook towards life.
The editing is in the final stages now and only proofreading is left. I guess, it is time that I revealed the cover and blurb of my new book to you all.So here you go...
What would you do if your Prince charming turned out to be a Prince in real life?
Blurb:
Jane Worthington, a reporter with a London based channel, comes to India desperate to find a long-lost relative.
The only person who can help her in her mission is Prince Vijay Dev Varman, the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Sravanapura, the man who broke her heart years ago.
Vijay offers to help her but is determined to remain unaffected by Jane’s presence as he is engaged to be married.
Can the two former lovers put their past behind and embark upon a journey that is filled with roadblocks?
How can they succeed to find a missing man in a land of 1.3 billion people?
A gripping story about second chances and intrigue.
Coming out on the first of next month.
I began writing 'A Royal Affair' as a short story and yes, it didn't remain one for long. I loved the characters I created and it turned out to be a novella on the borderline of being a novel.
I have always been fascinated by Indian royalty. You can find the wide-eyed wonder of a tiny girl, who visited the Mysore Palace first time during her school days, reflected in the pages of this book. I owe a lot to my parents who took me with them wherever they went and told me stories and answered my never-ending questions.
I was initially apprehensive about writing a foreign character, that too of a native English speaker as the main character. Taking a shortcut, I made her an Indophile, someone who loves everything about India. Also, love is universal, isn’t it? Soon, she took on the shades of a particular Indophile friend of mine. Thank you, Jean Spraker, I have not known another Indophile like you. I hope you like Jane.
And yes, the family I created has more stories to tell so it will be a series. There will be a new book in the series which will talk about yet another story from the same family.
I enjoyed writing this book as it required plenty of research. I read multiple books about Indian royals while researching this book, the main ones being ‘A Princess Remembers’ by Maharani Gayatri Devi, ‘The Ivory Throne’ by Manu Pillai, ‘The White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple and ‘Pataudi, the Nawab of Cricket’ edited by Suresh Menon. I am thankful to these authors for giving me a rough framework to create the Sravanapura Royals, a fictional royal family bearing the legacy of a 500-year-old dynasty, with a modern outlook towards life.
The editing is in the final stages now and only proofreading is left. I guess, it is time that I revealed the cover and blurb of my new book to you all.So here you go...
What would you do if your Prince charming turned out to be a Prince in real life?
Blurb:
Jane Worthington, a reporter with a London based channel, comes to India desperate to find a long-lost relative.
The only person who can help her in her mission is Prince Vijay Dev Varman, the scion of the erstwhile royal family of Sravanapura, the man who broke her heart years ago.
Vijay offers to help her but is determined to remain unaffected by Jane’s presence as he is engaged to be married.
Can the two former lovers put their past behind and embark upon a journey that is filled with roadblocks?
How can they succeed to find a missing man in a land of 1.3 billion people?
A gripping story about second chances and intrigue.
Coming out on the first of next month.
October 3, 2017
Best Festive Outfits from Top Fashion Collections
It is that time of the year again when you need to dress up in your trendiest of outfits as you dance away the night with loved ones during Navratri and other festivals. Rest assured that the nights would be full of fun and soirees. To ensure that you look your trendy best at the gatherings, we have five amazing outfit ideas that have been inspired by our amazing festivals. Start searching for these outfits online and enjoy the festivities at their best.
Skirts and Lehengas
Flaunt an envious feminine touch and wear that sensual appeal that can make heads turn at the gatherings with ethnic skirts and lehengas. Nnnow has an amazing collection of skirts like Placket Printed Maxi Skirt, Printed Panel Maxi Skirt which you can team with backless tops, mirror work cholis, etc.
Moreover, with the help of Nnnow Coupons, you can now buy these amazing outfits at amazing prices. Rest assured that there are plenty of beautiful options at the online store to make sure that there is something for everyone. Browse through the collection before selecting and prepare yourself for the compliments.
Koti Jackets
If your busy schedule has left little time for you to prepare for festivals, a koti jacket can definitely save your day. Koti jackets are short jackets that can be easily paired with an extensive range of amazing outfits. Be it something Indian or western, the jacket looks beautiful with anything and everything. While you can buy the jacket separately, Lifestyle has a great collection kurta sets that come with a matching koti jacket. And with the help of Lifestyle Coupons, you can also get great discounts on your purchase. The best thing with these jackets is like other accessories, you can pair them up with many of your other outfits too to ensure that you look your best each of the nine days.
Traditional Sarees
No matter what kind of formal occasion or festival it is, you can never go wrong with a beautiful saree. Renowned Indian designers now offer a vast collection of sarees designed with a twist to make them a perfect fit for the urban consumers. Available in bright colors and trendiest of designs, you can rest assured that you’ll put your best foot forward this with a beautiful saree. Shoppers Stop is a popular online store that is offering a vivid collection of stylish sarees for the occasion. The store is known for its affordability and you can rely on it for timely delivery of your selected outfit. Don’t forget to use Shoppers Stop Coupons when shopping at the store to avail massive discounts.
Anarkali Suits
Turn into the Anarkali who will burn the entire dance floor not just in pubs and discos but cultural gatherings. Anarkali suits are very popular among women in India due to the wide range of options in which they are available. You can purchase a tube Anarkali for that wow factor or team the kurta with a silk trouser to look like a million bucks.
Popular brands like Biba, Ira Soleil, Haute Curry, Jashn, Stop, and much more offer beautiful Anarkali kurtas which you can definitely consider for special occasions. You can find a great collection of these popular ethnic wear at Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Nnnow, and other popular online portals.
If you are confused about what you should buy, the options mentioned above are sure to make things easier. Browse these popular options and recommended stores to select the best outfits for the festival. Use the coupons when shopping and you are sure to enjoy a shopping experience like never before!
September 28, 2017
Write More using the Pomodoro Technique! #MyFriendAlexa Post 4
Sitting is considered by doctors as the new smoking. The more you sit, the more you are lowering your chances of a long and healthy life. But that is a not possible for writers. We sit for long hours in front of our computers.
So what is the solution?
That is where the Pomodoro technique comes to your rescue.
Pomodoro technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student. (as explained in Wikipedia)
Stretch, walk about, do deep breaths, do whatever that will help your body to relax during the breaks.The output of this technique is unbelievable. I use this technique regularly while I write or blog. Your productivity can increase manifold if you create a distraction-free environment during these sessions.
I have written 1000 words per session using this technique. Just imagine how many sessions can you squeeze in a day!
Because of this technique, I am able to cross off most of the items on my to-do list.
There are Pomodoro apps you can download. Or you can use the timer on your computer or phone or watch.
How can you write more using this technique?
Before you start, plan what you will write during the session. Make notes about the post/scene you are going to write.Switch off the internet, so that you are not distracted during the session with pings, emails or social media notifications.Stop when the timer goes off. This will be helpful to make you remain in the flow even after the session ends.Take a break and resume writing in a fresh new session.
I have completed writing a novella within a month using this technique. That too while blogging, doing my household chores, reading, exercising and looking after a naughty 8-year-old.
I don’t spend hours staring at the blank screen thinking about what to write anymore. When I sit in front of my laptop, I have a note in front of me which will guide me. All I have to do is to expand the ideas.
Have you tried the Pomodoro technique?
This post is part of #MyFriendAlexa campaign by @Blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.
So what is the solution?
That is where the Pomodoro technique comes to your rescue.
Pomodoro technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. These intervals are named pomodoros, the plural in English of the Italian word pomodoro (tomato), after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student. (as explained in Wikipedia)
Stretch, walk about, do deep breaths, do whatever that will help your body to relax during the breaks.The output of this technique is unbelievable. I use this technique regularly while I write or blog. Your productivity can increase manifold if you create a distraction-free environment during these sessions.
I have written 1000 words per session using this technique. Just imagine how many sessions can you squeeze in a day!
Because of this technique, I am able to cross off most of the items on my to-do list.
There are Pomodoro apps you can download. Or you can use the timer on your computer or phone or watch.
How can you write more using this technique?
Before you start, plan what you will write during the session. Make notes about the post/scene you are going to write.Switch off the internet, so that you are not distracted during the session with pings, emails or social media notifications.Stop when the timer goes off. This will be helpful to make you remain in the flow even after the session ends.Take a break and resume writing in a fresh new session.
I have completed writing a novella within a month using this technique. That too while blogging, doing my household chores, reading, exercising and looking after a naughty 8-year-old.
I don’t spend hours staring at the blank screen thinking about what to write anymore. When I sit in front of my laptop, I have a note in front of me which will guide me. All I have to do is to expand the ideas.
Have you tried the Pomodoro technique?
This post is part of #MyFriendAlexa campaign by @Blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.
September 24, 2017
Do you Underwrite? #MyFriendAlexa Post 3
I am guilty of underwriting. Or should I say, I was?
I began writing fiction via short stories where the story happens within a short span of time. You cannot indulge in long descriptions of either the place, the person or the emotions in a short story.
When I started writing my novel, my technique of writing was the same. I used to treat each chapter like a short story with a clear beginning, a middle and an end. It is perfect as far as scene structure goes. But what about the details?
As a result, my first drafts are often the thinner versions of my final book. I add in details later. Once I have laid down the rough draft of the story, the next phase is adding in scene details. With writing software like Scrivener, I can do this easily.
What are the details that should go into a memorable scene?
Details of the place: Use the senses to describe the smells, sounds and emotions the place evokes in the character. You can also talk about the geographic location of the place if the character is new to the place.
Emotions : The emotions of the characters add depth to the scenes and story. Describe the emotion using the last scene as a reference. What is the current emotion of your character? The previous scene in your story must have affected the character in some way. Describe it.
Reactions of the character : We react to every important moment in our lives. We react viscerally, emotionally, physically and intellectually to any occurrence, exactly in that order. So should our characters.
And yet each character will react to a particular action in their own unique way. A girl who is scared of cockroaches would scream and run the moment she sees one. She won’t pause to think logically as to whether the tiny cockroach can harm her.
Similarly, a man scared of heights would panic the moment he realizes he is at the edge of a cliff. Find and write down appropriate reactions of your characters.
Dialogues : Dialogues are a very important element in your novel. Crisp, meaningful dialogues that take the story forward should be included in your scenes. Dialogues are considered as 'action' in any scene. Hence you are showing and not telling by using them.
What else should we consider?
Every scene in your book should do either of the two things or both:Reveal characterTake the story further
If it doesn't do either of these, the scene doesn’t belong in your book. You can remove it.
The final goal of the main character should be there as an undercurrent in any major scene. It should be the driving power of the story.
Are you guilty of underwriting? If yes, what do you do?
September 19, 2017
Finding your Tribe! #MyFriendAlexa Post 2
Man is a social creature. He needs his tribe to remain sane. Same goes for every writer. We need our tribe. Our tribe is as important as oxygen is for life.
When you venture into writing, so many things happen out of the blue to you.Some of the usual stumbling blocks that trouble every newbie writer are writer’s block, one-uppers, critics, and psychic-vampires.
When writer’s block visits, you are forced to play the reluctant host till it leaves. You babysit and fret over the troubles it is giving you yet have no clue how to make it leave.The one-uppers will make you feel awful by telling you how they have done it all, before you even thought about it. Well good for them. But it does dim your light.The critic, who has never written a novel will tell you where you went wrong in your novel, which character sucked and why you should pack your bags and leave.The psychic vampires will stick to you and emotionally blackmail you to get things done. You will do their chores fully convinced that you are duty bound to help the poor darling. You will help them to edit their Facebook posts, their blog posts and even the messages to their ex. You are a writer after all!
This is where the presence of your tribe is going to help you. Your tribe is your group of writer friends who will listen to your woes and offer the perfect solution. Their words bring sunshine back into your life.
“Writer’s block? Do something else. Take a long walk, go watch a movie. Give your brain some rest, yaar!”
“Forget about that one-upping creature. She is lying through her teeth. Even if she is true this time, which she isn’t, you too achieved it, didn’t you? Cheer up!”
“Why are you affected by his words? He hasn’t written a single story, he isn’t a literature expert and thinks of himself as a critic! Who told him he knew anything about writing?”
“You are a fool. She is using you. She is no damsel in distress who needs rescuing. She is a psychic vampire. That is what she is. Leave her."
Amazing, right? They will tell you what you need to hear. They have been there, done that.
So how to find your tribe?Join a writing group/club.Join a Facebook/twitter group of writers who you know and respect.Take creative writing classes. You will meet like-minded people.
Once you find your tribe, contribute towards the group and don’t remain passive. Give help, ask for help. Once you rant about your troubles in the group, usually it will vanish just like that. The reason being ‘it was mostly all just in your head alone.’
When the others take a bite out of your troubles, it vanishes within no time. Your tribe will become your guiding light.
So, go find your tribe.
This post is part of #MyFriendAlexa campaign by @Blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.
When you venture into writing, so many things happen out of the blue to you.Some of the usual stumbling blocks that trouble every newbie writer are writer’s block, one-uppers, critics, and psychic-vampires.
When writer’s block visits, you are forced to play the reluctant host till it leaves. You babysit and fret over the troubles it is giving you yet have no clue how to make it leave.The one-uppers will make you feel awful by telling you how they have done it all, before you even thought about it. Well good for them. But it does dim your light.The critic, who has never written a novel will tell you where you went wrong in your novel, which character sucked and why you should pack your bags and leave.The psychic vampires will stick to you and emotionally blackmail you to get things done. You will do their chores fully convinced that you are duty bound to help the poor darling. You will help them to edit their Facebook posts, their blog posts and even the messages to their ex. You are a writer after all!
This is where the presence of your tribe is going to help you. Your tribe is your group of writer friends who will listen to your woes and offer the perfect solution. Their words bring sunshine back into your life.
“Writer’s block? Do something else. Take a long walk, go watch a movie. Give your brain some rest, yaar!”
“Forget about that one-upping creature. She is lying through her teeth. Even if she is true this time, which she isn’t, you too achieved it, didn’t you? Cheer up!”
“Why are you affected by his words? He hasn’t written a single story, he isn’t a literature expert and thinks of himself as a critic! Who told him he knew anything about writing?”
“You are a fool. She is using you. She is no damsel in distress who needs rescuing. She is a psychic vampire. That is what she is. Leave her."
Amazing, right? They will tell you what you need to hear. They have been there, done that.
So how to find your tribe?Join a writing group/club.Join a Facebook/twitter group of writers who you know and respect.Take creative writing classes. You will meet like-minded people.
Once you find your tribe, contribute towards the group and don’t remain passive. Give help, ask for help. Once you rant about your troubles in the group, usually it will vanish just like that. The reason being ‘it was mostly all just in your head alone.’
When the others take a bite out of your troubles, it vanishes within no time. Your tribe will become your guiding light.
So, go find your tribe.
This post is part of #MyFriendAlexa campaign by @Blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.
Where do I Find my Stories? #MyFriendAlexa Post 1
Whenever I make a new acquaintance and I tell them I am a writer, I often get asked this question. Where do I find my stories?
I believe every story finds its writer. Sounds esoteric, but I have reasons to believe it is true.
Get it here
This September 26th, the eBook version of my novel ‘Without You’ will turn two. It has remained in the top 100 books in its category ever since it release-date and reached the #1 position on Amazon multiple times. Amazon gave it the #1Bestseller tag recently. It has 243 ratings on Goodreads, and 59 reviews on Amazon India till date. All these stats are organic. My Kindle reports tell me thousands have read my book till now worldwide. And this story idea came to me in a dream. I saw the entire story like a movie.
I remembered only the prominent scenes by the time I woke up. I immediately jotted down whatever I remembered. The names of the characters, the places it happened, I jotted them all down. The reason I got the dream was I was troubled about the Mangalore Plane crash of 2010.
Till now, five of my short stories have been published traditionally. Four are in paperback and one as a standalone eBook short story on Juggernaut Books. I have signed a contract for 9 other short stories.
I have a published novella which was co-written with 7 other bloggers. I have three books for kids published online as well.
Some of these stories came to me out of nowhere. I have never sat in front of a blank screen brooding about what to write. Sometimes, I have a clear idea about the story, as in, scene by scene clarity. But sometimes all I have is a vague idea and an urge to begin.
Read this quote by Games of Throne writer George R.R.Martin.
“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners.
The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they're going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there's going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up.
The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don't know how many branches it's going to have, they find out as it grows. And I'm much more a gardener than an architect.”
I am neither an architect nor a gardener. I am a hybrid. I have to plot my scenes, give my story a structure before I sit down to write. But when I start a story, it has a mind of its own. Then I watch how it unfolds and go along with it.
I have a few good mentors. I turn to them whenever in doubt. I also need to have a clear head before I sit to write. Meditation helps in a big way.
This post is part of the campaign #MyFriendAlexa by @blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.My current Alexa Rank is 1,19,4423
I believe every story finds its writer. Sounds esoteric, but I have reasons to believe it is true.
Get it hereThis September 26th, the eBook version of my novel ‘Without You’ will turn two. It has remained in the top 100 books in its category ever since it release-date and reached the #1 position on Amazon multiple times. Amazon gave it the #1Bestseller tag recently. It has 243 ratings on Goodreads, and 59 reviews on Amazon India till date. All these stats are organic. My Kindle reports tell me thousands have read my book till now worldwide. And this story idea came to me in a dream. I saw the entire story like a movie.
I remembered only the prominent scenes by the time I woke up. I immediately jotted down whatever I remembered. The names of the characters, the places it happened, I jotted them all down. The reason I got the dream was I was troubled about the Mangalore Plane crash of 2010.
Till now, five of my short stories have been published traditionally. Four are in paperback and one as a standalone eBook short story on Juggernaut Books. I have signed a contract for 9 other short stories.
I have a published novella which was co-written with 7 other bloggers. I have three books for kids published online as well.
Some of these stories came to me out of nowhere. I have never sat in front of a blank screen brooding about what to write. Sometimes, I have a clear idea about the story, as in, scene by scene clarity. But sometimes all I have is a vague idea and an urge to begin.
Read this quote by Games of Throne writer George R.R.Martin.
“I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners.
The architects plan everything ahead of time, like an architect building a house. They know how many rooms are going to be in the house, what kind of roof they're going to have, where the wires are going to run, what kind of plumbing there's going to be. They have the whole thing designed and blueprinted out before they even nail the first board up.
The gardeners dig a hole, drop in a seed and water it. They kind of know what seed it is, they know if planted a fantasy seed or mystery seed or whatever. But as the plant comes up and they water it, they don't know how many branches it's going to have, they find out as it grows. And I'm much more a gardener than an architect.”
I am neither an architect nor a gardener. I am a hybrid. I have to plot my scenes, give my story a structure before I sit down to write. But when I start a story, it has a mind of its own. Then I watch how it unfolds and go along with it.
I have a few good mentors. I turn to them whenever in doubt. I also need to have a clear head before I sit to write. Meditation helps in a big way.
This post is part of the campaign #MyFriendAlexa by @blogchatter
I want to take my Alexa Rank to the next level with My Friend Alexa.My current Alexa Rank is 1,19,4423
September 16, 2017
4 Free Apps to Read eBooks from Your Phone
How many of you know that there are apps (both android and iOS) which allow you to read books from your phone? That too free of cost?
I have quite a good number of friends who aren’t aware of this simple fact though they would love to read free books.
This post is an answer to that question. I personally use these apps that I am going to list and can assure you they give the best reading experience ever. I am linking the apps to the Google Playstore.
You can find them in the Apple Store too.
KOBO Books
Kobo Books is an app that provides you with over five million eBooks that you can purchase and read. The app will sync your bookmarks and library, recommend new books based on your reading habits, and it comes with a few extra features like Night Mode. It’s not bad once you get a few books in your collection. Being a very basic app, it doesn’t allow you to read books that you already own. There are books that are permanently free too. Also, they also provide audio books too.
AMAZON KINDLE APP
The Amazon Kindle app leads me to my favourite online bookstore, Amazon. I am a Kindle Unlimited subscriber as well. They also have separate eBook reader devices like Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire etc to give you a hassle free, close to paperback type reading experience.Kindle, like Kobo, is a standalone book store to buy and read eBooks. It has a gigantic selection of free as well as paid books. It will sync your bookmarks and library and you can also use a built-in dictionary, sample books before buying them. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can “borrow” books from their library.
JUGGERNAUT BOOKS
Juggernaut is India’s answer to Amazon’s Kindle app. Their moto is to provide books to Indian readers at never before discounts. You can purchase books for amount as low as 10 Rs. How cool is that? They have a good collection of classics which are free to download. They also encourage users to upload their own stories onto their writer’s platform. If your story is good, you might end up with a publishing contract with Juggernaut.
GOOGLE PLAY BOOKS
This isn’t one of my favourites. But they have a good collection of books. They have free eBooks to download and also you can purchase the latest offerings from best selling authors. The books also sync across devices like Amazon Kindle.
Because of all these apps, I have stopped buying paperbacks these days. Unless it is a book which doesn’t have an eBook edition, I don’t purchase paperback. I love bookmarking, highlighting and taking notes from the books I need.
With these, I have my highlights and notes from each book saved, with easy to refer and search options.I am hence a complete eBook lover these days. Should I mention the huge discounts and free eBooks too to entice you?
September 6, 2017
Playtime Fun at Full of Toys
Last Sunday, we were invited by Full of Toys, Jayanagar for a playdate, a chance to engage in an hour-long playtime slot with any of the toys in their store. My husband was out of town, so it was just me and the kid who went to check it out.
Full of Toys is a brand of internationally sourced educational toys promising entertainment and education for children between the age of 4 to 12.
We have our set of board games and indoor games sets to keep our kid engaged. We even go out for bird watching, small trips and nature walks to introduce him to nature. But then, I am a writer and blogger. I don’t get enough time to spend with him. Hence, I was eagerly looking forward to this play date.
We were welcomed warmly by the owner of the store Gautam Gupta and his very efficient staff. The store is a comfy place with stacks of educational toys. There were tables arranged for various groups of parents and children.
We were ushered to our table. The staff member, Gopi, brought a toy and explained the rules to us and we began.
THINKFUN RUSH HOUR (Click here to Buy)
The first toy my kid played with was Rush hour. This award-winning toy is suitable for ages 8 and above. It is a puzzle game that demands analytical thinking and reasoning to get a car toy out of a traffic gridlock.
To play, he had to pick a challenge card and arrange the cars on the supplied grid board according to the pattern. The cars could be moved back and forth to clear the way for the red car to drive out. The game has 40 levels with difficulty ranging from beginner to expert.
The solution is printed on the back of each challenge card just in case a player gets stuck.
It was very interesting how he got engrossed in it pretty soon. After solving a particularly difficult level, the staff member rewarded him by bringing him another interesting game.
THINKFUN GRAVITY MAZE ( Click here to Buy)
Gravity Maze is a building and construction puzzle game that required him to be an architect to beat the 3D challenges. He had to build towers and mazes to get the ball to its target to win. It aims to give the kids a flair for building and architecture as they tackle this innovative puzzle game. Designed for kids 8 years old and above, Thinkfun Gravity Maze is good for both boys and girls. This game too had 60 levels.
THINKFUN CIRCUIT MAZE (Click here to Buy)
The third game he chose was Circuit Maze. It seeks to ignite logic and sequential reasoning skills of the kids.
The goal of the game is to arrange the various tokens provided to create a real circuit that lights up the different coloured Beacons.
I was skeptical about the choice because I was not sure whether he could grasp the concept of circuits and electricity to play the game. I must confess, he surprised me. He even solved a few difficult levels all by himself.
This game is a sure-fire way to boost the brainpower of your kid and introduce them to the concept of electricity. It has 60 challenge levels ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert.
By the time our hour ended, he was excited to have discovered these games and promised the store staff that he would bring his friend with him next time.
I was curious as to how the concept of such a store came to be while the logical thing would have been to go for a shop with the latest popular kids’ brands. The owner Gautam Gupta shared his own experience how while doing his masters he started using Lego for coding. This was a new concept for him and led him into thinking about introducing the concept to kids. Also, he wanted to bring back family playtime which is slowly vanishing from homes these days.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The best thing is that the playdate is free for all. The staff doesn’t persuade you to buy by extolling the virtues of their product. The main aim is to introduce the concept of playtime and educational toys to families. They stick to their tagline: Full of toys is where children play to learn and parents learn to play.
If you wish to connect with Full of Toys, check their Facebook Page and Twitter.
Check this video to know more about the playdate at Full of Toys.
Declaration: This is a sponsored post. But the review of the toys, the store, and the experience are unbiased and true.
Full of Toys is a brand of internationally sourced educational toys promising entertainment and education for children between the age of 4 to 12.
We have our set of board games and indoor games sets to keep our kid engaged. We even go out for bird watching, small trips and nature walks to introduce him to nature. But then, I am a writer and blogger. I don’t get enough time to spend with him. Hence, I was eagerly looking forward to this play date.
We were welcomed warmly by the owner of the store Gautam Gupta and his very efficient staff. The store is a comfy place with stacks of educational toys. There were tables arranged for various groups of parents and children.
We were ushered to our table. The staff member, Gopi, brought a toy and explained the rules to us and we began.
THINKFUN RUSH HOUR (Click here to Buy)
The first toy my kid played with was Rush hour. This award-winning toy is suitable for ages 8 and above. It is a puzzle game that demands analytical thinking and reasoning to get a car toy out of a traffic gridlock.
To play, he had to pick a challenge card and arrange the cars on the supplied grid board according to the pattern. The cars could be moved back and forth to clear the way for the red car to drive out. The game has 40 levels with difficulty ranging from beginner to expert.
The solution is printed on the back of each challenge card just in case a player gets stuck.
It was very interesting how he got engrossed in it pretty soon. After solving a particularly difficult level, the staff member rewarded him by bringing him another interesting game.
THINKFUN GRAVITY MAZE ( Click here to Buy)
Gravity Maze is a building and construction puzzle game that required him to be an architect to beat the 3D challenges. He had to build towers and mazes to get the ball to its target to win. It aims to give the kids a flair for building and architecture as they tackle this innovative puzzle game. Designed for kids 8 years old and above, Thinkfun Gravity Maze is good for both boys and girls. This game too had 60 levels.THINKFUN CIRCUIT MAZE (Click here to Buy)
The third game he chose was Circuit Maze. It seeks to ignite logic and sequential reasoning skills of the kids.
The goal of the game is to arrange the various tokens provided to create a real circuit that lights up the different coloured Beacons.
I was skeptical about the choice because I was not sure whether he could grasp the concept of circuits and electricity to play the game. I must confess, he surprised me. He even solved a few difficult levels all by himself.
This game is a sure-fire way to boost the brainpower of your kid and introduce them to the concept of electricity. It has 60 challenge levels ranging in difficulty from beginner to expert.
By the time our hour ended, he was excited to have discovered these games and promised the store staff that he would bring his friend with him next time.
I was curious as to how the concept of such a store came to be while the logical thing would have been to go for a shop with the latest popular kids’ brands. The owner Gautam Gupta shared his own experience how while doing his masters he started using Lego for coding. This was a new concept for him and led him into thinking about introducing the concept to kids. Also, he wanted to bring back family playtime which is slowly vanishing from homes these days.
All in all, it was a wonderful experience. The best thing is that the playdate is free for all. The staff doesn’t persuade you to buy by extolling the virtues of their product. The main aim is to introduce the concept of playtime and educational toys to families. They stick to their tagline: Full of toys is where children play to learn and parents learn to play.
If you wish to connect with Full of Toys, check their Facebook Page and Twitter.
Check this video to know more about the playdate at Full of Toys.
Declaration: This is a sponsored post. But the review of the toys, the store, and the experience are unbiased and true.
