Explaining Sankranthi to Kids

Sankranthi is an important festival in Telugu household. It is celebrated for 3 days - Bhogi, Sankranthi and Kanuma. 

How to explain the importance of this festival to our kids in this city lifestyle? It's a bit difficult as very few traditions are being followed now. 

Here are a few things about Sankranthi to explain kids in a simple way:

1. Sankranthi is the time when the Sun moves from the southern hemisphere to Northern Hemisphere (transition of Sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn Zodiac sign). This means The Sun becomes closer to us in India and weather becomes warmer slowly. This is also called as 'Makara' sankranthi because of the transition of Sun to zodiac sign Capricorn (Makara raashi).

2. This is basically a harvest festival as farmers celebrate the beginning of Harvest season

3. In villages, there is a tradition of 'Haridasu' coming to every home singing the prayers of Lord Vishnu. We offer rice and money to them.Other traditions include dancing of Gangireddu (decorated bulls make feats before every home as per the clarinet music of owner) and young women placing 'Gobbemmalu' (prepared from Cow dung and decorated with flowers) on rangolis and dancing around it singing songs.

4. On the first day 'Bhogi', People light bonfire with wood and burn old things indicating the new beginning. In the evening, families with infants or children below 3 years old will arrange a small function and shower 'regupallu' (jujube fruits) on their head. This will reduce evil eye on kids. Some families arrange 'Bommala koluvu' on this day, which means arranging idols and toys in an organized way.

5. On the second day, which is Makara Sankranthi, People wear new clothes, do pooja and make offerings to ancestors of the family who died.  

6. The third day is known as Kanuma, when farmers pray and honor the cattle.

7. Sankranthi is special for rangolis made with combining many dots in an organized manner. Women prepare rangolis everyday for this whole month and on the last day of the festival they draw a chariot.

8. Elders and children enjoy flying kites and some people in coastal areas organize cockfights. 

9. Mukkanuma is the fourth day of the festival when non-vegetarians cook and eat meat, fish etc., Usually, people don't eat non-veg for the first three days of the festival.

10. Traditional foods prepared for the festival are arisalu (jaggery sweet with rice flour), appalu, janthikalu (hot snack prepared with rice flour and besan) and garelu (prepared with black gram).

So, here is the information about the celebration of Sankranthi in 'Andhra style'. I hope this information will be helpful to teach your kids about Sankranthi :-)

I wish you all a very Happy Sankranthi.

Until next time,

Image courtesy: Google images labelled for non-commercial reuse.

Tweenache in the Time of #ashtags by Judy Balan - Book Spot Light

Here goes one contemporary novel. Twitter and Hashtags, Can you relate to it?

Tweenache in the Time of #ashtags by Judy Balan

Book Blurb:



#Tweenache101: First, there's PMS (it's real and it's painful and can someone please make it stop?). Second, there's #The Boy. Yes, that's right. The BOY. And third, there's a #New Dad in the picture. Actually, he's an old dad, but if Nina's never met him before, he totally counts as new, right? And worst of all, there's the #Nerd Wars. There's a new nerd in the classroom - and she might be even nerdier than Nina.

THIS. CAN'T. BE. GOOD.

From the author of How To Stop Your Grownup From Making Bad Decisions, here's another hilarious season in the life of #NinaThePhilosopher.

Book Links:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Website |

About the Author:



Judy Balan is the overthinking parent of an overthinking child. Reality overwhelms her at times, which is why she enjoys making stuff up. She loves reading, watching and writing comedy. How to Stop Your Grownup from Making Bad Decisions was her first attempt at writing for non-grownups. She enjoyed it so much she decided to make it a series and call it Nina the Philosopher because over-thinking tweens deserve their own series. For more on Judy and her writing, hop over to judybalan.com or check out Nina's blog ninathephilosopher.com.

10 Random Facts About The Author:

1.Judy Balan is the over-thinking parent of an over-thinking child.

2.Reality overwhelms her at times, which is why she enjoys making stuff up.

3. When she's not writing novels, she's fighting and making up with her daughter, heading the creative team at Raising iBrows (formerly), an audience engagement agency, and eating too much Nutella.

4. One of Judy's favourite pastimes is reading too many articles on alternative parenting styles and confusing her even more.

5. Another favourite pastime is observing and analysing everything and everyone, including herself.

6. This is her second book for children, but she hopes to write many more (hopefully, stories with orcs, dragons and such. This book can be read as a Stand-Alone, but reading the first one in the series is highly recommended!

7. Her previous books were the bestselling Two Fates: The Story of My Divorce and Sophie Says: Memories of a Breakup Coach and How to Stop Your Grownup from Making Bad Decisions. Both these books were for grownups.

8. This book is NOT about her life although she's a single parent too and Nina was inspired by her daughter, Kiara.

9.As a child, Judy was in a big hurry to grow up, but now she wants to tell all children to slow down because adulthood isn't going anywhere. Apparently.

10. Judy loves hearing from her readers, so you can email her at balan.judy@gmail.com. If you're over eighteen, you can check out her website too at www.judybalan.com .


Stalk Links:

| Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads |





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Until next time,

The Masquerading Magician by Gigi Pandian - Book Spot Light

Here is introducing you all a fantastic mystery novel. Participate in the Giveaway!

The Masquerading Magician by Gigi Pandian
Mystery
2nd in Series
Midnight Ink (January 8, 2016)
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738742359

Synopsis

Deciphering an ancient alchemy book is more difficult than Zoe Faust bargained for. She’d much rather be gardening and exploring her new home of Portland, Oregon—but time is running out for living gargoyle Dorian Robert-Houdin. If Zoe isn’t able to unlock the alchemy book’s secrets soon, the French gargoyle will remain awake but trapped in stone forever.

When Zoe gives herself a rare night out to attend a classic magic show that reminds her of her youth, she realizes the stage magicians are much more than they seem. A murder at the theater leads back to a string of unsolved robberies and murders in Portland’s past, and a mystery far more personal than Zoe and Dorian ever imagined.

About The Author

USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian spent her childhood being dragged around the world by her cultural anthropologist parents, and now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She’s the author of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mystery series (Artifact, Pirate Vishnu, and Quicksand) and the Accidental Alchemist mysteries (The Accidental Alchemist and The Masquerading Magician).

Gigi’s debut mystery was awarded a Malice Domestic Grant, the follow-up won the Left Coast Crime Rose Award, and her short fiction has been short-listed for Agatha and Macavity awards. A breast cancer diagnosis in her thirties taught her two important life lessons: healing foods can taste amazing, and life’s too short to waste a single moment. Find her online atwww.gigipandian.com

Author Links

Website: http://gigipandian.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GigiPandian

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GigiPandian

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GigiPandian

Blog: http://gigipandian.com/posts

Gargoyle photography blog: http://www.gargoylegirl.com/

Purchase Links
Amazon B&N

A Book Excerpt

Persephone & Prometheus’s Phantasmagoria: A Classic Magic Show in the Modern World.

The giant poster was illustrated in the style of Victorian Era stage magic posters. Two figures faced each other from opposite sides of a stage, the larger one in a tuxedo and top hat, the smaller impish figure in a devilish red suit. The taller tuxedoed figure held a wand, pointed upward toward an ethereal floating figure. The devilish man held a ball of fire in his hand.

I smiled to myself as Max and I made our way through the lobby, my fingers looped through his. Some things had changed since the Victorian era. The tuxedo-clad magician in the poster was a woman. Prometheus and Persephone were a husband and wife magic act with equal billing.

Their style reminded me very much of posters of King-of-Cards Thurston and Carter the Great, both of whom used ghost and devil imagery in their posters and shows to illustrate the motif that they were magicians able to control the spirit world. The ambiance felt more like Paris in 1845, on the day Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin took to the stage at the newly-built Palais Royal theater with his ingenious mechanical inventions and masterful sleight-of-hand. But this was a small theater near Portland, Oregon’s Mt. Tabor, over 150 years later. Seeing that poster made me feel like I’d been transported back in time.

I should know. I attended Robert-Houdin’s show over a century ago.

Though I look outwardly like a woman in her late twenties with trendy dyed-white hair who’s named after her grandmother Zoe Faust, the truth is far different. Long before I bought a run-down house in Portland three months ago, I was born in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1676.

A shiver swept over me as a memory of a different time and place overtook me. Casually-dressed Oregonians with cell phones in their pockets became formally-attired members of society who would remember this performance for a lifetime.

Breathe, Zoe
.
I willed myself to remember it wasn’t a taut corset constricting my breathing, but my own nerves. I had thought tonight’s opening performance would be the perfect way to spend time with Max after he’d been away, but could I trust myself with him? I couldn’t tell him the truth about my past, no matter how much I wanted to.

Maybe this had been a terrible idea.

GiveAway:

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Until next time,

Dead Money Run by J Frank James - Book Spot Light

Today's spotlight is on a Mystery Thriller, My favourite Genre :-)

Dead Money Run by J Frank James

Dead Money Run, by J. Frank James, is the first book in the Lou Malloy Crime Series. 

Genres: Mystery / Suspense / Crime / Thriller / Action / Adventure

Synopsis:

Lou Malloy learns of his sister's death right before he is released from prison, having served 15 years for the theft of $15 million from an Indian casino. He wants two things: to keep the $15 million, which no one has been able to find, and to track down and punish whoever killed his sister.

Lou Malloy teams up with Hilary Kelly, a private investigator. In no time, Lou has found the hidden $15 million, recovered guns and ammunition hidden with the money, and murdered two low-level mobsters and fed them to the crocodiles.

As the body count rises, the story grows more complex and his sister's death becomes more mysterious.

"Dead Money Run is a hard-boiled thriller. It is a book of short chapters and almost unrelenting excitement as Lou Malloy and Hillary Kelly avoid cops, kill mobsters, and try to unravel the mystery of who killed Lou's sister and why.” - Reviewed by Wally Wood at BookPleasures.com

To learn more, go to http://bookpublicityservices.com/dead-money-run-j-frank-james/

Excerpt:

CHAPTER 1

The warden was a small man, but dressed neatly. Everything about him was neat-from his hair to his shoes. He was almost too neat.

“So what are your plans, Lou?”

When I walked into the room, the warden turned over a little hour-glass full of sand. We both watched it for a few seconds and then looked at each other. This was the first time I ever met the man. What did he care about me now? Since he never cared before, I figured the man was just looking for information. Perhaps he wanted to give me a warning. I didn’t say anything.

“Do you ever think about time, Lou?”

“After fifteen years, what do you think?” I said.

He smiled and said, “Most valuable thing we have and no one seems to mourn its passing until it’s too late.”

I had nothing to say to that. Conversations with a prison warden came with a lot of maybes. While in prison I trained myself to watch a man’s hands. If he rubbed his hands in a washing motion, he was lying. If he messed with his fingernails, he wasn’t interested in the conversation. The warden was rubbing his hands as if he had touched something distasteful.

“I haven’t given it a lot of thought, Warden Edwards.”

“Call me John, Lou. We’re friends now,” Edwards said while rubbing his hands in a determined kind of way.

So now we were friends. I wanted to tell him he was a liar, but my better judgment stopped me. Probably a good way to delay my release-things get lost, papers go unsigned. Things happen.

“Okay, John,” I said.

“You know, we never found the fifteen million,” he said.

“I didn’t know you were looking for it.”

I watched his eyes flicker briefly. I seemed to hit a sweet spot.

“No, Lou. You misunderstand,” he said as he caught himself. “There is a reward for the recovery of the money. Did you know that?”

Edwards said it more as a statement than a question. I said nothing and waited. Edwards shifted in his chair and started to rub his hands again.

“It would be in your best interest to tell them what you know.”

“Who’s the ‘them’ John?” I asked.

“They’re the people looking for the money.”

I thought about that for a few moments. The statement covered a lot of ground.

“Since I didn’t take the money in the first place, I don’t have anything to tell them. They need to ask the people that took it,” I said.

Edwards was smiling now and he stopped rubbing his hands.

“There are some people that think you do.”

“I can’t help what people think.”

“Ten percent,” he said.

“Ten percent of what,” I said.

“The money, Lou. Ten percent of fifteen million is a lot of money.”

“I hadn’t heard about that,” I said.

“Yeah, it seems the Indian casino had insurance. The insurance company that paid off on the claim put up a ten percent reward for the return of the money. A million five is a lot of money.”

“I hope they find it,” I said.

Edwards blinked his eyes signaling he was moving on to something else.

“Sorry to hear about your sister,” he said. “I understand they are doing all they can to find her killer.”

Edwards was a real card and running out of things to say. On any other day, in any other place, he would be dead or wishing he was.

“Thanks, John. Your words are real comforting,” I said and returned my gaze to the little hourglass and the sand as it accumulated on the bottom.

I had nothing else to say except make him happy. Make them all happy. Just one big happy group sitting around smiling at each other; happy, happy, now let’s just get the money and spread it all around and we can go on being happy. In the meantime my sister lies in a hole feeding worms. I had money on the worms being real happy. No word on how my sister felt.

Edwards looked disappointed when I didn’t add to our conversation.

“Lou, it might be a good idea for you to help them find the money. It could be a big windfall.”

Now we were getting somewhere. Just like all the rest of the treasure hunters, the miserable bastard was just in it for the money.

“Windfall for who, John? Me or you?”

As if tasting a lemon, Edwards twisted his face and, at the same time, waived his hands at an imaginary fly.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Lou. I’m just trying to give you a head start. If it was my decision, you would still be with us. Fifteen million dollars is a lot of money to lose.”

“It still is,” I said.

I sat and watched Edwards shift in his chair some more. We had nothing left to talk about. I could feel him working out in his mind how he was going to present his failure to get a lead out of me on the money.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Edwards said.

Finally, I had enough.

“Leave. Isn’t that what we all do?”

His smile vanished. He knew he was wasting his time on someone who had maxed out. He also knew he couldn’t hold me. There would be no parole violation with the threat to re-incarcerate me. No work release effort to rehabilitate me. Just a new suit made in the prison cut and sew area and a hundred bucks was the sum total of it. That probably hadn’t changed since the 30s. I wondered if Al Capone wore the suit they gave him when he got out.

We were both looking at the little hourglass of sand now. The sand had drained from the top of the glass to the bottom. Suddenly, as if being shot out of a cannon, we both stood up. Edwards stuck out his hand. I turned and left the room. I didn’t shake his hand. I didn’t want to touch him.

About the Author:

J. Frank James has a passion for writing, and he certainly has the knowledge and experience to write realistic crime thrillers, thanks to his extensive background in law. Jim attended law school, where he was a member of the law review. He even went on to pass the state bar and started his own law practice that specialized in complex litigation. Jim's experience in law helps lend credibility to his crime fiction books. He has also traveled extensively and gains inspiration for his crime thrillers from his travels. From observing other cultures and gaining new experiences, Jim is able to infuse new life into his books and develop believable characters that readers can identify with.

J. Frank James writes crime thriller novels that are gripping and suspenseful. In 2013, he began publishing The Lou Malloy Crime Series, which is expected to span 20 books. The series follows Lou Malloy, a hardened criminal who did 15 years in prison for the theft of $15 million, and his partner Hilary Kelly, a private investigator. The titles include The Run Begins, Dead Money Run, Only Two Cats, Blue Cat in Paradise, Rainbow Games, Two Birds To Kill, Last Flamingo, and Finders, Keepers. J. Frank James creates all of his own book covers. To learn more, go to http://www.jfrankjamesbooks.com/

Connect with J. Frank James on Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Until next time,

The Curse of Brahma by Jagmohan Bhanver - Author Interview

I wish a very happy new year to everyone :-)

My first post of the year related to books is an author interview. I have read and reviewed 'The Curse of Brahma' in my blog earlier and here is the link. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Book Details:

Title: The curse of Brahma
Author: Jagmohan Bhanver
Genre: Mythology
No of pages: 378 pages
Publishers: Rupa Publications

Book Blurb:

The man who became a Brahmarishi...
The curse that banished him to the hell of hells...
And the revenge that threatens to destroy the three worlds...

When Lord Brahma, the God of Creation, banishes his star pupil from Swarglok in a fit of rage, he does not foresee that his decision will alter the fate of the three worlds. Mortally wounded, and anguished at Brahma's unfair punishment, his pupil struggles to survive in Tamastamah Prabha, the hell of hells. In time, he becomes the Dark Lord, the most feared figure in Pataal Lok, who swears to destroy Brahma.

The power of the Dark Lord soon begins to make its presence felt in the mortal world. Vasudev, the brave prince of Bateshwar, becomes the hunter of Asura assassins; his closest friend, Kansa, almost dies while trying to save his sister from a group of deadly monsters; and the most valiant kings in Mrityulok turn over to the dark side, driven by forces beyond their control.

Only one person threatens the Dark Lord's well-laid plans - Devki, the beautiful princess of Madhuvan, who is destined to give birth to the warrior Krishna.

Will the Dark Lord allow Krishna - the person who has been prophesied to destroy him - to be born?

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Amazon

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About the Author:





Jagmohan Bhanver is rated amongst the Top 20 Executive Coaches by the GCF (Global Coaching Federation) & is the best-selling author of four books.

Executive Coach & Leadership Mentor to CEOs
Jagmohan is rated amongst the Top 20 Executive coaches in the world. He is referred to as the “Mentor’s Mentor” in corporate circles and has mentored Industry leaders, celebrity entrepreneurs, media people and CEO’s at leading organizations. In the International speakers circuit, he is rated among the most powerful speakers in Asia and one of the most popular Asian speakers across the globe by the Worldwide Speaker’s Bureau.

His latest paper on “leaders as super motivators” has been finding takers in various corporate houses globally and has also been introduced in top B-schools as part of management lessons for executive MBA’s.

Educationist & Public service

Jagmohan is the winner of the Indian Achiever’s Award for Excellence in Education in 2009. He was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Award for outstanding individual achievements and distinguished services to the nation. Subsequently, he was also the recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award. He is also the recipient of the Shiksha Bharati Award.

Internationally best-selling author

Jagmohan’s first book (self help genre) titled "Get Happy Now" was on the best selling lists of most countries and on the Top ten list of leading bookstores in India. His second book, titled "Think your way to Millions" which is on the subject of Behavioral Finance was nominated for the best non-fiction award by Hutch-Crossword in India. This is one of the few books on behavioral finance. His third book was titled “Nadella – The Changing Face of Microsoft.” This book was published by Hachette, the largest publishers in the world. Jagmohan’s latest book is part of a three-volume trilogy on Krishna and is considered as the most awaited book in 2015. It is titled, “The Curse of Brahma.”

Author Interview:

1. Why did you choose the genre - Mythological fiction for your book? Do you love mythology? Is there someone who inspired you to write a book on Krishna Trilogy?

I firmly believe that mythology tells us a lot about our culture and our past. In most cases what is termed as mythology in India in any case is not myth. It is part of our history; our heritage. Just because we might have forgotten part of it and allowed dust to settle on it, it does not turn facts into myth.

Therefore when I saw that for several years now, Indian history and heritage was being written off as mythology, I was a bit taken aback. I knew we in India have the benefit of mythology (or history) that is perhaps more exciting and invigorating that anything else, anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, children today do not spend too much time reading about Indian mythology or history. They are keener to read about Greek or Roman Gods and Goddesses. While there is no harm in reading books based on other cultures, there is equally nothing that should keep us back from reading about own heritage.

The interest in other culture’s mythos as against our own is primarily due to the fact that Indian mythology is mostly narrated in a very conventional manner and even the language and style of writing is not very aligned to what young audiences today want to read. Therefore when I decided to write a book around Indian mythology, I wanted to change this with my own little contribution to this domain. The Curse of Brahma (Vol 1 in the Krishna Trilogy) has hence been written in a way whereby people are able to identify with aspects of our culture and young audiences are also motivated to read it because the language is contemporary.

2. You might have done a lot of research to write on Krishna Trilogy. What books did you refer? How much time this research took you?

I took a sabbatical from my banking career in 2004, and started reading whatever material I could find on Krishna, including Vedic texts that date back thousands of years.

3. What are your favourite authors in the current generation?

I think Rohinton Mistry is an amazing writer. Most of his work falls in the “slice of life” kind of style. Favorite books would include Family Matters from Rohinton Mistry; Great Expectations from Charles Dickens; The mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy; Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Also, Hemingway, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, George Eliot, Tolstoy, Prem Chand. The list is endless.

4. Any message you would like to give for budding writers?

writing is personal. One shouldn’t give or take advice on it. If however, you would want me to share a few things I have picked up on the way, I could do that. The decision to follow it lies with the other person.

If you are writing nonfiction, select a subject where you are the expert. If it is fiction that you want to focus on, write about what you are passionate about. Don’t emulate the writing style of other authors Develop your own brand of writing and your own expression. There’s a greater chance of being recognized that way. And finally, don’t wait for the perfect moment to start writing. The perfect moment seldom happens. Make time to write. Use the weekend or the flight time or any other time you can make use of. But start writing!


Until next time,

Welcome 2016 - Goals for the new year

We entered the second week of New year 2016 as jan 1st came on a Friday and I feel, time is flying very fast. Actually, I want it to run faster than this :-)

This new year started with a family function and I am glad to start the year on a positive friendly note with close relatives. I am pretty busy from 25th December due to personal commitments and got free time only now. 

So, before it becomes too late, let me wish all my dear friends a lovely and happy new year 2016 :-) I hope, this new year brings you all - lots of happiness, success in all your endeavours and good health.

I am not a person who usually set fixed goals for the complete year and change my goals as the time passes. Below are some common goals that I want to achieve irrespective of  my new responsibilities and busy schedules in this new year. 

• Being positive in difficult times is not easy. I want to try this and want to stay calm during tough times.

• I love blogging and always feel guilty, that I am not spending enough time on it. So, I set a goal to publish at least one post per week in 2016.

• Book reading is one of my favourite hobbies. I target to read and review at least 3 books per month.

• Creative arts like dance and music are a boon to my life. I want to spend some time on these arts this new year and rewind my old memories.

• Doing regular exercise and waking up early are some of my goals which I fail to achieve every year. Let me try this time :p

Are you also setting any goals for this new year? I would be happy to know.

Until next time,

PS: Linking this to #MondayMusings hosted by Corinne from http://everydaygyaan.com/can-i-be-judge-judy-for-a-day/EverydayGyaan.

Chronicler of the Undead by Mainak Dhar - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Book Details: 

Title: Chronicler of the Undead

Author: Mainak Dhar

Publishers: Westland books

Genre: Thriller

Source: A free review copy from the author through writersmelon.com

Blurb:

A new thriller from the author of the Amazon.com bestselling Alice in Deadland trilogy.

When there were still people around to talk to, I would introduce myself as a drinker with a writing problem. It sounded witty at the time, and certainly got a smile once in a while from the ladies. None of that matters now. There are no people left to read my books, and nobody left to listen to my attempts at wit.

Now it's just me, sitting in my house on the hill, watching the undead rampage through what we humans once called our world. I sometimes wonder why I still live when those much younger, stronger, smarter and fitter than me perished. Maybe it's just dumb luck. But maybe I am being left alive for a purpose. Nobody may have cared much for my novel, but maybe this is what I was meant to write. Maybe this is what I was meant to be. The chronicler of the undead. This is my story.

My Review:

This is the story of a person who was an ex-army officer in Gangtok who is living alone in a bunglaw at a hill away from the zombies roaming around the village down the hill. This story is basically the journal of that person.

This is my first book about zombies and somehow I am not scared and I find these zombies funny from the info that I have known about them before reading the book. We knew zombies walking with blood and wounds, without any emotions like robots and eating people. We also know from movies how zombies eat or infect others making the victim also a zombie. So, with this basic knowledge, I have started reading this chronicle.
Author's writing style is quirky throughout the book making it a fantastic read. I loved the language used which is very easy to follow. The narration is interesting and I wanted to complete this book in one go. The way the author explains the situations in a straight forward manner, how he plans to combat 'Moreko' (zombie) attacks with very few weapons and with better planning, how he mentions the lessons that he learned from these incidents is interesting. 

My Rating: 4.5/ 5

I would recommend this to everyone who likes to read a thriller with a humourous touch.

PS: Received this free copy from Writersmelon.com in exchange of a review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

Until next time,

The Modern Mughal Mentality by Afshan Naheed Hashmi - Book Spot Light

Here is a book on a specific management principle 'Jugaad' which can be applied in contemporary world. Interesting? Read more on The Modern Mughal Mentality.

About the Book:

The Modern Mughal Mentality transforms hardships and difficulties into success stories by introducing the Jugaad Management Principle Business Model, which can be applied to any business, anywhere.

For the purpose of this book, the term Jugaad will be defined as “obtaining your objectives by maximizing resources through thinking out of the box.”

Following this new business model will inspire all types of companies around the world, no matter how big or small, to create innovative mentalities, products, and strategies. The Modern Mughal Mentality reveals ways in which companies everywhere can benefit from this new business model.

It also reveals ways in which western companies can learn to be successful in India. Executives of multi-national corporations, government officials, and even American and global small business owners who have no plans to do business in India will benefit from the innovative and revolutionary approach to maximizing resources that The Modern Mughal Mentality delivers.

Multi-sector success stories illustrate the various components of the Jugaad Management Principle Business Model. Specific questions in the “Modern Mughal Mentality Exercises” at the end will guide the reader through putting the Jugaad Management Principle Business Model to work for their business.

Implementing the model can lead to increased profit, maximized resources, and a more efficient way of dealing with today’s turbulent economy. The Modern Mughal Mentality also identifies international opportunities in various industries – providing practical solutions to take the guesswork out of the equation.

The Modern Mughal Mentality’s four chapters reveal how the same mentality, which has enabled India to enjoy economic success in today’s turbulent times can radically transform any business. The Jugaad Management Principle Business Model can be used to maximize resources and increase profitability in many sectors. Success stories, important lessons to remember, and opportunities for growth in both India and around the world are given. The “Modern Mughal Mentality Exercises” at the end leads the reader to think creatively and use The Modern Mughal Mentality to create innovative and cost-effective solutions to problems on their own. Regardless of where the reader lives, or what type of business they run, they will be able to improve their bottom line by implementing these changes.

About the Author:

Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi

afshanhashmi.com/

drafshanhashmi.com/

Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi was born in India and educated both in India and USA. She now lives in Rockville, Maryland, USA.

Dr. Hashmi is an author, award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, educator, and a book, movie, make-up and beauty products reviewer, film critic and Radio and TV show host, a successful regulatory and business development and scientific professional with more than a decade of experience.

She specializes in making innovative and value creation market entry strategies for companies looking to enter India. She also lectures and delivers seminars on “Doing Business in India,” including culture training. An award‐winning entrepreneur, Dr. Hashmi has coordinated meetings and accommodations for U.S. business delegations in India. She has facilitated the introduction of U.S. businesses to potential U.S. and international partners, and vice‐versa. Dr. Hashmi maintains an extensive professional network that is required to launch initiatives especially in the U.S., India, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain.

Currently, every month she delivers lectures on India's various aspects to a very large audience. Dr. Afshan Naheed Hashmi has an amazingly diverse career with extensive media experience. She is very popular in India, and many newspapers in India in English, Hindi, and Urdu having written about her including, "The Hindu", "Hindustan Times", and "The Indian Express" to name a few ( (drafshanhashmi.com/id16.html ).She has also appeared on major television channels in India and on TV Asia in the USA.

Dr.Hashmi has had a total reach of over one billion people worldwide via print, TV, and online. Dr. Hashmi is the author of two blogs,”India Business Innovations”

( indiabusinessinnovations.wordpress.com/ ) and “Connecting with the Dignitaries”

( connectingdignitaries.wordpress.com/ ).


Contact Information

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Blog   Goodreads


Purchase Links

Amazon   Barnes and Noble  Kobo

Until next time,

Mimi's adventures in Baking Gingerbread Men - Book Spot Light - Guest Post

Hello.. This time, I am introducing to you a cookbook!

Are you not very comfortable in baking, like me? Do you rely on cookbooks to try new recipes and get tips? Then, this one is for you.

Happy to share a guest post from the author Alyssa on the importance of Illustrations in Children's books

Book Synopsis

Embark on a baking adventure with Mimi where she will measure, mix, and bake her way to the perfect batch of gingerbread men. If Mimi can do it, so can you!

Mimi's Adventures in Baking Gingerbread Men is the third book in the Mimis Adventures in Baking series.

PURCHASE

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

About The Author

Alyssa’s Website / Twitter / Facebook

Chef Alyssa has been baking since she was a little girl in her grandmother's kitchen. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America she has worked for famous chefs and elite companies such as the Ritz Carlton, Tom Colicchio, Norman Van Aken and Gray Kunz. She currently is the Executive Chef at Riverwalk Bar and Grill on the Historic nook of New York City, Roosevelt Island. She also has a boutique custom cake company called AllyCakesNYC where she creates cakes to appease the imagination. Through her journey of baking she developed Mimi, her very own miniature version of herself.

As a child she loved baking and everything that came with it. As an adult and food lover she realized there was something missing when she frequented bookstores. A interactive children's cookbook. And we are not talking about a boring old cookbook for kids with lots and lots of recipes, and some pictures. Children these days have just as much interest in the kitchen as there parents do, but the ordinary cookbook is just not going to cut it. She created Mimi's Adventures in Baking to give children and adults a way to get into the kitchen and allow the child to become the chef and the adult the assistant. With each book has one recipe and an interactive storyline the child can read, and at the end go into the kitchen and do what Mimi did! And for the "non-baking" parent, these elite pastry chef recipes are tested and ready for even the most inexperienced baker! Impress other moms with Mimi's creations!

Mimi's Adventures in Baking will also teach children how to measure, mix and bake their way through the kitchen while also giving safety tips along the way. No more boring cookbooks! Now there is a fun, exciting and educational way to learn how to bake!

Brought to you by Worldwind Virtual Book Tours

Guest Post

Why a Children’s Book Illustrator is Important

I believe illustration is key to the success of a children’s book. Most of the time they are going to be more intrigued by the illustrations than they are by what the book is actually about. Let’s think about it, you walk into a book store and a child is not reading every book they see they are gravitating towards what illustration speaks to them. Which one pops? Which one is more colorful than the rest? Which one says “Choose me! Pick me!” This can become difficult for a lot of authors because you have poured your heart and soul into this book for probably years, and you have always envisioned your characters a certain way. Here lies the hard part… allowing an illustrator to take control and bring your story to life. I think choosing a style of illustration that fits your theme is very important, but finding the illustrator that the story speaks to is so much more important.

Illustrators are like authors in a different form. They need to be able to be given the same freedom the author was given. Allow your illustrator to bring your story to life because those pictures are what will grab a child’s attention immediately. Each one of my books have been such a great process for me because after the second book I started seeing the character development that was transpiring. Once the third book arrived I almost felt as if Mimi had become a person with real feelings and true emotions. My illustrator, Chiara Civati, absolutely fell in love with the character and the book which made my process so much easier. She saw what I saw, she understood her character and with the power of her pencil she can change her from being a fun happy go lucky little girl to a confused amateur baker. She creates a balance that I could have only dreamed of. Finding the illustrator that can bring that balance to life is what you need to look for. The excitement of becoming a published author can sometimes cloud your judgement to make a quick decision to get your book out and on the market faster. Do not under any circumstance make that mistake. Your book will be out and on the shelves forever (hopefully!) so the last thing you want is to look at your book and say “Oh, I should have done that differently.” You want to look at your book on a shelf with pride and excitement.

The illustrations are not just decoration to the text. They enhance the story and emotions of each character. The setting encourages a child to go back to different pictures over and over, noticing new things, reading characters' emotions and interactions, and finding possible secondary subplots that are only told through the pictures. Below is one of the first sketches of Mimi when she was in the beginning stages. 

“Picture books stimulate a state of mind in children that words alone can't achieve”, says J. Richard Gentry in Psychology Today.

Choose the illustrator that will create a miniature world where children understand what they are reading, and allow young readers to analyze the story. When children are having difficulty, the illustrations can help them figure out the meaning of what they are reading. With my books this is very relevant. I wanted to teach children how to bake in a fun and interactive way. I believed that a cookbook shouldn’t just be picture, recipe, and procedure. I wanted it to be a fun story where the child can see Mimi doing it, and they can comprehend the text through illustration. Children are taught basic fundamental skills through picture books, so why not cooking or baking? I created a world where counting, following directions, math and measuring are fun… but not without the help of my illustrator!

Writing a children’s book is fun and rewarding, but finding your missing half aka your illustrator is key to your success. Remember “A picture is worth a thousand words” … Choose wisely!

Until next time,

The Holiday Killer by Holly Hunt - Book Spot Light

A thriller this time. I love Hollywood movies which were made in these lines - alone at home, Christmas season, snow and a psychopath on a hunt. A perfect on the edge thriller, right? 

Today's Book Spotlight is on 'The Holiday Killer' by Holly Hunt. Participate in the raffle copter giveaway :-)

Crime / Thriller

Date Published: December 7, 2015

Happy Holidays…

Around the world, Christmas Eve is a time of joy, hope and new beginnings, where children open presents, parents smile, and all is right with the world.

Except in Matryville.

Holidays are dreaded, rather than anticipated. A killer is on the loose, and he strikes as parents hide their kids, fearing the bogeyman’s wrath…

Liz Rhodes, Special Detective at the Matryville Central Police Department, is heading the investigation of the Holiday Killer. She’s close on his tail, a suspect in her grasp…

… and then her son is taken.

Will Liz be able to track down the Killer before it’s too late? Or will Jamie pay the price for her arrogance? Only time will tell...

EXCERPT

A young boy, five years old, sat sleepily behind his mum's recliner, watching the fireplace in front of him. On the clock behind him, midnight ticked slowly closer. The Christmas decorations around the room were gaudy, tired, and past their lifespan, but they were heirlooms and well-loved, so his mother continued to pull them out every year.

The boy tilted forward a little, yawning. It was well and truly past his bedtime, but he was definitely going to stay up to see Santa Claus.

The clock ticked over to midnight, and a rustling emerged from the chimney. Tom looked up, suddenly wide awake, and peered around the armchair to the chimney. Grains of soot dropped from the chimney into the fireplace below, and Tom hid a little more, watching the fireplace with trepidation.

Then the rustling stopped, and Tom watched the fireplace. But nothing happened.

He peeked out a little more, his heart starting to sink with disappointment. Maybe Santa didn't come if you were waiting for him?

Suddenly the front door clicked open and Tom gasped, hiding behind the chair, watching. He could hear the door creaking open, and feel the slow gust of cold as the wind from outside crept into the warm house. A large, bulky man stepped into Tom's view, dressed in a red suit, but lacking a beard or white hair. Tom watched him with one eye from behind the chair, and stared. Santa!

The man turned to look at him, smiling, and gestured for the boy to follow him. But Tom hesitated. This man was dressed like Santa, but his parents had taught him to be wary of strangers. Should he go? Or should he run upstairs and tell his parents about this?

The man gestured again, then reached into his large sack and pulled out a small present, perfectly wrapped, and held it out to him.

Tom emerged slowly from the chair, stepping slowly toward Santa. The bulky man smiled and headed for the front door, gesturing after him for Tom to follow. Tom looked at the present and cautiously followed the man to the front door, looking out. He couldn't see the man, but that didn't mean he was gone.

Suddenly something grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms to his sides and covering his mouth and nose with a large hand. Tom tried to scream, to wriggle out, but the man was much stronger than him, and he was cutting off his air.

The man carried him from the house, managing to steer him out without the kicking boy knocking anything over, and threw the boy into the trunk of his car. Winded, on the verge of passing out from oxygen deprivation, Tom weakly gulped in air as he watched a second shape carefully shut the door to the house, leaving behind no sign.

About the Author

Butcher by day, author by night, Holly spends her days off writing, playing in her garden and watching superhero cartoons. Holly lives with her husband Matthew and her cat Talia al-Kitty in a two-bedroom flat crammed with comics, video games, books and movie memorabilia. An active cosplayer, Holly and Matthew take time out of their days to entertain kids as various DC comics characters, and make their own costumes (when Real Life allows).

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon

Goodreads

Giveaway

eBook Copies of previous 6 novels.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

First Brush on the Canvas - Anthology - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: First Brush on the Canvas

Genre: Romance, Thriller, Comedy, Short stories, Anthology

Publisher: Half baked beans

Source: A free review copy from writersmelon

About the Book:

'Le Siffleur' and his magic. Vampires, guardians' adventures at night. Coffee, love and a new couple. Imli and her mother in a complex web of darkness. A small town girl confused about virginity. Michael Jaikishen and his writing endeavours. Child adoption by a gay couple. Mahabharat - a modern tale in an epic form. The spine-chilling tale of Tina and Uncle Joe. A juicy love story by our guest author Sujata Parashar. These and many other unputdownable stories in this book.



Purchase the book here.

My review:

This book is a collection of stories of 3 genres - Love, comedy and Horror. These are handpicked stories edited by Priyanka Roy Banerjee from nationwide short story competition organized by writersmelon.com. So, I expected them to be the best of a lot and it didn't disappoint me at all. I didn't enjoy stories from comedy section. All other stories are fantastic.

I loved the quotes before each story. Some which I liked,

There is only one tip for good writing - the subject or the story should have a soul of its own. And it should be satisfying for the reader, not only emotionally, but intellectually as well. - Deepak Kripal

A novel would have one character, or many, depending on your story. But whenever a character is introduced, that person must come alive on your pages. - Madhuri Iyer

There was a time when success really meant getting what I wanted - name, fame, money. Now success is simply the ability to live each day fully, facing whatever comes your way, without brooding over the past or without agonizing over the future in worry, and being happy in the moment. - AVIS Viswanathan

Some of the stories that liked:

Popping the Cherry by Amit Nangia
A funky teenage story of a small town girl who is confused with the concept of virginity. I liked the way story is narrated and the unexpected twist given by the author at the end.

Watermelon: Cut and dried by Sujata Parashar
This is a guest story for this book by prolific writer Sujata. I liked the characterization very well. The author builds up the character of protagonist Kanak very well and we will be in sync with what she thinks and can relate to her character. The flow of the story is smooth and interesting.


Tina by Diptee Raut
A thriller with a twist at the end. The narration is interesting and the way the author planned the climax is good.

Lepidoptera by Stuti Chandra
What can I say about this story? dark or mysterious? Enjoyed reading this. It's on the edge thriller.

My Rating: 3/5

About the Authors:
Uttiya Roy – Nourished with Bangla literature, he aspires to change the world someday writing in English. 

Upasana Bhattacharjee – Our youngest writer is still a student, but that doesn’t reflect in the matured story she’s written dealing with inconclusive logics and paradoxes. 

Stuti Chandra – She writes because she’s alive. This lovely lady is from Patna and has dipped her nose in English Literature at Delhi.

Shaily Bhargava – A photographer, a logophile and an Equity Technical Analyst – all in one. 

Arunav Chowdhury – He’s a movie buff and a news junkie rolled into one, who writes wonderful modern takes on the age old Mahabharat.

Rafaa Dalvi – A Mumbaikar, an engineer, a blogger and a prolific writer. He’s already made his presence in three anthologies and likes to experiment with different genre.

Diptee Raut – A quilter, blogger, quirky mom, an amazing writer &co-winner of Melonade’4. 

Abhishek Mukherjee – Have you read his blog posts yet? You have to read his humorous takes on Mythology to believe he’s the best.

Anwesha Ray – An amazingly sensitive writer, she lives and works in Bangalore.
Avishek Basu Mallick He’s the winner of Melonade’4. If you wish to laud him for more, he’s an engineer and an MBA, working in Bangalore and a featured writer on Sportskeeda

Arijit Ghose - Blend Carnatic music with exceptional satire and the result is Arijit Ghose. 

Amit Nangia - For those working in MNCs for years, he’s your inspiration. Amit’s first novel has just released after facing many rejections but that didn’t deter him from writing. 

Sujata Parashar - Author of the immensely popular ‘In Pursuit Of’ series & a wonderful poet. 

Until next time,


PS: I have received free review copy from author through writersmelon.com and this is my honest opinion on this book.