Author Interview : Ashwin Alok

Author Interview : Ashwin Alok

Hello everyone,

Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'The Music of Silence'

Let's start!

1. First of all introduce yourself to the readers.
My name is Ashwin Alok. I was born on 7th May in Patna, Bihar (India). I’m a filmmaker &
founder at Kreative Krew, and founder & Behavioral Transformation Specialist at
MindCalling. I’m also an ISSA Certified Elite Fitness Trainer, which is a combination of
three certifications,
• Certified Fitness Trainer
• Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
• Behavioral Transformation Specialist
I finished my graduation in 2016 in Computer Science Engineering and hold an MBA
degree in Information Systems (2018). I’ve also worked at Gold’s Gym as a fitness
consultant and trainer in 2016 after finishing my engineering.
Several of my short films were officially selected and won awards in various film festivals.
One of our films ‘Bread Butter’ was shortlisted to stream on Disney+ Hotstar last year. I
have also won the ‘Best Actor’ award for my short film ‘Jeetega India’. I have created
several short films for the government of Uttar Pradesh and have recently made a
documentary for UPSDMA in association with The Times Group.

2. What is 'The Music Of Silence' about?
The Music of Silence is a self-help book in which I have shared my journey from a ‘no
one’ to a ‘filmmaker’ on Disney+ hotstar. The book is divided into two sections:
Section I: An Autobiography
This section is my story of struggles and achievements. I intend to lead my readers by
example. I have focused on all kinds of challenges that I’ve faced and overcame all of
them using mind conditioning techniques.
Section II: Mind Conditioning Techniques
This section teaches the readers how we can train our minds and make the most of life.
I’ve explained how does our mind work and also shared my two-entity theory along with
a test to check if we control our minds or our mind controls us.
This section also boasts of Ashwin's TEN principles to build an extraordinary mind and
Ashwin's SEVEN principles to develop an entrancing personality. At the end of the book,
I’ve answered several questions related to life, love & career that are helpful for people
who are struggling daily in their lives.

3. What prompted you to write a self help book instead of a romance or thriller novel?
I had never developed a habit of reading because I used to think that books are all
about stories and novels. I used to think that reading is a waste of time till I read my first
self-help book ‘Rework’. I loved that book so much that I finished reading the complete
book in one night. Since that day, I’ve been reading daily.
It was because of that emotional realisation that I felt connected to the books and
understood that if you’ve no one to teach you about life, authors in the form of books
are there with you to help you on your journey. This is what motivated me to write a self￾help book to help people around me on their journey to greatness.

4. Throw some light on your first published book.
My first book is a collection of Hindi Poems and Nazms titled ‘Nazm-e-Qassid’ and was
published in January 2020. It is available on Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google
Books.

5. Are both books are of same genre or different?
Both my books are of different genres. ‘Nazm-e-Qaasid’ contains my emotions in the
form of poems, while ‘The Music of Silence’ is my autobiography along with my
experiences about various life events followed by mind conditioning techniques.

6. What is your writing process like?
I keep jotting down all the ideas that I get wherever I am in a separate document or
notes on my iPhone. Periodically I organise those ideas in a sequence in another
document. Then I create a third document which is my manuscript where I go on every
idea that I’ve sequenced in the second document. I keep revisiting the first and second
documents throughout the writing process until my manuscript is finished. Post finishing,
I do proofreading to make sure my manuscript is free from errors.

7. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
As I’m a filmmaker by profession, I keep working on a new script or a new film project. I
enrol in professional courses related to filmmaking and writing to enhance my skills.
Sometimes I watch web series and treat myself to good food and drinks. I love to cook.

8. What does your family think of your writing?
As far as my poems are concerned, they have appreciated it. I have no idea about their
views on my second book ‘The Music of Silence’ because they have never read it. They
just know about the book and its contents. I hope that when they do read my book, they
feel proud of me.

9. Who is your favorite Indian and foreign author?
Some of my favourite authors are
- Napoleon Hill
- Paulo Coelho
- Robin Sharma
- Authors of ‘Rework’
- John Warrillow

10. What are your future plans? How soon can your readers expect your next
book?
My book ‘The Music of Silence’ is my first step towards my goal. I intend to work for
students and youth in the coming years to help them learn about mind conditioning
techniques. This will prepare their mind for every challenge they are going to face ahead
in their lives.
Apart from this, I’m a filmmaker, and I’ll keep making films.

11. What advice do you have for writers and readers?
There’s one thing that I found very helpful for me as a reader. Read one self-help book
followed by fiction. This will allow your mind some time to absorb all the learnings that
you’ve got from the self-help book and meanwhile, you’re relieving pressure from your
mind by reading fiction. This combination works for me. If you read two self-help books
one after the other, there may arise a situation which I call information overload. In this
case, your mind has so much data to absorb but it discards everything because of
extreme pressure.
For a writer, I’d say to involve ‘learnings’ in your writing. A reader should learn something
from your writing. This is how I believe we must try to make this world a better place.

12. Any motivational message for our insta family?

“To do what you believe in and believe in what you do are the keys to a life of fulfillment".

Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Twenty Something

Book Review : Twenty Something

Title - Twenty Something - For
            Love or Ambition
Author - Sudham Ravinutala
Publisher - Leadstart Publishing
                     Pvt Ltd
Genre - romance/fiction
Pages -383
Format - kindle

The story revolves around the protagonists Hrishikesh Krishnamurthy and Nitya Ramana and sets up in early 90s India. Hrishikesh is just entered into engineering college and known as Rishi. He is attracted towards Nitya who is a state volleyball player,a pleasent nature and super senior to him. Both of them are totally opposite in nature. They have different opinions in all aspects. They become good friends but due to some misunderstanding their friendship is broken and Nitya moves to US for her career.

What happens next?
Will they ever meet?
How will their career set?

Read the book to know the answers.

The cover of the book is aptly designed and the title is totally relevant. The plot of the story is interesting, engaging,relatable and lively. It is a perfect blend of friendship, love, college life and career. The author has very well narrated some scams of 90s. The story is explained by the author in 2 halves. First half is about college life and second half is about career etc. The author has described the transformation of Rishi from a immature guy to mature one amazingly.

Language used is simple and lucid. The characters are well developed and described by the author. The flow of the book is well paced. The end of the story is predictable.

Overall, a good read.

Rating - 4.2/5

I recommend this book to all specially to romance lovers out there.
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Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Be Better Bit by Bit

Book Review : Be Better Bit by Bit

Title - Be Better Bit by Bit
Author - Nishith Goyal
Publisher - Quignog
Genre - self help
Pages - 352
Format - paperback

'Be Better Bit by Bit' by Nishith Goyal a self help book or we can say a perfect step by step guide to improve our life. The book has mainly highlighted on the improvements which we can do for a happy and successful life. The author has changed his life to better bit by bit by exercising some steps which he has shared with us.

The book is divided into 12 chapters. Every chapter have mind-map excericise. There are tasks,questions and space to fill with our thoughts. The cover of the book is aptly designed and the title of the book is totally relevant to the content. The author has amazingly described every step for a better and successful life which are very helpful to the readers. The book has positive vibes. Language used is simple and lucid.

Hats off to the author for penning down his experiences and thorough  research work.

Overall, an insightful read.

Rating - 4.8/5

I recommend this book to all.
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Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Abhilekh Dwivedi

Author Interview : Abhilekh Dwivedi

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'Fareb Ka Safar'

Let's start!

1)First of all, introduce yourself to our readers.

I work as a Senior Copywriter at a FM channel, so it is obvious that I get paid for writing. Apart from this, I do write on freelance. Prior to that I was a retail professional and used to treat writing like a hobby. But in 2012 when few poetries and articles got published, I realized this should not be taken as lightly. So, I started reading more and developing writing skills. If I am not writing, I love travelling, trekking, and watching movies.

2)Throw some light on your latest book 'Fareb Ka Safar'.

FKS (Fareb Ka Safar) is a Hindi novel which is first of its kind in any Indian language and by any Indian writer. The story revolves around conspiracy of privacy invasion through artificial intelligence. Its an edgy novel where startup culture, metropolitan lifestyle and few bold elements completes the story. Here, every character is cheating in some other way, but all those characters and their every activity is being watched by one person, who is again a cheater. So, the story is dark with a bit of love, relationships, and conspiracy.

3)What prompted you to write this book with such mysterious title.

I have promised to myself that I would always write those stories which would be one of a kind. My first novel “Char Adhuri Baatein” was based on psychological counseling which is again, has not been attempted in any Indian language or by any Indian writer. You may find course materials on AI but never an Indian novel. Also, with data privacy infringement and misuse of AI helped me to ideate for such stories. FKS was written as a script for Web but after its completion, I faced some creative differences and then pandemic happened. So, I released FKS on Kindle in June 2020 and then paperback edition released in March 2021.

4)Tell us something about your previous books.

Prior to FKS, I have written 4 books out of which 2 belongs to collection of poetries.

Sequentially, these are my other books:
Khayalon Ka Abhilekh – Poetry book – 2017
Char Adhuri Baatein – Novela on psychological counseling – 2018
Baaki baatein: Char Adhuri Baatein part 2 – Novela only on Kindle – 2020
Buddh Hone ke Mann hai – Poetry book only on Kindle - 2020

Apart from these, I wrote “The Last Murder” a psycho murder mystery novella, available on Matrubharti App.

5)Are all the books of same genre or different?

I try to be as different and unique as I could be.

6)Which genre you enjoyed writing the most?

Every time things were different, so I enjoyed every genre. But yes, I love writing love and romance with unusual twists.

7)Did you always want to become a writer?

No. But I realized that there is no harm in this.

8)How do you handle negative feedbacks?

I consider those as input for my next write-ups.

9)Are you planning other books? How soon can your readers expect your next book?

Yes. I am working on 2 novels and both will be different from each other and to all my previous stories. I am not in rush, but one of them might release in 2022.

10)How has your journey as an author been so far?

It’s been tough because I don’t write in English. I never rush for quick and lots of followers, so it affects my recognition as an Author, but I do have genuine reader base, so it helps me to focus on content.

11)Who is your favorite Indian and foreign author?

Frankly, I do not have any favorite because to me content is more important, and names are secondary. But yes, among Indian author I love reading Nirmal Varma, Krishanchander, Manto, Yashpal, Shrilal Shukl, Hari Shankar Parsayi, Amitava Ghosh and few more. Among foreign authors, I love Stephen King, John Grisham, Sidney Sheldon, Cecelia Ahern, Cathy Kelly, Alexandra Brown, and few others.

12)Any message for your readers?

Well, I would say keep reading and do give feedbacks because only readers complete an Author. A feedback is the quickest royalty which an Author receives. Also do support writers of Indian languages and if you love a book, do tell others to read. Involve people in your reading so that they could develop the habit of reading books. Read more and read everything!

Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Dr. Shishir Srivastav

Author Interview : Dr. Shishir Srivastav

Hello everyone, Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'Rage Against The Dying of the Light'

Let's start!

1) Tell something about yourself to our readers.

My name is Dr Shishir Srivastav. I am a paediatrician, blogger, writer and now author of Rage Against The Dying Of The Light.

2) What is 'Rage Against The Dying Of The Light' about?

Rage Against The Dying Of The Light is a hybrid of fiction and a memoir.
This is a reflection of my life, but this is as much a reflection of my life as it reflects the life of any other medical student as he goes through his training process.
This book is also the memoir of a father as he fights relentlessly to save his son from the clutches of a deadly disease.

3) What prompted you to write this love story with such unique title?

The title of this book is taken from a very famous poem by Dylan Thomas ‘Don’t go gentle into that goodnight, Rage, Rage against the dying of the Light’
I wanted a title that could be representative of my struggle to save the life of my son and at the same time should also represent the struggle and the effort a doctor takes to save the life of his patients.
This one seemed just apt

4) Describe this book in one line.

This book is a captivating reverie of emotions that I begged could have been a tad less autobiographical

5) What is your writing process like?

I am a very erratic and eccentric writer. Owing also to the fact that I am a practising paediatrician, there are days and weeks when I don’t write anything but then there are days when I indulge in a sort of binge writing.
This book, in most part, was completed in early morning hours-4.00 am onwards, when the winter in this part of the country was at its chilling max.

6) What do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I am not writing? Well I like to read, blog, walk, watch TV, and of course see patients.

7) What does your family think of your writing?

See, writing is consuming business and can be harsh sometimes for your family life. Though I am blessed that I have a very supportive wife but I don’t deny that she feels neglected and at times gets restless whenever I am in a hardcore writing shell

8) What's your reaction towards negative feedback?

Necessary to keep a check on me and an indicator that I need to work harder

9) What are your future plans? How soon can your readers expect your next book?

Currently I am doing my research to write a commentary on Indian healthcare systems, it’s evolution, drawbacks and suggestions. It may not be a nonfiction. Perhaps a combination of fiction and facts. It should take around one and half years

10) What advice do you have for writers and readers?

Read a lot and do your research properly. And only write what you truly believe.

Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Priyam Acharya

Author Interview : Priyam Acharya

Hello everyone, Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'Seasons' and 'The Way That We Are'

Let's start!

1- First of all introduce yourself to our readers.

A: I’m a lawyer by qualification – I’ve been retained at different law firms during the span of seven years of my career. Intellectual property laws and corporate laws were my principle areas of practice during that time. Writing, on the other hand was always a passion – dating back to my school days. I was always inclined towards languages and the humanities. But I guess it was only after spending five years studying law and then seven years in the profession did I gather the courage or rather you may say got the push to give it all up to pursue my real calling – that was writing.

 

2- Tell us something about your latest book 'The Way That We Are".

A: I began working on The Way that We Are (TWTWA) within a couple of months after Seasons went live in 2019. When I came up with Seasons, initially I wasn’t very sure if my next would also be a collection of free verses – but the works which form a part of TWTWA have been very instinctive, sometimes, almost in a spur of the moment. The lockdown of 2020 was a kind of a roadblock for me in the very beginning – I was just not able to find the right frame of mind to write or even start my laptop for so many weeks together. It was a rough patch and I struggled a lot to get any ideas. Eventually, I made peace with all those chaotic thoughts that kept on brewing within. And that’s why and how I can say that most of the collection was conceptualized during the phase of the lockdown and pandemic blues. The day to day struggles that we all face while dealing with our own emotions and relationships, the euphoria of being in love, the pain of being away from someone we love, the uncertainties that we live with, dead relationships that we still hold on to, our relationship with God – it’s all so complex! But at the end of the day, that’s what makes us. And that’s the whole idea behind TWTWA. It's about embracing each of these elements that make us the way that we are. And being at peace with ourselves and our lives.

 

3 - Please throw some light on your previous book 'Seasons'.

A: Seasons was actually a surprise – for me, as much as it might have been for all those who knew me as a lawyer who was interested in writing! After I quit the profession, I maintained a document which had my random scribblings and ideas – some of those I also shared on Instagram. As I got some appreciation from people, I guess I found that confidence that I can actually compile these to form a book. And Seasons was ready within a span of about four to five months. And it was the success of Seasons, that pushed me to work harder for TWTWA.

 

4 - Both the books are poetries .How do you conceive you poems? Are they automatic or do you think over each poem for a long time? 

A: I’m an introvert, not much of a talker. But I find it very easy to convey my thoughts in writing. And I always tend to find inspiration in my day to day activities which may be quite monotonous otherwise. I’m a chronic ponderer too – I can go many years behind and remember some situation and wonder, what must have happened after that? What must have happened to those people? I’m that kind of an over thinker. So I guess, that just helps me visualize things better and make it a little poetic too. I can say, mostly the works come to my mind instantly. I sometimes, improvise on them at a later stage.

 

 

5 - Do you research on other poets' work? 

A: Not really. To be honest, I don’t have a methodical approach to writing. It’s more about madness for me. I do love to read other peoples’ works for sure, but I rarely analyse or look into technical aspects of a work. If it touches my heart, if I think of it even after I’ve put the book down, I can say it has left a deep impression on me!

 

6 - Did you always want to become a poet? 

A: No, I never imagined that I’d be a poet.

 

7 - How do you handle negative feedbacks?

A: During Seasons, it surely affected me when someone came up to me and said, I didn’t like this about the book or I don’t agree with xyz that you’ve written. But in two years since that, I’ve come to understand that writing and opinions are always going to coexist. Its fine if someone likes my work, it’s also okay if they don’t – as long as my work gives me a sense of fulfilment. If the feedback is constructive criticism, then I definitely try to look at it objectively. But if its just an opinion or some disagreement with an idea, it doesn’t really affect me anymore. In fact, one of the poems in TWTWA (Chasing Perfection) is about art and criticism.

 

8 - Are you planning other books? How soon can your readers expect your next book?

A: Yes I hope to continue this awesome journey! Work is forever in progress! At the moment I’ve not really set a timeline though!

 

9 - How has your journey as a poet been so far?

A: It’s been incredible – that’s the least I can say. It has altered me in more ways that I ever imagined. And not even once, have I ever wondered why did I choose this for myself! And the transformation – evolution is perineal. That’s the best part about being in this creative arena.

 

10 - Who is your favourite Indian and foreign poet?

A: I love reading works by Amrita Pritam, Manto, Jaun Elia and also Gulzar sahab among Indian writers. I somehow envy all these geniuses for their command over Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. I write in none of these languages but I believe poetry in these three languages somewhere outshines English. It’s an opinion – no offence to lovers of the English language!

And I’m a huge fan of Kahlil Gibran and Rumi – the absolute genius. Among writers generally I idolize Kafka, Tolstoy and Orhan Pamuk.

 

11. What does your family think of your writing? 

A: I like to believe that they like it! On a serious note however, they have been supportive of all of my decisions so far. Aaditya, my husband was in fact the one that first floated the idea of coming up with Seasons as a book. So if it weren’t for him, Seasons wouldn’t have been a reality at all. My mom is another person who is very much involved in my work. I still look up to her during my editing phases. It’s a mess otherwise handling it on my own! She’s so much better and more organized!

 

12 - Any message for your readers?

A: You are never an embarrassment. Just be yourself and you are always enough – the way that you are! 

Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Nishith Goyal

Author Interview : Nishith Goyal

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'Be Better Bit by Bit'

Let's start!

1)First of all, introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I am Nishith Goyal. I am a Chartered Accountant by profession. I am a Marathoner, writer, Author, Podcaster, diarist, and a personal-transformation coach in my personal life. I am the creator of a unique self-development platform - Be Better Bit-By-Bit, and I believe in the philosophy of “Small and Consistent Improvements.”

2)Tell us something about your book 'Be Better Bit By Bit.’

"Be Better Bit-By-Bit” is more than a book. It’s my journey. It’s a philosophy in which I deeply believe in. The book is sewed together under the theme of “Small and consistent improvements.” It discusses concepts of self-awareness, mindfulness, the art of journaling, my learnings from the journey of long-distance running, why I consider sleep essential to my life, and how reading books can transform you for good.

The book is a culmination of changes that I brought into my life using these tools and methods and how my readers can do the same to their lives.

The book is a humble attempt to pass on this philosophy and let the readers understand how “small and consistent improvements” can completely transform their lives. The book is written in easy language with many exercises to help the reader along this journey.

3)Your book seems to be a helpful guide. How did the idea of penning down come into?

I created the platform “Be Better Bit-By-Bit” when the idea of transferring what I learn each day to a more extensive set of audiences occurred to me. The idea came into being when I was doing my daily journaling, and a flash through struck me. I shared this with a few friends, and we started this WhatsApp group called - Be Better Bit-By-Bit. We started with 6-7 members, and I gave them daily activities, which were a perfect blend of the “Small and Consistent Improvements” philosophy. These activities included small physical challenges, journaling prompts, mindfulness exercises, book snippets, etc.

Soon, the platform started showing colors, and my confidence in the philosophy grew.

One morning, while on the way to the office, I was looking up at the sky, and that’s when it struck me that why not take the idea a bit further. I was already exploring my writing skills on the Medium platform, so why not take the philosophy to a bigger audience through a book. The idea kept me nudging for months, and finally, after the initial hitch, I started writing my thoughts in August 2019.

4)Did you always want to become a writer?

No. I am not sure when writing entered my life. As I narrated the story above, becoming an author was a “flash thought.”

Though I was regular with my journaling habit, expressing my thoughts through the Medium platform was the first serious step towards writing. Article by article, the journey gave me confidence, and all the tools, i.e., self-awareness, mindfulness, running, journaling, Be Better Bit-By-Bit platform, together became the book that you and I are holding together.

5)How do you handle negative feedback?

To be honest, I feel feedback is never “negative.” It’s the way we think of it that decides whether it’s negative or positive.

I am part of the corporate world for the last 15-years. And, receiving and giving feedback is engraved in our daily professional life. Imagine someone taking time out for you and giving you feedback on what you are doing right or wrong. How can that person be wrong? The tone can be wrong, but intentions are never wrong. Take such conversations in a positive stride, and it will only help you grow and not the other way round.

I believe if people don’t give you feedback, that’s when it should raise the alarm.

Take the example of personal relationships; if couples don’t share feedback for each other and then take them in the proper stride, the relationship will never grow in the right direction.

After all of this, if I feel someone is harsh to me or there is a lot of “negativity” in the feedback, I go quiet. That’s the way I handle negativity. Going quiet allows me to calm down. Once my mind is in shape, the feedback doesn’t look negative. It works all the time.

6)Are you planning other books? How soon can your readers expect your next book?

Yes, I have already started penning down my next book. It’s going to be another year for that book.

7)How has your journey as an author been so far?

Every day has been a learning experience. I know that’s a cliche. But that’s what has happened. Publishing the book has made me realize the gaps, the perspective change, and the fact that authors need to know sales. And that’s my most significant learning during this process.

I am enjoying the journey because it lets me meet and talk to people I would not have otherwise. Becoming an Author has opened gates that I never knew were there.

The journey of this book is more of learning for me than for my readers. And that’s why this journey is so exciting.

8)Who are your favorite Indian and foreign motivational author?

I read and listen a lot to Brian Tracy, Dale Carnegie. And from Indian authors, I like Priya Kumar’s mix of motivation and fiction.

9)What does your family think of your writing?

Extremely supportive. For my daughter, she feels proud to introduce me as an Author. And for my spouse, feels great when her friends greet her as an Author’s wife, I feel proud too. My parents and my family are almost on cloud nine. The day my book was launched, there were so many happy tears.

My first book is a tribute to Late Ms. Shobha Agarwal, my maternal aunt, a mother figure to me, whom we lost a few weeks back. I will regret that I was not able to release my book in her presence.

My book is not an effort only by me, it’s a collective effort. When a writer becomes an author, it’s not only because of his efforts, it’s because of the efforts of all the people around him. Everyone contributes.

10)Any message for your readers?

I just want to say one thing - Friends; every goal is big and unachievable till you perceive it that way. If you make tiny or micro or small efforts each day, the consistency will lead you to a state when your confidence grows big.

Who would have thought 50-years back that we will be searching for life on the Planet Mars, but we are doing it? The process was slow, but it was steady. And, the results are here to be seen by the World.

“Be Better Bit-By-Bit” is the same for me. 500-words each day, and here I am, in front of the World with my first book.

The only message I have is this - Be Better Bit-By-Bit.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Ella Sue And The Burlap Bag

Book Review : Ella Sue And The Burlap Bag

Title - Ella Sue and the Burlap Bag
Author - Robin Taylor
Genre - children's book
Pages - 36
Format - e-book

The story revolves around the Ella Sue Hartgrove, the daughter of Sharecroppers Jessie and Estelle Hartgrove. She is born in Shelby, North Carolina. During harvest time when she was six years old her father asked her to give a hand on the field.

Will she be happy to help her family?
Or
Will she be sad to miss her classes?

Read the book to know more.

The cover of the book is attractive enough to keep the attention of kids. The title of the book is totally apt. The plot of the story is interesting, engaging and educational. The author has amazingly woven the values of love, friends, family and community without any discrimination of skin color.

The illustrations are wonderful which has the capability to capture the real meaning of the story. Language used is simple and lucid. Hats off to the author for giving such valuable lessons to kids through this book.

Overall, an excellent read.

Rating - 5/5

I recommend this book to all specially children and their parents.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review : The Boy who can't swim

Book Review : The Book Who Can't Swim

Title - The Boy Who Can't Swim :
A story of overcoming
  Heartbreak, Pain and
  Despair
Author - Ravish T. Ram
Genre - fiction
Pages - 29
Format - kindle

The story revolves around the protagonist Somesh, an author when he was sitting on the bank of river ganga he saw 3 boys who were about to jump in the water. Somesh went near them and convinced them to tell their stories that why they decided to commit suicide?
Will Somesh be able to save their lives?
Or
Is there any bend in the story?

Read the book to know the answers.

The cover of the book could have been better. The title of the book is totally relevant. The plot of the story is exciting, engaging and motivational. It is a perfect blend of heartbreak, pain and desperation. But from these stories the author has given a very good message to the readers at the end -

'Instead of running ,start facing your problems. When you start doing that most of the problems start to disappear itself. So be a warrior rather than a worrier.'

Language used is simple and lucid. Characters are well developed but there is the scarcity of emotions to relate with them may be due to the short length of the book.

Overall, a motivational read.

Rating - 4/5

I recommend this book to all.
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Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Bulletproof

Book Review : Bulletproof

Title - Bulletproof
Author - Aranel Briar
Genre - fiction
Pages - 464
Format - e-book

The story revolves around the protagonist 130V4-9 ,a girl who has friends QB, AZ and PK. OV has been training to be a soldier of the Allied Rebel Congregation. Story begins when OV gave realm test but she hasn't completed her test. She wanted peace and she would do anything to stop the current 3 sided World War and same is the mission of Arc to restore peace so she's right. But after the death of her friend in a training accident she knows about a secret organisation that threatens to overturn her world through the spread of a deadly virus.

What happens next?
Can she stop all this?
Read the book to know more about the story.

The cover and the title of the book is totally apt. The plot of the story is interesting, different and engaging with lots of twist and turns. Language used is simple and lucid. Characters are well developed and described by the author. The flow of the book is medium paced. The length of the book could have been shorter.
Overall, an interesting read.

Rating - 4/5

I recommend this book to all.

Book Review - Mommy's Big, Red Monster Truxk

Book Review : Mommy's Big, Red
                           Monster Truck

Title - Mommy's Big, Red Monster Truck
Author - Alison Paul Klakowicz
Genre - children's book
Format - e-book

This book is a very beautiful children's book which is the debut book of author Alison Paul. The story revolves around a little boy and his mommy. Though all the mommies of this world are very wonderful but some mommies are informal. Our protagonist's mommy has a big red monster truck and takes his son to an adventurous journey. They visit so many places and enjoy a lot. Read the book to know more about their adventurous journey.

The cover of the book is too much attractive and the title is totally apt. The plot of the story is amazing. It is a perfect blend of care, adventure, love and enjoyment. Narration is superb. Illustrations are very evocative and eye catchy. Through this the author has tried to give a message to everyone that they must spend time with their kids. It is a perfect gifting option.

Overall, a short and nice read.

Rating 5/5

I recommend this book to all specially to kids and parents.

Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Pravin Agarwal

Author Interview : Pravin Agarwal

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of the best selling book 'The Girl In The Dream'

Let's start!

1- First of all introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the author of the best-selling novel 'The Girl in the Dream – A Love Story Planned 500 years ago'. I was born and brought up in Ajmer, Rajasthan. I earned my Engineering degree from Rajasthan University after which I took up a job in a corporate firm. I worked in Tata Consultancy Service for eight-year as Mainframe Consultant. After that, I joined Hexaware Technologies as a Technical Architect. I am a fitness enthusiast. I love exploring new places besides reading and writing books. 

2- Tell us something about your book 'The Girl in The Dream: A Love Story Plane 500 years ago'

It's a romantic thriller with a pinch of mythology in it. The story revolves around the mysterious girl that comes into the protagonist's dream. It connects love stories in two timelines, one of the current times and one 500 years ago. The book is entertaining throughout. It will definitely keep you hooked till the end with interesting twist and turns. Thrilling romance is the USP of the book. Also, there is lot you can learn from it about the life. Do give it a chance if you haven’t already read it. 

3. From the title your book seems to be romantic. Share with us regarding the response of readers. 

The response from the readers has been overwhelming. I am highly grateful to all my readers for their continuous love and support. It motivates me to perform better.  

4 - How do you handle negative feedbacks? 

I appreciate honest feedbacks as it helps us evolve as a writer. Whenever there is negative feedback, I try to find out what reader didn’t like and how I can address it in my next book. 

5 - Are you planning other books? How soon can your readers expect your next book?

It is too early to say anything about my next book. Currently, I am completely focused on promoting my current book ‘The Girl in the Dream: A Love Story Planed 500 years ago’. I want it to reach as many readers as possible.

6 - How has your journey as an author been so far?

It’s a steep learning experience for me. As an Author our job is not only to write a book but also to present it as a salable product, market it and get it in hands of as many readers as possible. There is a lot of money and effort involved in it. If the book didn’t sell, then no one is going to invest their time and money in our next book. From good editing, suitable book size, affordable book cost to the marketing plan, there are numerous factors to take care of. 

7- Who is your favourite Indian and foreign romantic author?

Chetan Bhagat is my all-time favorite Indian romantic author. I had read all his books. He is absolutely brilliant in his craft and one can learn a lot from him. He is the biggest-selling English-language novelist in India. I suppose many Indians started reading books because of him. He is phenomenal. 

Nora Roberts is my favorite foreign romantic author. She is an outstanding writer of more than 225 romance novels. She has more than 400 million copies of her books in print.

8 - What does your family think of your writing?

I began writing in the year 2017. I did not have much writing experience before that. My friend once mentioned to me why don’t you write a book as you read so much. I didn’t take him seriously until my wife also praised me for my writing skills. I am highly grateful to my wife for motivating me to write.

9 -What is the best way to market your books?

Marketing starts the moment you write the first word of your book. You had to make sure that you maintain the quality. When you launch something in the market then it had to deliver value to the readers. Then only people will spend their hard-earned money and purchase your book. So, the best way to market your book is to write one that readers couldn’t skip once their eyes fall on it. The second step is to let more and more people know about it. That you can achieve by marketing on Amazon, social media, etc.

10- According to you, what are the elements that make a good story? 

The book needs to be entertaining in the first place. Readers should be able to connect with the story and the characters.  

11 - What advice would you give to writers just starting out? 

Maintain discipline and write something daily. 

12 - Any message for your readers?

Don’t stick to one genre, keep exploring. If you are a non-fiction reader, then deliberately try fiction books and vice versa. Within fiction also there are lots of genres that you can try. It will expand your horizon and thinking.

Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Nashit Ahmed

Author Interview : Nashit Ahmed

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'The Dance of Bride'

Let's start!

1) Please Introduce yourself to our Audience ( Repeated Question for all the Interviews )
Author : I was born and raised in Calcutta by my parents, Shakil and Seema Ahmed. I enrolled in Ling Liang High School as a child and subsequently completed my High School from the same, in the year 2009. I then enrolled in Calcutta University for an undergraduate degree in Economics, from Maulana Azad College and completed it in the year 2013. After my Graduation I started to work under my father as an apprentice and worked on my writing through the nights and the free time I have had.

2) Share with us regarding the response of readers on "The Dance of Bride".
Author : The response has been very encouraging. I have had a lot of positive feedback from my fellow authors as well. Almost anyone who has read, 'The Dance of The Bride', has nothing but good things to say about it. Hopefully this trend continues...

3) Do you relate yourself to any character from the recent Title "The Dance of Bride"? If yes, why?
Author : I relate to all of them. The reason why that is, is because I have lived their journey. I know where they come from, why they do what they do and it's fascinating to see their arcs shape up in the way they do. I can honestly tell you, I was pretty surprised myself a lot of times.

4) Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym ?
Author : Nah. I think I like my name, Nashit... There is definitely nothing shitty about it haaaa

5) Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Author : Okay this is an interesting question. While each of my work does stand on it's own, but there is a definitive link to all of them. I won't say much about it because it's still a work in progress... But yeah you all will be pleasantly surprised when the dots connect.

6) Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?
Author : Yes. I have been working on a project that's again very close to my heart. It's set in the 1800s Bengal. It's almost done and I can't wait to thrill all of you with it.

7) What’s the best way to market your books?
Author : I think the best way to market a book is to write an exceptional, original piece of work. That and a ton of positive reviews.

8) What was your first introduction to horror literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?
Author : It would be 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King.

9) What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
Author : Read, write and try build a community. Don't try to exploit your readers, be genuine with them and things will be good in the long run. The grind is real but the grind is what makes it worth it.

10) According to you, what are the elements that make a good horror story?
Author : Emotions. If one cannot make the readers connect and engage to the characters you'll find it hard for the work to be a success in the long run. One other important aspect I cannot stress enough on, is the build up to the reveal. Don't worry about the over the top tropes that sadly a lot of people fall into. Be original and creative with your work.

11) What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Author : Ummm ... I think ... Okay yeah so I don't know how long this will continue but the Title for the story is the first thing that pops into my head. The Story then follows itself.

12) Any message for your readers.
Author : I hope it's been a worthwhile journey. I hope the characters get to live in your heart for a long, long time. Above all I am absolutely indebted to you guys, for spending your money and your precious time on 'The Dance of The Bride.' Your love is truly humbling. And yeah I hope you guys digged the story.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review : After the Outbreak

Book Review : After the Outbreak

Title - After the Outbreak
Author - Karri Kadin
Genre - sci-fi dystopian
Format - e-book

'After the Outbreak' by Karri Kadin is the first book in the book series N87 virus. Allison was infected by a virus N87 and she became a Zombie like monster. Most of the infected people died but Allison survived. Read the book to know what happened with Allison after this attack.

The cover of the book is scary yet eye catchy. Title is totally apt. The plot of the story is captivating, terrifying and seems to be somewhat to the current situation of pandemic due to virus. It is a perfect blend of science, fiction, actions and thrill with lots of twist and turns. Language used is simple and easy. Narration is quite smooth. Characterization is superb. The flow of the book is well paced.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
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Rating - 4/5
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I recommend this book to young adult readers.

Author Interview : Neelam Saxena Chandra

Author Interview : Neelam Saxena Chandra

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of Kai Basant Dekhe Hai Humnein

Let's start!

1- First of all introduce yourself to our readers.
I work as an Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Pune. I am an Engineering graduate from VNIT and have done my Post Graduation Diploma in IM&HRD and also in Finance. I have completed a summer course in Finance from London School of Economics. I have authored 4 novels, 1 novella and 6 short story collections, 31 poetry collections and 13 children’s books to my credit. I am a bilingual writer; writing in English and Hindi. I hold a record with the Limca Book of Records -2015 for being the Author having the highest number of publications in a year in English and Hindi, besides two other records. I have won II prize in a poetry contest organized by American Embassy and in a National poetry contest organized by Poetry Council of India, 2016. I have received, Sohanlal Dwivedi Puraskar for children’s literature by Maharashtra state Hindi Sahitya Akademi for the year 2018, Humanity International Women Achiever Awards 2018, Bharat Nirman Literary award in 2017, Premchand award by Ministry of Railways, Rabindranath Tagore International Poetry award, Soninder Samman, Freedom award by Radio city for Lyrics along with other awards and honors. I was listed in Forbes as one among 78 most popular authors in the country in 2014.
My short story collection “Lines of Fate” remained in the top 10 on bestsellers list on Amazon (India) since its release and was under no 3 on new hot releases for almost a month. Similarly, “Kai Basant Dekhe Hain Maine”, my latest poetry collection received a best-seller tag for quite a few days.

2- Tell us something about your latest book 'Kai Basant Dekhe Hai Maine'.
Most of the times, external things such as a good outing, some shopping, meeting some friend, seeing the flowers bloom in the spring etc gives you enormous pleasure. However, why should you depend on things outside your control for happiness? One should have spring inside the soul so that no external factor has the power to destroy that inner peace.
Most of the poems have been written in this book in quest of that inner peace.

3 - you have written around 57 books , Which genre you enjoyed writing the most?
Oh, it all depends upon my mood! I enjoy writing in different genre every time. And I love it.
Initially, I was advised that it isn’t a good marketing strategy, but I never cared – after all, I was writing because it gave me pleasure and because people enjoyed my writings. Later, it turned out that various readers love different kinds of book and my writings do have a great market too!

4- Did you always want to become a writer?
Though I loved writing, I had never thought that becoming a writer was a feasibility.
I enjoyed Maths and Physics too and career wise, I chose to be an Engineer. However, I continued to write. I will certainly not claim to be the best writer, but I am happy and contended to be where I am in this journey of writing.

5 -  How do you handle negative feedbacks?
I read all negative feedbacks and dwell upon it for some time till my heart speaks out if it’s written because of genuine error/mistake or simple envy.
In the first case, I try to improvise. In the second case, I smile and leave it at that. After all, not everyone is going to like you in life and you have to learn to live with it.

6 - How soon can your readers expect your next book?
My next book is a very emotional novel. However, I can reveal more about it in a few days only – maybe you will have to interview me again!  

7 - How has your journey as an author been so far?
It has been very interesting.
Firstly, writing is very cathartic and it has helped me in making me more focussed. Secondly, I have made some awesome friends. Thirdly, it has raised my confidence levels.

I have been very happy and I suppose, that it matters the most.

8 - Who is your favourite Indian and foreign author?
It’s very difficult to name one favorite author, but if you ask me to name one, then it is Erich Segal among foreign authors and Rabindra Nath Tagore among the Indians.

9 - What does your family think of your writing?
They are all very supportive – especially my daughter who has even edited some of my poetry books and novels. She’s my best critic and has often made me erase chapters because she didn’t like it.
It has also inspired my niece Tavishi, who is only 12-year-old, but aspires to be an author and writes stories at times.

10 - Any message for your readers?
Hope you are enjoying reading my books dear readers! Please keep giving me feedback and follow my Facebook page or Insta profile for more details regarding my upcoming books and poems etc.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review - Scottie on the space station

Book Review : Scottie on the space station

Title - Scottie on the space
  station
Author - Kaela C Green
Genre - Children's book
Pages - 36
Format - PDF
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'Scottie On The Space Station' is a very beautiful book which made me to pick it up. It is for the kids of age between 5 to 7 years. The story revolves around the protagonist Ellie who lives on a space station with her family. Her mother is an intergalactic doctor and her father is a scientist who studies the stars. Her brother Scottie is a person with disabilities. At space station they can do anything whatever they want. There they also meet alien visitors. Read the book and join Ellie and Scottie as they meet a young alien Junpei.
The cover of the book is very attractive and aptly designed for the kids. The title is totally relevant. The plot of the story is interesting and the presence of aliens makes it even more engaging. It is a perfect blend of fiction, science and moral teachings.
The best thing about the book is that it conveys a very good message that how to interact with others specially to disabled persons.
Language used is very simple. Writing style is amazing.
Illustrations on evey page is wonderful.
Overall, a perfect combo to educate and entertain kids. This book makes a perfect gift.
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Rating - 5/5
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I recommend this book to all specially to parents and teachers.
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Thanks for reading.

Book Review : her eyes underwater

Book Review : her eyes underwater

Title - Her Eyes Underwater :
A True crime inspired
  Romantic thriller
Author - Romona Simon
Genre - thriller/fiction
Format - e-book
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This is a crime romantic suspense thriller and the story inspired by the true events. It is set in 1970s. The story revolves around the protagonist Julia an outgoing college student. She meets her dream, Alex. He seems perfect from the outside but he is not as same as it seems to be. But it is up to Julia to recognize him before its too late. Grab the book to know more about the story.
The cover and the title of the book is mysterious and totally apt.
The plot of the story is interesting, solid and imaginative. It is a perfect blend of crime, thrill and suspense with a flavour of erotica. It has all the elements of a good novel.
Language used is simple and lucid. Writing style of the author is unique. The dialogues are exiting and enjoyable.
Characters are well developed and described by the author.
The flow of the book is well paced and it is the mystery element which keeps the readers engaged till the end. End of the story is hair raising.
Hats off to the author for creating such creepy atmosphere of horror. After reading this, one will surely check the doors of his/her room. There are some grammatical mistakes.
Overall, an unusual read.
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Rating - 3.8/5
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I recommend this book to all specially to thriller lovers out there.

Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Heirs Apparent

Book Review : Heirs Apparent

Title - Heirs Apparent
Author - Thomas J. Thorson
Genre - murder mystery
Pages - 198
Format - e-book
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The story revolves around Makom who started a new life in Chicago to relax. But his fishy past chased him. He found a cryptic message about an event from a century ago written by the blood of the woman he loved. Makom with his colleague started to find the clues of the murder. Read the book to know more about the further progress of murder mystery.
The cover of the book is aptly designed. The title is perfect.
The plot of the story is interesting and engaging. It is a perfect blend of murder, mystery, thrill with lots of twist and surprises. The author has amazingly described every scene in detail that one can easily visualise them.
Language used is easily understandable. Characterization is done well.
The flow of the book is fast paced which makes it a page turner.
Overall, a good mystery novel.
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Rating - 4.4/5
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I recommend this book to all thriller lovers out there.
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Thanks for reading.

Book Review : Darren's Death

Book Review : Darren's Death

Title - Darren's Death
Author - Dayna Scott
Genre - fantasy
Format - e-book
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The story revolves around the protagonist Naomi Carson, a castaway woman at the end of the world. She is a half breed born in the depths of Hell and persecuted by her barbarous demon family. The story is about a metropolitan city Eden with a large number of humans but here demons are not allowed to live in the city because they made things complicated. Naomi, a hybrid attracted to Ryleegh Adams who is a supporter of human and hates demons. They travel to the Eden.
What happens next? To know read this unbelievable story full of twists and turns.

The cover of the book is aptly designed and mysterious. The title is totally apt. The plot of the story is interesting, and about empowering women. It is a perfect blend of action, suspense, love, tragedy,horror and LGBTQ theme. The book is divided into 22 chapters which is readers friendly. The title of each chapter is unique. Language used is simple and lucid. Characters are well developed and described by the author. I liked the willfull and straightforward character of Naomi. Rylaigh's character is also very notable. Hats off to the author for writing such a fiction  which has everything in it that one can laugh, cry, get angry by reading this. The author has narrated the war scenes so beautifully that makes it an engaging read. The book also put some bible references to explain which makes it even more interesting to read.
Overall, a captivating read.
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Rating - 4.2/5
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I recommend this book to everyone specially to a fantasy and horror lovers out there.
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Thanks for reading.

Author Interview : Sabarna Roy

Author Interview : Sabarna Roy

Hello everyone,
Today I am going to introduce you to the author of 'Etchings of The First Quarter of 2020'

Let's start!

1- First of all introduce yourself to our readers.
 I am a Senior Engineering Professional and a Literary Author of six books and the Lead Author of a Technical Book that has been translated into eight major European languages. I am a much-awarded Author and my books have been Bestsellers and have received critical acclaim. I have been covered by all the major National Media houses including Forbes India. I have a Wikipedia page. 

2- Tell us something about your latest book 'Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020'. 

Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020 comprises a novella and a poem cycle.

The novella, in the background is a sweetly evolving dialogue between a step-father and a step-daughter, and in the foreground it is a dissection of ideas pivoted around dualism of human life by discussing literary characters like, Lolita, Humbert Humbert, Anna Karenina, and Nikhilesh; thought-leaders like Hegel, Marx, and Heisenberg; political phenomena like, the Bolshevik Revolution; schizophrenia, love as an idea, and the secret love story of T S Eliot; and ecological phenomena like, marine conservation, and all of this is done in a unique way, almost as if we are engaged in a conversation with the author, to make us realize the plurality of life and accepting it to find peace and harmony in life.

The poem cycle is an anthology of 20 sharp edged poems that excite and thrill you as you are encapsulated in the whirlwind of the confrontations between the poet and his alter-ego.

3 - You have written 6 books, please throw some light on them. 

Pentacles. Leadstart Publishing Private Limited. 2010. ISBN 978-9380154824.

Pentacles comprises one novella and four long narrative poems.

Frosted Glass. Leadstart Publishing Private Limited. 2011. ISBN 978-9381115091.

Frosted Glass comprises one story cycle consisting of 14 stories and one poem cycle consisting of 21 poems.

Abyss 1. Leadstart Publishing Private Limited. 2011. ISBN 978-9381115367.

Abyss is a full length play in two acts with an interval in between. It is essentially a crime thriller full of suspense.

Winter Poems 1. Leadstart Publishing Private Limited. 2013. ISBN 978-9382473718.

The poems contained in this collection, were inspired by the relatively mild season that prevails in Kolkata following the season of festivities, the Durga and Kali Puja, and portray myriad shades of human life.

Random Subterranean Mosaic 2012 - 2018 - Time frozen in myriad thoughts. Inkstate Books. 2019. ISBN 978-9352011988.

It is a kaleidoscope of random, yet structured to a pattern, fiction, semi-autobiographical, and autobiographical pieces, covering poems, short-shorts, opinions, observations, and conversations.

Roy, Sabarna (2020). Etchings of the First Quarter of 2020. Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd.

It comprises a novella and a poem cycle. The novella deals with dualism of life and the poem cycle is a duel between the poet and his alter-ego.

4 - Are all the books of same genre or different? 
All my six literary books are of different genre.

5 - Which genre you enjoyed writing the most? 
Writing conversations.

6 - Did you always want to become a writer? 
It was in July 2007 that I wanted to be an author seriously.

7 - How do you handle negative feedback? 
I keep myself insulated from praise or brick-bats. As an author, my job is to only write and write.

8 - Are you planning other books? How soon can your readers expect your next book? 
In 2021 I plan to publish a book on the Pandemic.

9 - How has your journey as an author been so far?
 It has been a learning and satisfying experience.

10 - Who is your favorite Indian and foreign author?
 Among Indian authors it is R K Narayan and among foreign authors it is Orhan Pamuk.

11. What does your family think of your writing? 
They are of course full of admiration!

12 - Any message for your readers? 
Read more books and support and appreciate and critique living authors.

Thanks for reading.