Quest for Kryia By: Rahul Deokar

Quest for Kriya

By: Rahul Deokar

I was sought out by the Author Mr. Deokar, who thought this book would be a great find for my readers. After reviewing it, I have to agree. So allow me to share with you what I found in the story of the “Quest for Kriya.”

Kryia is the soul-sister of Shakti, and the problem here is that, Kryia ends up missing, and what’s even worse, is that Kyria ended up keeping Shakti kind of the closet, and kept her very sheltered. 

Therefore when Kryia ends up missing, Shakti must learn to be her own person.

During this time frame of 1993, everyone is being haunted by the earthquake and loss that India has underwent. People are on edge, and cautious.

Shakti meets Shiva and the two of them are thrust into the underbelly of the very dark Mumbai where they are on a race against time in:  The forbidden Thailand Islands, the treacherous cliffs in the Andaman Sea, and this is where the women realize that trouble and danger is everywhere. This is where and when Shakti and Shiva realize that millions of lives are also at stake.

The “Quest for Kryia” is a beautiful story of romance, friendship, and even edge of the seat mystery. It is beautifully told, and well worth the time to read. I enjoyed every moment of it, and will proudly give it five stars. This book is truly a great read, and you need to check it out!

Here are my questions for Mr. Deokar:

1. What made you write: "The Quest for Kriya" and how long did it take you?

As a seasoned executive in the Silicon Valley software industry, I travel for my company’s business and these work trips take me all over the world. They provide me a wonderful immersive experience as I get to partake of different cultures, environs, and the people. Also, on these long flights and the jet-lagged, sleepless nights in hotel rooms, I tend to read a lot of books.

On one of these international flights back to Bay Area, perhaps it was the rarity of air or lack of oxygen, I had a flash. A moment of inspiration! Or moment of insanity, maybe. A thought, an idea, a story germinated. I was excited but apprehensive.

This was the most unlikely place and beginning to Quest for Kriya. And, it took me 3 years to write and finish the book, since I could afford to work only on weekends and evenings, because of my full-time job.

2. Did you do any special research for this book?

I couldn’t get the concept of Quest for Kriya out of my head. The experiences to be told were a combination of events from my own life and from the lives of folks I know. Take Shiva’s startup rollercoaster ride; I obviously base it on my own startup experience and that of my friends in the Bay Area. But to create the part about Shakti’s loss of her brother Sanju and her family in the Latur earthquake; I had to dig into the deep recesses of the emotional loss of my dear uncle Sanju who grew up with me in the same house, but passed away at a very young age in a car accident in the US.

But it’s one thing to have an idea, and an altogether different ball-game to execute on it. I did not necessarily have all the skills and tools of the craft of writing a novel.

So, I began to learn the art and science of fiction writing. I must have immersed myself in at least 15 to 20 how-to books that enlightened me on how to create an unforgettable plot, how to make your settings come alive, and how to create flawed characters that readers can relate to. I learned about transformation arcs, effective dialogues, much-needed conflict, and the dichotomy of character’s thoughts, words and deeds.  

Feeling confident with this new knowledge, I embarked on my writing adventure…

3. Do you have any photos of your characters or descriptions of them to share with us?

No, I don’t have any photos of the characters, but I have sprinkled my own personality traits generously across the board into multiple characters in the story. However no single character embodies all the traits - some are in the good guys, some in the bad guys, some in the male characters and some others in the female ones. For instance, Shiva is a workaholic like me, Harry shares my fascination with spirituality and occult, while Shakti goes through a brooding, despondent phase before her resurgence. Actually, every character is a concoction of several traits – mine and other folks whom I have observed.

As I often say, 50% is based on real experiences (both mine and of folks I know) and the other 50% is pure fiction. It’s just not obvious which 50% is which, and I’d like to keep it that way. J I mentioned this recently at a panel discussion, and another panelist quoted his standard riposte when asked how much of his book was based on real life: “all the hot, incredible sex scenes are completely real!”

4, Who designed this beautiful cover?

Mohana Pradhan, a gifted Bay Area artist and a good friend of mine, has designed the beautiful cover for the book. Painting is her passion, and her inspiration comes from music, dance, lyrics, nature, quotes, photography, memories, and special moments of life. She has a Degree in Fine Arts from L.S. Raheja School of Architecture and Arts, Mumbai. And, you can find more beautiful pieces of her work at: http://www.mohanapradhan.com/

5. What is your favorite book of all times?

It’s really hard to pick the favorite book of all times; it’s almost like choosing who your favorite kid is. As a teenager, I had a voracious reading appetite, and the summers would be an amazing journey to distant places in curious, learning-shoes of the multi-faceted characters.

My reading ranged from suspense/mystery thrillers to epic tales and philosophies from Ayn Rand, Kahlil Gibran, Fedor Dostoevsky and Albert Camus to spirituality from the East and West. That phase of my reading life, I know for sure, had the biggest influence on my thinking and intellect. Later on, I was fortunate to read and relish books from some of my new-favorite authors: Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts), Sacred Games (Vikram Chandra), and Game of Thrones series (George R. R. Martin). Currently, I am reading this amazing book All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. But, if I was ever stranded on a deserted island, I would take along these three books:

-         The Fountainhead

-         Shantaram

-         The Upanishads

6. What are you working on now?

In fact, when I wrote Quest for Kriya, I had envisioned it as the first of a Trilogy. But I wasn’t sure how the readers would respond to my debut attempt, whether the book would just sink down unceremoniously without a blip. Naturally, you see your own baby as cute, precious, and one-of-a-kind, but expert critics and unforgiving readers don't don the same rose-tinted glasses as you. I was apprehensive, but when they scrutinized and said "the baby ain't all that bad”, now I feel somewhat confident to start the second one. 

I have recently begun to craft a storyline and plot for the sequel. I am furiously making notes about the characters (the previous beloved ones and some interesting additions), the new settings, and the central conflicts that drive everything into motion.

7. Exactly how many awards did this book win, and how did it win them?

Quest for Kriya has won 4 awards so far:

-         Winner 2016 Beverly Hills Book Awards (Multicultural Fiction)

-         Gold Medal 2016 eLit Book Awards (Multicultural Fiction)

-         Top 20 Semi-Finalist 2016 Kindle Book Review Awards (Literary Fiction) (Finalists/winners will be declared in Oct/Nov 2016. Keep rooting for it!)

-         Finalist 2015 International Book Awards (Multicultural Fiction)

It has also been endorsed by Rev.Bill McDonald - founder of American Authors Association, the largest author organization in North America. (facebook.com/video.php?v=10152778013505762&set=vb.735455761&type=2&theater)

I wish I knew the answer, and explain to you how Quest for Kriya won these awards. But frankly, I can’t. I am thrilled to be recognized, but at the same time, I am overwhelmed. It is truly an honor to receive such prestigious awards which distinguish and celebrate excellence in book publishing. That my book met the high standard these awards exemplify, is truly humbling. I'd like to thank the judges for doing such a wonderful service. It's no easy task to scrutinize and select amongst all the books - each a labor of love of the talented author. And many a times, the difference between the Winner and other books is so tiny that it's a tough call to make. A huge congratulations goes out not only to all the winners but also to all the finalists and the participants.

8. What inspires you to write?

Life’s wisdom gained through years of stumbling, reaching within, and picking oneself up, made me realize that the great epics and scriptures (Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Iliad and the Odyssey, Bible, Koran, Bhagawad Gita) have embedded at their core certain esoteric but absolute truths. Our exalted ancestors rightly understood that if these truths are to endure the tribulations of time, they have to be relayed as stories the common man could understand, re-tell, and pass on from generation to generation. And lo behold. These stories have indeed outlived cataclysms and human wars, and are still so very much a part of our world history and culture.

The challenge though is that these stories were told with characters of long-gone eras amidst settings and scenarios far removed from the current, modern world. I asked myself: why can’t a story be told in today’s times with today’s characters that embody these truths; wouldn’t the readers be able to relate and resonate better to something that is their way of life?

9. Have you ever met any other Authors in real life?

I was fortunate to be selected and invited to The Second IAAC Literary Festival in New York, featuring work by authors whose heritage lies in the Indian subcontinent (#IAACLitFest2015). I got the opportunity to rub shoulder and be in the august company of literature and arts illuminati (Sir Salman Rushdie, Suketu Mehta, Madhur Jaffrey, Padma Lakshmi, Quantico producer/writer Cherien Dabis, Mira Nair, et al).

The festival commenced with an opening night celebration of the twin cities of Bombay and New York. Booker of Booker author Sir Salman Rushdie and Kiriyama Prize winning author Suketu Mehta engaged in a scintillating conversation as Bombay Boys in New York. The two days at the festival was a very rewarding experience attending the various sessions and interacting with both the established and upcoming authors. It was indeed a great privilege for me to be featured on the Fiction writers panel as an emerging author. Closing night at this fabulous little gem of a festival featured the Page to Stage session with director Mira Nair and writer Sabrina Dhawan in conversation about taking the movie Monsoon Wedding to Broadway

10. Anything extra to add:

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to spend time with my wife and kids, go on hikes in the nature, outings at the movies or rock-climbing gyms, and vacations to various parts of the world. At home, my wife – the top chef that she is, churns out some delectable delicacies. She also loves to eat out and sample all kinds of cuisines, and I am a willing partner-in-crime. My son loves tennis and I push my old legs to exchange rallies with him to challenge his status of “king of the court”. As for my teenage daughter, I am currently exercising my fatherly patience to rekindle the unique bond we once shared while I wait for her core, loving self to emerge on the other side of this phase of rebellious angst. Meanwhile, I just adore her spunk and get exasperated in turns.

10. Please provide for us your social media  and book links:

https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Kriya-Rahul-Deokar-ebook/dp/B00NQIKI3C/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23218582-quest-for-kriya

http://www.rahuldeokar.com/
facebook.com/QuestForKriya

Quest for Kriya by Rahul Deokar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was sought out by the Author Mr. Deokar, who thought this book would be a great find for my readers. After reviewing it, I have to agree. So allow me to share with you what I found in the story of the “Quest for Kriya.”

Kryia is the soul-sister of Shakti, and the problem here is that, Kryia ends up missing, and what’s even worse, is that Kyria ended up keeping Shakti kind of the closet, and kept her very sheltered.

Therefore when Kryia ends up missing, Shakti must learn to be her own person.

During this time frame of 1993, everyone is being haunted by the earthquake and loss that India has underwent. People are on edge, and cautious.

Shakti meets Shiva and the two of them are thrust into the underbelly of the very dark Mumbai where they are on a race against time in: The forbidden Thailand Islands, the treacherous cliffs in the Andaman Sea, and this is where the women realize that trouble and danger is everywhere. This is where and when Shakti and Shiva realize that millions of lives are also at stake.

The “Quest for Kryia” is a beautiful story of romance, friendship, and even edge of the seat mystery. It is beautifully told, and well worth the time to read. I enjoyed every moment of it, and will proudly give it five stars. This book is truly a great read, and you need to check it out!



View all my reviews

A Peace of Me By: Deneale K. McElhaney~Williams

A Peace of Me

By: Deneale K. McElhaney-Williams

I ask my husband would it be ok to review my own book, and feature it on my blog, and he said how else am I going to get the word out about it?

So here I am telling you about my first book, which was published on May 18, 2016. The book is a variety of poems, written over the years of my life. Poetry, is how I cope.

My editor is Dorothy F. Shaw, and originally I had only gone to Dorothy about details on publishing, and had ask her to write a review to be featured within my book. She wanted to know more. Once, I told her everything, she changed my mind, and introduced me to a whole new way of life, and saved me well over three hundred plus dollars. 

Dorothy also taught me that my writing was not yet at its perfection, and showed me my mistakes. I was enlightened through this, but also embarrassed. Some things I didn’t changed, because I felt the slang needed to stay in a few of my poems, but I won’t say that Dorothy didn’t try to convince me otherwise.

Through publishing this, my first book, I was enlightened and learned a lot. I couldn’t have done it without Dorothy and Sidda Lee Rain, who designed my very beautiful cover. And trust me, she offered me several examples, and it was a rough decision. Those two women taught me some amazing things, and were there for me every step of the way.

“A Peace of Me” received one review as of July 25, 2016, and it was a five star review by: Marianne Spitzer, who is also another Author. In her review, she mentions that I write from the soul. By the way, thank you Marianne for your review!

My poems do in fact come from the soul. In fact, there is a dedication with the book to my Mother, with her photo. That very poem was read at her funeral. 

My favorite poem from my own collection, has always been, “Sing to me Daddy” and “Should we cut the Cheese.”

I do hope that you would give my book a look see, and check it out for yourself. Personally, I am a bit conceited, but I too feel it is a five star read, but I wrote it. LOL Originally it would not have been a five star read, but thankfully Dorothy and Sidda corrected my fumble and made a nice recovery for the touchdown. Now the book is perfection! Check it out for yourself and see!

Thank you for your interest in my book! I do hope you will consider buying it, and supporting me in my further 
 endeavors. 

Amazon web site:

 http://www.amazon.com/Deneale-K.-McElhaney-Williams/e/B01FWPVSIU/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/DenealeK
www.facebook.comDeneale5 
Twitter:
@Deneale
&
@DenealeBookBuzz

My instagram link can be found on the homepage of this blog:
www.DenealesBookBuzz.BlogSpot.com

~

 

A Peace of Me: A Collection of Poetry by Deneale K. McElhaney- Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I ask my husband would it be ok to review my own book, and feature it on my blog, and he said how else am I going to get the word out about it?

So here I am telling you about my first book, which was published on May 18, 2016. The book is a variety of poems, written over the years of my life. Poetry, is how I cope.

My editor is Dorothy F. Shaw, and originally I had only gone to Dorothy about details on publishing, and had ask her to write a review to be featured within my book. She wanted to know more. Once, I told her everything, she changed my mind, and introduced me to a whole new way of life, and saved me well over three hundred plus dollars.

Dorothy also taught me that my writing was not yet at its perfection, and showed me my mistakes. I was enlightened through this, but also embarrassed. Some things I didn’t changed, because I felt the slang needed to stay in a few of my poems, but I won’t say that Dorothy didn’t try to convince me otherwise.

Through publishing this, my first book, I was enlightened and learned a lot. I couldn’t have done it without Dorothy and Sidda Lee Rain, who designed my very beautiful cover. And trust me, she offered me several examples, and it was a rough decision. Those two women taught me some amazing things, and were there for me every step of the way.

“A Peace of Me” received one review as of July 25, 2016, and it was a five star review by: Marianne Spitzer, who is also another Author. In her review, she mentions that I write from the soul. By the way, thank you Marianne for your review!

My poems do in fact come from the soul. In fact, there is a dedication with the book to my Mother, with her photo. That very poem was read at her funeral.

My favorite poem from my own collection, has always been, “Sing to me Daddy” and “Should we cut the Cheese.”

I do hope that you would give my book a look see, and check it out for yourself. Personally, I am a bit conceited, but I too feel it is a five star read, but I wrote it. LOL Originally it would not have been a five star read, but thankfully Dorothy and Sidda corrected my fumble and made a nice recovery for the touchdown. Now the book is perfection! Check it out for yourself and see!

Thank you for your interest in my book! I do hope you will consider buying it, and supporting me in my further endeavors.



View all my reviews

Martyrs and Traitors by: Marina Julia Neary

Martyrs and Traitors

By: Marina Julia Neary

This author sought me out because of her writer friend, Iryna Combs, the Author of “Black Wings”, which can be found within my blog. So to begin, allow me to thank Iryna for the referral, I totally appreciate it.

Marina sent me her info, along with her list of books, and ask me which one I wanted to read. I like that. So I looked over everything, and this one: “Martyrs and Traitors” just pulled me in. I read the other ones, and then re-read this one three times. 

I wasn’t sure if it was something my audience would get into, but I wanted to read it. Is that wrong? I thought for a minute. Why not. Let’s be selfish, and feed my reading needs. 

This amazing tale takes you into the past, 1916 to be exact. And it tells you the stories of one of Ireland’s own. 

Here you will learn of conspiracy theories, love stories, fights with then have make for a bloody messy, and so much more. 

Bulmer Hobson is the very misunderstood antihero, if you will, of this time frame. And when his captors capture him, and joke about shooting and killing him, Hobson’s terrified fiancé must try and find him.

Hobson was branded the most dangerous man in Ireland at one time. And all he was trying to do, was make a difference. 

Marina looks deeply into the real story, and gives us insight that you didn’t know, and helps you to understand the real Hobson better. She allows us to relive a bit of history through her eyes, giving us a wonderful five-star insight into the past, so that we may understand it better. This is a wonderful book, well written, and easy to understand, and wonderfully inspiring. A definite must read for anyone who loves history!

My questions for Marina:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?

I was going through an Irish phase. While purging my hard drive, I found a few drafts of novels I attempted writing in college. So I decided to revisit them and see if I could complete them. The timing was perfect - a few years before 2016 - the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin. After selling the first novel in the series, "Brendan Malone: the Last Fenian", I started writing "Martyrs & Traitors". I wrote it in the middle of a minor family crisis, and it took me about 4 months to cough up this 450+ page beast. It was a rough time, with illness and death in the family, and general economic uncertainty. I believe my overall anxiety fueled my creative process.

2. Did you do any special research for this, I mean you did date back to 1916....

Having assisted professors with research, I already had a lot of background knowledge about the Easter Rising, so I had the general outline of the events. Of course, I had to tap into more obscure resources. Some of the historical figures I was writing about were rather controversial, and many of the primary sources pertaining to them were either destroyed or hidden from the public. I wanted to get my hands on those sources, to give my readers something they would not necessarily get from textbooks.

3. Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters?

Oh, heavens, yes! You would not believe the legwork, the sleuthing and the stalking involved in obtaining some of the photos. I was able to get in touch with Bulmer Hobson's grandson, who was kind enough to share some photos of his grandfather. Unfortunately, I cannot share them to the rest of the world. Interestingly, Hobson was "a man of a thousand faces". He had a very bland, Northern Irish appearance, and he looked different on all photos. Some people are like that.  They have that chameleon quality.

4. What is your very favorite book of all time?

Various books are tired to various seasons in my life. As a teenager, I was absolutely infatuated with Victor Hugo and the whole French Romanticism.

5. What makes you desire to write?

I always tell my readers that it's a nervous tick. You can't shake it easily. It's an uncontrollable compulsion. As a child, I would spend a lot of time inside my head, daydreaming, imagining various scenarios and outcomes.  I would construct entire worlds inside my head. And if you don't let those ideas out, your head will explode.

6. Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?

It depends on what your goals are and how attainable they are. Do you aspire to spit out 10 paperbacks a year, like some established genre authors? Or do you want to write something authentic, sincere, outside of most people's comfort level?

7. Have you ever met any writers IRL?

Yes, I've been to a few author conferences. Where I live - Fairfield County - we have a large concentration of writers, so we naturally we bump into each other at book events.  There are fewer and fewer physical book shops.

8. Do you write many stories on History, or just this once?

Out of 8 novels, 6 of them are hardcore historical. 2 are set in 1980-1990s, but they still reference many historical events.

9. What are you working on now?

I am relaunching three of my novels that were released from my prior publisher and placed with a different publisher. Sometimes a book needs a bit of a face lift.

10. Please share with us your social media and book links:

My blog: http://ctcommie.blogspot.com/
My FB link: https://www.facebook.com/marina.j.neary
My Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Julia-Neary/e/B0030L2MK2/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3?qid=1469277286&sr=8-3
My bio: http://www.penmorepress.com/penmore_authors_/marina-julia-neary.html

Martyrs and Traitors: A Tale of 1916 by Marina Julia Neary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This author sought me out because of her writer friend, Iryna Combs, the Author of “Black Wings”, which can be found within my blog. So to begin, allow me to thank Iryna for the referral, I totally appreciate it.

Marina sent me her info, along with her list of books, and ask me which one I wanted to read. I like that. So I looked over everything, and this one: “Martyrs and Traitors” just pulled me in. I read the other ones, and then re-read this one three times.

I wasn’t sure if it was something my audience would get into, but I wanted to read it. Is that wrong? I thought for a minute. Why not. Let’s be selfish, and feed my reading needs.

This amazing tale takes you into the past, 1916 to be exact. And it tells you the stories of one of Ireland’s own.

Here you will learn of conspiracy theories, love stories, fights with then have make for a bloody messy, and so much more.

Bulmer Hobson is the very misunderstood antihero, if you will, of this time frame. And when his captors capture him, and joke about shooting and killing him, Hobson’s terrified fiancé must try and find him.

Hobson was branded the most dangerous man in Ireland at one time. And all he was trying to do, was make a difference.

Marina looks deeply into the real story, and gives us insight that you didn’t know, and helps you to understand the real Hobson better. She allows us to relive a bit of history through her eyes, giving us a wonderful five-star insight into the past, so that we may understand it better. This is a wonderful book, well written, and easy to understand, and wonderfully inspiring. A definite must read for anyone who loves history!

View all my reviews