I GOT TO GROW UP WITH A MOTHER WHO TAUGHT ME TO BELIEVE IN ME.
STORIZEN
STORIZEN
Nightmarch by Alpa Shah long listed for Orwell Prize - HarperCollins India
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Meera Menon
STORIZEN
Traveller Inceptio by Rob
Swapna Peri
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Done With Her by Chirasree
Peri
STORIZEN POETRY
To The World
Ambika Nanda
STORIZEN POETRY
– A Blessing
Neetu Khatri Kajal
STORIZEN POETRY
From A Mom - Kasturika Mishra
STORIZEN POETRY A Purple Poem for Mother - Vidya Shankar
STORIZEN POETRY
Crying Child - Bishaldeep Kakati
STORIZEN POETRY To My Mother - Aparna Mukherjee
calling all writers!
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You can also be a contributor. Mail us your entries at talktous@storizen.com. Your smart ideas and inputs help us create our informative issues. from the editor
Igot to grow up with a mother who taught me to believe in me. On this Mother's Day, this quote by Antonio Villaraigosa reminds me of how much I am blessed by my Mother's love that she showers on me each and every day. With this, we bring to you The Mother's Day special Issue of the Storizen Magazine.
Authors seldom write under a Pseudonym. This time, we bring to you a special Cover Feature with such an author who has written his latest book 'The Billionaire's Funeral' under the pseudonym 'Elijah Brahms'
We welcome the month with three new releases in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers and Hachette India viz. NO HOLDS BARRED: My Years In Politics by NARAYAN RANE, TUNE FOR THE DEAD: A Detective Dhruv Mystery by Anshul Vijayvargiya and Debashish Irengbam, Drop Dead Gorgeous by Gauri Sinh, and Virat: The making of a Champion by Neeraj Jha & Vidhanshu Kumar.
Do you love Sci-Fi? We bring to you an interview with Rob Shackleford, AuthorTraveller Inceptio.
Do check out the Editor's Choice - Article of the Month by Megha Vohra Babaycon.
You're surely going to enjoy the stories, poems and articles by our contributors.
Looking for book reviews? We have included three book reviews. You have a great excuse to grab a book this weekend!
Help us spread the word by a like, comment and share and let us grow our family of Storizen!
Happy Reading!
Saurabh Chawla, Editor in Chief editor@storizen.com
After writing more than ten books in his own name, the author is back with his latest 'The Billionaire's Funeral' with his Pseudonym Elijah Brahms. Is it done with a purpose or just to appear cool? Read on to know more...
Writing crime fiction which involves digital fraud as well?
Share in brief about your latest book 'The Billionaire's Funeral'
The premise is quite simple. What if you get digitally erased? How will you prove your identity? Gone are the days when we used to have money stored in safes and all, today everything is in our bank accounts, all stored in digital records. Chad Cohen is a billionaire and a hacker goes after him to settle scores.
by Pria
Writing under a pseudonym for this book- is this for building a sense of curiosity among your readers or for some other reason?
I've written many other books on completely unrelated topics, mostly non-fiction. I wanted to choose a name that'll give me the freedom to express myself free from scratch because if I publish with my real name, my readers won't be able to connect
Billionaire investor Chad Cohen is at a London restaurant when all his credit cards are declined. Before he can make sense of any of it, he receives a disturbing message on his phone. And now he's being accused of travelling on a stolen passport and put in jail. Who's out to get him? His reputation in shreds, the company he so painstakingly built comes under threat. The stocks plummet and the board of directors decides to fire Chad. Frantic, he calls the one person he can trust the most - his friend and business partner Michael Cole. The two try to figure out just how much of Chad's life has been digitally erased by a hacker. Hitting one dead end after another, Chad begins to doubt Mike's loyalty. Was this all just a vicious plan to take over everything Chad had built with him? Helpless and locked up in jail, can he count on Mike for his freedom? Has he been served the ultimate betrayal or is this a cosmic intervention to right his past wrongs?
it with my other works as this is in a completely different genre.
Unlike this book, you have written more than ten books in your own name, will you reveal your identity in the future?
I think even if I don't, one day someone will find it out!
What all your book will cover besides the digital fraud and crime? Like there will be politics, corruption, etc too?
It covers the clever working of the finance world which at times borders on unlawful. It also shows how our karma eventually catches up with us.
I'll be quite honest with you, I'm not familiar with this genre. I didn't even know the book I was writing fell in this genre. I simply wrote because I had a story to tell.
What kind of research have you been doing while authoring your latest book The Billionaire's Funeral?
It is based on my years of experience in the finance and technology industry plus it's based on a real-life demonstration was given by a hacker in a conference in Las Vegas.
Do you think a few people may differ with you regarding some events that you have written? How do you deal with such situations?
I sure do hope they differ. Differences bring out beauty and color. It gives me a new perspective to think. Art is always subjective and everyone has the right to an opinion.
The genre like Crime/Thriller has picked up pace in India compared to other genres. In your opinion, what has led to this increased interest?
I'll be quite honest with you, I'm not familiar with this genre. I didn't even know the book I was writing fell in this genre. I simply wrote because I had a story to tell.
Which genres do you enjoy reading the most? Which you don’t enjoy at all?
I love reading literary fiction. I stay away from gruesome murders and steamy stuff.
What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?
I didn't know I would love writing so much. In my corporate background, it was all very practical and 2+2=4 stuff. Writing is a different ballgame altogether.
Anything you would like to say to your readers?
You are a story, your life is a story. Have you ever considered telling yours? If not, give it a thought. When you write, it helps you discover a hidden treasure inside you. Each of us is Unique.
What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time?
I have been particularly bad at promoting my work. In my heart, I'm just a writer so I just write. I lead a very frugal life so the pennies and cents trickling in taking care of my bills.
What projects are you working on at the present? When can we expect a new crime fiction from you?
I haven't really spelled it out in my head but I feel a story is brewing. Information warfare.
How the Pseudonym Elijah Brahms different from your real personality?
Not much different, I'll say. I stand for what this name stands for. If you do a bit more research, who knows you may even figure it out!
What do your plans for future projects include? Any plans for a motion picture/web series based on your book(s).
I may pen down another book but that's about it. If anyone likes it and they want to make a movie out of it, sure, I'm not complaining. :)
How do you feel about eBooks vs? print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
eBooks will one day overtake print books in sales and growth but print books will never go out of fashion completely. That feeling of holding a paper book in your hand, that smell of paper, with a nice cup of coffee, nothing can beat that. The fast-changing landscape of conventional publishing will look vastly different in twenty or thirty years from now.
I didn't know I would love writing so much. In my corporate background, it was all very practical and 2+2=4 stuff. Writing is a different ballgame altogether.
1.Your all-time favorite author/writer?
Herman Hesse.
2. Do you believe in writer’s block? Did you have it anytime or not?
Yes. I have it all the time. I overcome it with selfdiscipline.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s) Oceanside.
4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?
A basic level of research beforehand and then research as I go along.
5. Do you Google yourself?
I don't yet exist on Google. :) Well, kind of.
Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
I haven't read much fiction in my life but whatever little I've read, Herman Hesse and Albert Camus stand out for me. The art of telling a story that seems effortless. Writing is lifelong learning for me. I'm still learning how to write my stories better.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?
It's not all fiction. Companies worldwide lose billions of dollars in hacking and similar frauds. You can never be too careful about protecting your identity. The governments and corporations of today know everything about you, from what you wear, where you live, work and hangout to what you had for your breakfast in the last week.
I just wanted to tell a story that could happen to anyone. Whether I've achieved it? I guess that's for the readers to tell me. As a writer, I tried with whatever little I know.
What projects are you working on at the present? When can we expect a new thriller from you? What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
What did you find most useful in learning to write? What was the least useful or most destructive?
(As told to Pria)
(Visit www.storizen.com for the full coverage!)
About Pria - Young mesmerizing freelance blogger, social enthusiast, an economics graduate from Jharkhand University with Master in Child Psychology. She is hardworking yet crazy, a passionate reader, an ardent music fanatic, an avid caffeine lover, and a maniacal animal lover too.
She has been a part of numerous anthologies, articles, and write-ups for newspapers and magazines which are multi-linguistic. She has also written screenplays for YouTube series.
pria@storizen.com
Virat: The Making of a Champion
The gripping and action-packed story of the boy who never gave up!
He is that exceptional teenager who returned to play an innings the day his dad passed away. He is the chubby rookie who now sets fitness goals. He is the fiery batsman and nimble fielder who always wants to win. Virat Kohli’s determination to beat his drawbacks and shine his skills has him well on his way to becoming an all-time great in cricket.
From gully cricket and junior teams to the Ranji and national squads, Virat has had more than his share of hurdles. But he has made performing under the toughest conditions an art with
his fine strokes, his electric feet and his ginormous appetite for runs. That’s why the dashing King Kohli – captain of Team India across all formats of the game –holds several records and prestigious awards.
Virat looks unstoppable in his run-up to the top, and his tremendously inspiring story is told vividly in this book. Peppered with behind-the-scene anecdotes by his coaches, teammates and other insiders from the cricketing world, this is one life story that is must-read for anyone who, like Virat, prizes both guts and glory.
Neeraj Jha is a television journalist, show producer and live sports broadcaster with more than 16 years of experience in the field.
Vidhanshu Kumar is an award-winning sports journalist, who has worked with ESPN STAR Sports, BBC, News X and IBN 7.
A candid and fearless tell-all that exposes the true nature of India’s corridors of power
About the Book - Early in 1999, when Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray decided to instal a new chief minister in Maharashtra, he was asked who the man of his choice was. ‘New CM? Narayan Rane,’ he replied, as though the question need not even have arisen. His pick was a mass leader who had first caught his attention as a teenager in a Mumbai suburb when Thackeray had just started his party in the 1960s.
The committed Shiv Sainik with close access to the supremo, however, stormed out of the party and joined the Congress in 2005. In the years that followed, he was a powerful fixture in the cabinet of one of India’s most politically significant states – always with a fighting chance of making a comeback as chief minister, and
perennially holding out an existential threat not only to his one-time bosses in the Shiv Sena but also the leaders of his own party. Today, having broken from the Congress too and been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a Bharatiya Janata Party nomination, he remains as unpredictable and aggressive as ever.
In No Holds Barred, Narayan Rane looks back on the years he has spent in the dog-eat-dog world of Indian politics. Packed with revealing stories of his encounters with the who’s who of the game in Maharashtra and at the Centre –ranging from the Thackerays, Pramod Mahajan, Gopinath Munde, Manohar Joshi, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan and DevendraFadnavis to Sharad Pawar, Ahmed Patel and Rahul and Sonia Gandhi – this is a truly
candid and fearless tell-all that exposes the true nature of India’s corridors of power.
RANE was Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1 February to 17 October 1999 as a member of the Shiv Sena and the leader of a Sena–BJP alliance. He was then the Leader of Opposition in the state from 1999 to 2005. He subsequently joined the Congress and held the revenue, industry, port and employment portfolios in the state cabinet. He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2016 to 2017, when he formed his own party, the Maharashtra SwabhimanPaksha, and was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP nomination in 2018. Born in 1952, Narayan Rane hails from the Konkan and represented the region as a member of the Maharashtra legislative assembly from 1990 to 2014.
PRIYAM GANDHI-MODY is a strategist specializing in advocacy and political brand building.
‘Thrilling ... has beautifully captured the glamour world of the 90’ - MADHU SAPRE, supermodel
HarperCollins India is delighted to bring you a cozy crime thriller written by lifestyle journalist and author, Gauri Sinh. Drop Dead Gorgeous is set in the glittering, glamourous world of beauty pageants, and novel promises to keep you hooked till the last page. Bringing together a racy plot and intriguing characters, Drop Dead Gorgeous will make for the perfect ‘whodunnit’ this spring break.
About the Book –
Twenty perfect contestants. One perfect murder. It is 1995. The finale of the nation’s biggest beauty contest, Miss Glamour Princess, hosted by the mega media conglomerate Eye India, is only days away. In the running are twenty-one beautiful contestants, including India’s sweetheart and reigning model Akruti Rai.
And then, the final dress rehearsal ends on a nightmarish note as the sensuous and ambitious model Lajjo is murdered right on the ramp. Soon, Akruti and her fellow contestants become prime suspects in a case that gets increasingly macabre as bodies pile up – the gossipy, affable pageant hairdresser Doreen, the self-assured mean-girl Nuzhat ... Amid massive public outcry and searing press coverage, Akruti is convinced by an enigmatic fellow contestant, the statuesque and self-possessed Parvati Samant, to help her investigate the murders. But who, really, is Parvati? And can Akruti help unearth the sinister truth, clear her own name, and also keep an eye on the prize?
About the Author –
Gauri Sinh is the former Editor of Bombay Times, the lifestyle and entertainment supplement of The
‘Thrilling ... has beautifully captured the glamour world of the 90’ - MADHU SAPRE, supermodel
Times of India, and After Hrs, the lifestyle and entertainment supplement of DNA. She has written numerous popular columns on lifestyle and entertainment for both broadsheets, as well as on social issues and parenting for DNA. In the past, she also edited youth magazines Femina Girl and JLT. Her two previous books are Dogsend, the story of Simba (2010) and The Garud Prophecies, Sitara's story (2015). Gauri lives and works in Mumbai.
Three suicides. An eerie piano symphony- the last thing they hear.
One tune. Three listeners. Three grisly suicides.
The melody – an eerie piano symphony – is the last thing they hear.
Leading an unremarkable existence in the sleepy town of Manali, Private Detective Dhruv is jolted into the heart of this case when he is hired by Misha, daughter of the first victim, Raina Awasthi.
As he delves deeper into the mystery, threats against his life begin to multiply. It’s soon clear that he is dealing with a conspiracy that goes far beyond suicides and murders, and that there is more at stake here than just his life. The shadows are closing in, and Dhruv is all that stands in their way.
Anshul Vijayvargiya is a
scriptwriter and director who has worked on films like Kidnap, Toonpur Ka Superhero and Deadline – Sirf 24 Ghante. He is also well known and respected in the Indian television industry for his contributions as a scriptwriter (along with co-writer Debashish Irengbam) to several crime thrillers such as Adaalat, Arjun, Savdhaan India, Agent Raghav, MTV Webbed, Gumrah and CID.
Anshul has also worked in various creative capacities with renowned filmmakers like Sanjay Gadhvi, Ram Gopal Varma, Kireet Khurana and Sanjay LeelaBhansali before directing popular TV shows likeAdaalat and Dil, Dosti, Dance. A poetry and photography enthusiast, Anshul is a postgraduate in Mass Communication and Journalism and has several published articles in magazines and on websites to his credit, which include exclusive
Three suicides. An eerie piano symphony- the last thing they hear.
interviews with acclaimed actor Aamir Khan and celebrated Lieutenant General Yogesh Kumar Joshi of Kargil fame. Anshul is currently working on his directorial debut feature film. This is his first novel.
Debashish Irengbam is a Mumbai-based scriptwriter. Along with co-writer AnshulVijayvargiya, he has worked on more than 100 episodes of major crime shows including Adaalat, Gumrah, Savdhaan India, CID, Webbed and Agent Raghav.
He received a diploma in Feature Film Screenplay Writing from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and is the author of the novels Me, Mia, Multiple and Charlie Next Door.
It’s 2019, and there seems to be an influx of single parents all over the world, the statistics and numbers seem to be increasing every year!
Personally, if you ask me, I have been raised in an environment where single parenting has not been very common, so for me it’s a new life of sorts. A lot to learn from, I have to admit.
Did I choose to be a single mother? Hell no!!! This has been life’s biggest lesson till date. It was the universe’s way of telling me, “ Megha, my darling, you’ve had it very easy, there isn’t going to be a smooth climax for you, we still have to throw you into the dark pit and see if you can pull yourself out!”
by Megha Vohra Babaycon
And so I got thrown into the pit, took the damn fall! Broken and bruised in every way, I lost my husband in April 2015 in a tragic accident, my son was 8 at the time and my daughter had just turned 5 a day prior to her daddy’s death. I was 29, a widow and a single mom all at once.
My journey since then has been quite interesting, as a young woman in the Indian society, I had to face many struggles, whether it was parenting or my business or running the house and its day to day affairs, let alone my emotional well being, I didn’t really have the strength to focus on mental health.
Along the way I encountered many types of networks, there was that genuine family support system that believed in action and just did what was needed to be done, without questioning or giving their opinions. I’m grateful for this support system which stillkeeps me rooted. Then there was another peculiar network, I called it the social network, they would call and text consistently every week and make plans to come see us, or take the kids out, they would ask if I needed anything and tell me to stay strong and then consistently fail to keep their word. I realised then, people who want to be there will be there on their own.
After a point, you become your own support system, its none other than you yourself. You are your own main person; no one else can help you brave the storm, but yourself.
I’d like to brag and say that I’ve become very good at this whole single parenting thing in the last 4 years, but I’d belying outright if I did.
My usual day starts with six and a half to seven hours of sleep, eight hours is mostly luxury, when the wine kicked in the night before while my parents had the kids, otherwise thank God for melatonin that helps me sleep at night before the anxiety creeps in. I’m also very fortunate to be in a position where I can afford domestic help and a nanny without whom my life as a single mom would be very dysfunctional!
I take the kids to school early morning, following which I hit the gym for my daily adrenaline and strength fix. I have grown to realise that keeping your fitness regime going and keeping your system caffeinated (please don’t overdose on caffeine, I am a caffeine addict), is one way to stay sane to deal with the daily pressures of parenting and work, it works as a prevention towards keeping illness at bay, trust me, you don’t want to be stuck in bed with all kinds of viruses, you ain’t got time for that!
I don’t have a choice but to wind up my day early, and make myself available for the kids after school. As a family of 3, we try to do certain activities together so we can spend quality time, instead of me yelling my head off most of the time. We play squash, swim, attend fitness programs together and sometimes even read out our favourites books to each other.
There are times when I find it challenging to be in two different places for my kids, who are two different age and gender genres, that’s the time I reach out and ask a family member to step in, I’m a firm believer of the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise kids’, I have my own village and I’m not afraid to reach out and ask for some support when I need it.
I have now consciously made the effort to prioritize my mental health situation, I go to therapy once every two weeks and my kids are exposed to this concept, they seek help from counselors at their school on their own when they need to talk.
We also engage in therapy together as a family to talk freely about our challenges, we have now inculcated this daily communication at home; we call it the ‘pit and peaks’.
There are times when I just want my alone time, just to maybe go on a date, have a few drinks and unwind or just travel solo to experience different things. Trust me these times are hard to come by, if you get the opportunity grab it! The
downside is you will feel guilty for leaving your babies for selfish interests of your own, but in order to be an amazing parent, it’s important to take care of yourself and your needs. Let’s face it we all have needs, so don’t try and be a saint and tell yourself, “I can do without certain pleasures of life”. Sex and intimacy followed by shit loads of money is the prime need of the hour for me, I like to elaborate I am at my financial and sexual prime and I’m not afraid to express it.
A little travel, a spa day, fitness routines, a little bit of retail therapy, a nice flirty date night, even a random hookup, a little pleasure here and there in whatever way, is good for us single moms.
Having a loving relationship with yourself is extremely important, your kids see you take care of yourself, smile laugh have fun and they impersonate your behaviour. I have observed that, children can sense sadness, irritation stress on all levels and that’s the time they act up the most, so as hard as this may seem, keep your shit together, crack open a bottle of wine later when they go to bed, but otherwise please keep it together!
My children and I have healthy conversations about me moving on and dating other people and who knows maybe even get married again, it makes it easier for them to embrace these developments with an open mind. I know our society firmly believes in filtering many things with the kids, but trust me the
kids today are not exactly carrying brainwaves from the 90s. They are much smarter and forward than we think they are. So please treat them as smart individuals and share your thoughts.
So, when I read about single moms and their lives or tips, I always find data that is just plain sad and demoralising, I understand that its not exactly the best situation to be in, if I had a way, I would not choose to be a single parent, but my situation is different. I’m glad some couples end toxic relationships before it causes further damage to their kids; I also see nowadays women are opting for surrogacy to have babies and raise them on their own, without a co-parent, this is all very liberating, but some of us don’t have a choice!
So I actually want to talk about how to make the most of the shitty hand you’ve been dealt.
Self love, self care, me first, screw the rest! Look mama, sort yourself out first and then be the mama bear you need to be.
Take care of your health –physical and emotional. Take that dance class or yoga, talk to a mental health counsellor, even if you think you can do it all by yourself. Wear clothes that make you feel beautiful and sexy, go to the salon, and go for walks by yourself. Get on to the dating apps, there’s always someone out there, and trust me from first hand experience there’s a buffet out there and you get to pick and choose what you fancy.
Communicate freely with your kids: Your parenting style is yours; no one else should influence how you choose to raise your kids. Remember that the dynamics of a single parent family is very different form others. So your family your rules! I know there are a lot of opinions that float around; I have always heard them with a blank expression on my face with known satisfaction that nothing got registered in my head! It is important to talk about each other’s feelings, look for signs when your child is not talking much and staying
Do be careful though I have learnt that in India, some men tend to think single moms are vulnerable and easy target for a simple one night stand, and you shouldn’t have to go through with it, if that’s not what you fancy. Having adult time is important to keep your sanctity in place.
quiet, whilst bottling emotions up, you will know that it is a sign for intervention and professional help.
Movement: Movement of any kind, be it sports, dance or walk or just simple yoga and meditation is a great way to channel our energies together into positive feelings. Sweating and releasing all those toxins in the form of any movement or exercise everyday is the best way to bond together as a family. My kids have luckily enhanced their good genes and
turned into fine athletes and swimmers respectively. (The sporty genes didn’t come from me fyi!)
Good days and Bad days: There will be times when you just don’t want to exist, your loneliness gets the worst of you, you shut yourself from everyone but you have your kids constantly asking for attention, you simply cannot do it! Find a way to take the night or day off from parental duties, there’s always someone or the other who you can trust. For me the most challenging days are birthdays and festivals, when I just want to leave town and run away, when I can’t stop myself from fantasising about all the wholesome families being together and then end up feeling guilty for being jealous! I’m human after all!
The good days are tricky too, you have no control sometimes and you end up over indulging, remember your kids already get a little extra love and care from other family members, so you don’t want to over do it and spoil them.
Tough love and soft love: Remember you have to be both parents, it’s hard to play good cop and bad cop at once but it’s just an art you’re going to have to master. I have recently made a very strong decision to send my son away to one of the India’s leading boarding schools, this decision wasn’t easy but to me it seemed like it was the best opportunity I was giving him to be on a platform away from home issues, to shine as an individual. I’ve had to be tough and sensitive all at once and it’s the hardest thing I’ve done but I know it’s good for him. And now I’m convinced once my daughter is eligible she too will go to experience life differently on an even platform.
For a single parent every step every decision is different, we have to keep in mind our well being and our kids best interest, be a badass mom one day and soft jelly the next. There will be a time when you’re tired, so slow down, rest your body and soul a bit and then go again, the world will move in its own pace but you just do it the way you think is best! When you’re rested and ready, do your hair, slap on that lipstick, stare at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself ‘I LOVE YOU, YOU BEAUTIFUL BADASS BEAST’ and here we go again!
Dr. Rashi Goel
Kids are way too innovative. The moment we occupy them with something and leave, next moment they make a totally different way out of it. The same happens with my young toddler. Actually, we already have so many toys since his past two years that I decided to pack some and keep aside
that were no longer in use. I remember on one Sunday afternoon, I decided to put his entire squeeze and play toys in almirah as he hardly used to play with them. They were some fifteen in no. I washed and dried them up in the sun. I went to the kitchen to make his lunch and came after ten
minutes to feed him. He was very nicely sitting with them and he had arranged them all in one line. At my first sight, I was a bit angry as he made them dirty again but then I understood when he pointed out at them. He said, “Mumma, line.” I literally cried my heart aloud. I never thought I could teach him the value of discipline this way. Some few days later, he again took out those toys and arranged them in a circle. I remembered teaching him the concept of the circle a day before and here he was with his out of the box thinking. From that day, I have realized it’s very essential for parents to always think out of the box and make use of all the available resources to teach their kid. We don’t need to buy each and everything but should always try first to accomplish with the sources in hand.
That day onwards, I always teach him different concepts with the same set of toys. I keep same colored toys together, put smaller toys in a basket asking him to take out one by one and count, make different shapes with his toys, hide them and ask him to find, etc. Basically, I have learned the concept of thinking out of the box and use and reuse the objects to gain meaningful knowledge. Thanks to my son for teaching me this life lesson.
Dr. Rashi Goel PT is a Hand Therapist who besides loving her profession loves to read, write, travel and create memories. She has been contributing towards various online and offline platforms through her short stories, poems, thoughts etc. She believes that one should never stop learning and never underestimate oneself no matter what happens in life. @rashigoelphysio @physio.rashi
Shackleford Author, Traveller Inceptio
It seems there are 2 parallel stories in the plot of Traveller Inceptio – the not so advanced and extremely advanced human lifestyles. What was the inspiration point combining these 2 themes?
The story develops best when taking the events of the 11th Century Traveller, and then the events with the modern 21swt century university researchers. The idea is to mix the story and have the reader guess as to the connection between the two streams. Part 1 of the book is essentially to describe the invention of the Transporter, and the adventures of Michael in the Saxon village of Giolgrave. It is not until the end of the part when it is confirmed that(Spoiler alert) he is, indeed, a Traveller from the 21st Century.
There is a considerable amount of details related to many things in the background. How extensive was this and what was the most interesting aspect of your research?
I spent about a year researching Traveller Inceptio before I had the courage to actually write. My fears involved being incorrect, that my understanding of the Saxon period was too out of touch. At one stage the local library banned me because I had a book on Saxon history out for 6 months – when it should have been restricted to two weeks.
My belief is that in understanding the topics of interest, I can write a story that is more realistic.
Can I also say thank goodness for Google!!
Which among the characters was the most difficult one to develop and why?
The lead character, Michael, became the most challenging character as I had to better understand his past, his experiences as an SAS elite soldier in Australia and the various fields of conflict, yet I definitely did not want him to be a clichéd, two dimensional ‘soldier’ character. As a highly trained researcher into the period of a thousand years into the past, he had to be a man of many abilities, a person who was personable rather than a mindless grunt.
I understand that in real life many such Special-Forces soldiers are versatile and quite likable, that they are not a cliché at all.
Once I grappled with his basic
features, I wanted to show that he changed over time, that he is really a human with passions and feelings and not some kind of super-hero, which can be the case for the hero in so many stories. To develop a threedimensional character was my goal and challenge. I hope I achieved that.
Was there a breakdown point where you went clueless with the story? How comfortable were you creating back stories with the available subplots?
There were many places where I was lost. My response was to research some more, then write. Because Traveller Inceptio is my first novel, I think I made every writing mistake one can make. Not only was it recommended by my first editor to drastically cut content from the book (yes –50,000 words to be exact), but it
also became a kind of apprenticeship in writing. He was pretty blunt about how many changes I had to make.
While I am happy with the story at this stage, I now recognise how I could have done things differently.
One strange phenomenon was when I sometimes wrote I found the story progressing in a manner I had not initially planned. Through that process of almost channelling I was able to work through the blocks in the story to build a series of events that many readers suggest are their favourite parts of the book.
From there the back story was easy to develop.
Thank goodness for the ability to proofread, edit, and polish up the storyline some more. I think Traveller Inceptio was rewritten a dozen times at least!
Do you use story boarding or mapping processes to develop your plots and interactions, or do you go with the flow and follow your instinct?
I have engaged in limited storyboarding. Sometimes I simply use notes in future chapters to indicate where I think the story can go. Whether that actually happens depends on the writing at the time.
My main mapping process was in regard to the timeline – to make sure I had continuity. I hope I have been dutiful in having the story run cleanly.
I generally like to write in the morning. The first draft for Traveller Inceptio was written when I worked fulltime – so I would write early in the morning,
If you were sent 1000 years into the past, would you survive? Traveller
Inceptio describes how the Transporter is accidentally invented and becomes public knowledge when it sends a subject 1000 years into the past.
A Special Forces team of Travellers is then selected and trained with the intent to send them to Saxon England to explore what could be a very dangerous period of history.
From the beaches of Australia, to the forests of Saxon England, Traveller
Inceptio reveals how Travellers discover they need a lot more than technology to survive the trials of early 11th-century life.
late at night, and on the weekends. It became my passion and, while I appreciate I am now better at writing than I was, I find the morning routine suits me best. Sometimes that can start at 4am.
Naturally I take time throughout the day to jot notes on areas to research or take note of things people say. My phone is a useful notepad.
My aim is to have characters and situations as realistic as possible, to remove them from obvious fabrications and make them real. In Traveller Inceptio many of the situations encountered by the young researchers were stories from my son, who is a skater and surfer. The craziest stories are the true ones.
How much time do you spend on writing compared to promoting your books?
Ha! Good question!
Writing is my passion, but now Traveller Inceptio is published I am required to attract attention to the book. I must treat the book in a similar manner as does the Publisher, which is as a product to be sold. At the moment, a good half of my day is spent in marketing pursuits, both through social media and engaging with the Publisher.
I think a ‘new’ author has to work very hard to raise a profile and to reach a point of spontaneous combustion. I seek for Traveller Inceptio to sell well enough for me to then concentrate on preparing Book 2 of the Traveller story – Traveller Probo – for Traveller Inceptio does lend itself to a sequel.
So alas, I currently spend more time in marketing than writing, though I hope for that to change soon.
1. Your all-time favorite author/writer? Rapid Fire With Rob: I can’t decide.
2. Do you believe in writer's block? Did you have it anytime or not?
More writer’s exhaustion. I get tired of writing, so I take a break to refresh my brain.
3. Your favorite place to write your book(s)?
My home writing desk with the sound of the sea.
4. Research and then write or research while writing? Which one you prefer?
Research while writing –find a gap in my knowledge and target that!
5. Do you Google yourself?
No
What authors have you most admired and which one has influenced you the most and why?
In my extensive reading I have trawled through many authors whom I have loved. In the science fiction field I adored the classic tales by Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and H.G. Wells, while in historical fiction Colleen McCullough’s Rome series, and of course Bernard Cornwell have inspired. Others are Simon SebagMontfiore’sheavily researched treatises on history, Gregory David Roberts’ Indian masterpiece Shantaram, and Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. I also recognise the more relaxed style of Stephen King as a brilliant story teller.
Maybe being a terrific story teller will be enough?
Are you working on any new project? Can you give us some insights?
Traveller Inceptio – Latin for ‘Beginning’ – does lend itself to a sequel. I did not plan that when completing the book, but the story insisted on being extended, so I have completed Traveller Probo – meaning to ‘Prove’, and Traveller Manifesto.
These are in the final throes of being edited and, I hope, with the success of Traveller Inceptio can see the light of day.
I have also written a few other novels that are in the edit process. Everything has to start somewhere.
Few words to your readers.
Thank you for reading Traveller Inceptio. I dearly hope you enjoy.
In writing I have made every effort to embrace a set of realistic consequences from a fanciful scenario. If one could be sent back 1000 years, why would anyone be sent? Who would be the most likely to go? Where would they be sent first?
Please forgive the occasional outbursts of violence. Though graphic, they have been placed into the story in a judicious manner, to highlight the unsettled nature of such potentially dangerous times.
Alternatively I have made every effort to describe the humour and loving nature of peoples, both ancient and modern, and how we have a lot more in
common with our ancestors that we might at first imagine.
I sincerely hope you enjoy Traveller Inceptio, that the time spent reading is time well spent.
What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract you from your writing time?
I am currently working through Social Media and, in conjunction with my publisher, Austin Macauley, aiming at the first run of book signings in stores. As book marketing has largely changed when it comes to new authors, placing more emphasis on my personal efforts, so it does detract from writing time.
I think today’s marketing emphasises becoming a success on our own merits, so I expect there will be periods of
creativity, then marketing, then back to creativity. Soon I hope to have established enough of a profile for the promotional role to fall more to the Publisher, rather than to rely almost solely on me.
How do you feel about eBooks vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing?
Publishing is like music in that it is going through an intensive wave of change. Traditional business models are crumbling, with many publishers going broke while others establish new business models that aim to promote both electronic and physical books.
While I prefer to read a physical book, the cost and convenience of electronic books dominate the industry. It means fewer book stores, more sales in electronic copies and perhaps even concentrating on selling electronic copies. It places less of an emphasis on publishers,
with so many self-published books making their way onto the market, most with questionable quality.
I still like the prestige and security that a Publisher can bring – though they have to do their work too!
It is a tougher gig now.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing that people DON'T know about your subject/genre, which they need to know?
Traveller Inceptio is Science Fiction meets Historical Fiction. It is very soft Sci Fi –so should not challenge anyone new to the genre. Surprisingly I have found the title popular with women who like the romantic element, even though violence might challenge.
So Traveller Inceptio is an adventure novel with romance and action thrown in. The
Historical and Sci Fi elements only provide a framework from which it can work.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My first motivation was to write a story. I was going through an unfortunate period in my life where I was recovering from the dishonest actions of a crooked business partner. The story developed as a form of therapy and was called ‘Traveller’ – then changed to ‘Traveller Inceptio’ because Traveller is such a common title.
Eventually I desire my writing to become my means of financial support, or maybe to become a highly paid, best-selling author. Just putting it out there!
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
Probably listen to my English teacher more than I did – then practice the writing skills taught in school.
An English-born Australian, Rob Shackleford, has lived in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, with a varied career that has included customs officer, scuba instructor, college teacher and roles in too many places.
With degrees in arts and business, he is mad keen on travel, scuba diving, family history, martial arts, astronomy and playing djembe and congas.
Rob is a father of two and lives on the Gold Coast.
(Interviewed by Swapna Peri)
FOLLOW ROB AT:
@rob_shackleford_
@Rob-Shackleford631222523675665
by Ashwati Menon
ome summer and we all have something special to think about. Summers are incomplete without that simple summer love. We all had a wish for that. Who doesn’t? Though we can barely imagine a lot of romance in this weather, you cannot deny that nights are the best parts of the days. If a mild breeze picks up by sunset, you can imagine how much windy and much tolerable the weather would be – at least at night.
The first fond memories that I have of such summers go back to childhood. I read a lot of Shakespeare as a child; abridged and unabridged version alike and I really liked the way the evenings and nights were described. A bit of Jane Austen or Charles Dickens really
only added to my love for evenings with the moon.But, you’re not on the banks of the Seine or Thames or on the banks of any other rivers of our beautiful country. When you think of it, the closest water body you will ever get across will be the cement tank in your house. In fact, when you’re a middleclass person, doing a job or a middle-class child, that too in the glorious 90s, doing your daily homework just so that you could become a good doctor or an engineer; I think Shakespeare and Wordsworth, or the moon really don’t hold much of a
chance against the harsh reality. The reality that is doled out into your plates –daily.
My early favorite memories of the moon have been the ones when during such hot, summer nights, when the water-cooler cannot cool you enough, the entire family sneaked to the terrace and enjoy the cool, summer night wind, to sleep peacefully. It was real bliss. I remember how we would wait for dinner to be over and then go upstairs; mom would do a spot of sweeping the terrace and then we would fling our mattresses there and wait to settle down. The best part is that almost all houses in the neighborhood followed the same pattern and we could see our neighbors doing just the same. We could talk to each other over the parapet and boundary walls. That was a small piece of heaven.
And shining over us, like a bulb that can’t be switched off – was the moon. I did think of it like a huge metallic, natural, disco light
by
that needed to change colors. But, of course, you are in nature’s club and you dance by her rules. And I would lie on my back, stare at the twinkling stars, and the huge pearl – wondering – if the pearl is this huge, how huge the oyster will be!
Do you remember the 2D game –Prince of Persia? You remember those twinkling starts that would come at Level 5 or Level 6. Suddenly, a princess would also run at you at Level 8 and then there would be a half, or a crescent moon hung there,at one of the Jharokhas. Lovely scene. I have always admired the team who must have designed the Prince of Persia game. It was a masterpiece. And I really liked the views they designed for Moon and stars. Brilliant work.
It was, probably, twenty years ago, on some random night of the month of May, when that random breeze with a random pearl of the moon shone on so many countless, random heads staring up at him – looking and wondering, different things. Moon was my favorite pearl because of all those nights spent on the terrace, when he was phasing or full – his presence or absence made the nights so beautiful. Maybe it was the childhood innocence, maybe it was the purity of the times, but they made an impression for life.
Ashwati Menon hails from Kerala but was born and brought up in Gujarat. The literary journey started with anthologies "Secrets of Soul" by Rigi Publication House and "Drenched Souls - Love in Monsoon" by Gargi Publishers. Under the same Publication Banner, she released "Scarred for Life, Healed Forever" a MedicalScience Fiction. Ashwati also has to her credit "Sweet Heart Broken" which was released under the label of VPublishers in Digital Print and being Guest Editor for "Soo Much in Love" by Raindrops Publications. She is also an Associate Member of Screen Writers Association (SWA) Mumbai and a trained Classical Dancer.
The day was progressing with its steady pace. Everyone in the school had got fed up of conversations with students because of a long session of introduction. The new session had been commenced and it was the first week of April. I too was killing my time burying my nose in a novel as it was my spare lecture. I got a phone call from my husband, Amit.
“Hey! What’s going on? I have a surprise for you, in fact a pleasant surprise.”
“What?? Please be quick, I am dying to hear.” I got super excited.
“Let’s be quick as we are going to leave tomorrow for an amazing trip to Dharamshala”
“Oh, Wow! But how did you make it so quick?
“Actually I got a call from Rahul who was asking to join them for the trip if we may get holidays for almost a week. I approved the proposal at once.”
“Yeah! All will be done. No issues.”
Instantly I got consented for the trip as we were already planning for such a trip for so long and we got it finally. A novel streak of excitement passed through my veins as I always remain passionate about travelling and exploring new places. My day had been stretched even longer as I found myself unable to stay back at school anymore. Anyhow the day was terminated. Reaching home I hugged him tightly for this fabulous surprise that he gifted me. Our little girl too was super excited as she got
passion for travelling hereditary.
We got our exigencies packed along with a bag full of peps and sparks. Having phonic conversion with Rahul, we got a couthy hotel booked in advance at Dharamkot village which is almost one kilometer away from Mcleodganj. Next morning, we propelled to explore our set destination along with the seats loaded of delirium.
We decided to travel by our own car. We made a plan meeting at a set place as Rahul and family had to start over from Gurugram while we left from Hisar, Haryana. We were caught together at a place around 12 O’Clock and striked to move together in a single car for rest of the expedition. We were four adults and two girl kids of five years old. Kids started pomping meeting each other as the two are well known to each other and moreover come from the same age group. We headed for our terminus sharing confabs of excitement.
Kids too were delighted for the place they were going to explore at such early years of their life.
After about a couple of hours, we started to sense cool and fresh air currents from mountains. We got
our car AC off and pull down the shutters to let the cool breeze thrash our anatomies. It seemed that we had been headed to heaven of peace and tranquility. After a drive of about couple of hours we pulled our vehicle haulted at a local dhaba to taste the flavor of local delicacies for adding more smack to our wonderful journey. Kids were enjoying the cool breeze and hot noodles offered to them. The sun was in its furry and blazing brightly as the whole aerosphere was free from all type of pollutions. It looked like an enormous diamond had shattered its glimmer over the ambience of hills and valleys. All of a sudden, dark smoky clouds draped entire aura making sun shine diminished at the very moment. Kids got shocked at that sudden conversion of the tone. They were enlightened about such weather conditions in hilly areas. Within next few minutes, the sun again showed up its bright and smiling face so as the kids.
After a teeny halt of almost forty minutes, we resumed our car budging forward to the destination. Often people enjoy their tracks more than destinations as roads are taken as more thrilling as far as such trips are concerned. Having relished few more breaks, we ended up at our luxurious hotel. Getting formalities done we were taken to our rooms which were adjacent. Luckily we got the rooms with mountain views which were constructed as to be stood up at the brink of a valley. The rooms were too cozy and comfy that one might flourish a desire to linger the place forever. They are full of serenity and sufficiency for the kids too to play in. Our exhaustion had got vanished at once and decided not to waste even a single moment to enjoy the charm of that enthralling locale. We resolved to have dinner outside as we were dying to traverse night views of that fabulous place. We left the hotel to start over the hunt for the best place to savour our dinner meal. Kids were clinging to us
and we were toiling at discovering the best place making our ways through the topsy – turvy lands of Dharamkot. One could see hotels only to nab the glimpse of lights as the natives were gone to sleep getting their lights off. We drifted through three or four places to eat but detected the best one at last. It was Morgans Place which is famous for its pizzas and other baked snacks. It was different in many ways as there were no chairs to sit on, the mats were spread out with adjoining tables of lower heights. Dazzling lights and melodious music were adding glamour to this scented aura. Kids too loved it as for them it was like having ‘Alice in wonderland’ touch. We tasted their specialties like Silicana, garlic mushrooms and barbeque pizza. We resolved to skip the dinner as our bellies were full of delicious snacks. Kids too enjoyed snacks and got their tummies stuffed well. We came out of this sensual aura spending a couple of hours there.
For the next two days, we decided to explore few places in Macleodganj which is also known as ‘Little Lhasa’. It’s a fabulous placec in Dharamshala district of
Himachal Pradesh where one can witness the perfect blend of Indian and Tibetan cultures living in harmony with each other. This place is famous for soothing weather conditions, alluring bounties, picturesque trekking trails and vibrant culture. We headed for Bhagsu Falls, the most popular water fall which is known for its lush green and paradisiacal scenery. We enjoyed the cold waters of the fall and captured moments in our cameras. We savoured lip smacking food at the nearby cafes.
We entered Nechung Monastery which is known for its tranquil environment and warm hearted hospitality. We confronted many foreigners there who were fascinated by vibrant Indian culture and peaceful aura of hill stations. Kids are seemed super excited to see the places that were beyond their imagination at this early stage of their lives. They were kept enquiring about the next focused locales. We entered Vipasana Meditation Centre which is nestled by Dhauladhar ranges. It’s an oasis of peace and tranquility, far from the hustle and bustle of the crowded places. One can
experience high leveled contentment reaching this place.
The very next day had been marked for shopping and roaming around local markets. We hired a cab and left to explore local markets of Central Square, Tibetan Children’s Village, Jogiwara Road and Kotwali Bazzar. Kids were amused by hand crafted and well decorated toys, bags, footwear and other accessories. The day was ended up loading numerous bags full of shopped exigencies. It was the best day as far as kids were enquired into.
The last two days of the trip were spared tasting the flavours of slight adventure for as our trips are often brewed up with such activities. We opted for Triund Trekking as it’s not a tough nut to crack but might be slight hard when you are accompanied by kids as you have to be more attentive the whole way round. Anyway we decided to trek with the kids either. We approached the base camp to start over trek of nearly
9kms. We headed forward with full enthusiasm and hard - to –break will powers. Foreigners were seemed biting fingers as they were confronting the toddler-trekkers for the first time. Some of them appreciated us for our outstanding and nongivable efforts. After about a trek of 3kms we started getting exhausted as we were loaded with kids and heavy bags as well. But kids themselves were forcing us to move ahead as they demanded to trek on their little feet. Finding tiny souls too enthusiastic we resolved to continue our trek. The whole trail is known for its 22 curves which are tough enough to cross over. We opted for frequent breaks at cafes making our breathing going for, as kids were cooperating beyond we expected for. We had planned in advance for spending night at the summit so we were loaded with heavy bags carrying warm clothes and other necessities. Good griped shoes, sun caps were put on and sufficient sun screens were applied for safe trek. We were ended up with a successful trail of 9kms finally absorbing the whole day long.
We were at the summit that had been stretched out making a spacious and greenish locale to enjoy facing snowy mountains before. We took deep breathe of contentment and conquer. Kids started playing immediately over the green hilly ground. They were not seemed with even a pinch of exhaustion as someone has truly said that kids are the store house of never-ending strength. We had a bonfire feast at night and opted to sleep in tents. We grabbed sleeping bags as night was going to freeze everything. We were welcomed by a nice sunshine in the morning that was started with hot tea and snacks. Having kids getting refreshed, we resume our trail back to come down. Almost the whole day was absorbed getting down to Dharamkot following the same regime again. We slept sound for the whole night as our organs were drained off and exhausted completely. We woke up with a new streak of zeal and left loaded with unforgettable memories of this fabulous place. We headed for our place getting memories of the place packed in our hearts, minds and cameras, leaving our footsteps in that fabulous haven of peace and tranquility.
Neetu Khatri Kajal has done triple masters in Commerce, English and Education. She had got her paper published on Education during her masters in Education. She is a published author of two novels titled 'Immortal Love' and 'Beyond Expectations' and working on her next one. She is an avid writer, traveller and blogger. One may find her blogs, articles and poems on boloji.com. Her travelling experiences are reflected in her write-ups. She loves to explore hill stations more often.She writes about Parenting, Adolescence, women and nature. She is a social activist and a big hand of help to the oppresed ones. Presently, she is working as a post graduate mentor in English.
@kajal_neetu
Now that I look back at 30 years of my life, it is difficult to point at one ‘eureka’ moment and say “Ah, this is when I started writing”. I was an emotional child who struggled with social awkwardness, and therefore, writing for me was an outlet for all the suppressed feelings. Over a period of time, it transformed from being an ‘outlet’ to the ‘strength of my core’. If I have remained sane through this chaos called life, it’s only because I wrote my heart out whenever I felt I was losing my sanity. I have seen my writing change from ‘emotional’ to ‘satirical’ as I have aged. Maybe I have finally understood that life isn’t meant to be taken seriously.
Writing is also in my genes…
The fact that I come from a family of renowned poets explains that talent is more inherited than self-acquired. My great grandfather and my uncle are renowned poets in the regional literature space; so of course, reading and appreciating literature has been a part of my upbringing. My parents, while they don’t write, are avid readers. Therefore, I was exposed to all kinds of novellas and poetry very early in my life. I was taken to book fairs and encouraged to read different kinds of books. The interest in reading that was cultivated early in my life has helped me turn into a writer.
Dealing with people is still difficult for me… Books are still my best friends. I find people too confusing and unpredictable. My go-to references in life for difficult situations are also books – not the selfhelp kinds, but characters of the fictions I read. I draw references from them in real life, because, if you closely observe, these characters like among and around us.
are my favorite company…
There is something in this whole wide world that I love beyond books and beyond everything else. It is the company of my dogs, Mars and Pluto. I have learned so
much from them in the last 3.5 years they have been with me. Have you ever seen a dog shrugging off his stress? Ah, you should. We, human beings, need to learn that art from them. In fact, there is so much more to learn: to forgive, to forget, to love conditionally, to not trust easily, and to just get going every day, no matter what.
How did ‘Puma: A Soldier’s Dog’ happen…
The character of Puma is an amalgamation of the names and personalities of my dogs, ‘Pluto’ and ‘Mars’. Puma happened because I was surprised to see so many people with pets at home treating them as discarded toys. How can one bring a life
home and then show absolute apathy? It was as if dogs are more of a status symbol than family.
I still remember almost choking on my food in a party when someone asked me ‘Why I feed expensive food to my desi dogs.’ “They, after all, are strays”, the person said. That was the day I realized that we, human beings, have wonderfully categorized dogs into ‘foreign purebred’ and ‘desi’ categories as well. To the utter surprise of such people, my desi dogs weren’t chained and fed leftovers, but were very much treated as a part of the family. In response, I only said, “It might come to you as a surprise, but dogs don’t discriminate amongst themselves based on their breeds.” But the basic idea of
the story was planted in my head. I also knew that it wasn’t possible to combat these notions one person at a time. The discrimination against desi dogs is such a wide-spread practice, it needs to be addressed from a bigger platform. The conviction to write this story grew as I started following several animal welfare groups on social media where I would read about ‘abandoned’, ‘breederdiscarded’ dogs every single day. I would also see how adoptions of ‘desi’ dogs, who are best suited to our place and climate, was nearly impossible. While I was toiling with the book’s storyline, I came across a
newspaper story, which was about the adoption of retired military dogs. I did a little bit of research on the induction of desi dog breeds in the Indian army and spoke to my husband, who is an army officer, about the idea of a desi dog wanting to join the canine squad of Indian army. This is when I sealed the idea.
I have deliberately written Puma’s story in a tone that is anything but preachy. Moral science lectures don’t help people unless they want to be morally upright. Therefore, Puma’s story is a simple story of grit and
determination. Puma doesn’t give his readers any lecture; he simply goes on about his life and goals without caring about what others think of him and his journey. Puma’s journey in itself is a message.
Publishing the story… Thankfully, publishing was the easiest part of my author’s journey. I sent out the first 3 chapters to 2-3 publication houses who, I found the internet, encouraged first-time authors. Mukund, from Quignog (A Pirates Imprint) publication, approached me and from there, I collaborated with Pirates’ team over the storyline, structure, design, and almost everything. It took me almost a year and a half to finish the book because I also
have a day job as a communication professional in an IT firm. So, I mostly wrote late at night or over the weekend. There were many days when I wrote trash; but then there were days where I could write what I wanted. I feel, as an author, it’s important to have a structure in place even before one starts writing so that one’s mood doesn’t influence the writing.
When I look back at my writing career and the book…
I am a science student who later pursued Mass Communication and secured a university rank. I, then, went on to pursue my postgraduation diploma in Public Relations. I don’t think any of
this was planned – but like Puma’s character, I simply followed my heart. I never gave up on my dreams and aspirations. I might sound strange to some people, but for me reading a software manual is as enjoyable as reading a haiku. There is a soothing rhythm in words that I found nowhere else. Writing also gives me an opportunity to reflect on my learnings. I now know: Adversities are a part of life. Difficult times would come and go. People would always be as judgemental as they are today. But none of this impacts my life anymore and if it rarely does, I pour my heart out on a piece of paper and I am ready for the next challenge.
next?
Frankly, I don’t know. The next book will happen if and when I have a compelling idea. Until then, I will happily edit software manuals and write market-y content that helps sell a wonderful software. I will also read new books: books that take me to places unknown, discover
amazing characters and introduce me to new facets of life.
To all who say the world of books is not real….
Remember what Albus
Dumbledore told Harry about dreams and imaginations, “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean it’s not real?”
Richa Kashyap works as a Communications Manager with an IT firm. She loves reading software manuals and poetry alike. She claims to be an introvert; almost everybody around her disagrees with her opinion of herself. Richa loves a freshly brewed cup of green tea, star gazing and conversations about life and after-life and she hates chai latte, public speaking, and mushy love stories. She is married to an Indian army officer. She is also a mother to two Indie boys: Mars Kashyap Bhaskar and Pluto Kashyap Bhaskar, who share her and her husband’s last names.
In 2010, a Naxal platoon set outon a seven-night march across 250 kilometres through Bihar and Jharkhand.Among them was Shah – the only woman, the only unarmed person, dressed as a man in an olive-green guerrilla uniform. This is the story of her gritty and revelatory journey.
The Orwell Prize is considered to be Britain’s most prestigious award for political writing. Notable among the books previously shortlisted for the recognition include Siddhartha Deb’s The Beautiful and the Damned: Life in the New India (2012), Pankaj Mishra’s From the Ruins of the Empire (2013) and Rana Dasgupta’s Capital (2015).
Shah, a professor of anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said of the honour, ‘I am delighted that this tragic story of forest dwellers and underground armed rebels, hidden even within India, is gaining international recognition. Nightmarch is inspired by George Orwell in its hope of challenging received wisdoms, revealing unexpected insights you couldn’t otherwise have foreseen, while making that process into an aesthetic experience. In our current era of rising inequality and authoritarianism, we need Orwell’s sense of political and artistic purpose in writing more than ever to keep alive the spaces of democracy, hope of justice, and demands for a more equal world.’
Siddhesh Inamdar, commissioning editor at HarperCollins, said, ‘We are thrilled by the announcement and hope it is the first among many more to follow in the awards season this year. Nightmarch, undoubtedly one of the finest and most important works of non-fiction published in India last year, richly deserves every honour that is coming its way.’
Published in the UK and India in 2018 and in the US this year, Nightmarch featured on a number of year-end ‘best books’ lists and has been garnering wide international acclaim.
About The Book - In 2010, just as the Indian government was stepping up its counterinsurgency operations in the country’s Naxal-affected areas, Alpa Shah set out on a seven-night march with a guerrilla platoon across 250 kilometres of the same territory. An anthropology professor, she wanted to understand why, against the backdrop of a shiny new India, the country’s poor had shunned the world’s largest democracy and united with revolutionary ideologues. Her gritty journey reveals how and why people from very different
backgrounds come together to take up arms to change the world, but also what makes them fall apart. It tells the story of tribal youth who move in and out of the guerrilla armies; of highly educated men who leave the security of their families and move underground in the service of higher ideals; of women who come to the revolutionaries looking for egalitarian homes; and of the conflict between the Naxals and the security forces.
Brought to life by Alpa’s years of research and immersion into the daily lives of the tribal communities in a Naxal stronghold, Nightmarch is a reflection on economic growth, rising inequality, dispossession and conflict at the heart of contemporary India.
About The Author - Alpa Shah is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She has reported and presented on India for BBC Radio 4 and the World Service. Her work is based on her insights from living as a social anthropologist for several years amongst the Adivasis of eastern India. She led the
Mare and Cal set out in the hope of recruiting new blood from Julian’s list. Was the list a fake? A trap spread out by the silvers? Will Maven destroy the secret even before it could unravel? Are there more like Mare?
“Strange, my enemies know me best, my family doesn’t know me at all”, Will Mare survive the treachery and Rise as Red as dawn? by Meera Menon
lass Sword, one of the most awaited releases of 2016, recites the battles faced by a “Red” teenage girl possessing “silver” abilities. It starts off right from where Victoria left her readers stranded in Red Queen. Mare Barrow, the lightning girl as they call her, is being hunted down by the Maven and his mother, Queen Elara. “He doesn’t know how to be anything else, alongside red, hunted by his own, betrayed by his blood”, Cal has joined the cause, but will he stay? Or will he betray just like his brother Maven? Along with the Farley, Shade, and Kilorn,
About the Book: Published in 2016, Glass sword by Victoria Aveyard is a cleverly blend young adult fantasy fiction. Glass sword is the second book in the Red Queen series.
About the Author: Victoria
Aveyard is an American novelist, popularly known for her Red Queen series, with Glass Sword being second in line. This Massachusetts born twenty-eight year old developed her interest in creating stories right from when she could write. In 2015 she was awarded the Goodreads Choice Awards Best debut novel.
Summary:
Verdict: From “Rise as red as dawn” to “To rise and rise alone”, Victoria Aveyard has been quite successful in evolving her characters, the fresher’s and the old ones to a completely new level. Right from chapter one, it’s been a rollercoaster of “new blood” hunting, plotting, and even betrayals. The storyline revolves around Mare’s new found identity and the recent discovery of these so-called new blood, people with red bloodline but silver abilities.
Glass Sword is a sequel to Red Queen, Victoria’s debut to a fantasy fiction series, mainly focusing to notch more finite
outlines for the main characters. Through her master plotting and writing, Victoria could successfully ramp me up for the sequel. Even though most of the new characters were introduced in haste, making it hard to remember, I could still connect. The title struck a bit out of place and odd until Mare personifies it to herself “I’m a sword made of glass and I feel myself beginning to shatter” – that’s just my take on the title. The writing, again, needs to be commended. Boredom is absolutely lulled with words, staging the whole plot in my mind. I would certainly give Glass Sword a 4.5/5 for its live characters, the confusion, and not to forget the ending, making me inquisitive to get started with King’s Cage.
An engineer by profession, Meera is deeply passionate about blogging, art, and photography. Her focus is mainly on travelogues. Being a folklorist in making, she goes about with a purpose of documenting various cultures. She is also an avid reader who enjoys the company of good crime/mystery novels.
@memorycarver
by Rob Shackleford
by Swapna Peri
The story begins with the main character Micheal traveling through a forest in a situation which is a thousand years ago from the present and in parallel a group of research students funded by the biggest MNC set their journey on R&D and work on towards creating something incredible and end up creating a time machine accidentally. These people then travel 1000 years back and then we already have Michael there. Following this the tale is all about how much ever the science-andtechnology is developed, it can’t help us out of dangerous
situations which are either or not due to nature and how powerhungry people can destroy everything.
The initial chapters have surprised me with a good and bad feeling, and as I was looking for the same excitement in the coming chapters, I found the story doing a roller coaster ride of characters, their details and too much explanation of some unwanted yet important situations. For instance, it's a known thing how does mating happen between a man and a woman. But in the book with this subject, I felt it's unnecessary to get into many details of the act. Likewise, the most annoying thing is dedicating a whole chapter about ' peeing '. Yes! You read it right. It was absolutely yucky. Reader's disclaimer is a must for a good story but not up to the mark writing.
1. The concept of time travel which runs through the story is interesting
2. Two parallel storylines are very well maintained
3. The suspense in the story is retained till the end of the story and its acts as a cliff hanger
4.The research did by the author is commendable
5. The essence of a new world is quite innovative
1. Inconsistent subplots in the present time story are found
2. Too many details in some incidents explained which are not required
3. If only editing was serious, the length of the book could have decreased.
4. Though there is suspense, too many details in the story at places diluted it.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is a close image of a knife with some engravings on it. There is no particular inference of the story looking at the image.
Book Title: The title of the book ' Traveller Inceptio ' is unique and interesting.
Characters: All the characters are plotted well. But it was hard getting connected to the characters. Though the creation is good, they were not impressive nor attractive. They just existed.
Narration: The narration after certain no.of chapters felt interesting. Till the initial 50 chapters or so, the book was lagging and somewhat boring. Too many chapters made it an exhaustive narration.
Language and Grammar: The language is fine with error-free grammar.
My Verdict: Exhaustive yet a good read.
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 2/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
@swapna.peri
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
Tby Swapna Peri
he story is between a beautiful young woman Spreeha, three young men Avesh, Dheeraj and Vrijen and another woman named Chanda. Spreeha and Avesh are colleagues and the interesting part is Spreeha resembles Chanda and these three men have a dark past with Chanda. Most shocking scene is when Avesh comes to know that Dheeraj is Spreeha’s husband.
Who is Spreeha? What happened to Chanda? What is the role of the three men in Chanda’s story? Read this novella for more twists.
What I like:
1. The unique plot
2. Sustaining of the mystery till the end
3. Perfect storytelling with great suspense
4. Simple and effective language
What I didn't like:
At times because of many characters, the story seemed a little confusing.
Book Cover: The cover image of the book is an abstract painting of a young woman’s face that looks like immersed inside the water.
Book Title: The title of the book ‘ Done with her ‘ is abstract and mysterious.
Narration: A very interesting and gripping narration is found in the story.
Characters: Every character is plotted with a superb background story.
Language and
Grammar: Simple, elegant and neat language is found in the story.
My Verdict: A gripping suspense novella
Rating
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Narration: 3/5
Language & Grammar: 3/5
Final Rating: 3/5
Swapna worked as SAP Consultant for 10 years in Major IT companies. Reading has always been her passion and occasional painting her hobby. She decided to quit her job, look after the family and pursue her hobby of reading and painting in a larger way. Thus, her big leap into book reviewing has paved a way and has been successful to date. Reading challenges interest her a lot and visiting book fairs is her favorite thing. She believes that there is no good back or bad book, but only books. Writing unbiased reviews is her strength and she is appreciated by fellow reviewers and readers for the same. An anthology of musings with her paintings is her pending dream!
@swapna.peri
@sappy_dreamz_unlimited
@swapna508
by Shilpa Bamboria
Like Golden rays of dawn
She is a source of inspiration
In deep darkness
She is the shining pole star
Flowing through waves
Holding your hands like the oars
In this mortal life and world
She is the only true life essence
Every moment with her blessing
Kept us going miles and infinity
Beyond Beauty of nature
God away from God
In the hot scathing sun
Like a pristine cold breeze
"Mother" in this one word is
Glimpse of whole universe
Shilpa Bamboria, residing in Bangalore with husband and 5yr old son.
Shilpa Bamboria, Proud mother of a 5 year old.
Working in Target corporation with a BE, MBA , writing has always been her first love. Her first article was published in a leading Hindi daily when she was 15 and around the same time she self-published a poetry collection. She has had a couple of publications and selections in both Hindi and English online and print forums, like speaking tree, high on poems, Great Indian Films and Literature Festival to name a few. She is active as a contributing author to womensweb.in, thriveglobal.com and had her first international English anthology published by Raindrops publishers. She is also a part of Bangalore’s Hindi-Urdu poetry club. Being an avid reader and a freelance writer, mostly she likes to write about nature, love, emotions, philosophy, spirituality and relationships. Other than reading and writing, she enjoys painting, travelling, cooking and learning new languages.
by Patricia Prudente
by Ambika Nanda
Late into the night, See what a lovely sight, Those tiny eyes, Twinkling bright,
Just out of the mother's womb, It was a playful journey all right, Welcome to the human world, Said tired mommy up and right,
The journey from womb to the tomb, Will often make you lose the sight,
Hold on, stay on, Have faith my darling all right!
The world is not that bad, Choose wise, and stay wise,
Enjoy your stay, Even if the world calls you mad.
Ambika Nanda is a peaceful soul. She lives in Gurgaon. A teacher trainer and primary year’s facilitator by profession. She loves to read Hindu mythology, fiction and philosophy. She loves to pen short stories, poems and articles. @ambika.mehta.nanda @AmbikaNanda5
by Neetu Khatri Kajal
As she stepped into the world, Her mother was glum; Not for delivering a moppet, But her under – weighing teased.
She looked quite alike, A soft creamy kitten; Her mush shone bright, Sketching a perfect line.
Her grandma got panicked, But not only for her sake; She had to be burdened, For mumy and neonate both.
Mother scared a lot, Seeing her tiny tot; Ohh! Almighty God; How would endure my doll,
Omitting her scissors scars, As they were not bad; Her heart got a pace, Raising her little gal.
Once a hot day, The baby lying alone; The mother was at bathing, A serpent came crawl.
Grandma perceived at once, But let it crawl to the gal; She craved her abandon world, Getting rid of the load.
The serpent shadowed hood, Over her face bright; The mumsy invaded at moment, Getting dumb stuck prompt. She galloped abrupt, Throwing reptile away; Mustering whole valour, Draining scary waves.
The gal is grown up now, A fruit of mother’s sweat; The ambience is full of echoes, A melodious chaos around.
On a sunlit day, Grandma laid alone; Drowned in noon sleep, A serpent curtained her face.
The gal spotted at once, Dashed towards instant; Pushing the serpent away, Hugged at scared form.
A chill passed through, The old alarmed veins; Tears rolled down bright, On a wrinkled face.
Oh! My little Angel, Wash my sins away;
The mess up that I conferred, A little years back way.
Neetu Khatri Kajal has done triple masters in Commerce, English and Education. She had got her paper published on Education during her masters in Education. She is a published author of two novels titled 'Immortal Love' and 'Beyond Expectations' and working on her next one. She is an avid writer, traveller and blogger. One may find her blogs, articles and poems on boloji.com. Her travelling experiences are reflected in her write-ups. She loves to explore hill stations more often.She writes about Parenting, Adolescence, women and nature. She is a social activist and a big hand of help to the oppresed ones. Presently, she is working as a post graduate mentor in English.
@kajal_neetu
by Kasturika Mishra
Sometimes you are tiringly Obstinate and yet like a malleable Plate who has directions in
Opposite end to my wish! Sometimes you are that tiringly Presence that keep me grounded And rooted to one time and space, At times I feel blessed that I have You around as my friend and foe,
At times I feel oh! I am such a Wrong person who screams and Scolds all the time,
At times I am baffled how foolish Your responses can be, At times I feel proud when you
Make sensible choices in life and Situations and just mirror my airy life,
You are me most of the time, yet Not me in your understanding and take-away!
by Daiga Ellaby
I am your friend and foe on the Other side of the coin, my dear!
Forgive me when I am gone and
Give you the harsh words as I think And re-think when I am gone, Who else will you turn around to
Wish you a stronger being than What you think you are!
Kasturika Mishra is a Library cataloging specialist, music and dance critic and writes in English. she also translates from Hindi and Oriya her native language.
@kasturika.mishra.1
by Vidya Shankar
Mother, oh you goddess, Embodiment of fertility, giver of Life, Sustaining the produce of your womb With the lifeblood that runs your veins,
Yet your children, they mercilessly claw, Alarmingly penetrating wounds into your flesh
And suck dry to traumatic suffocation The very breath of your soul.
The epitome of patience and forbearance that you are,
You stoically bear all the cataclysmic lacerations,
Nonetheless drain yourself to extremes
So you may give your children more.
But the poet’s soul in me hears Your stifled agonising screams, So, here I write a verse for you In letters of healing purple deep.
A purple call for transformation Through steps, though small, yet consistent in effort,
A firmness of mind, boldly purple, Forceful enough to reverse conditional curses,
A bid for conscious compassion Instilled in hearts detoxified with purple meditative hues,
The drastically entangled food chain —
Regains a balance of some saving grace
To make the once-immutable but now dying nurturer of us all,
Breathe and live again, That quintessential personification of creation —
Our dear Mother Earth!
Like a bamboo taking its time to grow, so has Vidya waited, patiently, for her time to come to live a life of purpose. A poet, writer, blogger, motivational speaker, English language teacher, instructional designer, content developer, and yoga enthusiast, Vidya has, today, broken the invisible shackles of an outdated society.
An active member of poetry circles, her work has appeared in national and international literary magazines, literary platforms and anthologies. Her first book of poems 'The Flautist of Brindaranyam', a collaborative effort with her photographer husband, Shankar Ramakrishnan, was published in December 2017. @shanvidwinsalways
by Bishaldeep Kakati
The insomniac child's
Last hope!
The intoxicating lullaby Coming from that woman. Ah! The macabre reality!
A child's cry, Heard by many, Unheard by a few. None was like That lullaby, That could console the soul.
Not an intriguing tale!
Ah! The Void!
Felt by many, Sometimes too early, And sometimes quite late.
There will be hundreds, Sung by thousands. And there will be chasms As well as well schisms. Alas! There shall be Only one lullaby That can Make the crying child happy.
Bishaldeep Kakati - a law student under Guwahati University. Apart from writing, he is also passionate about debating, cooking and playing table tennis. Recently he also acted as the editor for an international anthology 'Fire the Pyre'. Currently, he is also working as an editor with Poetry World Organization.
@bishaldeep.kakati
@bishal1811
by Rustic Vegan
by Aparna Mukherjee
As I opened my eyes I swallow none other But an affectionate face Of my mother.
Her caring nature Will never fade away. Her tender smile and Her inspirational words Will always guide my way.
I do not need a friend When my mother is there. She has always been my courage Since the time she has been there.
When I am low I get inspiration By looking at her. A blessed daughter I am For, I am bestowed to have The world's best mother.
My mother is my sunshine Whom I call my own.
Of all the priceless gifts In the world I see She is the greatest treasure to me.
In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master degree in English from Mumbai University. By profession, she is an online content writer and blogger who writes informative articles for various UK and US blogs and websites.
Her poems got published in the digital Reflection Magazine and in the Indian literature website named Facestory's.com. She is a budding author too. Her first story on romantic theme got published in a book named "Memoirs Of Love".
As a person, she is open-minded, down-to-earth and amiable in nature. Her world revolves around creativity. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on her readers' minds.
