Reviews & Musings

This book has my heart. I first heard Rebecca when I was ten. Yes, I did not read it, I heard it. It so happened that the syllabus for our class was over, so the concerned teacher exchanged her classes with another teacher to complete the syllabus in the other class.                            This teacher was reading Rebecca at that time. Given how difficult it is to control a class full of 10-year-olds, she decided to tell us this story. She asked us if we would like to listen to a story, also adding that she had yet to read it completely. But was enthralled and that we might love it too. We all agreed. . . .

Today we have in conversation with us a very interesting author. From winning awards to earning the title of 'Bestseller', he has done it all. Interestingly he also writes across two very contrasting genres and that too effortlessly. The success of his book is a proof enough for the love he garners amongst book lovers. He is none other than, Michaelbrent Collings. Source To give you a brief introduction about him before we start the interview-  Michaelbrent Collings is an American horror novelist. He wrote the screenplays for two horror films: Barricade (2012) and Darkroom (2013). He has self-published many novels, with two of his novels being finalists for the Bram Stoker Award in 2016, and two being finalists for the Whitney Awards in 2014 and 2017. ( Source ) Know more about him: Facebook | Twitter | Website

I read this somewhat peculiar quote recently that goes like: "Sometimes you need to push the water down to keep the boat afloat". It was quite bizarre at first if I am being honest, but as moments lingered and time took its usual due course to thrust some sense into me, I was made to see what I so boldly chose to ignore previously- you often need to undertake the unconventional stuff, possibly impossible and maybe sometimes even illogical, to keep certain things running in their infallible order. Moreover, you are never out of options and I feel like knowing that just gives you some kind of satisfying hope to lodge on.

It isn't everyday that you come across literary debuts that fill you with joy and hope. Joy, on having discovered such a wonderful book and author, and hope, to keep reading such amazing books from the author! Today I am sharing with you one such literary debut that is everything one would want it to be. It is magic, hope, joy, love and life wrapped inside a book for you to devour and bask in.

Today, we have a very interesting author with us talking about life and love at large.  Before I introduce her to you, I would like to share a small brief about our first interaction almost a year and a half ago. As a book blogger, am sure you all would agree we keep getting review requests from authors on and off. What set her review request apart from all the others ( And here I mean almost all emails I have got since 2011 till date! ) is the fact that she had taken the effort to go through my entire blog, including my bio, read a few reviews and everything that I had to say here which could be construed as important. Never ever have I received such an beautifully personalized email. It is as if she could read through my bio and see the person behind it. With her one email, she left me feeling so special till date. The love for books and all things mundane in life was a common attraction I guess which made me admire this author more! Needless to add, she is an author par...

As a book reviewer I can say, I am blessed to have had the opportunity of not only reading some amazing works but also having the chance to speak to them, know their story and share it with their world. Couple of weeks ago I had received an email from Pragya requesting me to review her poetry collection. What struck me the most about her email was, her story and that is exactly what made me say yes because someone who has been through such an interesting journey so far will definitely have a lot to say. And I wasn't disappointed at all. You can make that out from my review HERE about her work.  To let you know more about her, Pragya Bhagat was born in New Delhi, but spent her childhood in five different countries. At the age of fifteen she immigrated to America, where she studied Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating, Pragya taught science to sixth and eighth grade students at KIPP Austin College Prep.Volunteering with the survivors of the Bhopa...

Today on my blog we have the wonderful author of The Woman Behind The Waterfall , Leonora Meriel. To tell you more about her, she grew up in London and studied literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and Queen’s University in Canada. She worked at the United Nations in New York, and then for a multinational law firm. Copyright: Leonara Meriel

 

Today at Behind the Book we have with us S Theodore Baskaran , the author of The Book of Indian Dogs . Considered to be the first comprehensive book on Indian dog breeds in over fifty years. it features the twenty-five breeds that most breeders and dog fanciers agree constitute the country’s canine heritage. Divided into three groupings—working dogs, companion dogs and hounds—the book provides detailed background notes to each breed, along with information on its physical characteristics, behavior, uses, origins and history.  Along with popular breeds like Caravan hounds (or Karuvanis), Chippiparais, Mudhol hounds, Pashmis, Rajapalayams and Rampur hounds the book also features lesser known breeds such as the Alaknoori and the Jonangi. The fruit of several years of travel and research into India’s dog breeds, as well as S. Theodore Baskaran’s hands-on experience of raising various dogs, this celebration of our dogs is a book that no dog lover can do without.

Today we have Santosh Srivastava with us at Behind the Book. He is the co-author of a book called "The Gita Way" along with Shweta Chandra. Santosh Srivastava, 38, an MBA from S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, is a marketing professional, currently heading marketing services in H & R Johnson (India) based out of Mumbai. He found himself fascinated about science of spirituality from early childhood. Along with maintaining consistent focus on professional priorities, he actively writes on various topics ranging from management to spiritualism through his blog www.santoshsrivastava.com. Besides writing, he enjoys playing chess and cricket..

Today we have Anna del Mar , the author of The Stranger with us. Anna del Mar writes hot, smart romances that soothe the soul, challenge the mind, and satisfy the heart. Her stories focus on strong heroines struggling to find their place in the world and the brave, sexy, kickass, military heroes who defy the limits of their broken bodies to protect the women they love. Anna enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and the sea. Writing is her addiction, her drug of choice, and what she wants to do all the time. The extraordinary men and women she met during her years as a Navy wife inspire the fabulous heroes and heroines at the center of her stories. When she stays put—which doesn’t happen very often—she lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats. She can be reached at: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Email | Website | Amazon   Isn't that an awesome cover? If you are curious to know whats the book about, here's a sneak peek for you:

There's a man who always sits at a particular table at a particular café on a particular beach and orders a particular coffee, time after time, every Sunday. He even wears the same shirt. He sits there for exactly twelve minutes, finishes his coffee, pays for it with the exact change, down to the exact number of coins each time, walks up and down the beach thrice, before getting into his car and driving away.  You may observe him and call him a man of habit and leave it at that. I look at him and imagine that he's in love with the lady who cooks the fish at the café – the lady who only works there on Sundays, and is thinking of ways to ask her to marry him, but can't make up his mind because he's got a family waiting for him at home. I pray that I never see him. 

Today we have Elizabeth Joseph with us at Behind the Book. To introduce her to you all - She is a 14 year old 9th grade student at a Kansas City, US high school. She has written several short stories, poems and plays during her elementary and middle school years. She started writing Twin Reflections in the 5th grade and completed it 3 years later in 2015. She hopes that her example of publishing at such a young age will inspire new and upcoming authors. Her debut novel Twin Reflections (The Maze of Mirrors # 1) blew my mind for the detailing she managed in it. As you read her interview you will realize how out-rightly honest she is about everything and trust me that honesty reflects in her writing as well. :