Quote of the Week
by Saint Augustine
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
"Intriguing Women" by Lakshmi Raj Sharma
REVIEW and EXCERPT
Intriguing Women
by Lakshmi Raj Sharma
Author Lakshmi Raj Sharma joins me today to share an excerpt from Intriguing Women, a book of short stories. You can also read my review.
Description
Intriguing Women is Lakshmi Raj Sharma’s third work of fiction. After the success of his debut novel The Tailor’s Needle and his first book of short stories Marriages Are Made In India, Sharma now publishes a second, masterly collection of stories about women in all their infinite – and intriguing – variety. Male readers may learn something useful too ...
The stories have international and Indian settings. We visit Europe, we travel to Afghanistan and we celebrate the rich variety of the Indian continent. These are women who may seem superficially normal, but might not be, and women who strive for normality at all costs. Sharma also raises questions; can a woman reconcile herself to terrorism? How do we react to a woman who kills several of her husbands? Definitions of femininity are examined and magnified through the prism of fiction.
We meet women who despite years of oppression, are smart enough to ride the 21st century successfully, while others are left behind, unable to handle the complexities of modern life. These stories report, reflect and examine the feminine nature.
What is it like to be born a woman, most particularly an Indian woman?
Intriguing stories indeed ...
Book Video
Watch the seven-part video of the book launch for Intriguing Women by Lakshmi Raj Sharma.
Excerpt from "Bonding"
As she travelled with her newlywed husband in a coupe compartment from the heat of her premarital home in Jaisalmer, her heart ached for Pallavi. Pallavi had everything – hope, charm, untiring energy, confidence, song, dance, the list was unending. With her life was so complete, so exhilarating. Things could never be the same without her. Suparna’s heart wept, responding to the rhythm of the shaky carriage. How could a husband give her anything in comparison? Be born a daughter and you were always another’s burden; first your father’s and then your husband’s. As the train sped through, leaving behind the living sands of the desert, towards the lifeless greens of the world beyond, Suparna wondered why it was so necessary to get married. Marriage was society’s mode of ending the revels of life; it’s method of ensuring that all good things came to an end.
Himanshu could see that his bride wasn’t satisfied with the deal. He tried to smile at her but that seemed to only bring forth the flood of tears that she had dammed inside. He held her hand but she jerked him off. He closed in towards her putting his arm round her and that was too much for her to bear. She pushed him away and stood up in a fury.
‘If I have married you, it doesn’t mean I am sold to you. You and your people have given me no dowry, okay? Just stay away from me!’
‘You seem really angry and hurt, Suparna! Have I offended you?’
‘Offended me? You have ruined me. Why was it so necessary for you to marry me? Were all the other girls dead?’
‘Who could have guessed that I was marrying someone who disliked me so much? Neither my parents nor yours.’
‘But you jumped at the idea, when my parents sent the proposal. A decent man would wait a week at least before plunging into marriage.’
‘How did you get to know that?’
‘Durga Aunty told Mummy everything. If you hadn’t jumped for joy at the idea of the proposal, my parents would have thought a little before tying me up with you.’
‘Durga Aunty wasn’t there when your father pleaded that I marry you. He was ready to give anything we wanted but my mother said she only wanted a good wife for her son and a decent daughter-in-law for herself. Anyway, you are tired. Rest till it is time for lunch. Nothing is lost yet.’
‘Nothing is lost for a wretched man who is carrying away a bride. The loss is always ours.’
‘Ours? You surely don’t mean both of us? Have you started considering you and me, us?’
‘No, my dear! Don’t have hopes. I mean the female species. I can never team up with a man. I am a woman first and anything else later. And I think I was born to set things right for women! Let it be clear from the beginning that I consider you my natural enemy.’
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
"Wonderful stories of individual experiences in love, loss, and relationships, and in finding a place in a world where the expectations of others might not match one's own. The author does a great job of putting the reader in the minds of the characters, who are complex and often conflicted individuals struggling to find the right compromises in life. Very interesting book with relatable themes." ~ Diane Kelly
"A wonderful modern collection that reads a little like the literary classics. Well-written, colorful and thought-provoking." ~ Robin Gregory
"Each story explores romance, lust, sex, wit, deception, manipulation, infidelity, same-sex love, domestic dispute, murder, and war. With the many twists and turns, secrets, and shocking revelations, these stories are a mirror of the world, and readers will, surely, identify with some of the characters because they could be your next-door neighbor, friend, co-worker or relative." ~ Vivienne Diane Neal
"If you like to read a collection that takes you into the consciousness of people, both women and men, this is the book to read. I could see what it is to be contemporary after reading these stories. The pain and anguish of today's relationships are very well balanced with a subtle humour. I laughed through this collection and enjoyed every page of Intriguing Women. Don't miss reading this book of stories." ~ abhijeet pandey
"No doubt Lakshmi Raj Sharma is a master story teller. Intriguing Women is a must read short story collection. There is much variety in these stories, no two stories are alike. The stories contain women of several kinds but are interesting for men and women alike. I am amazed to find how different it is to Lakshmi Raj Sharma's novel, The Tailor's Needle. India is shown as it actually is and so are the other countries in this collection. I strongly recommend this book to lovers of fiction." ~ abhimanyu pandey
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Intriguing Women is a collection of 23 short stories, all featuring intriguing women. What makes them so intriguing? You'll have to read this anthology to find out.
In "Contemporary Woman" Anwar Sheikh is an Indian novelist who travels to England to research the contemporary woman for his new novel.
In " A Visit to My Home" Vinita and Vinoy are from different provinces in India, but they marry for love. Everything goes well for twenty years but, when Vinoy's father dies, everything changes.
In "The Literary Agent" Shubha is a literary agent whose author client shows her just how important the job of a literary agent can be.
In "Bohemian" Supriya and Niloy are married but both are having affairs. The arrangement suits them both, for a little while at least.
In "17-B Englishia Lines" Aruna returns home after twelve years and feels the presence of her dead mother and father, as well as that of a man she has never met. Who is this stranger?
In "Ever Met Such a Woman?" Amit, a reporter, interviews Dan while he is in the hospital. Dan is in India for his wedding and honeymoon, but what went so wrong?
In "A French Bite" Om and Shalini are struggling in their marriage of eighteen years. Shalini meets a charming Frenchman at the market and introduces him to her husband. But does she have an ulterior motive? And what about the Frenchman himself?
In "The Park" Sajid and Sameena marry in haste in London, then move to Paris to take care of her sick father. Only two months into their marriage, Sajid discovers that Sameena has a lover.
In "A Man is for Burning" Gita is a powerful woman who has more than one man under her control.
In "A Postulant Demimonde Existence" a kind man has an encounter with a homeless woman.
In "Bonding" Suparna marries Himanshu by arrangement but is not happy to leave her friend Pallavi behind.
In "Madam Sosostris" Preeti marries Mohan but divorces him soon after. She moves on to Vinod, but will she ever be happy?
In "The English World" we follow the lives of the manager and employees of The English World store during a visit by their prize customer.
In "The Wedding" a man contemplates marriage during the wedding of his ex-wife.
In "A Letter from a Dead Man" Supriya likes meeting powerful men and using them for her own purposes. What happens when she doesn't get the promotion she is expecting?
In "The Company Garden: A Tale about Rebirth" Yogesh and Vipin visit a construction site at night in order to meet the woman of Vipin's dreams, literally.
In "War Drums in Afghanistan" Firoza is trapped in her own home under the watchful gaze of her brother Aibak. When Aibak is away, he arranges for his friend to act as her caretaker.
In "Ah Taj!" Raman and his wife Isabella are visiting the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay when an explosion strikes.
In "My Neurosis and Hers" a man traveling by train meets a woman accompanied by two children.
In "Save Our Ponds" Suchitra lavishes all her love on her animals, while her workmate Prateeka is passionate about powerful men. What happens when both women set their sights on Rajan?
In "Bold, Brief and Brilliant" Treena and Manish's marriage is falling apart and Treena tries to sabotage Manish's new relationship.
In "The Skies" Bhasker wants his daughter Nandini to be a star. But at what price?
In "That Empty Feeling" Prabha dwells on the fact that she has recently been widowed.
All of these stories revolve around the common themes of modern ideals, independence, love, marriage, and family, woven through with domestic violence, alcoholism, and infidelity. The women are usually portrayed as the heroes, while the men are depicted as the villains. It's interesting to note the contrast, from story to story, between emerging love and the failing marriage. While the author's prose is wonderful, the dialogue is a bit forced, making those stories with little to no dialogue the best. Some stories end rather abruptly and are more snippets of life than true short stories. There are also a few editing errors. My favorite story: "A Postulant Demimonde Existence".
As the author states in his story "Contemporary Woman", "his novel had to reveal the flesh and blood, not merely the skin, if it was to make even the slightest ripple." In Intriguing Women, author Lakshmi Raj Sharma has accomplished just that.
Warnings: sexual references, domestic violence, coarse language, sex scenes.
About the Author
Born in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, in 1954, I have been educated in Allahabad. I have taught English at the University of Allahabad since 1979. I was selected for the Indian Civil Services in 1978 but chose to be a teacher. I married Bandana, my colleague in the English Department in 1982. We have a son, Dhruv, who is an etymologist.
Presently I am a Professor of English at the University of Allahabad. I have taught Literary Theory, Literature and Society, and Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama at the postgraduate level. I was the Head of the English Department for a two-year term which was over last year. I have several scholarly books and articles to my credit in Indian and foreign journals. I wrote The T. S. Eliot-Middleton Murry Debate (1994), the very first book on the subject. The second book on this subject was published from Oxford six years after mine.
My first novel, The Tailor’s Needle, first published by Picnic Publishing Limited, UK, has now been published by Penguin Books India in December 2012. This is also an ebook.
My first collection of short stories, Marriages Are Made In India, was published by Writers’ Workshop, Kolkata, in 2001. This collection has now been published by Publerati (USA) in May 2012 as an ebook.
My short story, "Company Garden: A Story of Rebirth" has been published by Sonar 4 Publications, USA, in an international anthology of stories entitled, Whitechapel 13, in September 2011.
My story, "He and She" was published in an American journal called, Gather Kindling published from Washington DC in 2011.
My story, "A Postulant Demimonde Existence", has been published in [Vol. 1] Brooklyn, an American journal, recently.
My article "Charles Dickens and Me" has been published by the Oxford journal, English, in August 2012.
I was invited to the Brasenose College, Oxford, during the J. Middleton Murry Centenary, in 1989.
I have written and directed several plays which have become an annual feature at the Amaranatha Jha Hostel of the University of Allahabad.
Currently, I am writing four literary novels, one of which is a young adult novel.
Links
Friday, August 26, 2016
"Rice and Rocks" by Sandra L. Richards
REVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Rice and Rocks
by Sandra L. Richards
Rice & Rocks by Sandra L. Richards is currently on tour with BeachBoundBooks. The tour stops here today for my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Tradition takes flight in Rice & Rocks, a picture book celebrating culture and diversity.
Giovanni's friends are coming over for Sunday dinner, and his grandmother is serving rice and beans. Giovanni is embarrassed he does not like 'rice and rocks' and worries his friends will think the traditional Jamaican dish is weird. But his favorite Auntie comes to the rescue. She and Giovanni's pet parrot, Jasper, take him on a magical journey across the globe, visiting places where people eat rice and rocks. This exciting story celebrates the varied traditions of every culture while also highlighting the delicious similarities that bring us all together.
Excerpt
Praise for the Book
"Rice and Rocks has something, literally, for every child. It teaches the joy of sharing and bonding over mealtime, and the universality of celebrating holidays with traditional food (in this case, the same dish). Rice and Rocks takes me back to when I was a girl in New Orleans. Stories that combined exciting fantasy with sound life lessons remain vivid in my memory, as this one will." ~ Donna Brazile, Syndicated columnist and author of Cooking with Grease
"Rice and Rocks is a must-read for youngsters developing their convictions, their sense of self, and for learning about the importance of different cultures in our society." ~ Daniel Quintero, Executive Director, Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club
"I love a Monday night in New Orleans eating red beans and rice, just like the Sunday night tradition in Jamaica described in Rice & Rocks. Sandra Richards captures the heart of those traditions and similar traditions across the world in a way that reminds us how similar we all, no matter where we are from. And that the main character plays the best instrument in the world the trumpet wasn't a bad call, either! I highly recommend this book." ~ Irvin Mayfield, Grammy and Billboard Award-winning artist, founding artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
"I love how this book deals with the emotions that come with one's national heritage and traditions - sometimes pride and sometimes embarrassment - and how the auntie in the story gently helps her nephew to make the journey from embarrassment to pride. What makes the book even better for me though is that this journey was not one of self-absorption with a complete focus on how special he and his heritage were but instead a journey of learning about others and seeing how the similarities and differences in our traditions are worth sharing and celebrating." ~ Mommynificent
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Giovanni isn't impressed when his Grandma decides to cook rice and beans for his friends' visit. In fact, he calls the dish "rice and rocks", finding the beans inedible. Auntie thinks Giovanni needs a bit of a reality check and, with the help of Jasper the talking parrot, they take a magical trip to Japan, Puerto Rico, and New Orleans. They meet some helpful birds who tell them that rice and beans are traditional family meals in all of those places. After a bit of reflection, Giovanni gains pride in his family tradition.
Giovanni learns a valuable lesson that can be passed on to young readers with the help of older family members. This book is a good starting point for discussions about their own family traditions. The illustrations by Megan Sullivan are simply breathtaking. Colorful, rich, and full of detail, they capture the personalities of the characters and the essence of the countries they visit, adding immeasurably to the reading experience.
About the Author
Sandra L. Richards is the debut picture book author of Rice & Rocks. With Rice & Rocks, Sandra brings a unique contribution to the world of children’s books. An American-born daughter of Jamaican immigrant parents, she hopes the book will serve as an educational resource for families seeking to teach their children the value of their heritage and the importance of cultural diversity.
About the Illustrator
Megan Kayleigh Sullivan graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2012 with a degree in Illustration. She is currently working as a freelance illustrator and storyboard artist, and aspires towards a career in the film and animation industry as a concept artist, character designer, or visual development artist (or d., all of the above). She enjoys traveling, writing, telling stories, and hula-hooping.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash.
Plus, check out the author's website for a FREE Rice & Rocks word search puzzle.
Links
Thursday, August 25, 2016
"Quiz Show" by Duncan Whitehead
NEW RELEASE and REVIEW
Quiz Show:
A Dark Comedy
A Dark Comedy
by Duncan Whitehead
Quiz Show is the latest short story by bestselling and award-winning author Duncan Whitehead. It's ON SALE for only $0.99 to 26 August. You can read my review below.
For more books by this author, please check out my blog post on The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club and my blog post on The Reluctant Jesus.
Description
A retired FBI serial killer hunter who solved every case but one. A flawless record apart from the elusive killer who got away. No clues, no motive, no logical connection between the victims. Until now.
Excerpt
Click below to read an excerpt.
Praise for the Book
"This is a refreshingly blunt soliloquy about the author's most baffling whodunnit of his career. What a fascinating and great read!" ~ Donna Templeton
"A good short story about a retired FBI agent and the one case he never closed. A short fun read. Check it out." ~ D. Keller
"Very short story. This is not your typical all the answers at the end 'mystery'. If you need closure this is not the story for you. I did enjoy the story and was shocked when it just ended." ~ Mary Rhonda Marquez
"Totally different type of book for me. Enjoyed it very much first time for this author as well. Found it entertaining." ~ Jackie
"A retired investigator is bothered by the serial killer he wasn't able to catch. He could not figure out what these victims had in common or why they were selected to be killed. This story was keeping my interest right up until it suddenly ended in a cliffhanger." ~ Judy A. Ptacek
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
On retiring from the Serial Killer Unit of the FBI, our narrator finds himself at a loose end. But he's got that one cold case that still haunts him. They have fingerprints and even a description, but what is the killer's motive behind these seemingly unrelated murders?
The narrator has a great conversational tone that makes us feel like he is speaking directly to us, and he provides just enough interesting details about his job to keep us wanting more. This is a clever story that highlights the power of serendipity. And it just goes to show that it's not about the result, it's all about the thrill of the chase.
About the Author
Award Winning Writer, Duncan Whitehead, was born in England and is the author of the best-selling and award-winning The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club trilogy. The series, inspired by the quirky characters and eeriness in the real life Savannah neighborhood in which he once lived is a humorous mystery, which boasts an assortment of characters and plot twists.
He has also written over 2,000 spoof and comedy news articles, under various aliases, for a variety of websites both in the US and the UK.
He has written further novels: a comedy set in Manhattan, The Reluctant Jesus, published in April 2014 and republished in July 2015, and several short stories.
Duncan is well known for his charity work, kindness to animals, children and old people; and, of course, his short-lived bullfighting career and his hideous hunchback.
In February 2045, he invented time travel and now spends much of his time in either the future (where he has won the lottery an astonishing 117 times) and the present day.
Freebies
Links
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
"Beyond Your Touch" by Pat Esden
NEW RELEASE and GUEST POST
Beyond Your Touch
(Dark Heart Book 2)
(Dark Heart Book 2)
by Pat Esden
Beyond Your Touch, the second book in the Dark Heart series by Pat Esden, will be released on 30 August but is currently available for pre-order. Also available: A Hold on Me (read my blog post).
This book tour is brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
She wants more than he can promise.
His desires could lead to betrayal.
But without each other, neither can survive the dangers ahead.
His desires could lead to betrayal.
But without each other, neither can survive the dangers ahead.
Annie Freemont knows this isn’t the right time to get involved with a man like Chase. After years of distrust, she’s finally drawing close to her estranged family, and he’s an employee on their estate in Maine. Though she never intended to stay on the estate for long, her father’s illness and the mysteries surrounding her family made leaving impossible. And now with the newfound hope of rescuing her long-missing mother, Annie’s determined to be involved with the family’s plans one way or another.
If only she could keep her mind off Chase and focus on the impending rescue. But there’s something about the enigmatic Chase that she can’t resist. And she’s not the only woman. Annie fears a seductive stranger who is key to safely freeing her mother is also obsessed with him. As plans transform into action and time for a treacherous journey into a strange world draws near, every move Annie makes will test the one bond she’s trusted with her secrets, her desires - and her heart.
Praise for the Book
"Mystery meets sizzling romance in the second book of the Dark Heart series. For those who enjoyed the first book, this one is a definite must-read." ~ Rebecca
"Esden's writing is strong. Annie is a relatable young woman contending with love, jealousy, and an inherent drive to save her mother. The tension really picks up as the book continues. This is a book to blaze through in a day or two. I found the mystery and adventure aspects to be stronger than the romance, but all of the elements blend well for a solid, fast read." ~ Beth Cato
"I found Beyond Your Touch to be a wonderfully satisfying sequel to A Hold on You, which I also read and enjoyed. I very much enjoyed the main character, Annie. She is strong, intelligently written, and relatable - with a realistic amount of insecurity regarding her all-encompassing first love." ~ Debbie Causevic
"The creativity the author weaves is quite magical. The djinn realm, the carpets, secret passageways with mixed messages, fun stuff and vividly drawn." ~ K.L. Hallam
"I thoroughly enjoyed each paragraph of this book. After reading the first book I could hardly wait until I got my hands on this one and I was not disappointed. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than the first one because it took me to other realms with the ease necessary to make me a believer." ~ Ruby Rice
Guest Post by the Author
Using Your Senses to Get into the Writing Zone
Hi, my name is Pat Esden. I’m delighted to have been invited to chat about using your sense to get into the writing zone. I’m the author of The Dark Heart series from Kensington Books. A Hold on Me, book one in the series, is currently available. Book two, Beyond Your Touch, is going to be released on 30 August.
It’s so much easier to write when you’re in the creative zone. But it can take time to tune out real life and get lost in the flow of ideas and words. This is particularly true when returning to a project you haven’t worked on recently or when switching from one manuscript to another.
One way to get into the zone more quickly is by stimulating your senses. A lot of writers use music to tune out the real world and get back to their story. Creating separate playlists for each novel is a great way to get your brain not only stimulated, but also focused on the right project. Here’s the Spotify playlist I created for Beyond Your Touch (Dark Heart Book 2).
Some people prefer to write in silence and actually find auditory stimulation distracting. I’m somewhat this way. I love music when drafting, but not when revising. My brain responds much better to scents. In fact, I pick candles and incense with different fragrances for each of my manuscripts. Burning them quickly puts me into the flow. Designated scents make it easy for me to shifts from one project to another. I also use fresh flowers. Their smell not only puts me in a creative mood, but their colors appeal to my visual sense.
If you tend to respond to visual stimulation, then you might want to try creating Pinterest boards for your manuscripts or even for specific types of moods you write about: one for romance, another for battle scenes, anger ... When I’m having a hard time getting into the zone, I often spend a few minutes cruising through the Pinterest boards that I created for the project I want to work on. It works even better if you listen to a project’s playlist while looking at the corresponding boards. Here’s a link to my Beyond Your Touch Pinterest board that matches the Spotify playlist.
Another trick for using visual stimulation to get you into the flow is to change the font you’re using. This quick technique combined with changing the font size often can get the creative juices flowing.
Taste is perhaps the easiest way to get into a creative mood. But don’t drink the same beverage or consume the same snack all the time. Consciously choose one or two foods or drinks to represent each project and don’t consume them when writing other things. Perhaps one novel is iced mint tea and for another you choose dried apricots or licorice. Find things with a distinctive flavor that occurs in the project or reminds you of it in some way. Not only will this help when you sit down at your desk, but your brain will begin the shift while you’re pouring the tea into a special cup or laying out the snack on a specific plate.
Some people respond well to tactile stimulation. I know, you’re wondering how the heck can that be done while typing or holding a pen? Our sense of touch occurs all over our bodies. For some people the act of wearing a hat, mitts, or a costume that "feels" like the story can stimulate creativity. Some writers might find slipping on a silk robe to write a romantic scene uncomfortable, but for others it would be the perfect way to get in the zone.
Most writers get the best result from a combination of sensory stimulation. Experiment. Discover what works for you. You might just be surprised how much writing time you gain and how much frustration you avoid by consciously adding sensory stimulation to your writing routine.
Now it’s your turn. Which of these techniques to you use? Have you tried tailoring them for specific projects?
About the Author
Pat Esden is an antique-dealing florist by trade. She’s also a member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and the League of Vermont Writers. Her short stories have appeared in a number of publications, including Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, the Mythopoeic Society’s Mythic Circle literary magazine, and George H. Scither’s anthology Cat Tales.
Her new adult paranormal novel, A Hold on Me (Dark Heart Book 1) is available from Kensington Books. Beyond Your Touch (Dark Heart Book 2) will be released 30 August.
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