Every Minute by C.J. Burright

Book 1 of Music, Love and Other Miseries

Contemporary Romance

Date Published:  12/31/19

Publisher:  Totally Bound Publishing

Introverted teacher versus unstoppable violinist. She wants to be alone. He wants her heart. Let the games begin…

After the unexpected death of her musician brother, third-grade teacher Adara buries her grief, avoids all music and vows to exist without attachments. Social solitude works perfectly…until she’s forced to share her classroom with the new music mentor, a man who rattles her carefully constructed cage and sparks emotions she prefers to keep chained.

Always up for a challenge, violinist Garret is a master of patience and persistence, and the minute he meets Adara, he knows what he wants. Her sharp humor and haunted eyes inspire him in a way he’s never felt before. He makes it his mission to chip through her shields and breathe her back to life—no matter how hard she resists.

Even as Adara struggles to keep Garret at a distance with each clash of wills, each smile he coaxes, each kiss he steals, her resistance crumbles. But when the past catches up with them both, they will discover that some promises are meant to be broken…and others are worth risking everything for.

Excerpt

Garret’s full, generous mouth was too close to hers, making her traitorous lips tingle. The stubble on his lean jaw called to her fingers, and she fisted her hands to keep them under control. She’d never wanted to touch something so badly. Not something—him. Garret. But giving in would unlace the cocoon she’d kept so carefully constructed since Joey.

Without warning, he tucked her hair behind her ear. His callused fingertips trailed her jaw and her mouth went dry. Gently, he cupped her chin. “You feel nothing now?”

“Nothing.” Her voice surrendered to him first, nothing more than a breathless whisper. He had to feel her thundering heart vibrate through his fingers.

His eyes flashed, dark and daring. She should duck under his arm and run like snarling hell hounds were chasing her, but her willpower snuffed out. As if sensing her incapacity, he pressed his lips beneath her ear. Her uncooperative eyelids fluttered, the next defense to fail. His stubble scraped her cheek, and that simple hint of rough on smooth shot flames into every cold spot. His breath brushed her ear. “Now?”

His low voice nibbled along every nerve. She couldn’t answer. She wanted to slide her fingers over his jaw then tangle them in his too-long hair, to press against him and fit her body into his until all her broken pieces were forged in his heat and remade. She wanted his arms around her, his mouth on hers and nothing between them but skin.

He eased back and held her gaze. “Nothing?”

The overload of sensations, the longing and hiding and defending all blended into an Adara bomb. If she didn’t do something, she’d erupt. With trembling fingers, she caressed his jaw. The sensation was everything she’d hoped for, bristly and rough, unexpectedly intimate.

Garret sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. When his lashes lifted, his eyes gleamed like obsidian fire. Then his mouth was on hers. He pressed his hard, strong body into hers, trapping her fully against the wall.

About the Author

C.J Burright is a native Oregonian and refuses to leave. A member of Romance Writers of America and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, while she has worked for years in a law office, she chooses to avoid writing legal thrillers (for now) and instead invades the world of paranormal romance, fantasy, and contemporary romance. C.J. also has her 4th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and believes a story isn’t complete without at least one fight scene. Her meager spare time is spent working out, refueling with mochas, gardening, gorging on Assassin’s Creed, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners…always with music. She shares life with her husband, daughter, and a devoted cat herd.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter:  @CJBurright

Blog

Goodreads

Pinterest

Instagram

Bookbub

Purchase Link

Amazon

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Murder in Montague Falls by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas

 

 

Murder in Montague Falls

by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas

on Tour December 1-31, 2019

Synopsis:

WHITE HOT THRILLS! PITCH BLACK DEEDS!

3 TALES OF TEENS TACKLING THEIR DARKEST RITES OF PASSAGE

Acclaimed storytellers Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, and Patrick Thomas each present an original novella brimming with enough danger, intrigue, and murder to get readers’ blood pounding and hearts racing.

In Colchamiro’s RED INK, a paperboy with an overactive imagination witnesses a brutal killing on his route—or has he taken his fantasy spy games a step too far?

In Hatton’s THE DEVIL’S DELINQUENTS, a trio of teenage misfits in pursuit of success, power, and revenge practice amateurish occult rituals… with deadly consequences.

In Thomas’s A MANY SPLENDID THING, a sultry high school teacher enrolls one of her students to get rid of her husband. But will the young man really graduate to murder?

Book Details:

Genre: Crime
Published by: Crazy 8 Press
Publication Date: October 1st 2019
Number of Pages: 250
ISBN: 0998364185 (ISBN13: 9780998364186)
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

The Turnback - You Kill Me:

"You Kill Me" is the official soundtrack to the book MURDER IN MONTAGUE FALLS (Noir-Inspired Novellas by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton & Patrick Thomas). Russ Colchamiro (a long time friend and fellow creator) asked the band to write what would be considered a closing credit tune for the book. We were happy to do so!

Read an excerpt:

RED INK

An infrared scope cut through the suburban tree line.
Perched on a high-angle branch in the neighbor’s spruce tree, Isaac could see her through the living room window, six houses away.
The M21 semi-automatic sniper rifle with fiberglass stock and 20-round box magazine was snug against his shoulder.
One bullet. One body.
Though camouflaged within a thicket of evergreen leaves, he had a clean shot.
“Come on,” he whispered, his eye against the scope. “Give me the signal.”
In perfect synchronicity, Isaac’s earpiece crackled. “Target confirmed. Kill shot approved.”

THE DEVIL'S DELINQUENTS

Natalie exits her room with the ritual kit, locking the door behind her.
Her father, swathed in a cornucopia-pattern quilt, sits in his wheelchair in the den, positioned near enough the window so that he can be in the daylight. Maybe he enjoys it, but one cannot tell for certain since his face registers no enjoyment, nor any other emotion.
Natalie kneels down before him, flips up the quilt, and undoes the bottom three buttons of his shirt, exposing his stomach. Between her fingertips, she wields the double-edged blade for a safety razor. She carefully nicks the skin above his father’s belly button. She looks up at him, detects no reaction.
She makes intersecting six-inch-long slices into his stomach, then carves a large circle around the lines, working around the seeping blood. Upon finishing, she evaluates her work and nods.
“I’m going to bring you back, daddy,” Natalie says to him, kissing his knuckles. “I promise.”

A MANY SPLENDID THING

Rosa went from smiling to bawling in less time than it took to blink. I pulled her in and held her against my bare chest. She pounded my ribs with her closed fists.
“Why won’t you understand! There is no other way! If we don’t kill him soon, you’ll come to school one day and find that he killed me. How are you going to feel then? Especially if he figures out that you’re my lover! You would follow me to the Pearly Gates.”
“Rosa, this talk of killing is crazy.”
She pushed herself back and slapped me hard across the face. “You think I’m crazy?”
***
Excerpt from Murder in Montague Falls. Copyright 2019 by Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas. Reproduced with permission from Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, Patrick Thomas. All rights reserved.

Russ Colchamiro:

RUSS COLCHAMIRO is the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany sci-fi backpacking series Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, editor of the sci-fi mystery anthology, Love, Murder & Mayhem, and contributing author for his newest project, Murder in Montague Falls, a noir novella collection, all with Crazy 8 Press.
Russ has contributed to several other anthologies including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, They Keep Killing Glenn, Altered States of the Union, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Brave New Girls vols. 3&4, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, and Footprints in the Stars.
He is now finalizing the first in an ongoing SFF mystery series featuring his hard-boiled private eye Angela Hardwicke and has several other SFF, crime fiction, and children’s book projects in the works.
Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, their twin ninjas, and their crazy dog, Simon.

For more on Russ’s works, visit:
russcolchamiro.com, Goodreads, Twitter, & Facebook!

Sawney Hatton:

SAWNEY HATTON is an author, editor, and screenwriter who has long loved playing in the dark. His published works include the Dark Comedy novel Dead Size, the YA Noir novella Uglyville, and the Dark Fiction short story collection Everyone Is a Moon. He also edited the Sci-Fi Horror anthology What Has Two Heads, Ten Eyes, and Terrifying Table Manners?
Other incarnations of Sawney have produced marketing videos, attended chili cook-offs, and played the banjo and sousaphone (not at the same time). As of this writing, he is still very much alive.

For more semi-unseemly insights into Sawney, visit:
sawneyhatton.com, Goodreads, Twitter, & Facebook!

Patrick Thomas:

PATRICK THOMAS is the award-winning author of the beloved Murphy’s Lore series and the darkly hilarious Dear Cthulhu advice empire.
His 40+ books include Fairy with a Gun, By Darkness Cursed, Lore & Dysorder, Dead to Rites, Startenders, As the Gears Turn, Cthulhu Explains It All, and Exile and Entrance. His is the co-author of the Mystic Investigators series, The Santa Heist, and the Jack Gardner mysteries.
Patrick is the co-editor of Camelot 13 (with John French), New Blood (with Diane Raetz), and Hear Them Roar (with CJ Henderson), co-created The Wildsidhe Chronicles YA series and is the creator of the Agents of the Abyss series.
He has had more than 150 short stories published in magazines and anthologies, with his work for YA and children including the Ughabooz books, the Undead Kid Diaries, the Joy Reaper books, and the Babe B. Bear Mysteries as Patrick T. Fibbs.

Visit him online at:
patthomas.net, Goodreads, Twitter, & Facebook!

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

Enter To Win!!:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Russ Colchamiro, Sawney Hatton, and Patrick Thomas. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on December 1, 2019 and runs through January 2, 2020. Void where prohibited.

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Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours

 

Book Review: Instant Pot Cookbook: 600+ Easy Delicious and healthy Recipes -1000-Day Meal plan- For beginners And advanced Users

Personally, I love cooking and eating and anything to go with food. I am a Bengali, so guess it is in my genes. However, I am not a big fan of cookbooks, as I find the cooking processes are not described properly. However, this is a book, begs to differ.  Not only the book includes detail recipes, but it also includes a wide range of recipes with low cost material. It is ideal for small families and weekday dinner.

Title: Instant Pot Cookbook
Genres:  Entertaining & Holiday Cooking
Author: Jerome Blanchard
Publish Date: November 9, 2019
Publisher: Independently published
Format: Paperback and Kindle Unlimited
Purchase Links: Amazon USA 

We all can use this book for our daily life cooking, and one of the best part of this book is meal prep ideas. Though meal prep is quiet in trend in now a days and you can find multiple books on the same, this book gives very details and practically useful meal prep ideas.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book that it does not have any photos of the cooked recipes. , however, whatever recipe I tried, turned out to be very tasty.

Overall, this is a very useful cookbook and ideal for holiday gifting.

 💓💓💓💓

Author Bio:

Jerome Blanchard is a cook with extensive work experience of more than 10 years in the USA and UK restaurants. She uses both traditional ways of making dishes, and advanced techniques using the pressure cooker Instant Pot. It allows her to achieve the maximum result in a short time. Jennifer likes to share her experiences with others. For this purpose, she publishes cookbooks, in which she selects only the best and easy recipes accessible to any novice cook.  

Exordium by S.N.Jones

Today S. N. Jones, GenZ Publishing, & Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the GORGEOUS cover for her YA Historical fantasy, EXORDIUM which will release in early 2020! Check out the awesome cover and enter the giveaway!

On to the reveal!

Title: EXORDIUM (Tempus Book 1)

Author: S. N. Jones

Pub. Date: 2020

Publisher: GenZ Publishing

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 247

Find it: Goodreads, GenZ Publishing

“Fall to rise higher.”

This is the motto of the clan Kongeorn. In their world of harsh battles and harsher winters our story begins.

Exordium is a historical fantasy novel that follows the story of Vita, who is thrust into a position of power and forced to deal with the aftermath of a family tragedy--and an act of war. Along the way, she must confront her own demons and learn that everyone is fighting their own war, their own obstacles. She must learn how to overcome them, to rise higher than ever before. Exordium and its author, S. N. Jones, were awarded with the 2018 National Civic Expression Award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, funded by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers.

One woman.

One name.

One forgotten legacy.

Excerpt:

"The forest seemed still, as if no creature dared to move or cry out in my presence. The trees remained static, their branches rigid and frozen in the cool night air. In the stillness, a burden began to weigh down upon me, cloaking me like the furs on my shoulders. It sobered me, taking my attention away from the visions and cynical thoughts, and plopped me right where I would stay. I could not hide from it, nor—I found—did I want to. My duty to my people, to my name, bore down on me, and I refused to shake it.”

About S.N.:

Proud author of Exordium, fantasy author, and lover of books!

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win a $10 Amazon GC, International.

Giveaway ends December 27th, midnight EST.

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Book Review: Mirrro: at Weird Way Ward by Manoj Kumar Sharma

About the Book: This is a dystopian story set in India in the 2030s, where we the Nation have grown significantly; but problems like rape, alcoholism, drug consumption, and many others remain amaranthine.

This story is also about an unconventional lover who is helpless because of the circumstances of his life.

And, this story is definitely about how to overcome these demons and wakeup in a new dawn.

Title: Mirrro: at Weird Way Ward (Social Fiction / Urban Fiction)

Author: Manoj Kumar Sharma

Publish Date: 4 November 2019

Publisher: Notion Press

Format: Paperback and Kindle Unlimited

Pages: 372

Purchase Links: Amazon USA | Amazon India | Flipkart

The protagonist Indo, is a flawed human, who loves his fiancée and grandmother immensely, however, a single unfortunate crime incident changed worsened his life forever further. Indo and his family continue to suffer for over a decade as the perpetrators are never caught and no justice is served in their case. The book tells us the story of Indo, and through it, the author tells the story of so many of us who are not only victims of crime but also victims of lacking justice.

I was hypnotized by the flow and writing style of the author from the very first page. The pace of the book is fast and steady. Without giving any spoiler, I can surely say that the author used some uncongenial ways to portray societal views. This particular approach is very interesting and quite rare. I can surely say that readers will enjoy the excitement of unpredictability till the end and nobody could have predicted the end twist. It is simply brilliant.

The character of the protagonist's character is well developed and quite relatable. His pains, agonies, and desperation are heart touching through the author’s words. The most interesting character in the book is Indo’s grandmother. Her name in the book is also very unique, just like her character. She is strong yet vulnerable. She is truly like her name. Indo’s fiancée character is realistic and relatable; she could be any one of us. All the characters in this story are very relatable, realistic and interesting beyond any predictions.

The only thing is that don’t judge a book by its cover.

Overall, this is a very interesting and gripping book, and nobody will feel bored reading even one page. I strongly recommend reading this book.

💓💓💓💓💓

Why read this Book?

Creative People from the Book world (Readers, Authors, Creative Writers, and Reviewers), TV & Cinema, Media, would love this book for its unique CONTENT….precisely speaking some fresh, new, innovative CONTENT. MIRRRO is a surprising delight for all creative people, so, witnesses a story which never ever happened in our Life Time….

Author Bio:

He is born & brought up and in Bhilai, Durg (Chattisgarh).  Did his schooling from Bhilai and loves to take part in various competitions (Story, Poetry, Essay, Debates, etc). And those experiences shadowed the Author many years till MIRRRO happened.  He pursued a professional carrier as Civil Engineer after graduation from Engineering College, Raipur. He worked in various organizations for more than 20 years, however, while all those years working as a Civil Engineer, the childhood aspirations for creativity shadowed the Author. 

Meanwhile in the year 2000, out of a craving for literary creativity, he started writing something or other things, which was not so structured and directionless. Then again started writing in the year 2012, but, was never ever consistent.

Then after retirement aggregated everything hibernating in my mind & few haphazardly lying written-pieces.....finally MIRRRO born...

As an overview, the Author believes that Writing is a Soulful Act, processed by Shri Maa Sarasvatiji & Muse....not by the Author.

Catch up with Manoj Kumar Sharma On: 

Email - Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

Storm of Secrets by Loretta Marion

I am so excited that STORM OF SECRETS by Loretta Marion is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author Loretta Marion, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for signed first editions of STORM OF SECRETS & book 1 HOUSE OF ASHES and a book bag and stickers, US Only AND ebook of THE FOOL'S TRUTH International, courtesy of Loretta and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

About the Book:

Title: STORM OF SECRETS (Haunted Bluffs Mystery #2)

Author: Loretta Marion

Pub. Date: November 12, 2019

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 312

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Indiebound, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

A deadly storm, a missing three-year-old child, a grisly murder, and the eerie presence of the spirits of the dead set the stage for the second mesmerizing installment of Loretta Marion's paranormal suspense series.

A powerful storm descends upon Cape Cod's Whale Rock at the peak of tourist season--and the weekend Cassandra Mitchell's and Daniel Benjamin's wedding is set to take place at The Bluffs, the magnificent Victorian mansion Cassie inherited from her family. In the wake of the storm's destruction, three-year-old Lucas Kleister goes missing--and the body of small-time drug dealer Lee Chambers is found in a restaurant dumpster. Now, the WRPD are faced with a murder to solve, a missing child to find, and the aftermath of one of the worst storms in recent memory.

While aiding with the clean-up and helping the displaced, Cassie has been receiving cryptic messages from the spirits of her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, the original residents of The Bluffs. At first, the messages are benign, but soon, they begin to point to something more sinister. As Cassie works to decipher their meaning, the specter of a mysterious local legend surfaces. The tale of Barnacle Boy--and what happened to him during another destructive storm decades earlier--will weave through the desperate search to find Lucas and the identity of the killer.

"Modern and historic mysteries collide in Marion's bittersweet storytelling."   

—Kirkus Reviews  

“[A] gripping sequel...Marion seamlessly weaves the multiple story threads together. Fans of tales of regional intrigue will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly  

Title: HOUSE OF ASHES (Haunted Bluffs Mystery #1)

Author: Loretta Marion

Pub. Date: November 13, 2018

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Indiebound, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

A family patriarch’s dying proclamation, an enigmatic disappearance, and a century-old curse converge in the shadows of a majestic home on Cape Cod’s craggy coast.

Thirty-seven-year-old painter Cassandra Mitchell is fourth-generation to live in the majestic Battersea Bluffs, a brooding Queen Anne home originally built by her great-grandparents, Percy and Celeste Mitchell, and still standing despite tragedies that have swept the generations. Local lore has it that there was a curse placed on the family and the house is haunted, though opinions are divided on whether it's by malicious or benevolent spirits. Cassie believes the latter―but now she stands to lose her beloved home to mounting debt and the machinations of her dream-weaving ex-husband.

Salvation seems to arrive when a nomadic young couple wanders onto the property with the promise of companionship and much-needed help―until they vanish without a trace, leaving behind no clue to their identities. Cassie is devastated, but determined to discover what's happened to the young couple...even as digging into their disappearance starts to uncover family secrets of her own. Despite warnings from her childhood friend, now the local Chief of Police―as well as an FBI agent who pushes the boundaries of professionalism―Cassie can't help following the trail of clues (and eerie signals from the old house itself) to unravel the mystery. But can she do so before her family's dark curse destroys everything in its path?

Excerpt:

Whale Rock Village, Massachusetts     

     On the short walk to my car, a sparkle caught my eye on the ground near a temporary dumpster behind La Table, the new location of my old flame Billy Hughes’s catering business.

     Later, I reflected on how different things would have been had I not been so curious.

     What if I hadn’t had the dress fitting today? What if I hadn’t parked in Archie’s space? What if I hadn’t gone out the back door of his shop? What if I hadn’t gone over to examine what was glittering next to the dumpster?

     “The what ifs and should haves will eat your brain.” It was a quote of John O’Callaghan’s, from his book of poetry entitled, Sincerely, John the Ghost—ironically, a gift from Zoe, who’d always eschewed the notion of Percy’s and Celeste’s spirits.

     The point is, if I hadn’t done all those things, then I wouldn’t have seen that glint on the ground and gone over to check out what it was. Most crucially, I would never have noticed a hand through the rusted-out hole in the dumpster.

     A very dead hand.

About Loretta: 

An author of fiction, Loretta’s writing bridges the genres of women’s fiction, mystery and suspense, always with hints of romance and humor, sometimes delving into the psychological and paranormal. She creates strong but flawed and struggling characters as appealing as the rich atmospheric settings in which the stories take place.

Loretta has loved reading and creating with words since she was a young girl. And that affection for the written word followed her like a shadow throughout her life as she put pen to paper crafting marketing and advertising copy, educational brochures and newsletters. But her passion for writing fiction evolved from the unlikely world of hospice. As a volunteer, she set out to establish a Legacy Story program to honor and preserve the rich heritage of the fascinating people who were soon to leave this world. The meaningful experience inspired her to create her own interesting characters and stories.

Though born and raised in the Midwest, Loretta fell in love with New England and has made it the setting for much of her writing. When not whipping out words on her laptop, she is traveling, enjoying outdoor pursuits, or is curled up with a delicious new book. Loretta lives in Rhode Island with her husband, Geoffrey, and their beloved Mr. Peabody, a sweet, devoted and amusing “Corgador” (Corgi-Labrador cross).

Represented by Jill Grosjean Literary Agency

Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a one signed first edition copy of each book in the Haunted Bluffs Mystery Series - HOUSE OF ASHES &  STORM OF SECRETS in a book bag with book marks, US Only.

1 winner will receive an ebook of THE FOOL'S TRUTH, International.

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Jatin Kuberkar Interviewed

The Treasure Syndicate by Jatin Kuberkar

~ Book Tour ~

18th to 20th November

About the Book:

When Kaliyug resolved to enter Aryavatra, and encountered the lats Pandav, king a curse gave the world it's first 'Nidhi-Palak' or The Guardian of treasure Troves in the form of Lord Kuber's mortal son, Suta. In time, the Guardian bloodline scattered all over the world. Acharya Agnihotri is an astrologer. He searches for hidden treasures, to fulfill his destiny as a 'Nidhi-Palak'. Dr. Mahesh secretly finances missions for Acharya. Kumar is favored by unfathomable luck.. Jabbar is a legendary digger, and Srikanth is just a common man. United, they form the Treasure Syndicate, always a team of five; a motley mix with an uncanny balance. Bound by the elaborate framework of coincidence, destiny, and fate, the mission of the syndicate is not a cakewalk. The danger is real, and the conditions are never favorable. A hunting past awaits Acharya's team, as the Kaliyug threatens to turn the mission upside down.



Book Links:
Goodreads * Amazon

Interview:

When did you decide to become a writer?
I never really decided that I will become a writer. It just happened over a period of 15 years.
The very first story I have ‘created’ was at a birthday party where I was assigned to look after a group of children. I narrated them a story that instantly flashed in my mind and everyone, including me was spelled bound.
After that, I started a blog and started writing stories for children. At the same time, random inspirations from the street of Hyderabad attracted me. There I began with compiling my observations which eventually turned out to be my first book – While I Was Waiting.
The response for the book encouraged me to write more… it instilled the confidence in me that I could write interesting stuff.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I just see myself as an author – not really viewing it as a career.
But, yes, I do have ambitions with no deadlines as such!
I want to write more. I want to experiment with different genre. Want to try non-fiction and write at least one book about philosophy/spirituality.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?
One of the unique traits in my writing so far is that I really don’t believe in the protagonist-antagonist theory; I don’t brand anyone as good or bad. It is the story that drives the characters reactions to the given situations.
In my current book ‘The Treasure Syndicate’ the central character an Astrologer named ‘Acharya’. He is an old man with the knowledge of ages. He carries with him a distinct lineage that exists since the time Kaliyug set its foot on earth.
This character is special because:
Acharya ‘knows’ a lot of things, but he not ‘perfect’ at anything.
I wanted him to be that way, like every one of us, but he has the amount of perfection in him to readily accept his shortcomings. I mean, who does that now a days?

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
Oh Yes! I can write a book about it!
I was only particular about being lonely while writing, with a constant burning of incense sticks.
But the scope aggravated as I was researching on my book regarding the effects of planets and stars.
I have made it a routine to think about new ideas on a full moon night, while adoring the moon. – seems to be working for me.
Otherwise, I don’t have a set routing or time to write!! 😊

Where do the ideas come from?
To me, Ideas come from either thinking in a reverse direction, or thinking beyond what is obvious.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
The idea drives me until I carve out an outline. Then, I leave it aside for days. This gives my mind the required time to be practical about what I am writing. Then, when I re-read my outline, and if I am still able to connect with it, I continue writing on the subject else, it stays like that – sure to be picked up at some point of time (may be as a part of a larger work)

Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
I experience writer’s block quiet often… but over the period, I’ve realized that it is more of an indication that this is not what I should be writing. A percent of books that are incomplete in my list are all due to this. I guess, the god in me wants me to complete what he thinks is best for me… 😊

What can we expect from you down the line?
More books! More from the Treasure Syndicate, some non-fiction, some philosophy and a lot of entertainment!!

About the Author:

For the mortal world, I pretend to be a Software Engineer who works hard (or hardly?) in the hours of a day. I am the guy next door, a hard core Harry Potter fan and a movie buff. I literally ‘live’ every movie, I have strong opinions about its content and I hate it when a movie based on an interesting concept is messed up for the sake of commercial value. I enjoy watching cartoon shows (doremon, dora and Choota Bheem) with my son. I never get bored of listen to the endless chatter of my wife. When I’m not writing, I make toys for children.
But beyond the boundaries of this ‘cholesterol rich’ coil, I am a rider of rapturous thoughts. I am a thinker, a philosopher, a seeker, a story-teller, a writer, a wanderer and every other thing that a thought can be. At times some of these figments fire out of my thoughtful bowl and command me to write, muse, create, recreate, destroy…EXPRESS!
Who Am I? I have been asking this question to myself since 33 years, and I got a different answer always. Sometimes I get confused and think, am I asking the right question to seek the correct answer? or may be that am I missing the  whole fantastic universal drama around me while I am busy finding an answer to an irrelevant question?
Does the answer even matter?

Contact the Author:
Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

Ratnadip Acharya Interviewed

The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya

~Book Tour~

11th to 17th November

About the Book:

Mumbai, December 2016: 

A young man found an ancient-looking piece of stone with strange images and Sanskrit inscriptions. A quest to know the origin of the stone brought him to the distant part of the country. 

Chandannagar, December 2016: 

A young vivacious historian woman read an old book on a century-old secret story about a little known part of the country. Her curiosity got the better of her as the book disappeared mysteriously before she could complete it. She reached a sleepy quaint state of the country to satiate her curiosity. 

Eventually they both met and their search began from the city museum to a far-flung rock mountain which revealed a century-old story of a seductive danseuse, her enigmatic lover, a string of her admirers, a painter with a photographic memory, a bird that could speak in many voices, a benevolent king and a gruesome conspiracy. And the most important clue to decode the final secret was with the missing part of The Speaking Stone. But in the process of unearthing old secrets their lives were also in danger… 

Book Links:

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Interview:

Question: When did you decide to become a writer? 

Answer: As I understand, almost all the authors are doing something more(apart from writing) to make a living. So an author/writer is not someone whose only entity is that he/she is a writer. Well, in my case the desire for writing sparked (I am an electrical engineer with a complete technical background) in early twenties when I devoured the short story of Guy De Maupassent, Tagore and O Henry. The surprise ending in their stories left me simply awestruck. I realized greatest stories can be spun from ordinary lives. I became a better observer (as I feel) and felt that I could voice my thoughts in words and thus the journey began.

Question: What are your ambitions for your writing career? 

Answer: I l write with love; unless an idea overwhelms me usually I don’t write it. And when you write with total love, you want to be read. I am already financially comfortably off, hence no monetary ambition from writing.

Question: Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special? 

Answer: Look, I have written three novels. The first one, Life is always aimless…  is a love story and the protagonist dreams of becoming an author one day; a young man with all doubts and confusion in whom we all can find a glimpse of ours.

In the second novel, Paradise Lost & regained, the protagonist is a deer who narrates its life in first person singular. This novel is a grand flight of imagination, and I see my self-projection in that little deer.

And third novel, The Speaking Stone, has two protagonists, Shuvashini and Saikat, again both the characters are formed from people I met in real life hence they are very special to me. Besides, they also know that I took the liberty of using their characters to manufacture this large novel.

  

Question: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured? 

Answer: I usually prefer to write at night, chiefly post ten pm when there is an agreeable silence around.  During holidays, at times, I work during day, too. But again, night time is my favourite. Before getting into writing, I invariably note down the major events which will be the spine of basic storyline chronologically. It affords me to complete the writing faster.

Question: Where do the ideas come from? 

Answer: I don’t know. I don’t think any sincere author can answer this question. All I have to do is keep my being open, and ideas pour in from all around, barely few of them I write and the rest remain with me. When you write keeping your readers in mind and the kind of stuff they love to read, and produce the same sorts of stuff, you can answer from you get the ideas, otherwise no author can answer it.

Question: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you? 

Answer: Usually, I write a meticulous outline for without it, it is difficult to write a large novel. However, at times, the flow of events makes the story move this way or that.

Question: Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block? 

Answer: Give yourself time, let silence be your best friend for a while and eventually you will break the writer’s block and come up with a better way to take your writing project ahead.

Question: What can we expect from you down the line? 

Answer: The first and foremost is that there will be no commonplace storyline. Whether it is mystery novel or a work on life it will be an extremely original work with lots of surprise element.

About the Author:

Ratnadip Acharya is the author of two successful novels, Life is Always Aimless... Unless you love it and Paradise Lost & Regained. He is a columnist for the Speaking Tree in The Times of India. He contributed many write-ups in different collections of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He lives in Mumbai with his wife, Sophia and son, Akash.

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