A monster...

"Mom!" shouted my kid from his room in the middle of the night.

I woke up with a jerk!


Moved rapidly towards his room while rubbing my eyes. 

"What happened?" I inquire with anticipation while holding his hands that were stretched out in discombobulation. 

"There is a monster!" 

My eyes widened, and I looked around puzzled.

"Where?" I inquired.

"Under my bed." as he jumped up and down on it.

"Listen" he urged.

Bulged my eyes even further to awaken the mind so that I could register the noise.

"Aha! you forgot to turn off your car, sunny boy!"  


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 In 99 words (no more, no less) write a monster story. 
Join in the fun at CarrotRanch

Wordless Wednesday #121

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.”
― Cheris Kramarae

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Book Review of Sands of Time by Neelam Saxena

Sands Of Time 

by 

Neelam Saxena Chandra

Blurb 

'SANDS OF TIME' is a collection of twelve interesting stories which bring out the different moods and moments in the lives of women.

Watch it 

My Review

Sands of Time is a collection of powerful stories by Neelam Saxena. 

All these stories have one common body, a woman! All the women of her stories are either the victims or the guardian angels that help save the day or the knight in action. Thus, the author compares this lady to aqua since just as water takes the shape of a container and carries forth, this matron is versatile in spite of being talented and accomplished. She embraces whatever comes, and carves a path around it thus, making sure to inspire and exhilarate beings along the way. 

Such is the power of a woman!

The author has tackled all the arenas where the woman is battered ever since she is born. Her birth, her sacrifices more so since she is the weaker gender, the concept that she is the giver thus, the chances of prosperity come via her, her marriage and her sacrifices to embrace what may, her being battered since she is known to heal thyself and come out of the dark tunnel naturally. The stories that Neelam etched were no doubt heart wrenching but then as a reviewer I wanted more twists and turns to it more so to keep me intrigued and engrossed. No doubt, the discrimination, injustice, and abuse of thy woman was beyond acceptable and has never been tolerated by a respectable citizen of any country. 

There were some stories which started off very well such as "The Wings of Hope", " Hangover", "In the Killer's Hands", "SandClock." but lost the intensity mid-way. 

Some stories in The Sand of Time made me pause on the complexity of the woman. Reflection from the Past kept me engrossed and curious on why and how Nivedita's son, Niteesh was being harmed. The end was chilling!

The author has tackled an issue that is centuries old, yet tough to bring out the magma of this subject since the woman is a synonym of atrocity, kindness, and gentleness. So, to put out the twist and turns while keeping the matter critical needs just the right pinch of lemon and salt to bring out the tanginess yet keep it crisp and full of flavor.

Some Facts About the Author 

NeelamSaxena Chandra, an author of thirty-two books,is a record holder with the Limca Book of Records for being the author with highest number of publications in a year in English and Hindi (2015). She works as Joint Secretary (U.P.S.C.).  She has won award in a poetry contest by American Embassy, Premchand award by Ministry of Railways, Rabindranath Tagore international poetry award, Freedom award by Radio city for her lyrics. She was listed in the Forbes list as one of the most popular seventy eight authors in the country in 2014.

Awarded by eminent poet/lyricist Gulzarji in a Poetry Contest organized by American Society on the topic ‘Poetry for Social Change’.

Received the Rabindranath Tagore International poetry award -2014

Awarded PremchandPuraskar by Ministry of Railways (II prize)

Awarded by Children Book Trust, India in 2009.

Neelam also debuted as a lyricist in Shankar Tucker's composition 'Mere Sajan sun sun' and the song has won the 'Popular Choice' award  in Folk Fusion category in Radio City Freedom Awards.

Neelam is a record holder with Limca Book of records for highest publications in a year in English and Hindi.

Neelam and her daughter hold record for being the first mother-daughter duo to write a poetry book for the book 'Winter Shall Fade' in Limca Book of Records, Miracle World Records and India Book of records.

                   

         

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We Promote So That You Can Write 

We leave you with a wonderful song penned by Neelam Saxena Chandra

- See more at: http://dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com/2016/02/sands-of-time-by-neelam-saxena-chandra.html#sthash.Qy1PltP7.dpuf

Book Blitz of Hope we never meet again by Srinath Krishnamoorthy

Book Blitz 

Hope We Never Meet Again

by

Srinath Krishnamoorthy

Blurb 

A girl gets divorced just before her wedding!

A widow seeks answers for the deaths of her husband and son.

A mysterious man follows a convicted rape victim.

A stranger scribbles a number in a train.

Two hearts part ways with a final wish: Hope we never meet again.

Then, there is a phone call...

Varun Diwakar is your average, happy-go-lucky young lad with many a dream that most middle class youth harbour. But, he has a peculiar predicament. An accident changes his life forever and he discovers that he can travel into the minds and dreams of people - and in that journey, he discovers many untold stories, painful narratives and surprising twists. What triggers it all, is the death of a dear friend that Varun decides to avenge. What happens in the end? How are all these stories connected? Does love outlast death and time, the two great levellers, and become the greatest leveller, of all? Find out, as bodies keep falling and many a lives are at stake!

Grab your copy @

amazon.com | amazon.in 

Excerpt 

“Dreams are to be lived, not chased.”

“Sometimes you need to walk alone to be together with yourself…”

“Timeless love stories just have beginnings…”

“If you make your every today as safe as your yesterday’s… your dream of a better tomorrow will always remain a dream.”

“Well, history is more about heroes who rebelled and flourished than heroes who rebelled and perished. The ones that flourish became the songs and the ones that perished became the anthems. I strangely felt like a song that once craved to be an anthem.”

About the Author 

Srinath Krishnamoorthy was born in Palakkad, Kerala. He holds a B. Tech degree from Government Engineering College, Palakkad and an M. Tech from MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam. He is an avid reader, blogger and a traveler. This is his first novel and marks his transformation from a software engineer to a story engineer.

Facebook Link : https://www.facebook.com/hopewenevermeetagain

Author's blog : https://srinathkrishnamoorthy.wordpress.com/

Media Mention

The Past, Present and the Future

Wishes, Desires, Ambitions!

The man is born to be the above.

In fact, as a toddler we are commanded to look up towards the kids who are walking, talking and eating on their own.
Such is the phycology of a human, which in a way is understandable since we don't want to be apes all our lives thus, ought to behave like a monkey and imitate!

The man is such a complicated machine. We make plans for the future, cannot forget our past thus ruining our present. Then, later on, we lament.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”
-Bil Keane

Sure the solution is also not easy, though!

Some of the hardest battles we fight are those against the demons of our past, over which we have no control.” 
― Charles F. Glassman


We all have a mind but how often do we use our intellect actually to exist in the present? We are always anxious about what if, how else, why this, now what

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” 
― Amit Ray

As a teen, I used to admire people who would multi-task and would always be in awe of them. I gradually learnt the art, but towards the end of the day my mind is more tired than my body!! Slowly I am learning to limit myself to things to do. Make a do-able list. Be present while cooking, driving, listening to the radio, being mindful when my kid is talking.

Yesterday I received a notification from Facebook, "Congrats! It's been eight years since you joined us today!"

Now, we all know what kind of life we lead on Facebook, don't we? It's all glamorous and wishy-washy kind of life most of us portray. It's like going to the Oscars, wearing those beautiful gowns and expensive accessories but all within the comforts of being at home!
So convenient huh!

I was like, "Wow! Wish I'd known. I would have joined FB earlier!"

My 2 cents
Making a choice of what, how and when to do things is totally ours.

Sure, when there are deadlines to work upon. We work only on those! Multi-tasking is actually not only draining our mind but we are losing the glamor of our present by not enjoying it!

Mantra for today: A Future that I desire can be shaped if I live in the present rather than repenting over the spilled milk!

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. This week’s prompt is “I wish I’d known…” My co-host this week is the lovely and fabulous Kenya, who has a NEW BOOK out. Special thanks to Jill who thought of this week’s sentence but is unable to participate because she’s like busy or whatever.

Inspiration leading to a Union

"You Inspire me!" she murmured into his ear. 

The once irritated due to a heated conversation with who's the better cook had now cooled down. He instantly gathered an insight into the situation, and was quick to act upon!

Anger, ego and petulance were kept aside, and the two bodies met jubilantly for the makeup sessions are always full of lust!

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This post has been written for: 

Wordless Wednesday #120

When Mother Nature pours, even the sidewalks show their gratitude.

As I strolled around on the warm sunny streets, I was grateful for the freedom to be able to jaunt at leisure while some brethren crave for this noun as it puts them in confinement either due to political unrest or health issues.

Mantra for today: “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” 
― Marcel Proust

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