Cake and Clothes!

"Jane!" shouted the Mom from the bedroom.

"What?" she responded in an irritating tone.

"Your clothes are all spread out in the room." took a breather and continued to holler, "Next time, when you ask for a new set of clothes. Think twice!"

" Mom, Chill" Jane countered while texting.

Soon the Mom was standing next to her teen, who was oblivious to her presence.

"Sheesh! Mom! You scared me!" she exclaimed.

"Missy! you can't eat your cake and get away with it."

"huh!"

" Jane. I understand you like high class clothes, but you ought to look after them."

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99 Flash Fiction on any topic. Join in the 99th fun with CarrotRanch

Wordless Wednesday #122

Even though the surroundings get cold, bitter and leafless.

That nest is busy with life chirping.

Home is where the Heart is!

Mantra for today: Home is where memories are created!


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Grateful and acknowledgement!

 How can someone always be FULL of praises, and lend a helping hand to ALL?

Ever wonder!
Do such people even exist in the first place? 

Meet his beautiful woman, Charli Mills. An individual who is the classic example of the above.
This gentle soul has a smile that is so magnificent that it can light up the distance in miles from where we both live. Such is the genuineness of her smile!


Recently, Charli Mills, the founder of Rough Writers, and 99 words flash fiction who was my beta reader and agreed to do an editorial review for my recent book, "Voyagers into the unknown", was all praises for the book in her current blog.

Her flash fiction prompts will stimulate your brain as you try to keep it within 99 words while attempting to have fiction in it.

Join in that fun, since I have grown a lot as a writer courtesy those flash fictions!

Attaching a Link for you to subscribe to her CarrotRanch newsletter where the different writers who have participated in her prompts get highlighted.

Psst...she showcased my work  amongst many in one of her newsletters!

Read and grow via these subscriptions, and eventually join in the fun at the Ranch with your creative pen.

She will greet you with open arms, and her beautiful community of writers will inspire and give you space to grow!

Did I mention that she has a Bunkhouse Bookstore

Books written/published by the Rough Writers and Friends are featured here. You will get a glimpse of their work via other reviewers, and I guarantee you that you will like at least one book to read and treasure!

She is also lending her name to a noble cause: Check this out and trust me, it is a win-win situation for all. Do participate and not only get some karma points, but also grow as a writer. 

I end this note with gratitude to my virtual friend, confidante and mate.  I acknowledge all her hard work towards keeping us under one roof as Rough Writers as we trudge along in our respective lives and time zones. 

Sometimes Virtual friends could be angels in disguise since they have only seen your smiles from a distance but don't know the fits you throw in person. 

Although, Charli I assure you that I am not so much as the above statement, thus keep the intention to meet you in person some day!

Mantra for today: A smile, a hug can create an impact even if it is virtual. Such is the effect of kindness!

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.

                   

         

Check out The Book Club Tour Schedule 

This Tour is Hosted by 

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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/

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