Happy New Year!

As I ring in the New Year lots of memories flood before me: the good, the bad, the ugly while 'am so involved with that flashback that 'am unaware of the various expressions on my face.

When reminded 'am filled with apprehension yet gratitude to be able to enjoy the coming year of whatever it may bring, as I continue to leave my carbon imprint.

I may be an ordinary person, but my consciousness allows me to breathe with appreciation as I ponder back and realize that I have been able to touch atleast a handful of souls each year.



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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a character who looks back. 

Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP (The Writer's Toolkit Series 4) by Sundari Venkatraman

Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP (The Writer's Toolkit Series 4) by Sundari Venkatraman BLURB So, you have your manuscript all written, edited, proofed and saved on your PC. The next logical step would be to publish your story. Read this tool kit to find out the different methods of publishing, the advantages and the pitfalls.  And IF, after all that, you find that you still have your book unpublished, there’s a surefire way to get your book published. And that’s Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. Want to know how to go about it? Read this booklet to find out all that you need to know. Grab your copy @ Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.in About the author Sundari Venkatraman is an indie author who has 31 titles (27 books & 4 collections) to her name, all Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon India, Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada and Amazon Australia in both romance as well as Asian Drama categories. Her latest hot romances have all been on #1 Bestseller slot in Amazon India for over a month. Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end.  Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years.  Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! And Sundari Venkatraman has never looked back. Click here to check out all the titles by the author... You can stalk her @                 This Tour is Hosted by  Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Linkedin We Promote So That You Can Write

The festival of tricks and lights

Raj lights lamps in all corners of his house with hymns playing in the background. 

He is celebrating Diwali the festival of light that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance.

Just then the bell rings, he opens the door to a bunch of kids dressed in spooky costumes and shouting, "Trick or Treat."

He smiles, grabs his bucket full of treats and shouts "Treat...Treat!" As if surrendering to their threat in a sweet way!

Shuts the door, and continues with his prayers of the Hindu festival that comes around the same time as Halloween. 



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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a festival of lights.

Mom's Footsteps

"Look, Daddy, I am a big girl, now!" Sarah exclaimed with joy as she poured water from her pink watering can into the newly potted plant.

Dad's moist eyes gave away.

"Now, will mommy come back?" she queried with innocence in her eyes, "She would always urge me to grow up soon!" after a pause, "Look I'm doing just what mom used to do."

Dad was quick to wipe those tears from his sleeve and with a forced smile said, "Your mom will always be around you, dear! She would be so proud to see you follow her footsteps."

The Magic Pill

"Dr. Ali, I come to you with hope since I've heard that you have cured, many!" Sheela said in an earnest tone as she held her rumbling stomach.

"Yes! I treat all," he said with confidence as he handed her a box of pills with a blank label.

"Fill out your symptoms!"

She followed his instructions with a puzzled look.

"Take 1 pill twice a day. Visit me after a month."

A month later, " I am cured!" she shouted with glee, "You have magic pills."

 "Nah! it's just the placebo effect, and I'm not even a medical doctor."


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 write a story that includes magic. Join in the fun at CarrotRanch. 

Pam, the Comet

1990
High School reunion
 Pamela, the brunette at the age of 23, was huffing and puffing about her new husband to her friends.
"Then, what do you do?" inquired one.
"I raise my voice. I argue. I fight until he bows thee!" she said with a wink and a triumphant smile.

2015
Pamela meets her old friends who inquire about her life. She blushed at first then pushed the stray grey hair behind her ear, " I was like a comet, bright at the head, but years changed my perception allowing me to tail away from the headstrong attitude.

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In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a comet. 

Bonjour Au revoir

The bold orange color big star just like the oranges growing in sunny California was near the horizon ready to say goodbye for that day. I was sitting on my hammock and swayed it gently with my dangling hands. My body lay rested and neglected as my back was arched in a funny way and surprisingly the muscles around it did not yell for help. 

I let it be as is and allowed my mind to wander aimlessly with no GPS attached. 

But soon my intellect came into action as I started getting goosebumps on my bare arms. 

'What is it?' I wondered and frowned upon as I tried hard to gulp.

 Unknowingly I had opened the forbidden gates, and there came the gush of tears along with a  burst of laughter. I choked at first then bit my lip to make a conscious effort to shut that door but alas! Memories are not physical bodies that can be shunned away; its aura flowed along while I closed my eyes and let them fill my brain as I took in big inhalations and forcefully exhaled with the thought that even that quality of air shall flow out. 

My conscious mind said a bonjour to those memories while making a note of some 10 things that I've done, and that I had promised myself never to do again.

• Make empty promises: That moment feels so good to take someone to the stars by promising to do this and that. Alas! giving a wretched feeling when not being able to accomplish it. 

• Drink lots of caffeinated drinks and indulge in sweets at the same time: Jeez! the after effects can be torturous to the body. Needless to say those extra pounds difficult to shed. 

• Not be critical of me instead laugh at my mistakes: Making goals is what makes encourages a human to walk on this planet each day. But, if those goals not met, despair and criticism is quick to arise. Instead learn to laugh over it and thank for what is there.  

• Drive a car with the oil light on: Procrastination is one thing that makes me always nod my head and raise my eyebrows when in an inconvenient situation. 'Just another mile! The car can take it'  Never take chances! 

• Argue over politics: I have realized how passionate people are about this topic, they can tear you up emotionally if not physically! 

• Not ask for feedback from any Tom, Dick or Harry: Self-confidence is essential or else the world can tear you up. Ask an expert or someone whom you usually confide in.  

• Never argue over texting: That is not only bad for your fingers but also so much screen time. Communication is always the key! 

• Never procrastinate over expired goods: Milk and Dairy products is always a No-No. The kinds of acrobats this does in your tummy can take days to wear off.

•  Try to please everyone and anyone but myself: Need I say more? 

• Keep at least two credit cards in my wallet: With the recent magnetic strip on the credit card, there are times when a store's machine refuses to recognize it. Jeez! to have a back up is so important since cash is never in my wallet. 

Phew! Now that all those awkward blunders were flowing away far away from my mind. I relaxed took a deep breath and came back to my present. Needless to say, my arched back had started complaining of a twitch which made me jump up from the fabric sling and stretch left and right to extend that muscle. Once I was out and about, the mind got distracted and I was happy to say Au revoir to those memories.

My 2 cents

To err is human but to repeat it again is a swine! 

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post, with this week’s prompt a listicle of “10 things I’ve done that I can’t/won’t do again.”