September 2016 Issue
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Writer’s Ezine: The Origin: Writer's Ezine was started as a monthly literary online magazine (E-zine) with the intention of providing platform to emerging as well as established writers from around the world. From June 2016 Writer's Ezine would be published Quarterly. The idea of creating a platform for writers occurred to Arti Honrao towards the end of 2013. As a writer, she had been a part of many online forums, magazines etc. and she wanted to play a role in making a difference in the literary world. She thought of various names for the domain and finally settled on Writer’s Ezine. She purchased the domain and then discussed this with Namrata; her online friend, who then,
after a thought agreed that it was a good initiative. Right from day one responsibilites were sorted out; Namrata was meant to handle the promotions and editing/compilation of the submissions, handle review and interview section while Arti worked on the site, banners and badges, publishing the posts on site – the designing, forms etc., creating issuu emagazine and pdf versions of the issue.
The Progress: Having published more than 100 contributors in the first five issues; WE released its first special edition issue in September that featured contributors already published on Writer's Ezine. The journey continued and WE released it's second special
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue edition (Anniversary Issue) in April 2015. As the journey progressed WE introduced new features including Book Giveaways and it was during one of such book giveaways that Namrata was recruited by a Publishing House to be their Editor, which had a negative impact on her role in Writer's Ezine and finally the decision had to be made. Namrata was no longer a part of Writer's Ezine and Arti Honrao single-handedly released November and December 2015 issues.
The End: Arti Honrao announced that December 2015 issue would be the last issue of Writer's Ezine. The story behind the decision can be read on this page: Why was the
magazine closed to begin with. Statistics as on 2nd December 2015: 21 Issues, 69,265 page views, 536 posts, 275+ contributors, 1,595 Facebook followers, 173 Twitter Followers and 82 Newsletter subscribers.
The Rebirth:
“Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you. And sometimes, when you fall, you fly.” ― Neil Gaiman April 2016 was supposed to be the second anniversary of Writer's Ezine but, unfortunately there was no celebration. This and a few other factors led Arti Honrao to reconsider her decision of closing down Writer's Ezine and finally towards the end of the Anniversary month;
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September 2016 Issue she announced the reopening of the magazine. The magazine will now be published quarterly. WE appreciates submissions in all forms of poetry prose poems, haiku, tanka, acrostic, etc., fiction - including 55-fiction & flash fiction, non-fiction, photography and (newly introduced) art in any form. Anything that is creative is accepted at Writer's Ezine. e.g. paintings, quilling, sketches etc. (You can send photos of the same with the description of the art) To get published in our magazine you can send in your work in any of the above mentioned categories (only English) as per our submission guidelines mentioned HERE.
The Team:
Arti Honrao: Founder of Writer's Ezine; multi-tasking as the Administrator, Editor-in-chief, Moderator, in-house Book Reviewer, Strategist, Promotional and Marketing Manager, Web-designer, Relationship Advisor and anything that you can think of. Aneesha Myles Shewani: Co-editor and Literati Columnist. Mayura Chetan Honrao: In-house Cook 'N' Tell Columnist. Ketki Yennemadi: Inhouse Book Reviewer Anugya
Sinha:
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Promotional & Marketing Volunteer Simran Kaur: Reviewer
Book
Vinayaka Vidhya: Cook 'N' Tell Columnist Cover Photo Copyright – Soumita Saha Artwork (c) Soumita Saha This e-magazine is a compilation of Poems, Short Stories, Short – Story Series, Non – Fiction, Photographs published on Writer’s Ezine. Image source Google Images, unless mentioned otherwise. (Photography submissions © of mentioned author.
You are free to share the content as long as you retain and respect the copyright. Visit Writer’s Ezine (www.writersezine.co m) for details Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/wri tersezine Twitter https://twitter.com/W riters_ezine Send us an email admin@writersezine.c om WE on Issuu: http://issuu.com/wri tersezine WE on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1LV3o5a WE E-magazine site: http://mag.writersezi ne.com
The copyright of the work published in this magazine remains with the author of the individual work. Please contact the authors and Writer’s Ezine if you need to use the content.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Administrator: Administrator, Editor, Promotions & Marketing Manager, Web-designer, Strategist & Relationship Advisor. : Arti Honrao: www.artihonrao.in
Do share your feedback with us. WE would love to hear what you have to say testimonials@writers ezine.com
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What's App on the number provided in the image with your details (name etc.) and your query. WE admin would reply as soon as possible. Writer's Ezine broadcasts alerts frequently about important notices and newsletter with direct links. All you have to do is add WE to friend list if you wish to get the alerts and inform us about the same. You can trust WE, your number would not be shared with anyone and WE would not send you spam. Now get special benefits by being subscriber of broadcast alerts. To begin with – Get a glimpse of the prompt of the month photo before others.
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September 2016 Issue App of Writer’s Ezine
It is highly recommended that the mobile users download and install this app, which comes loaded with features including the tab for downloading pdf versions of all the issues of Writer’s Ezine and links to important pages on Writer’s Ezine. In short, if you have this app in your phone it means you have the entire Writer’s Ezine on your palm!
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
It's All About Finding a Way.
“The reason most people give up so fast is that they look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have come.” ―
Anonymous
So true. Many people give up on their dreams because of the fear of the unknown; because the path ahead seems scary. I almost did but I recovered. I had almost given up on Writer’s Ezine because of the unsettling feeling inside me. I thought about the months and months of tedious work I would have to carry on
alone, and especially, with memories that would remind me WHY I have to carry on alone in first place. It is not good to look back in the past and sulk thinking about the bad that has happened to you; but, it is good, sometimes, to look back only to tell yourself that you have come a long way. It took me a while to finally convince myself not to look back and brood. After I finally got down to work; I realized how easy it was once I made up my mind. I had to get rid of the negativity I had surrounded myself with; the hard work was not something I had to worry about.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue At this point I must admit that this transition was not instant, it took some time. I almost had a panic attack few days before the release of the June Issue; I spent hours staring at the laptop, wondering whether I would be able to pull it off. And, once the issue was released on time and everything went as planned – that’s when I truly relaxed. We all start out with lots of hope in our hearts, along the way we lose some hope, we lose people, we find ourselves struggling to move on but there is no way around it. You have to go through and come out the other side, maybe alone but stronger. Writer’s Ezine was my brainchild but I depended on another, may be too much, for its progress. I had too
much hope in the beginning and then I lost some hope because of my dependence and at later stage found it difficult to move on but in the end I found my way through it and have come out the other side, stronger. In the end, it is all about having the will and finding the way. I found mine. They say every person has a role to play in your life and once their role is finished they
walk out of your life. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to accept the fact and move on. The ‘almost’ panic attack I have mentioned above returned a few days
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September 2016 Issue ago when I started to download the submissions for September Issue. Would I be able to do it? I asked myself because this part of WE work was not mine to handle; but now that I have taken it upon myself to go through the submissions, I realise I actually love doing it. It does not seem like an added burden on my shoulders; it fills me with confidence that I can do it if I put my mind to it.
the submissions received was ‘this is not enough’; perhaps it was because of my increased expectations. That is when the panic set in. Apart from the submissions, a couple of things did not turn out the way I wanted them to and I had to make some last minute changes. This worried me further and I wasted a day, my mind fluctuating between ‘i-should-have-not’ and ‘i-am-glad-i-did’ with regards to the magazine.
The quote: “The shelf life and lifespan of literary magazines was never guaranteed. That should have been an understanding from the start. The moments of permanence in that universe are rare.” that got me worried earlier now inspires me to keep going on, no matter what.
It was at this time that I came across the quote mentioned in the beginning of this note. And, that changed my perspective. Instead of worrying about whether I would be able to do it, I reminded myself that WE has come a long way; I have managed it quite well after the unfortunate event that shook the
My first impression of
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September 2016 Issue foundation of WE; released October Issue without much help, November and December Issue single-handedly and June Issue with some help from
happened in the past. And, I am sure this would reflect well on the forthcoming issues of WE.
friends. I know I can do it in future as well. In fact, in these past few months I have realized that being the only person to take decisions has made me more confident. It is kind of a plus-point not to be answerable to anyone for the decisions I take or the changes I make, which is important to avoid any misunderstandings or arguments as it
happened to me in my life and I simply need to keep reminding myself of this to be able to calm my nerves in case of a panic attack in future. The emails and whatsapp messages I receive complimenting me for what WE has achieved so far also play a significant role in boosting my confidence further.
WE is one of the best things that has ever
The panic attack might be back right before the next issue
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌
September 2016 Issue but I know for sure that I can come out of it as well; just like I did for past two times. And, over a period of time these panic attacks will stop completely. That will be the day when I would seriously consider expanding the horizons of Writer’s Ezine. Right now, I stick to quarterly issues but you never know what the future might bring. I can always hope for a positive outcome.
strength will follow and you will succeed in achieving whatever it was that you had started to achieve. These are not merely wisdom-words that I share with you; this is something that I tell myself every time I feel the ‘panic’ creeping in. I remind myself that I have found my way through the negativity and have come out, a survivor. And, this, I am not talking only about Writer’s Ezine,
Hope is God’s neverending blessing, for those who do not believe in God – consider it as the everlasting treasure the Universe has stored up just for you to pick from. It gives provided you know how to take it. Be greedy. Take as much as you can because you will need it along the way. If you have hope with you, confidence and Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue there were other issues as well, matters that had burdened me and I had almost given up but I managed to walk through and survive. In this issue, our inhouse book reviewer
Ketki
Yennemadi
reviews ‘When Shepherds Dream’ by Peter Stuart followed by an interview with the author. G. S. Subramanian tells us in his Author’s Quill article titled 'My Writing - A Celebration of Life' about his journey as a writer. In her Literati article, Aneesha Myles Shewani talks about ‘Vanity Publishing
and the Treatment Proofing.’ Cook
‘N’
Stepof Tell
columnist Vinakaya Vidhya shares her recipe of ‘Ragi Adai’, which is good for health especially for diabetic patients.
The cover of September 2016 issue is artwork of Soumita Saha; read details about it in the special post dedicated to cover. Writer’s Ezine has recently introduced a new feature wherein the contributor of Writer’s Ezine gets a chance to display his/her submission as Featured Post on the main page, for a month or for three months. Details here. I would love to read your feedback on the issue. Please write to me at feedback@writersezin e.com I have allowed myself to be affected by negativity surrounding the unfortunate event of the past with regards to Writer's Ezine for a long time than I should have but I have managed to get rid of the doubts and the negativity and have finally recovered. That's what really
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September 2016 Issue matters I believe accepting the facts, overcoming your fear and weakness and allowing yourself to hope for a better future.
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ~ Thomas A. Edison
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September 2016 Issue Do check out Writer’s Ezine Print Magazines
Please visit our badges page http://www.writersez ine.com/p/link-towe.html and pick your favourite from the various badges to display on your site/blog and spread the word about Writer's Ezine
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Segments on Writer’s Ezine
Prompt of the Month
Author’s Quill
Books are magical and the ones who create them are magicians. Author's Quill is a segment that will bring all those magicians to recreate some of the magic through their quills, as they know it the best! As we all love to hear what they have to say, WE brings to you some of your favourite authors in this segment. Month on month WE will invite amazing authors to wield the magic of their quill and take you to their magic land which only they can create. Read what they have to share with you!
WE believes that at times creativity looks for a muse. So here we attempt to give you a muse month on month that will tickle your creative buds and let your imagination take a flight. The rules remain the same. The prompt remains open till the last date of submission for the next month’s issue. i.e. till 20th of the month to be considered to the next month’s.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Literati
A bi-monthly column which will bring to you interesting tits-bits about literature starting from authors to their books, everything that you ever wanted to know about it is here now. Join our columnist Aneesha Myles Shewani as she takes you along on a journey where the smell of books is in the air!
Cook-N-Tell
Till now Writer's Ezine managed to gather various flavours of romance, suspense, mystery, longing, pain, life, death, thriller... every chapter a new story and every poem a new song. And that is when we realised WE missed out on a very interesting flavour - one that adds a zing to it. So here we are, presenting Cook-N-Tell a bimonthly column which will have some amazing, mouthwatering, easy-to-make dishes!
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September 2016 Issue
IN THIS ISSUE
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September 2016 Issue
Cover Photo Salvation
-
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Description of the Cover Art: Medium: Water Color on Handmade Paper. Salvation is one of Soumita's recent work. Soumita says "I have a strange habit of reading the unread prose pieces from old books that used to be our literature books. This time it was a little different I thought of reading a prose piece by Acharya J.C Bose. This particular piece has been taken from his book "Abyokto". This prose piece is all about how the authors relates every stages of life with river Ganges and its source. The time I am talking about is a phase of my life where I have been going through lots of ups and downs. I have a particular prayer verse that Buddhists chand recorded in my phone. I suddenly felt
that the particular hymn and every word in the prose piece kind of gives a sanity where life is no longer about worldly attachments. To me salvation is a kind of freedom, when you set yourself free from anger, attachments that hurt and dead and decaying pride we want to kill but ego feeds it every day to keep it alive. There is a line where author of " Abyokto " is feeling deep pain caused by the death of his relative, at the cremation ghat he as the river that flows "Where is my near and dear one?" The river answers "Just where he came from, he asked where did he came from? Where did he go? " the river answered "We all came from the soul of almighty, all of us will have drift away like a fading color and reach our destination, Almighty's Feet".
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September 2016 Issue I believe that hymn from tripitaka helped me much more to understand the real meaning of this. This is how my idea of salvation got touched by colors and became a medium of conveying what I feel."
About Soumita Saha: Soumita Saha is a professional singer, presently pursuing degree in Architecture. Soumita hails from the city of joy, music and art have always been here soulmate since chilhood. Her interest in reading and writing officially turned into blogging a year ago. A singer's life keeps her busy, when not singing she writes and plays with her paint brushes. Exploring different form of art, starting
from colors to pencil medium is her passion. Soumita belongs to musical background, her father is an eminent tagore song sensation, while her mother is a professional critic. Music and literary interest both are in her genes. Besides making her mark in the music industry she has already established her name as a blogger and got her Poems published in different magazines, books and e-portals.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌
September 2016 Issue
Deadness to End
Blackness was now a permanent thing Void was a permanent feature There were at their wits end Like I was dead from inside The time refusing to go away Experiencing a deep sense of pain Had been replaced by a bottomless pit
Did not feel any inclination to run To make myself feel some passion To stir myself some kind of feeling To push myself to be what I used to be The more I tried, the more I failed No words, thoughts came I felt deep sense of hopelessness
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Go deeper into the vacuum Which was, my mind On the outside, I looked like death Inside, I felt like it Felt no gratitude, no happiness Numb with pain and the senselessness
Reassure words of hope and inspiration. About the Poet: Mustafa Raza
Existence was completely pointless Was a risk of permanent disfigure I could be certain of death I knew from my sleepless night Nights and days merged into one another I was beginning to develop an affinity Towards anything that was dark Every walk hour was a cruel reminder The dread and fear admitted, Made me overcome my reluctance, Worst that could happen had happened,
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September 2016 Issue
First Rain
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September 2016 Issue Story behind Photograph:
the
Be like a flower, even after knowing it is going to have a short life; it lives to the fullest and shines even brighter after rainfall.
About Akash Gupta: A newbie in the writing avenue, Akash Gupta, A physics graduated, is undoubtedly a writing and reading enthusiast. Born and brought up in a city famous for its library (Raza library of Rampur); however, he fell in love with reading and writing in his first year of graduation. He has recently started his blogdecipher94@wordpres s.com. In his free time, other than reading, he can be found assisting his mother in cooking, which is his second love.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Vanity Publishing and the StepTreatment of Proofing
Over the years I have written quite a few reviews and essays on books and on Indian writing in English. Through my blog, I have been approached by independent (Indie) authors and relatively new publishing houses to review books, freshly published or advance copies. I welcome such opportunities as they open the window to budding writers and
new writing styles. I am privileged to read great stories and wonderful storytellers through this exercise. I post reviews on my blog and on online sales portals, like Amazon, and authors and publishers use my reviews on their social media platforms. Last month, I wrote to a publisher of Indian writing in English, expressing dissatisfaction over the editing quality of a certain book I was reading. To the credit of the publisher, their representative told me they were soliciting an honest review and I should mention about the weak items I encountered. I didn’t feature the book on my blog but shared my review on a sales portal. So far, so good.
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September 2016 Issue However, something was amiss and I was getting petulant about these book reviews. I was feeling cheated out of a good reading experience. I was spending time on reading and analyzing books that were not giving me the desired reading experience. In many of my reviews I lamented the need for tight editing. I wished more contemporary writers had heard Kurt Vonnegut’s advice, Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. As a published author you have a responsibility towards your readers; be aware of that responsibility. While the market is flooding with new writers and selfpublishing is opening
avenues, the quality of the reading material in most cases, is questionable. As Phil Elmor, who covers fast-moving changes in e-book markets concludes in a critical piece, There are good selfpublished books. There are also many bad ones. As gatekeepers to the world of publishing continue to vanish, writers and readers alike will be forced to navigate uncharted waters. Their shared goal – finding something decent to read – is both easier and harder thanks to the evolving technology that makes it possible.
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September 2016 Issue Who is the gatekeeper? Who can prevent the market inundation of mediocrity and let genuinely talented writers find their foothold? I believe it is the writer, who is accountable for the quality of reading material. Writers should be aware that vanity publishing and self-publishing is not the same as traditional publishing, even though we have a few success in the former. Here, I am sharing thoughts on what writers, especially non-native speakers of English, must know and do before hitting the Publish button. The first draft is not a book—You have a story, the time, and the inspiration to pen it down, and you do just that. Voila! You have a manuscript, the first draft. Your choices are—send it
to a traditional publisher hoping for a contract, pay a fee and get the services of a subsidy publisher, or self-publish. The latter two options ensure you have a published book but does it warrant sales and make you a beloved, bestselling, critically acclaimed author? No, because a first draft is not the stuff of trail-blazers. Malcolm Cowley writes, There would seem to be four stages in the composition of a story. First comes the germ of the story, then a period of more or less conscious meditation, then the first draft, and finally the revision, which may be simply ‘pencil work’ as John O’Hara calls it — that is, minor changes in wording — or may lead to writing several drafts and what amounts to a new work. Usually, a bestseller is drastically
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue different from the first draft. So, when you have a draft in hand and are contemplating selfpublishing, hold back the urge to get it into the printing press, and contact a good editor to work with.
Proofing and Editing Matters—Zadie Smith says, When an adult, try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would. I would take her advice a notch higher and say, enlist the support of the enemy—hire an editor. Why an enemy?
Because, an editor has the capacity to turn your written work upside-down and make considerably different from your first draft. There is no substitute to editing and proofreading. Invest in a good editor and rope in proofreading and formatting services. The Upwork blog explains the difference between proofing and copyediting. Getting someone else to look at your work helps you get a new perspective, a reader’s view, and a break from the isolation and absorption of your draft creation travails. If you are relying solely on editing apps and tools, you are most likely creating a mechanical piece of
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue writing. Your book is intended for real readers; get real people to work on it. Writing a book can be a solitary exercise; publishing it is not. Complex writing is not the yardstick for good writing—Ad man David Ogilvy professed, Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Good writing is simple, clear, and lyrical. If you are writing a manuscript with a thesaurus in hand, the reader will probably need a dictionary to read it. This can never translate into a great reading experience. Create a free-flowing narrative for your reader with simple brushstrokes of untangled writing. Hone your skills and get a good critic and/or editor to show you through the blind spots. Susan Sontag wrote in her diary, A
writer, like an athlete, must ‘train’ every day. What did I do today to keep in ‘form’? Be paid to write; don’t pay to be published— Mark Twain famously said, Write without pay until somebody offers pay; if nobody offers within three years, sawing wood is what you were intended for. This might be a difficult choice to make, especially when it is so easy to see your work on the same bookshelves, physical or online, as renowned authors. The reader is unforgiving—one bad book and you will be written off forever by the reading world. Do not seek instant egogratification; wait for your manuscript to be accepted by a traditional publisher, willing to spend time and effort, which translates to good editing and
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue money on your work. Self-publishing should not come at the cost of bad editing and mediocre proofreading. In the context of traditional publishing vis-à-vis the lure of vanity publishing, I find this advice relevant, No one remembers who has published the most books or has written in the most genres. But when a reader finds a fantastic book it stays with them for a lifetime. Learn more about the different publishing trends and make an informed decision. Discerning readers deserve your stories but also demand a good reading experience— Our world is rife with stories. People experience life and its nuances in different ways, each day of their lives. All stories deserve to be told and many people are using start-up
publishing houses and self-publishing to bring this narrative into our living rooms. A world craving to read stories, to learn, and explore is hungrily reaching out to these new additions on the book shelves. Alas! Not all that is offered is palatable. I feel sad when I come across a book that has made me write-off the writer. My message to writers, as a reader and reviewer, is that you have just one chance to make an everlasting impression. Do not let constraints of writing styles, editing, colloquial language, and bad proof-reading gamble away this chance to tell your story. Invest some time, effort, and if need be money on your manuscript and work with an editor to hone your book. The Alliance for
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September 2016 Issue Independent Authors offers reasonable advice on the true intent of an independent author, You recognize that ‘indie’ does not necessarily mean ‘self-publishing only’ and acknowledge that even the most indie-spirited selfpublisher works in collaboration with other publishing professionals (editors, designers, distributors) to produce a good book and reach readers. The next bestseller can be yours; enlist the support of an objective critic and editor today! PostScript: I recommend this article to understand how vanity publishers and/or selfpublishing might be clipping the wings of your writing career, even before you learn to fly.
Additional reading on why self-published books don’t sell.
About Aneesha Myles Shewani: Aneesha Myles Shewani is a full-time IT professional currently employed as a technical editor. She is a voracious reader with a wide foray of reading interests from historical literature to science fiction. This working mother is also an amateur writer/blogger and her blog – www.felinemusings.co m is a reflection of the various facets of her personality. She aspires to be a published novel writer. She can be reached at aneesha.myles@gmail. com
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Purgation
When every time I open my mouth They attack me with knifes of words, And when I fall Silent ask me why I don’t speak up? There was a time it crumbled me Like a paper in wastebasket but now I have learnt to sublimate it into Ink on a letterhead.
I don’t want the storm to rile me up. I don’t want my calm to come undone. As I have found a purgation, as Harmless as can be one.
About the Poet: Akshaya Pawaskar
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September 2016 Issue
Book Review
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue :Intro: Book Details: Title: When Shepherds Dream Author: Peter Stuart Genre: Fiction ISBN: 9780994374 Type:E-book | Kindle version Publisher: InHouse Publishing Language: English Pages: 318 Year of Publication: 2016 Price: 331 INR Buy Ebook (kindle version): Amazon
The Blurb: An epic tale of one man's destiny to become Shepherd King... Sandhu becomes a shepherd boy along with his companion Shonti in the foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains of South West India.
Innocently caught up in a horrific murder scene on the midnight watch, Sandhu escapes the death sentence. Serving life imprisonment, Sandhu's destiny seems thwarted as he faces death behind bars. Sandhu is exonerated when the real murderer confesses. He returns home to Shivani after five years' imprisonment. Profound initiation awaits Sandhu and Shonti - but will Shonti be able to fight his own armageddon of the soul? Death looms large as Sandhu decides to lay down his body and Shonti fights his own demons. Can he release Sandhu, knowing they will be separated forever?
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September 2016 Issue About The Author:
Peter Stuart is a first generation Australian with English/Irish forebears and the youngest of three children, born in Brisbane, Australia. Soon after graduating as a ladies hairdresser, he acquired his own business. During this time he travelled to the United Kingdom and eventually sold •his business which he
ran for nine years. Leaving Brisbane, he married and moved to a thirty acre property in the country north of Brisbane. His wife and he travelled twice to India, learning much about Eastern culture and religion. Eventually returning to Brisbane, hestarted a new career in the disability sector of the Health industry. Never particularly interested in sports, he has followed more creative and artistic pursuits and became a champion creative stitcher. Always interested in spirituality, he realized that he could put some of the skills and knowledge he had gained to good use through the written word. His India
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September 2016 Issue experience was the main thrust for his first book, ‘When Shepherds Dream’. Amazon Page
:Book Review: Cover: The novel presents itself in a rather dreamy cover. The coveted symbol of the shepherd king against the backdrop of the star - lit sky is a pleasant treat to the eyes. It is not only a perfect summation of the story that lies within but also a welcoming impression for potential readers. Presentation: The presentation of the book, much to the author's credit, is euphoric. This legend of a man's journey to fulfill his destiny is undoubtedly a pageturner. The book is divided into two
parts and each part starts with a stanza of a soothing poetry. Narration: The narration blends philosophy beautifully with each chapter that reading becomes an ethereal experience. The author deserves an applause for his not only entertaining but also spiritual way of storytelling. Language: The language is rich and speaks volumes about the authors prowess on words and meaning. The Characters: Sandhu, the young shepherd boy, the son of a Celtic father Shandon and an Indian mother Sananda living in the beautiful village of Shivani. Sandhu is buoyed by his best friend Shonti in all
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue his pursuits along with Sekeeta, Shonti's lover and Amrita the Clairvoyant. Sandhu, like other Shivanians gets guidance from Septimus, the head elder who know everything about the Shepherd Kings The Review: "Great things often have their roots in small beginnings" True to this quote by Peter Stuart, the story begins in a modest way only to get better with every page. It moves swiftly from the north through the banks of the holy river Ganga down to the south city of Bangalore. Sandhu Sharma, a child born in the post-world war India embarks on an enthralling journey to become the Shepherd King. What begins in an intriguing tale of friendship, courage, love and beyond. The story only gets
murkier when Sandhu is falsely accused of murder and escapes a death sentence by a hair's breadth. Sandhu at every pint is supported by his comrade Shonti. However, Shonti will have to fight his own demons of the soul when the time comes. Shonti's love Sekeeta meets a very unfortunate end leaving Shonti shattered. The story transcends through space and time and leads the readers towards enlightenment through the tête-àtête between Shonti and Sandhu. What I liked: In 'When Shepherds Dream', entertainment meets spirituality and the result is astounding. The authors understanding of the Indian culture and way of life is noteworthy. The
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue poetry and philosophy are a perfect blend for the readers looking for a thrilling story as well as a Zen-like calm.
Sandhu and his quest for selfactualization transports the readers into a realm of spiritual being.
What could have been better:
Rating:
As the story sprawls over a 300 mind numbing pages, the pace does slow down. However, the entertainment quotient of the story does make up for it. While I won't say that the book is un-putdownable, it is a good read and not something that you would like to miss!
Blurb: 4/5 Description: 3.5/5 Writing style: 4/5 Editing: 3.5/5 Excerpt: 4/5 Book cover: 4/5 Overall Rating: 4/5 Review by Yennemadi
Ketki
The overview: There are books that tell you a story and then there are books where the story breaks free from the shackles of the paper and comes to life. When Shepherds Dream: The flight of the shepherd kings is one such book. The story of Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Author Interview
to India, learning much about Eastern culture and religion.
Today we have Mr. Peter Stuart the author of “When Shepherds Dream" Peter Stuart is a first generation Australian with English/Irish forebears and the youngest of three children, born in Brisbane, Australia. Soon after graduating as a ladies hairdresser, he acquired his own business. During this time he travelled to the United Kingdom and eventually sold •his business which he ran for nine years. Leaving Brisbane, he married and moved to a thirty acre property in the country north of Brisbane. His wife and he travelled twice
Eventually returning to Brisbane, hestarted a new career in the disability sector of the Health industry. Never particularly interested in sports, he has followed more creative and artistic pursuits and became a champion creative stitcher. Always interested in spirituality, he realized that he could put some of the skills and knowledge he had gained to good use
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue through the written word. His India experience was the main thrust for his first book, ‘When Shepherds Dream’. Amazon Page
The blurb of his book reads: An epic tale of one man's destiny to become Shepherd King... Sandhu becomes a shepherd boy along with his companion Shonti in the foothills of the Sahyadri Mountains of South West India.
Sandhu is exonerated when the real murderer confesses. He returns home to Shivani after five years' imprisonment. Profound initiation awaits Sandhu and Shonti - but will Shonti be able to fight his own armageddon of the soul? Death looms large as Sandhu decides to lay down his body and Shonti fights his own demons. Can he release Sandhu, knowing they will be separated forever?
Innocently caught up in a horrific murder scene on the midnight watch, Sandhu escapes the death sentence. Serving life imprisonment, Sandhu's destiny seems thwarted as he faces death behind bars.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Welcome Ezine:
to
Writer's
1. Your story 'When Shepherds Dream' is a lot about self actualisation. Would you say that the book combines entertainment with enlightenment?
Yes, definitely. Enlightenment does not have to be beyond reach and all about mysticism and the esoteric. When Shepherds Dream is a dramatic mix of humour, murder and romance, triumph and tragedy, finally eclipsed by revelation and new beginnings. Spirituality is the theme throughout. 2. The story is full of suspense that keeps the readers glued to the plot. Do you always know what is going to happen to the characters or do you discover that in your journey of writing?
For me it is very much a work in progress as I go. It is much like watching a movie. You know generally what the movie is about before you see it, but little about the detail. When I write, a lot of that detail develops as I go and get in touch with my characters and what makes them tick. I am the author, but even I can be quite surprised by developments and the turn of events. 3. Creating a story as intriguing as this is an inordinate amount of work. It takes trust and motivation. What kept you going?
Passion. Only an author can understand that driving passion. You live and breathe your work. It underpins all your thinking. Night after night, you wake up in the wee small hours to take notes. An inspiration will hit you in the middle of doing the washing-up.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
You say something over and over again while you are driving the car so you won’t forget it, until you can take notes at your destination. You have a dream, and you hold on to it with dogged determination. 4. Is there a particular reason why you chose to write a story based in India?
I have travelled to India twice on the spiritual quest. I was so overcome by the richness of the culture and what I experienced there, it was clear that India had to be the setting for my novel, which was always going to be about spirituality. India is the hub of spirituality and Hinduism is the Mother of all religions – so how could the setting be elsewhere? India shone like a beacon, telling me in her own unique way with her people, her sights,
sounds, scents and colours, to base my story there. 5. What strikes us the most is your deep understanding of the Indian culture. How did you manage that?
I am a Westerner with a Christian background. I came to realize that for the total spiritual experience, I needed to explore Eastern religion and culture. It felt strange at first, but it grew on me and when I travelled to India, I dove in deep and experienced much. Learning about the fascinating Indian myths and legends opened up a whole new world for me. Those trips were life changing events. 6. The plot moves swiftly from the plains of Ganga, through the greens of Sahayadri, to the prisons of Bangalore.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Did your trips to India inspire this?
Yes, for I found India to be a land rich in contrast. I think some of the beauty I found there is revealed in my writing, but I never got to experience the inside of an Indian prison – thankfully! 7. Your writing is pleasantly poetic and deeply philosophical. Do you have a favourite poet/philosopher?
I would have to say that Rabindranath Tagore and Ramana Maharshi are at the top of the list.
8. The storyline is filled with many strong and dynamic characters. Do you have a favourite? Is there a particular character that you enjoyed writing about the most?
Now, that is like asking someone which of their children do they love the most! I
know all my characters intimately like no one else can. I can see them, hear them, talk to them, and they will even answer me back. I feel them to the extent that I can reach out and ‘touch’ them and ‘feel’ the warmth of their skin as we embrace. I will say though that there are certain sequences that I really enjoyed writing. I am proud of those sequences and I think they are good because the inspiration and emotion for them came directly from my own life experience. The death of Sekeeta relates to the death of my own wife and I cannot read that whole sequence and its aftermath without being very deeply moved every time. When Shepherds Dream is dedicated to her. 9. The book is packed with action, drama and suspense with an ending that leaves
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue you awestruck. What inspired such an ending?
Thank you very much for your time
For me the ending is eighty-odd pages, which hold many surprises. What inspired that? I assume that you refer to the death of Sandhu, the protagonist. Death has touched us all; it is so deeply poignant that I find it enticing to write about. I think the death of Sekeeta and its consequences were so very tragic, I wanted to show triumph through tragedy. Sandhu’s death is triumphant. It is utterly euphoric with amazing, wonderful consequences. 10. If you had to condense down the story to its primary message or theme, what would that be?
Surrender is the jewel in the crown of spirituality.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Bloody Mary
Our families were having a get together. I hated it. Going to these get together parties meant being bullied by other kids. While my parents thought that we were playing, the other kids bullied me and made fun of me. I was one of the less talkative girls and they used to tease me a lot. They never liked my dresses. They never liked how my mother tied my hair. We were one of the poor families in comparison but my mother was friends with these rich people right from her college days. I am not sure if even dad felt comfortable at such reunions. The five of them had already planned out when we reached. As
usual, the kids were sent away till dinner while the parents sat for a drink. Suzy, the one whose house we were in took us to her room that was •on the second floor. They told me that today we were going to play Bloody Mary. I had no idea what they were talking about but soon everything became clear. The five of them gave me a candle. Suzy explained to me. “The game is simple. You have to go inside the bathroom. I will shut down the power from the main power source. You have to stand in front of the mirror. Then, you have to light the candle and say ‘Bloody Mary’ five times. Once done, you have to blow the candle off. The door will be close but I will be watching over you from the keyhole. So don’t cheat.”
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue “What will happen when I do it?” I asked. “They say that when you switch on the light after that, you see the ghost of Mary in the mirror.” I was terrified on listening that. “I won’t do it please,” I begged. "You have to do it," Suzy said. The other joined in as well. They pushed me inside the bathroom. I tried to shout but Suzy closed my mouth. They pushed me and closed the door. I banged on the bathroom door. I was scared. Probably they had closed the room’s door and so the thudding noise could not reach my parent’s ears. Or
probably they were too drunk by now. 10 minutes passed away and I gave up. “We will open the door when you do it,” Suzy said from outside the door. Seeking no other option, I stood up with the candle in my hand. I wiped my tears and lit the candle. My own reflection in the mirror scared me and I fell back. I could hear
the kids laughing. Suzy was watching through the keyhole I remembered.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue “I don’t want to do this,” I shouted as more tears escaped my eyes. “You will have to do this or we will keep you locked till dinner which is two hours away.” I got up gathering my courage and lifted the candle in my hand. Looking at the mirror, I said the words. “Bloody Mary” “Bloody Mary” “Bloody Mary” The flame flickered making those odd shadows and I felt a chill down my spine. I gasped for breath. “Bloody Mary” “Bloody Mary” I blew off the candle and the thought popped into my mind. There was no source of air in the bathroom.
Why did the candle’s flame flicker? Everything went silent. I could hear the drop of water splashing probably from the leaking tap in the bucket. I felt a mild blow of wind and I went numb. I could not move, I could not speak up. I was petrified beyond imagination. It felt like someone was present behind my back but I had no courage to look back. The only thing I hoped now was the kids to open the door. I felt the drops of sweat forming on my forehead and my hands were cold. “Wham!” the kids shouted the moment they switched on the light and opened the door simultaneously. Shocked, my feet were swept off the floor. I could not see in the mirror. “See there is no Bloody Mary you fool,”
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Suzy shouted making fun of me. I could hear the laughter of other kids. They picked me up and pushed my face in front of the mirror. “See there is no one. There is no Bloody Mary. You are just a scared rat.” I had my eyes closed all the time. After what I had felt I did not want to look in that mirror. “Come let’s play something now,” Suzy said and they left me.
wall. Their bones were snapping. Something was killing them. I looked in the mirror and saw my reflection. There was no ghost and everything seemed normal. I walked towards the mirror and what I saw left me scared stiff. My reflection smiled, I didn’t.
I was still shaking when I heard their screams. I opened my eyes and saw that their bodies had been pulled to the ceiling. I could only whimper silently as my voice could not find its way out of my throat. I saw their bodies pressed tightly against the ceiling. Soon, I heard cracking of bones which was followed by more and the screams followed. Something was pressing them harder against the Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Anmol Rawat: Anmol is an ardent blogger and a voracious writer. He has completed his graduation is English Hons and has a flare for writing for as long as he can look back. Nicholas Sparks is the author who inspired him initially to write and read more. He is an active participant at various blogging platforms. Book Reviews are a part of his blog and budding authors have contacted him for reviewing his book in the past. You can reach him at ar.anmolrawat@gmail. com regarding anything other than spam.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Why the World Needs a Superman
Superman, that fictional alien character who possesses strengths which not only leaves normal earthlings desiring, but also carries an exemplary character which includes compassion and selflessness. Qualities that were inculcated not by birth but by upbringing. This makes him an icon, a symbol of hope. We all might not be super strong or fast or can wear a cape and fly (Though I wish we had that one) but we all have the ability to do which, beyond all the physical attributes, is to treat one another with care and respect. Our innate ability to instil one another
with hope. Something to look forward to. Hope is a wonderful thing. It is an attitude to expect outcomes however small or large it may be. Hope is that what many explain as the light at the end of a dark tunnel. This small four letter word is what guides many of us through the journey of life, carries us forward as a race and look to the stars. Unfortunately, most of us have been veiled to believe in an almost elusive dream which can only be achieved through selfish acts and stepping on to reach the heights alone. We are brought up in a manner wherein we ensure we are safe before attempting the safety
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌
September 2016 Issue of other beings. We are even taught at school that charity begins at home. When we misstep and the almost elusive becomes definitely elusive then we naturally lose hope. Lose hope in our dreams, in the system, in the people around us and the worst of all, in ourselves. This phenomenon is not uncommon and the problem is everyone around is so busy looking after themselves nobody sees the next person slowly fading away in to the cruel reality. Howsoever we argue that we are independent, we as beings are emotional and co-dependent on each other. We always need that someone to
hold our hand and tell it can only get better. If you look deep and understand the ultimate reason of why God exists in our world is because we need hope. Someone to look up to, someone to ask for help, someone to thank, that someone who we believe can do something for us, can somehow change the entire world for us and get us what we want. Unwittingly what we are doing is placing our hope on faith on some force that most probably does not exist. What baffles me is how as a human we can put so much faith in something we do not know exist but we so rarely place our faith or give hope to another fellow being.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌
September 2016 Issue This is why superheroes exist in our fictional world. We always dream of a saviour, somebody who will not put a knife through as soon as you turn around. Superman is an icon of hope who only lives and breathes to help and rescue fallen individuals. Like I read somewhere he acts as a father figure to the people who have a negative perception of greatness. The truth of the matter is we all can be supermen, we all can be that ray of hope to some else and this not by doing something improbable like saving someone from a burning train or rescue a crashing plane but by simply giving a chance. Simply by giving another person a reason to live, showing them that light at end of the tunnel. How beautifully Veronica Roth once
said and I quote, “Since I was young, I have always known this: Life damages us, everyone. We can’t escape the damage. But now, I’m also learning this: We can be mended. We mend each other.” We live in a world fast deteriorating of hope and dreams and turning ourselves into machines functioning exactly how we are told and living out our genetics. As days and years go by, less and less people are dreaming of greatness by compassion and losing faith in giving hope to others. Living without hope is called surviving and we do not want anybody to just survive, we need them to live. We need our Krypton hero within us to come help us now more than ever.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Mridul Ashok: "Life is a chance and we have a choice to make it better for ourselves and others. The question is will you take that choice or get tangled in the race that is defined for us. Let us do crazy things to make this world a better place. We need to sing more, dance more, we need to join hands and do the kumbaya." Says Mridul and adds "I am going to try to make this place we call home a little better."
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time‌
September 2016 Issue
The Pianist
Immaculately dressed in black and white, hair that shone even in tint lights, he played the piano on lonely nights, remembering her daughter and the little cute fights,
the piano was sold and so was the house too, Still people hear those symphonies so true.
It’s been 15 years, longing now stole his patience nerves bleed when he was found in basement, Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Shashank Bhardwaj: Shashank Bhardwaj, is a new aspiring poet. He is been writing for the past three months. He has started his writing ventures through the aforementioned blog and has managed to write about 50 poems till now. The writer is silent reader who loves the smell of old books. He is a big foodie and traveler. He is presently about to enter his professional life as a System Engineer. His passions are writing and reading.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
The Quill and the Keyboard
It had to be now. Picking up the creased, worn page, she unfolded it with great care. The lines, though familiar, still took her breath away. The sharp angle, the dark letters, endorsed a meticulously honed skill. The intimate, flamboyant writing, opened a door to the author’s psyche.
She must cut off this emotional bond, to face the impassive future. Clenching her fist, she watched the paper crumble against the weight of her hand. With a muted farewell, she let the bits fall. She turned around. The metal monster was waiting with its jaws open. With a deep breath, she booted it to life. Tapping away furiously, she entered the cyber minefield.
It was time to let go. She had to sever the past — break the nib, overturn the ink. Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Asha Krishna: Asha writes because that is the only thing she knows. When she is not hitting the keyboard, you will find her belting out the latest Hindi song with her 6-year-old daughter and 3- year-old son, holding a ladle for a mike.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
My Writing - A Celebration of Life
In his book ‘On Writing’ Stephen King says “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” I guess I have done both. Though I started writing way back in 1973, they were all unstructured outpourings of a mind filled with existential angst. It was only four decades later that I was able to give it a form in my
first book ‘I am just An Ordinary Man’ in which I unfold the process of growing up and aging. It required all those years to fully comprehend and come to terms with the reality of life. The influence of all the reading I did during those years is significant. Camus, Kafka, Sartre, Dostoevsky and Hesse left their mark and if I were to single out one book that started
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue diaries have turned old, keeping pace with my advancing years. I always wrote, but decided to compile them only now. Maybe I find pleasure recapturing those lost moments; maybe I want to leave a legacy. Whether anyone is interested or not, I would feel satisfied that I have done my job.”
it all it was Camus’s ‘The Fall’. My journey as a writer can best be described by the following passage from my book ‘I am just An Ordinary Man’, - “My diaries and books have been my constant companions. They adorn my bookshelf and from time to time I pick them up just to feel them, for that is enough to have a relook at the path I have traversed. With the passage of time the
When I evaluate myself as an author I find I am unable to disentangle myself from my immediate surroundings. For me writing has become a journey in understanding life as it is. My drawback is I lack the imagination to cater to the reader’s fantasy world, and in that sense my writing is selfish, but I do try to cater to the questions regarding the reality of existence that are bound to arise in their minds. I write about immediate and
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue direct experiences to help me understand an individual’s place in this world. I believe that every person has a story to tell. And this is what I have tackled in my two books. While the first was all about introspection and understanding the processes taking place within the individual, the second book ‘Darkness and Beyond – A Medley of Many lives’ is about being part of a larger process, a process of experiencing; a journey into the external world, where lie many lives that need to be understood. As I wrote each chapter I lived through the lives of each of the characters in the book. It was an emotional journey. I call this a book of ‘Hope’ for just as the darkness of the night dissolves with the dawn of a new day I believe that there is always a beyond to the
darkness that envelops us from time to time. I write in the only way I know. I write what comes to my mind with words that appear spontaneously. I go through it for fine tuning to ensure its readability. I find that more often than not, we lose ourselves in the labyrinth of words and in the process lose the authenticity of the feeling that we are trying to convey. The point I want to make here is that your inner emotions can be made intelligible to the reader without resorting to complex and obscure compositions. There is a joy in sharing, a satisfaction of a need to be understood and a need for adulation. I have asked myself the question whether it is vanity that forces me to write. Maybe it is there in some measure, but to be
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue truthful I have found that my writing is a mirror I hold in front to understand the lessons that life has to teach. It has taught me that each day is a celebration. As you wake up to see the sun streaming through the windows and you stretch your limbs reenacting the very process of being born again and to live one more day, it is a celebration.
About G. Subramanian
S.
An Engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, by qualification and a Banker by profession, he retired from the State Bank of India in the year 2010 and settled down in Chennai. An avid blogger, he has been writing regularly for the last five years on his blog ‘Sublimation’. His writings range from the deeply philosophical meditations to depicting the inherent humor present in our daily lives, from appreciation of art to writing poetry and doing book reviews. His other interests include painting and music. 'Darkness and Beyond – A Medley of Many Lives' is GS.Subbu’s second book. While in the
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue first book 'I am just An Ordinary Man' a fictional autobiography he dealt with the process of growing up and aging, addressing the questions and the existential angst which arise in the mind of any person during the process of living, 'Darkness and Beyond' is all about being part of a larger process of understanding through the lives of others that it is ‘Hope’ which takes us forward in living an authentic life.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Janani
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Description Art:
of
the
Medium used: Canvas Materials: Charcoal pencil, and Dry pastels. Soumita says: "This idea emerged from a documentary I remember to have watched a couple of months ago ‘. So far the I have seen mother and child painting which either shows Greek Gothic statues or purely Indian figure where either the faces depicts they are from north India or south. Northeast so far never came into art limelight. Even if it came it never caught my eyes. The documentary where the lives of tea planters of Darjeeling were highlighted showed a mother and child video somewhat resembling this. Therefrom my idea emerged."
About Soumita Saha: Soumita Saha is a professional singer, presently pursuing degree in Architecture. Soumita hails from the city of joy, music and art have always been here soulmate since childhood. Her interest in reading and writing officially turned into blogging a year ago. A singer's life keeps her busy, when not singing she writes and plays with her paint brushes. Exploring different form of art, starting from colors to pencil medium is her passion. Soumita belongs to musical background, her father is an eminent tagore song sensation, while her mother is a professional critic. Music and literary interest both are in her genes. Besides making her mark in the music industry she has already established her name
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue as a blogger and got her Poems published in different magazines, books and e-portals.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Darkness
I like the darkness, it calms me down no one to mock, no one to frown I love the darkness for it takes away the tiring glare of a draining day I like the night when it wraps around A tranquil quiet no noise no sound I love the night for the way it feels A soothing halt of the grinding wheels
Solitude isn’t a fiend anymore I crave for it like never before For I find, in solitude’s peaceful reign The freedom to be myself again!
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Ketki Yennemadi: Ketki likes to describe herself in the lines of Oriah Mountain Dreamer: "It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive." An artist trying to wriggle out of the shackles of the corporate world, she is at heart, a believer. With a unyielding belief in the power of the heart, she's that little girl, set out in a quest for all things nice and beautiful. She can be reached at ketkiyennemadi@gmai l.com
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Clinging on to Happiness
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Story behind Photograph:
the
Ayyappan says, "This picture was clicked a little after sunrise at Madikeri, near Coorg. It was a foggy morning and in the background, is a spider's web covered in dew. I wanted to click a picture of a dew drop about to fall off a leaf. I ended up clicking this dew drop in its last moments on a twig."
About Ayyappan Pillai: Ayyappan is a misfit in the IT world who loves Mozart & Keats more than Jobs and Gates! He can be reached at ayyappan.pillai01@gm ail.com
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Wanderlust
Candy clouds float over hazy mountains Dark forests envelop spooky dens Unmapped paths lead to bumpy roads Rivers overflow with crabs, fishes & toads Sea bathed and sunkissed Lost and found in the cold mist Historic bridges and romantic boats Eat meat or steal food from goats Starry skies and sparkling oceans
Silenced mind around surplus commotion Muddy footwear and classy sunglasses A cliché tourist among the local masses Cozy room, hired on rent Or sparking fire outside a tent Travelling like a free bird Sometimes solo or with a herd Imagining and pondering
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Scrolling & Strolling Through a virtual world, so serene Displayed on my computer screen.
About Zainab Attari: Zainab is an English Literature Graduate and a Graphic Designer. She loves being surrounded with art and artistic people. She reaches out to the world with her words and other creative skills. Parttime weaves dreamcatchers to make her dreams come true. Loves singing and sobbing while watching movies when she is all alone. She also reads. You can stalk her at zainabattari14.wordp ress.com z_attari@hotmail.com
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Ragi Adai
This is one of my favourite Ragi Recipe, famously known as Ragi Adai. It is very good for health, especially for diabetic patients and it is simply delicious. Come this Adai.
let’s prepare healthy Ragi
Prep time: 30 Minutes | Cook time: 30 Minutes | Total time: 60 Minutes Serve: 2 (Servings) | Recipe Category: Ragi Recipe | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian Cuisine
Ingredients: Ragi Flour: 2 Cups Onion: 1(Medium sized) Green Chilies: 3 to 4 Curry leaves: Few (Finely chopped) Cumin Seeds: 1/2 tsp (Jeera) Salt: (To Taste)
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September 2016 Issue
Instructions: 1. Take a wide bowl. Add 2 cups of ragi flour, chopped onions, green chilies, curry leaves and add salt to taste. 2. Mix all the ingredients together, add 220 ml (1 cup) of water, and stir until dough is fully combined. 3. Once the dough is ready, divide the dough into medium sized balls. Take two clean plastic covers and place it on the table. Pour 1 tsp oil and spread it on the cover evenly.
Press the dough with fingers into a round shape until it becomes flat. Repeat the same process for all. 4. Heat the pan well. Make sure you feel the heat on your palm and spread the oil on the pan only for the first Adai. Place the Adai on the pan and close the lid. Allow it to cook for a few minutes. (Do not touch the pan, as it is extremely hot). 5. Turn the Adai upside down and cook it for a few minutes. Once the Adai is ready, remove it from the
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue pan and keep it aside. 6. Repeat the same process for all. 7. The Yummy Ragi Adai is ready to be served! We had it with Tomato Karam. It was so delicious.
Tips: 1. When you prepare the dough, make sure to mix the ingredients well even before you start to add water. 2. Add water little by little, so that it doesn’t spoil the dough or loosen it. 3. You can also use fried onions and green chilies. We like the raw onions, so we preferred to go fresh.
4. Adai is free of fat, so less the oil, better the taste. 5. Do not roll (press) the dough very thin as it will break. At the same time, do not make it fat also, as it will take more time to cook. 6. You can also use
plantain leaves instead of plastic covers. 7. This is a perfect dish for diabetic patients.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Vinayaka Vidhya: Vidhya is a funloving girl from India, married to Sarav, living in Bengaluru. She is a food blogger at Vinayaka's Kitchen by passion and a writer by choice. She loves cooking cuisines from around the world, writing short stories, reading romantic novels, and decorating home magically. She can be contacted at contact@vinayakaskit chen.com.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Loneliest Soul
Sitting beside the window, gazing at that empty street, the drops oozed out of the eyes, that blurred my sight. No one out there to listen to the cry, audible in the silence of the night,
wishing if the time could turn back, and things could get alright. The heart dangled among the ropes of pain, yelled out loud for help, to those millions of deaf ears,
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue who never bothered to help. On the arrival of every new day, my heart was consoling itself trying to give it a hope, but I had lost myself.
About Poet: Kalpana Waghela
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Destined Closure
for
It's funny how I forgot myself Remembering everything about you I forgot all the old parts of my life With you I began spinning life anew You played along beautifully Committing to me without a promise You cleared my doubts with your smile Answered my questions with a kiss
I was lost in your hypnotic spell Hungry for your touch to be whole You never let me inside your web I was left thirsty for your soul You loved me in more ways than one But your hesitation pushed me away You wanted me all for yourself Yet for me, you never paved the way You were stuck among your demons
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue I could have helped, if you'd let me You shunned me away from everything else You love and passion was all I could see Your madness reached crazy heights I remained captured in your maze You were turning into a stranger Our love story became a blurry haze
You are better left buried in my head Like some long forgotten sorrow Now that I think of it I do not know how we came closer One thing I'm sure of is We were destined for closure
Slowly I started forgetting you I brought me back in the foreground You were reduced to a distant memory In letting you go, myself I found No more hunger, no more thirst I feel wholly satisfied and content Your love for me was an illusion Which left on my heart a deep dent Today I kill you in my thoughts I'm moving on to a better tomorrow Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Soumya Prasad: Soumya is a techie during day and a passionate writer by night. A selfconfessed bibliophile and a hard core romantic, everything around her inspires her to write. Love is her favorite topic and she draws inspiration from day to day life to create characters and spin tales. A fashion addict and a closet baker, apart from writing she spends her free time baking yummy cakes for her foodie husband. Rhymed poetry gives her satisfaction and she is looking forward to publish her own novel someday.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Flashback
Lying down on the couch she brought her knees close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She stared blankly towards the closed window; unable to understand what had just happened. She lay there in the same position for a long time. She could not make sense of anything. Her boyfriend deserved an explanation but how could she explain to him something she did not understand herself. It had happened too fast. --They had been together for almost a year now. What happened today had not happened ever. They were kissing and that’s when the
memories were triggered, they came in flashes, like scenes from some movie, blurred visions – indistinctive faces. He had placed his hand on her waist and reached under her shirt to touch her bare skin. The blurred visions flickered away as she reacted to his touch. As they continued kissing his hand moved further north. She helped him out of his t-shirt and then led him to the bed. He had unbuttoned her shirt and continued kissing her ears, her jaw, neck and shoulder while his hand explored the rest of her body. They had done this before. This was where they usually stopped but today he had made up his mind to go all the way. He had planned the evening. She had invited him over for dinner and he had insisted that he
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue would cook for her. He had brought a bottle of wine with him and some candles. He had set the mood for the night. She had read through his intentions and she was ready, or so she thought. As he gently slipped the strap of her bra from over her shoulder the memories came back. The faces somewhat clearer this time. A small girl with an adult. He climbed on top of her and she could feel his bulge against her. She let go of the images once again as she helped him with unbuttoning his jeans. As he let his manhood out of the jeans she could not stop staring; sadly, it was not for the obvious reasons. His erection brought back memories that were hidden away somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind.
When he caught her staring he was further aroused and took it as her consent and without wasting much time he took off her jeans and panties and the very next moment he was on top of her and trying to get in. As he covered her mouth with his; she tried to push him away by placing her hand between their chests but either he did not get the hint or he was too aroused to even consider stepping back. With no other option left she had reached out for the alarm clock kept on the bed-side stand and slammed it hard against his skull. He yelled and pulled out, climbing out of bed in one fluid motion. He pulled up his jeans, thankful that he had not stepped out of them completely. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ he said. ‘I thought you were ready. You should have
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue told me if you were not.’ He continued. He sounded different, his speech was slurred. She did not understand why. It was when she tasted blood in her mouth did she realize that she had bit him. Almost at the same time he brought out his bleeding tongue to examine in the mirror.
‘Why did you do that?’ he asked as he put on his t-shirt. She stared at him, unable to speak. He shook his head and walked out of her house, leaving her alone to ponder over the question he had asked her – why had she done that?
--Why had all this happened? And, why had it happened now? She was happy with the way the evening had progressed. She was ready to take the next step. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. She heard weird noises and she looked around the house trying to find the source until she realized the weird noises were coming from inside her. She was crying and screaming, or at least trying to scream, at the same time. She closed her eyes and the memories returned fullfledged in HD quality. The faces now distinctive. She saw herself as a kid. She must have been 8 or 9.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue She took tuitions with a few friends of hers. They gathered together in her house and then went to her father’s office on the ground floor of the same building. That day, however, she had gone to the office alone. Her friends had not yet come and her teacher was waiting for them outside the office. She took the keys to her dad’s office and went down to open the door for the teacher. That’s when it had happened. When she stepped in, the teacher had closed the door behind her and picked her in his arms and told her that she was special, told her that she was his favourite student. And then, he had kissed her on her lips. --She got up from the couch and rushed to the bathroom. Weirdly enough, she could taste his saliva in
her mouth. She vomited in the commode and collapsed on the floor. She was in her undergarments and as the cold tile touched the bare skin; she felt the touch of the teacher’s forearm against her bare thighs. She remembered being scared but she could do nothing. He had stopped when there was a knock on the door and had let her down. He had smiled at her and winked. He then opened the door for other students and the tuitions had begun. She had not told anyone about this; she had even wiped it out from her mind. That’s what she thought until today. The memories had chosen the wrong night to return. It had not been onetime incident. It had happened again. Her father, unaware of the
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue fear lurking inside the dark recesses of his daughter’s mind, had sent her once again to open the door for the teacher before her friends arrived. She had gone, reluctantly this time and had opened the door for him and the same thing had happened. He had closed the door behind her and lifted her in his arms and kissed her on the lips. The memory made her sick again. She tried to empty the contents of her stomach but nothing came out except the retching sound. She slid back to the floor and closed her eyes resting her head against the bathroom wall. There was more to come. This memory was nothing as compared to the one that had set her off. Made her upset enough to bite the
tongue of the man she was about to make love to and push him off. She did not know what she was supposed to do or say. Would he understand? She did not want to think about it. She did not want to think about anything. She just wanted to close her eyes and sleep. She slid down and rested on the bathroom floor but she could not close her eyes. She knew, the horrifying memory was waiting to attack. She stood up with the help of the wall and walked towards the basin. She looked into the mirror, she was a mess. She splashed some water on her face and stepped into the bedroom. She put on her jeans and t-shirt and walked out of the house. She took a deep breath and knocked on the
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue door of her neighbour. When he opened the door and saw her he knew what she had come for. ‘Come in’ he said and she stepped in. ‘You are a mess. Want to talk about it?’ he asked. She shook her head. He went to the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. He took out one pill and kept the bottle back in. Returning to the living room he handed over the pill to her but did not offer water because he knew she would take the pill back to her room and take it sos; i.e. only if she needed. This was not the first time she had taken the painkiller from him. She had been having these headaches but she was reluctant to visit a doctor for the same. He knew she was not misusing the painkiller for the additional effect it
had. Almost always she returned the pill to him because she willed the headache to go away and it worked most of the times, she took the pill when it became unbearable. ‘Thanks’ she said and turned around to go. ‘I am here, if you want to talk.’ He said. She turned around and smiled. It was surprising how he could read her face. Every time she came to his room asking for a painkiller he knew it was for the headache; he should have assumed the same this time as well but he realized it was much more than the headache this time. ‘I am fine’ she said and left. He stood at the door watching her enter her house and close the door behind her.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue Back in her room she did not wait even for a minute. She walked to the dining table and picked up the halffinished wine bottle and drank straight from the bottle. She gulped down the painkiller with wine and finished the bottle. This time, she did not need the painkiller for the headache; she needed to fall asleep without memories assaulting her mind. She wanted to sleep peacefully without having nightmares. She checked her mobile phone before going to bed. There was no message from her boyfriend. She wrote a sorry message but she did not send it to him. She decided to give him some time to recover from what she had done to him. She stepped out of her jeans and slid in bed. Pulling the covers up
to her neck she tried to sleep. --She was ten. One of her uncles was visiting them for the weekend. He always brought her gifts and she liked him. This time, too, he brought her a gift – a Barbie doll and a playhouse. She thanked him and hugged him. She was his special niece he told her. That night, he came to her room as she slept and tucked her in. He kissed her forehead and walked out. The next morning, he helped her brush her teeth while her parents were busy. Her mom prepared breakfast while her father read the newspaper and talked on phone. She looked at her uncle through the mirror and saw him smiling. She smiled back. He told her he
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue would love to give her a bath.
rinsed water.
it
off
with
‘come, let’s go’ he said and picked her up. He took her to the guestroom and ran a warm bath for her. He undressed her completely and asked her to wait. She waited as he walked back to the bedroom and closed the door. When he returned he had taken off his clothes and was wearing a towel around his waist. He smiled as he ran his hand over her back. He asked her to sit on the bath stool and took the soap from the soap holder. He knelt beside her and filled the mug with water and poured the water over her body before starting to rub the soap. He bathed her, reaching everywhere he could. Under her arms, her neck, her chest and in between her legs. He moved his hand over her lather covered body before he
He needed to clean the leftover stickiness of the soap he told her as he continued to run his hand over her body and kept pouring water reaching all places to clean her thoroughly. She involuntarily looked towards his towel and through the front slit in the towel she saw something peeking out. --Tears streamed down her eyes and over the pillow as she lay in bed staring at the wall, her knees close to her chest and her hands under her chin holding the cover tightly over her body as if it was going to stop the assault that had happened years ago. She felt naked and vulnerable as she watched the scene from her past. It did not make sense at that
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue time but now she knew what it was. Her uncle had an erection while bathing her. When her boyfriend had pulled down his jeans and she had seen his erection, in her mind she saw her uncle and when he had climbed on top of her body and kissed her and tried to enter; she had seen her uncle’s face and that’s when she had tried to push him away. The painkiller had failed to save her from the assault of the memory that crushed her from within. She could feel her uncle’s hand all over her body. She jumped out of her bed and took off her clothes and rushed to the bathroom. She stood under the shower and tried to wash off the disgusting touch of years ago. She scrubbed her body until it turned red and started to itch
and then she scrubbed some more. She let cold water run down her body and take away the uneasiness. When that did not help, she got dressed and walked out of her house. She knocked on the door of her neighbour who opened the door immediately as if he was expecting her. He saw her face and stepped aside giving her way to enter the house. He did not ask her anything; he did not say anything to her. He just let her be. He let her walk to the bedroom and slid into the bed. He pulled the cover over her body and sat next to her on the chair. She had been to his house so many times but her visits were always limited to the living room. This was the first time she had stepped into his bedroom and climbed into his bed. He knew something was
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue terribly wrong. He wanted to know what it was. He wanted to comfort her but at the same time he wanted to give her the time she needed to be able to speak. He watched as tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Can I sleep here tonight’ she whispered and he nodded. She closed her eyes hoping that she would be able to sleep but the moment she closed her eyes she saw her Uncle’s face smiling at her through the mirror. She opened her eyes and saw her neighbour staring at her. She did not realize she had made a whimpering sound. He did not ask her to talk, he did not have to; his eyes pleaded with her to talk. ‘I want to tell you something’ she said
sitting up straight in bed. Then, she told him about the events of the evening. Of what she had done and why she had done it. He listened, his expressions changing when she told him about what her uncle had done to her. She could see the rage in his eyes. She continued crying and when he could not take it anymore, he got up from the chair and sat on bed next to her and held her hand. She let him. A moment later she went into his arms and as he wrapped his arms around her she said ‘I want to be able to sleep.’ He let her go and stood up. ‘sleep’ he said. ‘can you hold me?’ she asked. He helped her lay in bed and pulled up the covers. He walked to the other side and slid into bed next to her. She turned to face
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue him. ‘sleep’ he whispered as he held her hand and she closed her eyes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her; wanted to hold her close to his body, provide her the protection she needed but he knew it was not the right thing to do at this moment. He did not want to initiate the assault of memories again. He did not know what he could do to help her but whatever he had to do, he knew he would. May be get her some professional help, he thought as he watched her sleep. When he was sure she was fast asleep he reached out towards her and pushed back the strand of hair that had fallen over her face. She shivered in her sleep. His eyes filled with tears as he tried to understand what she must be going through.
She had suppressed these memories for such a long time; but they had managed to find their way out and had devastated her in the process. Despite everything, he believed she would be fine. The memories were fresh now and the wound was raw but he knew, over a period of time she would fight her way out of the assault – and he would be there for her.
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue About Arti Honrao: Author of fiction books titled 'My Life story' and 'Is This Love & Autumn - The Last Leaf' and novel 'Resemblance - The Journey of a Doppelganger' Arti enjoys writing short stories on Relationships. She has attempted writing different form poems but most enjoy writing Prose poems where she gets to express without the limitations of words or rhyming. Most of her writings depict human feelings and emotions, which she tries to bring onto the page and into the minds of the reader. She believes that essence of writing lies in not only entertaining the reader, but speaking to them through words. She can be reached at contact@artihonrao.n et
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
Prompt of the Month for December 2016 Details on Prompt of the Month can be read here.
Last date submission: November.
for 20th
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September 2016 Issue
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Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…
September 2016 Issue
About Arti Honrao Born and brought up in Mumbai, Arti Honrao is author of fiction books 'My Life-story' and 'Is This Love & Autumn - The Last Leaf' and Novel 'Resemblance - The Journey of a Doppelganger'. She began studying medicine but realized soon that her real calling was writing. Today after some ten years of blogging at Straight from the heart where her entire work is neatly categorized in Poems, Short Stories, Short Story Series, Fiction Letters, Sentimental Posts, Silent Night and more, capturing some breath taking moments with her camera, and sharing different quotes on her My Two Cents Page and having published a few heart touching stories she is glad she listened to her heart.
which write.
she
continues
to
Most of her writings depict human feelings and emotions, which she tries to bring out onto the page and into the minds of the reader. She believes that essence of writing lies in not only entertaining the reader, but speaking to them through words. Her style of writing makes it easier for the readers to visualize the story unfolding around them. She is of the opinion that being good at writing a story is not about the story being unpredictable, it is about the way you narrate the predictable story and still keep the reader interested.
Fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi, writing came very early to Arti as she was dabbling in it since the age of twelve. She writes different genres of poems like Haiku, Tanka, and Cinquain etc. but mostly enjoys writing Acrostics
Writer’s Ezine – Writing one word at a time…