One More Chapter

by Shalini Mullick

One More Chapter is a collection of stories that are testament to the resilience, courage, and grace of women who, when faced with adversity, discover their greatest treasure: themselves. Do pick up a copy of this powerful collection of stories featuring women who rise above challenges, defy societal norms, and discover their inner strength. Each story in this anthology is a testament to the resilience, courage, and grace of women who, when faced with adversity, discover their greatest treasure: themselves. These pages celebrate their journeys towards self-empowerment, showcasing how women can transform challenges into triumphs, embrace their full potential, and ultimately change the world around them.

About the author

Shalini is a writer, practising doctor, and a mentor. .
Shalini has authored three books, which have been listed for various awards, and has contributed to anthologies. Her columns and short stories have also won citations and awards.

Her latest book One More Chapter is a collection of woman-centric short stories that are a testament to the indomitable spirit of women everywhere . The Way Home explores grief, healing and self-discovery, with a focus on mental health struggles of millennials. Stars from the Borderless Sea is a collection of three novella length stories that explore different facets of the most universal human emotion-love.

She is a recipient of the 8th Sarojini Naidu International Award for Working Women, and the N.N Jehnagir Scholarship towards creative writing.

Shalini has been an invited speaker at various Literary events and is a columnist and panellist for magazines and platforms. She has been invited to judge writing events and manuscript pitches and conduct writing workshops and career counselling sessions in prestigious schools and colleges. She has also been a guest on audio and video podcasts.

In her professional life. Shalini is a senior doctor in the public sectorhi. She has many scientific papers and publications to her credit.

She also a mentor to mid-career level women professionals as part of leadership programs for corporate organizations.

Reviews

[Geetika · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Inspiring, thought provoking, relatable and feminist tales on women empowerment!*
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✍️You always have the opportunity to rewrite the sentences and give your story the direction that you want and deserve. One more chapter is always possible.

✍️This is a collection of 16 short stories of women, fictional characters but I found reflections of people I know, even bits and pieces of myself in the stories.

✍️Some of the woman protagonists in the book fight the constructs of society, convention, misogyny and others, the nagging negative voices of fear within.

✍️Each story packs a punch. They cover all gamuts of life, death, love, loss, longing, sorrow, hurt, relationships, work, passion, dreams, desires, mental health and grief.

✍️An inspiring, feminist and thought-provoking book about the inherent resilience and power in women.

✍️An easy read.

✍️My 💛favourite stories are: Looks Like Love, Beyond Fears and Diwali Rush.

✍️Some of my 💛favourite excerpts from the book:

💛"When women decide to change their lives, they also bring about, a transformation that affects many more people."

💛"I'll walk where my own nature would be leading, it vexes me to choose another guide."(Emily Brontë)

✍️My final takeaway from the book: Write your own story. You do not need a script. Carve your own identity. Rise above your vulnerabilities.

✍️As I like female protagonists, short stories, contemporary fiction and the topic of women empowerment, the book was right up my alley.

💛A 4.9/5 star read for me!

🌻I read the paperback.

[Siddhant Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shalini presents 16 stories that are in inspiring and challenging in equal measure. The stories focus on the resilience of the women in daily life, and presents some seemingly normal daily events from a completely different perspective. The writing in the book is powerful, but presents the idea of the book in such a simple manner that after each story you take a pause to take in the events that transpired. Each of the story is short and crisp, but the essence of each of these stories is quite deep. Another aspect of the book that I loved was that each of the stories are distinct and you see a completely different character in each of the 16 stories. While the most of the book deals with breaking the moulds that the society has set for these characters and facing their fears, there are a couple of stories that fit the theme in a uniquely different manner. If I had to pick my favorites from the lot, “Diwali Rush” would be one making it to the list because of the simplicity with which the author highlights the theme of the story! Another story that makes the cut for me was “Kindling the Fire” for the theme, the inspiration, and the way Shalini adapts the story while keeping it contemporary. The third story to make it to the favorites list was that of “Mother’s Day.” The reason why this story stayed with me was not just because of the theme, but because of the mastery of writing that this story shows that the story is right in front of you, but the twist in the end stuns you are a reader, and given that this is in the initial part of the book, you start paying attention to small details in the book as well.

Coming to the characters, each of the story in the book features a set of wonderfully sketched characters that are relatable, but at the same time show resilience like no one else. The characters are not described in detail, by the virtue of the stories being short, but somehow you are able to visualize them very clearly while reading the book. The characters are the soul of this book, and as a reader, each of these characters would inspire you to look at your life from a completely different perspective with each page you turn.

[Bhaswar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shalini Mullick’s One More Chapter (Unstoppable Women, Unstoppable Stories) is a clutch of sixteen shorts that showcase resilient Indian women navigating love, loss, patriarchy, and self-definition. The stories pivot upon defining moments in women’s lives, from career crossroads and marital strain to grief, motherhood, and aging. Characters like Priya, Radha, Tamanna, Vidhya, Ananya, and Reema confront legal battles, internal fears, and deeply ingrained conditioning as Shalini’s pen exhorts them to perform acts of courage, both every day and extraordinary. And though a work of fiction, these characters feel familiar and their stories relatable, offering readers a piece of themselves, forgotten or extant.
Shalini’s craft is cogent, her writing lucid and will prompt the reader to pause and reflect after every story. Her vocation as a doctor adds realism and psychological nuance, especially to depictions of emotional strain, illness, and inner conflict.
On the obverse, the strong thematic focus of this anthology on resilience and “unstoppability” can feel didactic or predictive for those revelling more in morally ambiguous or flawed protagonists. Also, I would have loved to see a more generous peppering of dialogues in Shalini’s writing.
In sum, Shalini’s substance is heartfelt, thematically cohesive and a tribute to all women who refuse to capitulate to their inherited limitations in inner or outer battles. Shalini quietly but powerfully champions womanhood’s agency and the trajectory it must take. The stories celebrate women who “stood tall… even when their hands shook”—a line that captures the book’s emotional DNA.

[Manali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling reminder that the greatest power often lies within

A stirring collection that celebrates the strength and resilience of women navigating adversity. Each story offers a glimpse into lives transformed by courage, defiance of societal norms, and deep self-discovery. The writing is heartfelt and empowering, making it easy to connect with the emotional journeys of the protagonists. The stories are a compelling reminder that the greatest power often lies within, and that together, or sometimes even by themselves, women can bring about a change that's rebellious as well as revolutionary.