I mainly write prose, but also love to dabble in poetry. Recently, it struck me that the title of my contemporary romance novel 'When I see your Face' would make an awesome poem title, too. Here's what I have come up with. I think the poem reflects all the emotions that seeing Michael's face evokes in Cathy, as well as the change in her attitude towards him / in their relationship.

When I see your face
It makes my heart race
As with a single gaze
I remember disgrace

When I see your face
I am lost in a maze
Searching for ways
To overcome this daze

When I see your face
I count the days
Until I can finally brace
Memories I can’t erase

When I see your face
I overcome the dark phase
And the suffering’s blaze
Vanishes without a trace

When I see your face
It penetrates the haze
Softens the fall from grace
Conquers time and space

When I see your face
It makes me want to chase
What never with me stays
What I cannot replace

When I see your face
Listen to what it says
I long for your embrace
Want to rest my case

When I see your face
I’m in my happy place
Bask in the warming rays
Of the love it portrays

© Devika Fernando

It's time for another author interview. I always love these because they provide such a wonderful insight into the writer's mind. A round of applause for Deepti Menon, please! Thank you for your interesting answers, my friend!

What do you like most about being a writer?

I love the fact that, as a writer I can live a number of lives apart from my own, which is exciting enough, of course. Friends and family members run a mile when they see me around, because they don’t want to be featured in my next tale! I love the idea that everyone I meet and every situation that I go through in life can be put down on paper.

Do you prefer a specific genre for reading and writing?

I grew up in a house with books strewn around, and in an atmosphere in which my parents allowed me to make my own choices. Consequently, I enjoy a variety of genres – classic, history, mystery and crime, romance and above all, humour.
I wrote my first poem at the age of ten. Having done my Masters in Literature, I learnt to appreciate poets of different ages. My friend and I would learn our favourite lines by heart, and spout them, whenever we could! :-)
Today, I find that I enjoy writing short stories because it is a challenge to hook your readers on to a shorter piece of writing. There was this quote by Stephen King which I heard recently, and which made a huge impact on me. He says, “A short story is a different thing altogether – a short story is like a kiss in the dark from a stranger.” I absolutely love that!

Is there a country you would love to choose as your next setting? Why?

I haven’t been to many places abroad. But I was lucky enough to visit England, Scotland and Wales for a whole month, and I was fascinated by the quaint little villages and tiny tea shops that served the most delicious scones and cakes. What was really wonderful is the way the British honour the homes of their writers, and turn them into well maintained tourist spots. I would love to write a book with the lush green English countryside as its background, along with a few fat Jersey cows to add some local colour. :-)

Any favourite books and authors?

How does one choose from so many gems? I remember my mother who is a wonderful story teller, keeping me entranced with the story of ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. I have many favourites from amongst the classics – The Count of Monte Cristo, To Kill a Mockingbird, the novels of Dickens, the plays of Shaw, the essays of Goldsmith, and the rib ticklers of Wodehouse. I particularly love ‘Palace of Illusions’ by Chitra Banerjee, the short stories of Tagore, RK Narayanan, Maugham and Maupassant, the poems of Ramanujam… the list is so open ended. How can I leave out the brilliant quotes of Rumi, the evocative poetry of Maya Angelou, and the short crisp poems of Frost?  

Use these five words to write a mini story: passion, compassion, think, woman, decision.

“Their passion was fiery, but they had to think about that special human being, the one who needed all their compassion right now. For he was the husband of another woman, who had just borne a child after a particularly difficult delivery, and she, his lover, the other woman, was aware that she could never have children. The decision was a tough one.”

Paperback or eBook?

If you had asked me this a few years ago, I would have unhesitatingly said that there is nothing to beat the thrill of holding a paperback in one’s hands, the smell of the pages and the anticipation of the read. Today, I have a Kindle that my husband presented to me two years ago, and I get the same kind of thrill when I shop online, and get the books of my choice at the click of a button. Imagine being able to carry a library wherever you go, and being able to read any book you want, anywhere? It just goes to show that even an old loyalist like me can be swayed!

Is there a question you have always hoped somebody would ask you? (Feel free to answer it, too.)

The dream question in my mind at the moment is a renowned publisher coming up to me and asking, “Could I please publish your latest book?” J And my answer would be, “Do you want a manuscript or a soft copy?” :-)

Complete this sentence: A writer’s most important tool is…

A writer’s most important tool is a vivid imagination that has the freedom to observe, visualize, run riot and write…

If you were sent away to a deserted island, what five things would you take with you?

I would take my favourite books, reams of paper and pens, photographs of my loved ones, wads of chewing gum and a few empty bottles which I would float at regular intervals with SOS notes.

Please tell us more about your latest book(s) and plans for the future.

Well, the first thing I want to do is turn my first book ‘Arms and the Woman’, which is the story of the life of an Army wife told in a light hearted way, into an ebook and put it on Amazon.

One of my short stories titled ‘Mirror Image’ has just been published in a compilation called ’21 Tales to Tell’. I am looking forward to my story – ‘The Little Nugget of Fear’ – being published in another compilation, this time by Readomania. ‘Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul’, which is supposed to come out in July, will also have a piece of mine.
However, my main focus, at the moment, is on my new book, a work of fiction, the manuscript of which is almost ready, a project that my husband has been urging me to complete.

Dear Devika, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for having given me this opportunity to express myself, and talk about the craft I love so much, that of writing and of being read. God bless!

Deepti Menon has always believed in the power of the pen. Having done her post graduation in English Literature and her B.Ed. in English, she had the option of teaching and writing, and did both with great enjoyment. She started writing at the age of ten, long before she acquired a Diploma in Journalism. She also had the advantage of being an Army kid, and later an Army wife, and loved the idea of travelling around India, meeting new people and acquiring new skills. She firmly believes that much of her personality was honed during those travels.

In 2002, her light hearted book, ‘Arms and the Woman’, depicting life as seen through the eyes of an Army wife, was published by Rupa Publishers, Delhi. This was written mainly to reveal the warmth and camaraderie within the great institution. She is now working on her second book that is a work of fiction, and not- to-be divulged yet!

For Deepti, writing needs to sparkle with simplicity and originality, and she strives to find that one word that conveys her ideas most meaningfully to her readers. She believes that Mark Twain had the right idea when he said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Links:

http://www.readomania.com/author/deepti.menon.98
http://yourstoryclub.com/author/deepsmenon_7/
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-openpage/aamir-jolts-the-nations-conscience/article3413950.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/forget-about-incredible-india-can-we-have-a-clean-india/article435996.ece
http://www.slideshare.net/nijumohan/an-epic-reversal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMkRbH-Hk8M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2HCC_7gIEQ

Blog: deepties.blogspot.in

I have read this book and enjoyed it immensely. Here is the review I previously published:

I’ve always been fascinated by the way a country like India can be so full of innumerable states and languages and ethnicities and different cultures, and yet be “one” – so this book sounded very promising. Considering the background and its conflicts, the concept of the country being divided into South India and North India, much like South Korea and North Korea, doesn’t seem far-fetched at all and is portrayed in a shocking way that makes it even more credible.

“India was One” by An Indian is a book that makes you think and that is filled with interesting information. The latter is provided in sentences or whole paragraphs in italic that follow the introduction of a word, food, custom or traditional concept. This sort of interrupts the reading flow, but is also a good way of learning more about India and of emphasizing how different yet unquestionably Indian all of it is. Whether you know most of it—like me—or not, these side notes are well-written and help to paint the bigger picture.

To me, the story is divided into three parts. The first third is reserved for introducing the two protagonists Jai and Kaahi and getting to know them. They meet at campus, fall in love, spend joyful days with friends and family and get married. All of it reads almost too good to be true. There’s no conflict at all, not even lying dormant. That, however, is just as well, because it will highlight the contrast between the rosy life before and the terrors after the division of the country. The author also uses this part to establish a cast of people who come from all corners of India, always illustrating their background. Everything is part of the puzzle that seems impossible to piece together after the separation of the two Indias.

The second third focuses on the happy couple’s life after they migrate to the United States of America. Being half Asian and half European, I could relate to or at least imagine a lot of what they went through. They are still happy, but now they have to face new experiences and the reader can sense a storm cloud looming. Some chapters deal with Jai and Kaahi travelling to Europe, which was fun to read for me and portrayed as credibly and well-researched as the rest of the book.

The last third hits you hard. From one moment to the other, smiles and success and affection turn to tears and fear and separation. You can hardly believe that you’re reading the same book. The author shocks you with his all too real description of a country and its people torn apart cruelly. Husband and wife are left stranded in the two halves of India, fighting a losing battle to be reunited. Everybody’s suffering is palpable and you are gripped by the story, racing toward the end that is uncertain until it swoops down upon you. This last part of the book is the one where the writing is most powerful.

There are some nice little touches to “India was One” that had me like it even more. First, there are the sketches that are full of life and details and fit the exotic image of the book. Second, you’re treated to some Hindi words spelled out in the Devanagari script, including phonetic translation and English meaning. Third—if my basic Hindi skills don’t fail me—the hero’s name means “victory” (Jai) and the heroine’s name means “story” (Kahaani), which is just perfect considering their story and role.

Due to the unusual writing style and the conflict occurring so late, this might not be a read for everybody. I, however, really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to everybody who wants to get to know more about India. Asians / Indians will also find a lot to treasure and ponder. I understand why the author prefers to remain anonymous.

You might have read snippets shared on Facebook from my work in progress, my second contemporary romance novel. I had chosen the working title Second Chance, but now I'm ready to reveal to the real title, the blurb and some short excerpts. I'm currently working on the last chapter and feeling really excited about it. *drum roll* Here's this week's Sunday Sneak Peek:

Blurb:

High hopes mean big disappointments.
Nadia has learned that lesson the hard way. Single, struggling to make ends meet, and hurt by the past, the last thing she needs is another complication. When her new boss – a handsome, secretive widower with a child – moves in next door, their worlds collide. Sweet hopes bloom again, but both of them are burdened by tragic secrets. Should she give love a second chance?


Teasers:

After a moment’s silence, he asked, “What kind of demons do you have to battle?”
Nadia's fingers stopped fidgeting and tightened their grip on the bracelet. Was she ready to share this with him? What if he turned into one of the demons in the end?
“Betrayal. Disappointment. Missed chances. Loneliness. Lack of ambition. Naïveté. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”


“Would you mind if I broke one of my own rules?”
What was she supposed to answer to that? Scrambling in her mind for something that wouldn’t put her in the line of fire, but that she could also live with, she settled on, “I don’t think it is up to me to judge if you go against self-set rules."
Did she imagine it, or was that the inkling of an admiring smile scurrying across his face?
“What if it involves you?"
His gaze was more intense than ever.
She could feel her throat going dry. Why the devil couldn’t this man just get it over with, and spare her all this dread?
“I…I don’t understand, sir.”


Lucas was not who she had thought, and would never be who she wanted him to be. Period. That was her strategy for getting over him and on with life.
But when did strategies ever do a woman in love any good?
Now with him here, her carefully laid plans scampered off through the backdoor like dogs let loose, and she was left with the memories of her hurt and the vestiges of her longing for him.

I love animals, and I am a vegetarian, which is why the blurb and teasers for "Call off the Search" by Natasja Hellenthal caught my interest. I’m glad I got the chance to read it because it goes farther than most fantasy novels, and it made me think and question a lot.

The story sounds straight-forward enough: Sula, the last of the Comyenti on planet Bhan, is trying to survive among people, who have slaughtered her race brutally in the past because they have the ability to change into animals – and let’s not forget their pointy ears, high intelligence and love for nature. She has promised her mother to search near and far for another of her kind and keep their race alive – but fate has something else in store for her. She meets the human Felix and falls in love with him. Just when the two have brought a beautiful daughter into the world and are happily married, Shazar finds her. He is also a Comyenti and striving to fulfill the same daring mission (as well as hiding a dark secret connected to the boy Twello and to the tragic priestess Ashanna).
What I loved most about "Call Off The Search" is the battle between two extremes, and the struggle to find a middle way that benefits all. Isn’t this what life is about? Can’t you see the Comyenti as a substitute for all the ethnic groups and minorities and people who dare to be different, and are therefore harassed and oppressed by society? And isn’t it proof that there is no one right and wrong, but a lot of partly-wrong and partly-right? The author weaves a tale full of emotions, moral lessons, personal struggle and higher values.
Sula as a heroine is a wonderful choice. She is strong and stubborn, but she doesn’t make hasty decisions or let herself depend too much on others. I loved her transition from reluctance to all lovey-dovey to realistic and emotional. The choice she has to face between her own good and the greater good, between love and attraction, between her heart and her conscience, is anything but easy. Throw in the fact that she is also drawn to the human Feline, her girlfriend, whose role in the plot is much more than the reader initially suspects.
Of course, to me is was a plus point that Sula is vegan, and that Felix and his people are portrayed as nature-loving. It was magical to read about the Mindmerge and the Heartmerge, and to watch the main protagonist transform into various animals.
Hellenthal pulls you right in with the powerful, heart-wrenching first chapter, and develops a story arc that is filled with tension and wisdom, romance and magic alike.

Be warned: This book ends on a magnificent cliffhanger and makes you want to get your fingers on the sequel "Children of the Sun".

I can’t wait to see where the author will lead the characters, because all of them are so authentic and full of potential.

Mrs Hellenthal is residing in the UK, with her partner, two small children, two small dogs and a cat who all follow her around the house at the same time.
She is an eco-warrior, animal lover, vegan and her hobbies include outdoor activities such as hiking, wild camping, swimming and snowboarding. She grows her own vegetables and loves to get her hands dirty in the garden. If there is any time left she loves to write speculative fiction that entertains people but at the same time makes them think. Her work has been described as 'thought-provoking'.

'The Queen's Curse' was her debut novel and has received some great reviews.
It's a heroic Spiritual Fantasy novel in the old tradition, yet with original and surprising elements. It attracts attention from a wide range of people,  as it deals with many issue's such as: justice/injustice, power, freedom,adventure, magic, immortality, intrigue, soul searching, love, life, loss, near death experience, and sword and sorcery.
In this book the author explores more than the ancient battle between good and evil so common in Fantasy literature. What is evil and how does someone become bad? Available for Kindle and in Paperback.

In her writing she deals with big psychological and ethical themes and struggles of life such as death, love and loss and tries to build strong characters as realistic as possible, for even though the genre is Fantasy she wants people to feel connected with her heroes and villains as they would with their real life people.

Mrs Hellenthal is influenced by writers such as Marion Zimmer Bradley and Tanith Lee, Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse.
She is currently working on Book 2 in the Epic Fantasy series, The Comyenti Saga, 'Children Of The Sun' which will be released Summer 2014!
Book 1 in the series, 'Call Off The Search' was published on the 26th of December 2013 and is available both for Kindle and in Paperback.
'Chained Freedom', a stand alone fairy-tale for adults but part of the Comyenti Series, was released in February 2014.

Please like and share her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natasja-Hellenthal
For the latest news and updates follow her blog on http://natasjahellenthal.wordpress.com or Twitter on @natasjahellenth

When I found out that my author friend Kandy Shepherd was born in Sri Lanka and named for Kandy, the city I live in, I decided I just HAD to get to know more about her.
Thanks a lot for revealing some fascinating facts about yourself and your writing, Kandy! It's a pleasure to feature you, and I hope you'll come here to check out your Sri Lankan 'roots'.

Hi Devika, thank you for having me as a guest on your blog.

As an author, I love creating settings for my books. The settings can be real—such as Sydney or San Francisco—or spring from my imagination but are heavily influenced by real-life places I have visited.

Born in Sri Lanka to an expat English father and Australian mother and living in India, England and Ireland as a child, I guess it was inevitable that as an adult I would want to see more of the world.
Now I call Australia home, but I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a number of places in Asia, Europe and the USA. Many of the places I’ve visited have inspired both settings and characters for my stories.

I use my experiences to create appropriate settings where my characters play out the plot and also to create authentic backgrounds for them. My award-winning romantic comedies Love is a Four-Legged Word and Home Is Where the Bark Is are set in San Francisco. What better place for characters who are crazy about dogs?
My best-selling contemporary romance The Castaway Bride is set on an imaginary tropical island in the far north of Queensland, Australia. The idyllic setting was as much a part of the romantic fantasy as the plot—it almost became a character!
I created the fictional small coastal town of Dolphin Bay, on the south coast of New South Wales Australia, as a setting for three Harlequin Romance novels: The Summer They Never Forgot (February 2014; The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner (July 2014) and A Diamond in Her Stocking (December 2014).
To create Dolphin Bay, I plundered vacation memories of quaint towns, pristine beaches and unspoiled bushland to create Dolphin Bay. One review of the book says the setting “is described so beautifully, readers will almost feel the sand between their toes”.

But setting isn’t just about descriptions of cities or beaches. The power of any setting is the way it shapes the characters: their views on life, their goals and motivations, their yearnings and dreams. My imaginary small town setting is important both for the characters who want to live there and the characters who want to get out!
Like me, the characters who populate the pages of my books often have a yen to see the world. They experience life outside of their home-town, too. The time they’ve spent in France, the USA, India, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore or Indonesia affects the person they have become.

No matter where I might travel, my stories and characters are always with me. Even on an indolent tropical vacation, those characters in my head are always poking their noses in and suggesting ways the location might affect them and the way they behave on the pages of my books. Needless to say, a camera and notebook are always on hand. Because if I set a scene or a chapter or a book in a different country, I like to get the details right!

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She is traditionally published in contemporary romance by Harlequin and Berkley Sensation as well as self-publishing best-selling romance. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends. Visit her website http://www.kandyshepherd.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter

Kandy’s second Dolphin Bay story for Harlequin Romance, The Tycoon and The Wedding Planner will be released on July 1, 2014

The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner

When one wedding leads to another...

Kate Parker distracts herself from her memories by keeping busy--and how better than organising weddings for Dolphin Bay’s sweethearts? But tall, dark and handsome tycoon Sam Lancaster’s arrival suddenly has Kate forgetting where she has left the confetti…

And mysterious Sam will be around a while longer than the cutting of the cake--because he’s got to oversee Kate’s building project! There’s no time for distractions…but is it time to stop running from happiness, now it’s led them to each other?