Kritika Sharma's Blog
November 22, 2019
Book Review - Pride & Prejudice
#BookReview
Read Review Policy Here

Blurb:This collectable edition is beautifully crafted and designed. Perfect for gifting as well as for keeps. A prized edition for any library.When Elizabeth Bennet meets Fitzwilliam Darcy for the first time at a ball, she writes him off as an arrogant and obnoxious man. He not only acts like an insufferable snob, but she also overhears him rejecting the very idea of asking her for a dance! As life pits them against each other again and again, Darcy begins to fall for Elizabeth's wit and intelligence and Elizabeth begins to question her feelings about Darcy. But when Darcy saves her youngest sister Lydia from a scandal, Elizabeth starts to wonder if her pride has prejudiced her opinion of Darcy. Through this tale about two warring hearts, Jane Austen weaves a witty satire about life in eighteenth century England. And though it was published more than two centuries ago, Pride and Prejudice continues to enthrall readers to this very day.A beautiful classic leather-bound edition, this book is perfect as keepsake.
ReviewHe has too much pride, she has too much prejudice, would they be together?Ever since I watched the movie based on this book, I wanted to read it. And finally, I have.They say never judge a book by its cover, and it so true.Pride and prejudice is now my all-time fav. Written by Jane Austin, it a story that you would fall in love with. The words flow so beautifully and easily that you cannot help but go with them.Oh, I just loved it.
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Lots of Love
Read Review Policy Here

Blurb:This collectable edition is beautifully crafted and designed. Perfect for gifting as well as for keeps. A prized edition for any library.When Elizabeth Bennet meets Fitzwilliam Darcy for the first time at a ball, she writes him off as an arrogant and obnoxious man. He not only acts like an insufferable snob, but she also overhears him rejecting the very idea of asking her for a dance! As life pits them against each other again and again, Darcy begins to fall for Elizabeth's wit and intelligence and Elizabeth begins to question her feelings about Darcy. But when Darcy saves her youngest sister Lydia from a scandal, Elizabeth starts to wonder if her pride has prejudiced her opinion of Darcy. Through this tale about two warring hearts, Jane Austen weaves a witty satire about life in eighteenth century England. And though it was published more than two centuries ago, Pride and Prejudice continues to enthrall readers to this very day.A beautiful classic leather-bound edition, this book is perfect as keepsake.
ReviewHe has too much pride, she has too much prejudice, would they be together?Ever since I watched the movie based on this book, I wanted to read it. And finally, I have.They say never judge a book by its cover, and it so true.Pride and prejudice is now my all-time fav. Written by Jane Austin, it a story that you would fall in love with. The words flow so beautifully and easily that you cannot help but go with them.Oh, I just loved it.
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Lots of Love

Published on November 22, 2019 02:15
November 4, 2019
Meet Anu - An author, reader and a teacher in an NGO
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.I am a published writer written for several anthologies and a reader and learner. I also teach in an NGO.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’This book is a collaborative work. We all were writers with different styles of writing and different wavelengths. But it was a pleasure working with all because everyone was willing to listen to others slash their egos for a larger good. Tireless editing also helped the book into a cohesive whole.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I read, I meet friends, I am very interested in our scriptures and the power of mantras.
Your book ‘Altitudinis’ is a multi-authored book, what is your contribution in it?I am a more relationship writer, so my contribution is writing about the ever-changing relationships between some of the characters. I would not be able to carry a thriller on my shoulders. It’s a genre which I haven’t tried and was so glad to be a part of this. I am always awestruck by writers who can pen thrillers effortlessly.
What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?
The core message of the book is that it takes all kinds of people to make the world but goodness triumphs over evil. It talks of the fragility of human beings, most are prone to make mistakes but to rise above them and own them is also what makes a good human being. Relationships wheels of fortune are not permanent and everyone has a right to find happiness.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as a solo author? We face all the flak together. And everyone’s strength is my strength too.
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Seeing this beautiful outcome, I can only see pros hardly any cons.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?
Marketing.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.
‘We are all broken that’s how the light gets in.’
Any words for other authors/writers?
Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
--William FaulknerDefine ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.I read somewhere ......We lose ourselves in books. We find ourselves there too.I lost myself writing this book and I found my self tooMy contribution is writing about the ever-changing relationship between the main protagonists
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Anu?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’This book is a collaborative work. We all were writers with different styles of writing and different wavelengths. But it was a pleasure working with all because everyone was willing to listen to others slash their egos for a larger good. Tireless editing also helped the book into a cohesive whole.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I read, I meet friends, I am very interested in our scriptures and the power of mantras.
Your book ‘Altitudinis’ is a multi-authored book, what is your contribution in it?I am a more relationship writer, so my contribution is writing about the ever-changing relationships between some of the characters. I would not be able to carry a thriller on my shoulders. It’s a genre which I haven’t tried and was so glad to be a part of this. I am always awestruck by writers who can pen thrillers effortlessly.

The core message of the book is that it takes all kinds of people to make the world but goodness triumphs over evil. It talks of the fragility of human beings, most are prone to make mistakes but to rise above them and own them is also what makes a good human being. Relationships wheels of fortune are not permanent and everyone has a right to find happiness.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as a solo author? We face all the flak together. And everyone’s strength is my strength too.
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Seeing this beautiful outcome, I can only see pros hardly any cons.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?
Marketing.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.
‘We are all broken that’s how the light gets in.’
Any words for other authors/writers?
Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."

So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Anu?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on November 04, 2019 20:30
November 2, 2019
Meet Shagun - Author who writes from the Heart
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.
An intuitive Reiki practioner with a scientific background, I believe there’s something good in every individual or situation. A mom, homemaker, friend and writer with heart in the mind spot, I believe in the power of thoughts. To keep my soul ignited I write on my blog Twisted Fabric at the writingsofshagun.wordpress.com.
On a personal note, as a child, I often fantasised about the fairy tales and wanted to write my own. As a grown up woman, it’s been another story altogether. I’ve often felt the restraints of time cut sharply on my day-dreaming thoughts. A mom of two super active and curious young boys, I do not adhere to the mantra of study-study-and-only-study. So for us, its hands-on practical fun too mixed with studies. And in all that fun, my food very often gets burnt …. looking beyond constipated! So while the food gets sorted and the homework gets done, I feel a soft nudge from a grey cell in my mind, to find a quiet corner for my laptop and me. I try to focus as I sit and write away whatever that interests me. I so hope that it would touch the readers’ soul and ignite a spark as they just might read along with me.
It’s a journey of many realisations, some good, others that need to be worked upon.
Quoting the blurb here –
Two scientists race against time formulating a serum to enhance the acclimatization of high altitude troops, a lifesaving breakthrough for soldiers posted at the merciless Siachen glacier. MI agent Nirali investigates an unidentified corpse and is asked to follow up on number 309 that invokes bittersweet memories in her. She returns to the town of her lost love, Nikhil, an adventure camp owner and a much married man. As Nirali gets sucked into a kidnapping drama involving his family, the sudden appearance of a suave NRI stranger in their midst throws everything into a tizzy. When one of the scientists is found dead in his laboratory, the ex-lovers must overcome their personal monsters and unite to safeguard the research. They must secure the USB in which the formulation of the serum has been saved before it falls into the hands of the suave stranger… or perhaps someone known.
From the snow-clad peaks of Hanuman Tibba to the sleepy cantonment town of MHOW, Altitudinis is a gripping tale of intrigue and romance that intertwines the lives of ordinary people who play extraordinary roles.
What do you do when you are not writing?When I am not writing, which is quite often, I make funny jokes with my elderly mother-in-law to bring a smile to her sweet yet time tested face; I click pictures of the vast sea beach around me and the changing colours of the skies above; and most dauntingly, I ensure my two super active ten-year-olds are well-fed, both in body and in mind.
Your book ‘Altitudinis’ is a multi-authored book, what is your contribution in it?I have been fortunate enough to have worked on this project titled Altitudiis – Seekers, Sinners & Secrets almost from the day of its inception. Through the rigorous process of book writing, I’ve created a few characters, breathed life into them and then see them succumb to either death or some human vice. Also, I’ve helped in editing the content to suit the storyline. In all this process, my learning has been to dream high yet stay grounded because nothing is certain in life and yet nothing is unattainable.
What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?The uniqueness of this book is its collaborative inception. Then you have the foreign locales of America yet the exotic Bali and the Chinese provinces make their presence felt even when the main characters are fighting off an attempt to sabotage research in India. Of course there’s romance and there’s research but there’s also death and destruction with a spiritual connect somewhere within the pages. So every reader will take away something from this book.
What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?
Every co-author has his/her own individual style, words, nuances that we as a team can pick up on and these are beautiful. All I can say about myself is that I write from the heart and the words flow.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as a solo author?
Very different. As a single author, you can take liberty with your thoughts and words. As a co-author though, everyone is responsible for the output. In our case, we actually say that the book is a baby incepted by one but delivered by 10. So if there’s something not perfect, or different from the plotline, there’s a lot of positive criticism to turn it around into the plotline. Also because there are more than one authors, there is a huge scope for brainstorming, ideation and learning.
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Pros are the learning that comes in the whole process of book writing. One gets to fine-tune own skills sets and also pick on the better techniques of others. Also, the co-authored book will always a scope to showcase a different perspective from the usual.The cons are that one has to really slash their ego and allow the final vision to take shape.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?I completely enjoy writing as I write from the heart. The social media platform like FaceBook gave me ample opportunities to create a buzz about our book. Though I did try to learn about the publishing aspect, I’d say it still is a challenge I’d rather pass onto others!
What makes ‘Altitudinis’ different from other titles in the industry?The honest, straight-from-the-heart narrative that intertwines the lives of ordinary men to live extraordinary lives is what makes Altitudinis stand out.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.My favourite quote is penned down in Altitudinis too as it perfectly sums life’s philosophy.. “Just as man’s ego searches for destruction, his soul will continue to search for salvation”
Any words for other authors/writers?Just follow your dreams…. into a reality !
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
Altitudinsi is a dream that inspires one to overcome all hardships to seek the truth yet stay grounded on its realisation.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Shagun?Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.

On a personal note, as a child, I often fantasised about the fairy tales and wanted to write my own. As a grown up woman, it’s been another story altogether. I’ve often felt the restraints of time cut sharply on my day-dreaming thoughts. A mom of two super active and curious young boys, I do not adhere to the mantra of study-study-and-only-study. So for us, its hands-on practical fun too mixed with studies. And in all that fun, my food very often gets burnt …. looking beyond constipated! So while the food gets sorted and the homework gets done, I feel a soft nudge from a grey cell in my mind, to find a quiet corner for my laptop and me. I try to focus as I sit and write away whatever that interests me. I so hope that it would touch the readers’ soul and ignite a spark as they just might read along with me.

Quoting the blurb here –
Two scientists race against time formulating a serum to enhance the acclimatization of high altitude troops, a lifesaving breakthrough for soldiers posted at the merciless Siachen glacier. MI agent Nirali investigates an unidentified corpse and is asked to follow up on number 309 that invokes bittersweet memories in her. She returns to the town of her lost love, Nikhil, an adventure camp owner and a much married man. As Nirali gets sucked into a kidnapping drama involving his family, the sudden appearance of a suave NRI stranger in their midst throws everything into a tizzy. When one of the scientists is found dead in his laboratory, the ex-lovers must overcome their personal monsters and unite to safeguard the research. They must secure the USB in which the formulation of the serum has been saved before it falls into the hands of the suave stranger… or perhaps someone known.
From the snow-clad peaks of Hanuman Tibba to the sleepy cantonment town of MHOW, Altitudinis is a gripping tale of intrigue and romance that intertwines the lives of ordinary people who play extraordinary roles.
What do you do when you are not writing?When I am not writing, which is quite often, I make funny jokes with my elderly mother-in-law to bring a smile to her sweet yet time tested face; I click pictures of the vast sea beach around me and the changing colours of the skies above; and most dauntingly, I ensure my two super active ten-year-olds are well-fed, both in body and in mind.

What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?The uniqueness of this book is its collaborative inception. Then you have the foreign locales of America yet the exotic Bali and the Chinese provinces make their presence felt even when the main characters are fighting off an attempt to sabotage research in India. Of course there’s romance and there’s research but there’s also death and destruction with a spiritual connect somewhere within the pages. So every reader will take away something from this book.
What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?
Every co-author has his/her own individual style, words, nuances that we as a team can pick up on and these are beautiful. All I can say about myself is that I write from the heart and the words flow.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as a solo author?
Very different. As a single author, you can take liberty with your thoughts and words. As a co-author though, everyone is responsible for the output. In our case, we actually say that the book is a baby incepted by one but delivered by 10. So if there’s something not perfect, or different from the plotline, there’s a lot of positive criticism to turn it around into the plotline. Also because there are more than one authors, there is a huge scope for brainstorming, ideation and learning.
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Pros are the learning that comes in the whole process of book writing. One gets to fine-tune own skills sets and also pick on the better techniques of others. Also, the co-authored book will always a scope to showcase a different perspective from the usual.The cons are that one has to really slash their ego and allow the final vision to take shape.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?I completely enjoy writing as I write from the heart. The social media platform like FaceBook gave me ample opportunities to create a buzz about our book. Though I did try to learn about the publishing aspect, I’d say it still is a challenge I’d rather pass onto others!
What makes ‘Altitudinis’ different from other titles in the industry?The honest, straight-from-the-heart narrative that intertwines the lives of ordinary men to live extraordinary lives is what makes Altitudinis stand out.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.My favourite quote is penned down in Altitudinis too as it perfectly sums life’s philosophy.. “Just as man’s ego searches for destruction, his soul will continue to search for salvation”
Any words for other authors/writers?Just follow your dreams…. into a reality !
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
Altitudinsi is a dream that inspires one to overcome all hardships to seek the truth yet stay grounded on its realisation.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Shagun?Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on November 02, 2019 01:00
October 31, 2019
Book Review - Great Expectations
#BookReview
Read Review Policy Here

Blurb:This exquisitely designed leather-bound edition of one of Dickens’ greatest works comes with a gold-foiled cover, a ribbon bookmark, gilded edges and beautiful endpapers. Ideal to be read and treasured, it makes for a perfect addition to any library.Taken to the Satis House by his Uncle Pumblechook one day, Pip, a young orphan, meets a wealthy, eccentric spinster, Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward, Estella. Pip instantly falls in love with her. But in the days to come, he is constantly reminded that Estella is heartless.“You must know,” said Estella, condescending to me as a brilliant and beautiful woman might, “that I have no heart . . .”Apprenticed as a blacksmith with his brother-in-law, Pip yearns to become a wealthy gentleman in order to be worthy of her. And when he learns of the expectations from a secret benefactor for him to be trained in the gentlemanly arts, he goes to London.As a series of events follow, including Estella’s marriage to the brutal nobleman, Bentley Drummle, will Pip and Estella ever unite?
Review"Really didn’t appreciate this book when I read it in syllabus. But now when I read it, I understood the deeper meaning.Story of Pip and Estelle and their love (or should I say weird relationship)It is beautifully written, with such passion that you can feel it.A classic of the literary world, it is one book you should read if you wish to feel the depths of life.A must-must read"
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Lots of Love
Read Review Policy Here

Blurb:This exquisitely designed leather-bound edition of one of Dickens’ greatest works comes with a gold-foiled cover, a ribbon bookmark, gilded edges and beautiful endpapers. Ideal to be read and treasured, it makes for a perfect addition to any library.Taken to the Satis House by his Uncle Pumblechook one day, Pip, a young orphan, meets a wealthy, eccentric spinster, Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward, Estella. Pip instantly falls in love with her. But in the days to come, he is constantly reminded that Estella is heartless.“You must know,” said Estella, condescending to me as a brilliant and beautiful woman might, “that I have no heart . . .”Apprenticed as a blacksmith with his brother-in-law, Pip yearns to become a wealthy gentleman in order to be worthy of her. And when he learns of the expectations from a secret benefactor for him to be trained in the gentlemanly arts, he goes to London.As a series of events follow, including Estella’s marriage to the brutal nobleman, Bentley Drummle, will Pip and Estella ever unite?
Review"Really didn’t appreciate this book when I read it in syllabus. But now when I read it, I understood the deeper meaning.Story of Pip and Estelle and their love (or should I say weird relationship)It is beautifully written, with such passion that you can feel it.A classic of the literary world, it is one book you should read if you wish to feel the depths of life.A must-must read"
Hope you enjoy reading it.
Lots of Love

Published on October 31, 2019 03:15
October 29, 2019
Meet Madhu - Who Finds Blessings in Everyday Tasks
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.
A traveller and seeker, appreciate the daily miracles happeing around like the day and night, than waiting for some. Trying to follow an effortless lifestyle and find happiness in gardening and farming.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.
For me, it just happened. I love the process we followed during the last three years, of course the end result is a great achievement.
What do you do when you are not writing?Reading – reading the plants, flowers and fruits along with select books.
What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?The difference, if any, may be because of the travel experiences and the exposure to the multi lingual, multi culture lifestyle like childhood in Kerala, upbringing in Gujarat, marring a Maharashtrian etc
What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?Of course writing
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.Life is a journey, make it interesting because the destination is the only certain but unknown thing
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.A wonderful story that is the culmination of collective and creative thinking by ten people.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Madhu?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

A traveller and seeker, appreciate the daily miracles happeing around like the day and night, than waiting for some. Trying to follow an effortless lifestyle and find happiness in gardening and farming.

For me, it just happened. I love the process we followed during the last three years, of course the end result is a great achievement.
What do you do when you are not writing?Reading – reading the plants, flowers and fruits along with select books.

What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?Of course writing
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.Life is a journey, make it interesting because the destination is the only certain but unknown thing
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.A wonderful story that is the culmination of collective and creative thinking by ten people.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Madhu?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on October 29, 2019 02:00
October 24, 2019
Meet Kusum - Journalist turned Writer
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.
I’m Kusum Choppra, long time journalist, turned writer, with interests from environment, alternate
medicine to numerology. In the last decade, Altitudinis is my five book out, this time with company. Novel experience. BTW voracious reader of material to do with real people n history, total genre gypsy, from hard core history to nostalgia to feminism to senior romance to a thriller!
You guessed it, crazy as a cookie, headlined the collaborative novel with a chapter written years ago and the oldest in the group at 70. Love creating stories, tiny grains of truth surrounded by verbal embroidery; twists in the tale are my forte, with verbal emoting rather than yarns of descriptions.
My literary joy & pride: after over two decades of digging, the only book with two endings: MASTANI that has earned me the prestige of Mastani’s biographer in some circles.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.
Amazing adventure tale, with a rainbow of experiences from our varied professions. Truly the transformation of a story about 2 childless women into a heart thumping thriller with a web of international intrigue and crime over an unusual experimental drug combo of immense value and application, never ceases to amaze me whenever I look back. Mapping out two kidnappings, four murders amidst heart and other breaks with a galaxy of other colorful characters brought 8 women and two men, earlier virtual strangers, into a shared bond with our creation. It is a thriller alright, but with much more grit, morals, vices and heart than those usual thrillers with two and half romantic scenes for time pass.
What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?Most of our younger writers are very attuned to scientific research and the thriller parts; my limitations may sound amusing -- usually geographical and historical research, studying human characters from an emotional angle. This was my first brush with adventures of a non-emotional kind; hence the creation of Nirali, Sudha, Sitara and Nikhil that sparked off the adventure; of course at times when the rest caught up with official responsibilities, I would pick the baton at wherever the last chapter had stopped to move the story ahead. Plus frequent editing practice allowed me to smoothen over.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author? You know, a solo author can become a lonely hermit while writing a book. You have the glimmerings of the plot in your head, or written down; you need to do research on different angles of your story and to actually write in down, whether long hand or keyboard. Anything else is an irritable distraction – hardly good for human relations, na? But in this case, it was a breeze, with shared research, shared plotting, sharing new ideas and thrashing sense into them or ejecting them. Probably the only cons were waiting for the next chapter to appear, usually late! Or when a chapter couldn’t be fitted into the plot and heartbreak happened.Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.A suspenseful thriller with amazing human angles that won’t let the reader put it down.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Kusum?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

I’m Kusum Choppra, long time journalist, turned writer, with interests from environment, alternate
medicine to numerology. In the last decade, Altitudinis is my five book out, this time with company. Novel experience. BTW voracious reader of material to do with real people n history, total genre gypsy, from hard core history to nostalgia to feminism to senior romance to a thriller!
You guessed it, crazy as a cookie, headlined the collaborative novel with a chapter written years ago and the oldest in the group at 70. Love creating stories, tiny grains of truth surrounded by verbal embroidery; twists in the tale are my forte, with verbal emoting rather than yarns of descriptions.
My literary joy & pride: after over two decades of digging, the only book with two endings: MASTANI that has earned me the prestige of Mastani’s biographer in some circles.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.

What makes your writing style different from other co-authors of the book?Most of our younger writers are very attuned to scientific research and the thriller parts; my limitations may sound amusing -- usually geographical and historical research, studying human characters from an emotional angle. This was my first brush with adventures of a non-emotional kind; hence the creation of Nirali, Sudha, Sitara and Nikhil that sparked off the adventure; of course at times when the rest caught up with official responsibilities, I would pick the baton at wherever the last chapter had stopped to move the story ahead. Plus frequent editing practice allowed me to smoothen over.

So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Kusum?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on October 24, 2019 23:00
October 19, 2019
Meet Kalpana - A Content Writer and A Dreamer
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.
I am a content writer by profession and a dreamer by hobby. I often need to be dragged from the classrooms at Hogwarts and the gardens at Manderley by my boss, to focus on work. When not earning my dues, I can be found creating little worlds for other dreamers to walk in one day. A non-conformist by nature, I am frequently found scrutinizing social norms and dissecting human nature. My philosophy in life is to create a balance between speech and action. My love for good food and good life is well known, and I believe that when one laughs, it should truly be a loud one. With Altitudinis, I got a chance to channel my wild imagination. I am now hoping to publish my solo novel in the years to come.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.
Altitudinis is a a result of a unique experiment initiated by Ms Kusum Choppra. She wished to try collaborative writing. A few of us got excited by the prospect and joined her.
Alatitudnis is collabotaive work of fiction. The unique factor here is that it is not a collection of ten short stories but a novel.
It is a book that encompasses thrill, romance, mystery and intrigue. It is a story of a handful of characters like Sitara Devi, Raghav and Sudha, but most importantly of Nikhil and Nirali, two star crossed lovers, who keep crossing each others paths for over a decade until faced with a now-or-never situation.
What do you do when you are not writing?I am a content writer by profession, so when I am not writing for myself, I write for the organisation I work for. Apart from that, I love cooking, reading, watching movies and travelling.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author? Co-authoring is a relatively difficult process. However, it is immensely satisfying. But most of all, it is a learning process. I personally learnt the value of teamwork. As a writer, I find the process of editing the most gruelling. This is all the more difficult when writing collaboratively, as the editor is responsible for making the book flow effortlessly, even when multiple writers are involved. As a solo author, you have the control over the content and the process. As a co-author, especially when ten writers are involved, you have to consider every writer’s input.
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Pros:
• Great learning experience
• Work gets divided
• We get the most constructive feedback
• One learns teamwork
• A writer learns what his/her strengths and weaknesses are
Cons:
• Editing becomes difficult
• A writer might have to work on a strict timeline
• Less control over the plot, story, characters, etc.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?I find writing difficult mostly because I tend to be very self-critical and I am not very easily satisfied with my work. Publishing for me is just a process. Marketing, though it needs a lot of creativity, is still a means to an end, that of selling a product. So the most important aspect is to make the product the best it can be.
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.Altitudinis is a book that will keep the readers hooked till the end, after which they would want to reread it to relive some special moments from it.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Kalpana?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

I am a content writer by profession and a dreamer by hobby. I often need to be dragged from the classrooms at Hogwarts and the gardens at Manderley by my boss, to focus on work. When not earning my dues, I can be found creating little worlds for other dreamers to walk in one day. A non-conformist by nature, I am frequently found scrutinizing social norms and dissecting human nature. My philosophy in life is to create a balance between speech and action. My love for good food and good life is well known, and I believe that when one laughs, it should truly be a loud one. With Altitudinis, I got a chance to channel my wild imagination. I am now hoping to publish my solo novel in the years to come.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.

Alatitudnis is collabotaive work of fiction. The unique factor here is that it is not a collection of ten short stories but a novel.
It is a book that encompasses thrill, romance, mystery and intrigue. It is a story of a handful of characters like Sitara Devi, Raghav and Sudha, but most importantly of Nikhil and Nirali, two star crossed lovers, who keep crossing each others paths for over a decade until faced with a now-or-never situation.
What do you do when you are not writing?I am a content writer by profession, so when I am not writing for myself, I write for the organisation I work for. Apart from that, I love cooking, reading, watching movies and travelling.

What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?Pros:
• Great learning experience
• Work gets divided
• We get the most constructive feedback
• One learns teamwork
• A writer learns what his/her strengths and weaknesses are
Cons:
• Editing becomes difficult
• A writer might have to work on a strict timeline
• Less control over the plot, story, characters, etc.
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?I find writing difficult mostly because I tend to be very self-critical and I am not very easily satisfied with my work. Publishing for me is just a process. Marketing, though it needs a lot of creativity, is still a means to an end, that of selling a product. So the most important aspect is to make the product the best it can be.
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.Altitudinis is a book that will keep the readers hooked till the end, after which they would want to reread it to relive some special moments from it.
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Kalpana?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on October 19, 2019 23:30
October 16, 2019
Meet Indira - Be the Change, You want to See!
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.As a voracious reader and in the teaching profession for 45 years, I believe in combining the home and workplace to perfection! An avid traveller, I enjoy every moment of life ensuring that when I work I do the best and when I play I enjoy it to the hilt.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.
Altitudinis is like a dream, which began with eyes wide open! Is it possible is a question that arose occasionally but that never dulled the spirit or enthusiasm. Three years it took but finally it proved that it is worth the wait!
What do you do when you are not writing?I am not a professional writer! I teach for a living—for my bread and butter, or my dal and roti or better put my sambhar and rice. I read, I travel, I socialise, I spend time with family and friends, I love movies--- gosh there is so much to do in life!
What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?Readers should pick it up because it is a novel experiment (has never been done before by ten), it is a combination of genres – the romance and the thriller, it is easy reading, it shows various facets of life and human beings etc. etc.
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author? In all ways, in every which way!
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?You learn to appreciate the difference, you know that you are not always the best, you learn to listen, you begin to rethink and revise! Call them pros or cons, the choice is yours!
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?
Writing now seems child’s play! Finding a publisher was indeed a Herculean task with their funny notions of do and don’t! If we liked them, they did not like us and if they did like us, we didn’t like them! So self-publishing by Multipens was indeed the best option. And for marketing, I personally am not worried about the moolah: its more important to be seen and read!
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.You be the change , you want to see!
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
A book waiting to be read! And replicated, if possible!
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Indira?
Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love


Altitudinis is like a dream, which began with eyes wide open! Is it possible is a question that arose occasionally but that never dulled the spirit or enthusiasm. Three years it took but finally it proved that it is worth the wait!
What do you do when you are not writing?I am not a professional writer! I teach for a living—for my bread and butter, or my dal and roti or better put my sambhar and rice. I read, I travel, I socialise, I spend time with family and friends, I love movies--- gosh there is so much to do in life!

How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author? In all ways, in every which way!
What are the pros and cons of co-authoring a book?You learn to appreciate the difference, you know that you are not always the best, you learn to listen, you begin to rethink and revise! Call them pros or cons, the choice is yours!
Which aspect of writing is a challenge for you? Writing? Publishing? Or Marketing?
Writing now seems child’s play! Finding a publisher was indeed a Herculean task with their funny notions of do and don’t! If we liked them, they did not like us and if they did like us, we didn’t like them! So self-publishing by Multipens was indeed the best option. And for marketing, I personally am not worried about the moolah: its more important to be seen and read!
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.You be the change , you want to see!
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
A book waiting to be read! And replicated, if possible!
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Indira?
Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on October 16, 2019 22:00
October 12, 2019
BookReview - Altitudinis - A unique book by 10 authors
#BookReview
Read Review Policy Here
Title: Altitudinis: Seekers, Sinners and SecretsAuthor: 10 AuthorsPublisher: MultiPen PublishersPages: 364Price: Rs. 249My Rating: 4.5/5
Blurb:
Two scientists are inching towards formulation of a serum to enhance oxygenation for high altitude troops posted at the merciless Siachen Glacier.Meanwhile, MI agent Nirali arrives to investigate an unidentified corpse at MHOW, the hometown of her first love Nikhil, a much married adventure camp entrepreneur. Even as Nirali struggles to keep her emotions in check, a kidnapping drama involving Nikhil’s family and the appearance of a suave NRI stranger in their midst throws everyone in a tizzy.But when one of the scientists is found dead in his laboratory, the ex-lovers set aside their personal demons and rise to the task of securing the USB that holds the formula, despite a string of disasters.From the snow-clad peaks of Hanuman Tibba to the sleepy cantonment town of MHOW, Altitudinis is a tale of international intrigue, underworlds dons and romance of intimate couples and disgruntled ones, that intertwines ordinary people in extra ordinary situations.
Review:To start with the type of book: when I was approached to review this amazing book, I was actually shocked. Writing a book between 2 authors is a complicated task, however, this one book is written by 10 different authors. Kudos to all of them for managing this feat.
Altitudinis is a thriller book that is power-packed and has everything in it - love, romance, passion, thrill, mystery, and even friendship. It is a long book, but it is so engrossing that one doesn't get bored at all.
Characterization is pretty simple and good. As we start reading, we instantly get hooked to the story and get attached to Nikhil and Nirali. I personally liked Nirali more and found her character strong and linked to the core of the book. There are a few more characters in the book and they all are well-narrated as well.
The thrill and mysterious aspect of the book is amazing. You can feel the hunger to know more and more with every page.
And to top it all, the climax is epic. I loved it.
If you like a good story, then this is the one for you.
You can grab a copy here:
Lots of Love
Read Review Policy Here

Blurb:
Two scientists are inching towards formulation of a serum to enhance oxygenation for high altitude troops posted at the merciless Siachen Glacier.Meanwhile, MI agent Nirali arrives to investigate an unidentified corpse at MHOW, the hometown of her first love Nikhil, a much married adventure camp entrepreneur. Even as Nirali struggles to keep her emotions in check, a kidnapping drama involving Nikhil’s family and the appearance of a suave NRI stranger in their midst throws everyone in a tizzy.But when one of the scientists is found dead in his laboratory, the ex-lovers set aside their personal demons and rise to the task of securing the USB that holds the formula, despite a string of disasters.From the snow-clad peaks of Hanuman Tibba to the sleepy cantonment town of MHOW, Altitudinis is a tale of international intrigue, underworlds dons and romance of intimate couples and disgruntled ones, that intertwines ordinary people in extra ordinary situations.
Review:To start with the type of book: when I was approached to review this amazing book, I was actually shocked. Writing a book between 2 authors is a complicated task, however, this one book is written by 10 different authors. Kudos to all of them for managing this feat.
Altitudinis is a thriller book that is power-packed and has everything in it - love, romance, passion, thrill, mystery, and even friendship. It is a long book, but it is so engrossing that one doesn't get bored at all.
Characterization is pretty simple and good. As we start reading, we instantly get hooked to the story and get attached to Nikhil and Nirali. I personally liked Nirali more and found her character strong and linked to the core of the book. There are a few more characters in the book and they all are well-narrated as well.
The thrill and mysterious aspect of the book is amazing. You can feel the hunger to know more and more with every page.
And to top it all, the climax is epic. I loved it.
If you like a good story, then this is the one for you.
You can grab a copy here:
Lots of Love

Published on October 12, 2019 21:30
September 30, 2019
Meet Priya Narayanan - Author who hates to be stereotyped
#AuthorInterviews
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.
You’ve heard of variety being the spice of life, haven’t you? Well, I’m that person for whom the maxim most certainly holds true. So while I run my own design practice under the twin banners Tatva and Soma, I am also a poet, writer, traveller and teacher. Brought up amidst the hustle and bustle of various cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Pune and Ahmedabad, a part of me always yearns for the quite solitude of the countryside at my ancestral village in Kerala. Consequently, I fall back upon writing for that sense of contentment and at times, closure.
In a way, you could say I hate being stereotyped for you’ll find variety seeping into everything I do, be it in the kind of professional projects I undertake or the kind of books I read or write. I love both surprising and being surprised :) So while I have three children’s books under my belt with two forthcoming titles, my poems and short stories have appeared in various online and print anthologies and literary magazines and as you know, my latest book - Altitudinis: seekers, sinners & secrets, is a one-of-its-kind collaborative effort with ten authors contributing to create a single novel.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.
Altitudinis is a fast paced thriller with a generous dose of romance and family drama sprinkled over it. Here, I’d like to share some insight regarding the title of the book. ‘Altitudinis’ has generated a lot of curiosity, with many taking out their dictionaries to find its meaning. Let me tell you first off that you won’t find the word in an English dictionary; it’s a Latin word and while it could be a difficult coincidence to accept, we didn’t know about the existence of this Latin word until someone pointed it out to us at the book launch! We came up with the name based on the characteristics of a drug being researched in the story and if you are even slightly scientifically inclined, I can assure you that you’ll enjoy every bit of this research.
What do you do when you are not writing?
Actually, it is the other way around. I write when I’m not practicing or teaching design or brokering peace between my forever-at-war kids. And when I’m doing none of the above, you’ll find me travelling solo and reading everything that comes my way -my favourite modes of destressing :)
Your book ‘Altitudinis’ is a multi-authored book, what is your contribution in it?
The uniqueness of this book is that although we started off thinking we could attribute every chapter to its writer, it never worked that way! Once we’d all written our chapters, there was a lot of shuffling of either chunks of writing or paragraphs or even single lines to make the story flow seamlessly, without inconsistencies and loopholes. Needless to say, the editing process was painstaking but well worth it! Now, when we hear feedback from readers appreciating the continuity and smooth transitions between the chapters, it feels gratifying.
So, coming back to your question, I cannot point out to a chapter and say ‘this one’s by me’. But yes, I’m happy to share that I’ve tried my hand at all the sub-genres that have been explored in the book – family drama, romance, scientific research, murders…it was so much fun writing it all!
What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?
The message of the story itself is summed up in the last line of the book; I don’t want to give it away. But there is another message that we’ve inadvertently managed to convey through our collaboration -that if there’s passion and the willingness to do something different, strangers too can come together and work meaningfully as a team.
I’d like readers to pick up Altitudinis because unlike the saying, ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’, our varied backgrounds -both ancestral and professional- have allowed us to add different spices to elevate the flavour of the story. I like to refer to us as a rainbow with three extra colours… wouldn’t look any less spectacular, would it?
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author?
Collaborative writing, especially with nine others was no less than a management lesson for me... while managing meetings and ensuring maximum attendance was tough but doable, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to collectively manage egos too :)
Usually, writing is a lonely job. An author is on her/his own doing everything from research to ideating to writing and revising all by herself and this at most times gets rather frustrating. The great thing about collaborative writing is that you are not alone at any stage. if you get stuck or develop the cliched writer's block, there are others who can pick up from where you left and continue...or they are there to brainstorm and help you think differently or even do the necessary research. And with a great team like we had formed, no one was judgemental about anyone's writing style...we tried to look for and capitalize on the positives of each writer.
The writing process itself was rather fun given the unpredictability of how the next writer would take the story ahead, thus ensuring laughs, thrills, guffaws and sighs.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.
‘The universe is made of stories… not atoms.’I’d read this long back and although there’s nothing much about it that I can ‘apply’ in my life, it is a quote that keeps inspiring me to search out these stories and bring them to light. The research I’m doing for my forthcoming children’s book has furthered this thought and I am completely enamoured by the fact that every one of us is a bundle of stories -walking and talking and doing all the things we do, but stories nevertheless :)
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
An experiment in collaborative writing that threw near-strangers into a cauldron of stories, only to emerge as friends for life… with a published book to boot!
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Priya?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love
Hello, please tell us something about yourself.

In a way, you could say I hate being stereotyped for you’ll find variety seeping into everything I do, be it in the kind of professional projects I undertake or the kind of books I read or write. I love both surprising and being surprised :) So while I have three children’s books under my belt with two forthcoming titles, my poems and short stories have appeared in various online and print anthologies and literary magazines and as you know, my latest book - Altitudinis: seekers, sinners & secrets, is a one-of-its-kind collaborative effort with ten authors contributing to create a single novel.
Please tell us something about your book ‘Altitudinis’.

What do you do when you are not writing?
Actually, it is the other way around. I write when I’m not practicing or teaching design or brokering peace between my forever-at-war kids. And when I’m doing none of the above, you’ll find me travelling solo and reading everything that comes my way -my favourite modes of destressing :)

The uniqueness of this book is that although we started off thinking we could attribute every chapter to its writer, it never worked that way! Once we’d all written our chapters, there was a lot of shuffling of either chunks of writing or paragraphs or even single lines to make the story flow seamlessly, without inconsistencies and loopholes. Needless to say, the editing process was painstaking but well worth it! Now, when we hear feedback from readers appreciating the continuity and smooth transitions between the chapters, it feels gratifying.
So, coming back to your question, I cannot point out to a chapter and say ‘this one’s by me’. But yes, I’m happy to share that I’ve tried my hand at all the sub-genres that have been explored in the book – family drama, romance, scientific research, murders…it was so much fun writing it all!
What is the core message of your book? Why should readers pick it up?
The message of the story itself is summed up in the last line of the book; I don’t want to give it away. But there is another message that we’ve inadvertently managed to convey through our collaboration -that if there’s passion and the willingness to do something different, strangers too can come together and work meaningfully as a team.
I’d like readers to pick up Altitudinis because unlike the saying, ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’, our varied backgrounds -both ancestral and professional- have allowed us to add different spices to elevate the flavour of the story. I like to refer to us as a rainbow with three extra colours… wouldn’t look any less spectacular, would it?
How is co-authoring a book different from writing a book as solo author?
Collaborative writing, especially with nine others was no less than a management lesson for me... while managing meetings and ensuring maximum attendance was tough but doable, it was a pleasant surprise to be able to collectively manage egos too :)
Usually, writing is a lonely job. An author is on her/his own doing everything from research to ideating to writing and revising all by herself and this at most times gets rather frustrating. The great thing about collaborative writing is that you are not alone at any stage. if you get stuck or develop the cliched writer's block, there are others who can pick up from where you left and continue...or they are there to brainstorm and help you think differently or even do the necessary research. And with a great team like we had formed, no one was judgemental about anyone's writing style...we tried to look for and capitalize on the positives of each writer.
The writing process itself was rather fun given the unpredictability of how the next writer would take the story ahead, thus ensuring laughs, thrills, guffaws and sighs.
What is your favorite quote? The one you apply in your life.
‘The universe is made of stories… not atoms.’I’d read this long back and although there’s nothing much about it that I can ‘apply’ in my life, it is a quote that keeps inspiring me to search out these stories and bring them to light. The research I’m doing for my forthcoming children’s book has furthered this thought and I am completely enamoured by the fact that every one of us is a bundle of stories -walking and talking and doing all the things we do, but stories nevertheless :)
Define ‘Altitudinis’ in one line from your perspective.
An experiment in collaborative writing that threw near-strangers into a cauldron of stories, only to emerge as friends for life… with a published book to boot!
So, do you, my reader friends, have any questions for Priya?Feel free to let us know.
Also, do grab your copy of this super-exciting book via below links.
Lots of Love

Published on September 30, 2019 21:34