And in India now

The link to Soulmates Never Part in Amazon.in is

http://www.amazon.in/gp/offer-listing/148285189X/ref=tmm_pap_new_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=new 

It has been lovely to see my book on the Amazon website across the globe. US, UK, Canada, Denmark, France and Japan. Now it has entered Amazon India and it feels good and complete. 

Many of my friends had been constantly asking me when it would be available in India. Well, now it is. Cheers!!

An excerpt from Prologue

A horrifying crash.  If that were anyone else but Anita involved, it might have called for some sincere pity from Abel.  However, sympathy categorically refused to surface in the case of this particular woman.  He had known her only too well.  She had never let him be his true, lovable, happy-go-lucky self. Happy New Year 2005!

Car smashed. The way she was going, literally, that had to happen sooner or later. Of course, it had to!  But thankfully, it wasn’t his car that was involved. Good that Anita had picked her own vehicle on that day rather than use Abel’s which she did once too often, if only  to irritate him.  Abel definitely wouldn’t have fancied being even remotely close to or mixed up with the incident in anyway.

Drunken driver crushed beyond recognition.  That was, undoubtedly, the icing on the cake.  No amount of patch up would put that wretched woman back in one piece. Blessedly, Anita had gone too far away from the world to ever return to him.  To trouble him or to bother him.  Her deliberate jibes and insults had stung him only too often. And her endless demands had drained him so. But he had completely lost it that day. Oh damn it! Abel Freeman certainly would want to forget the whole bloody episode.

Author's copy

After the book has been published, an author looks forward very eagerly to hold its first copy. And when it turns out just as it should be, then it is a relief and sheer happiness. Writing a book is but a labor of love. One puts oneself into it completely.  

There is a time when one just concentrates on what one wants to put down in the story, very much overlooking the consequences of how it will be taken by its potential readers or how it will fare business wise. Making some slight adjustments to suit what seems better or more appropriate may come later. 

After the plot has been written, it is time to write the actual story. Elaborating on the plot is easy but adding more stuff that is required as part of the story calls for deep concentration and understanding of various situations that might have been similar some day some where at some time. 

The actual story drags very long and every word might seem to be important and interesting to the author initially. But later on, when the story is actually being edited, the author is wisely able to do away with some parts and make additions to better the story. 

All in all, it is interesting all the way. Just as the writer holds the story, the story too holds the writer until it is finally done. 

It is in some ways similar to giving birth to a baby, difficult but a sweet pleasure all the way. And holding the first copy is just as ecstatic.

Creating a character

When an author begins to think of a plot, it is fun and he or she enjoys it. The difficulty begins when the plot is being jotted down. It doesn't get any easier because its only after the plot has been revised many times until one is satisfied that the actual writing begins.

Creating of characters is the most interesting part of the writing. It is not only as if only the main characters are important in a book. Every name that is mentioned has to have some life to further the story in a nice way. But of course, it is the main character or characters that need that special flawless polish for them to breathe life into the character and an element of reality in the story. Right from the name to the physical appearance, the clothing and the circumstances has to be well pronounced. It is then that the character's tendency can be predicted to the situations that surface. If this is done well, the reader can feel that he or she has understood the character well. And when the character acts out of character which is bound to happen sooner or later in the plot, it takes the reader by surprise and that is what holds the interest.

Who doesn't like Champagne?

What kind of a question is that?  "Who doesn't like champagne?"  

Well, in Soulmates Never Part, Sheila doesn't!  

Following is a little peek at their first meeting.

“What can I offer you?” Abel asked her after a while, “I have champagne. Would you like to celebrate our union?”

“I don’t take champagne,” Sheila said, knowing nevertheless, that she would like to today, if he really wanted her to.  But he did not propose champagne again.

“Some Coke perhaps?” he offered instead.  He had seated her on one of the elegant, fluffy sofas.  It was a tastefully furnished room that he had booked in advance for his stay in Kolkata. He walked over to the refrigerator which was carefully concealed in a stylish wall-to-wall cabinet. Sheila had regained her composure by now, and she tried to hide the disappointment and emptiness she sensed as soon as he had left her side.

“That will be perfect,” she smiled, taking her eyes off him to inspect the room properly.  It was bathed in luxury, she noted for the first time, and somehow, it contradicted with the image she had in her mind of Abel Freeman. She wouldn’t have thought he cared a lot for or even could afford such lavishness.  But then, this was only their first meeting.  She would, of course, learn more about him gradually.

“Here it is,” Abel said, holding out a glass of Coke towards her, not taking his eyes away from her face for a moment.  She eyed his glass mutely as he sipped his own Coke and wondered why he hadn’t poured out the champagne for himself.

“I don’t need champagne,” he explained to her casually, apparently reading her mind. “You are an intoxicating woman as it is.”  Sheila was self-conscious and had nothing to say as he ran his eyes over her appreciatively. He laughed good-naturedly at her, “It’s a compliment, Sheila.”

A link to my book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soulmates-Never-Part-Shampa-Sharma/dp/148285189X%3FSubscriptionId%3D0D2DHPR4QZK90GRWYP02%26tag%3Dfindthelowesb-21%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D148285189X

Onion and understanding

Onion prices up. That is in the news today.

Diversity even in the use of item is amazing. There are those who don't like onions and there are those who cannot do without onions. And there are also those who don't use onions at all.

Is it so necessary to buy onions at a huge price when the pockets are protesting? Why can not we do without onions for a while when the prices are sky high?

Oh yes, there are some people do make it without the pungent bulb for as long as it is wise. They explore new possibilities in their recipes.

I wouldn't call this compromising. Or cutting down on taste. I would say it is a wise adjustment. An understanding.

That is the point. Understanding. Whether it is for a situation or a person, it helps one be good and wise and come out nicely.

In my book, Soulmates Never Part, I have stressed on the importance of understanding between people. Things can go drastically wrong when a misunderstanding occurs.