Introducing my book: Live-in with a Ghost

#Books  #Personal

I have received many feedbacks regarding how writing reviews on my blog have helped other authors. So, given it is my 100th post yay!, I decided to do something for myself.

Through this post I would like to introduce my book (which was published almost a year ago) to all my blogger and reader friends. The title of my book is - 'Live-in with a Ghost' which is a romantic fantasy and touches upon supernatural aspects.

Many people have asked me how I came across with this idea and here is how. When I wrote the book we were in South Africa and like always my husband was super busy. Given we were in foreign country, we had literally no friends and I had no one to share my feelings and grievances. Hence, just like we used to do in our childhood I created an imaginary friend and started talking. People laugh at this notion and some called me crazy but it helped me - it helped me my sanity and marriage. My imaginations took a wild turn when I thought what if I had a partner who was just for me? Unlike my super-busy husband he would pay full attention only to me - I know it's selfish - but through this thought I started a story in my head which eventually turned into a novel.

The story of my book is a simple love story where a girl meets a boy in most unusual circumstances. Where she, Jia, is a human, he, Jai, is a ghost. And not just a regular haunting ghost but a ghost of a man who is in coma for quite sometime. Yes, he is alive and it complicates things. Initially super scared of him, she later befriends him and then falls in love. Their love story is obviously complex as people from two dimensions cannot survive together long but somehow they manage... How? Is the part which you can know if you read the book.

Many reviewers have told me that the book reminds them of a Hollywood movie but I cannot repeat it often but the creation of this story was my own, I don't indulge in plagiarism. On a positive note, I take proud in thinking that I was able to cook up a story which was worthy enough to have a movie on similar lines.

The blurb of the book is: "Jia & Jai have a unique love story where she is human and he is a ghost. They meet during an out-of-body experience after an accident. Although from different worlds, she is simple middle-class journalist and he is a rich playboy, they fall in love instantly. During the adventure of their relation they both go through various exciting events which include tears, laughter, love and even fighting-off goons. Throughout their relation, the only thing Jia fears is what if he wakes up and forgets her. And in the end of the story he does wake up but if he remembers her is yet to be known..."

I hope I was able to intrigue you a bit about my book and you would like to check it out. If so, please help out a fellow blogger and click on links below to grab yourself a copy.

Paperback on Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/Live-Ghost-Kritika-Sharma/dp/9384315133

Kindle Edition: https://www.amazon.in/Live-ghost-Kritika-Sharma-ebook/dp/B01CIYUSHU

Flipkart: http://www.flipkart.com/live-in-ghost-english/p/itmeczumaythzdn3?pid=9789384315139

Or, you can get a copy from me. Just message me your details. :)

Please leave your comments, I would love to hear from you.

Love and Cheers,

Book Review: The Triumph of Love by Shivdutt Sharma

BookReviews

Title: The Triumph of Love
Author: Shivdutt Sharma
Publisher: Yogi Impressions
Pages: 160
Price: Rs. 245
My Rating: 3.5/5

Blurb:
'A greatness in thy daughter's soul resides
That can transform herself and all around,
But must cross on stones of suffering to its goal.'
Sage Narad to Aswapati, father of Savitri
- Savitri, Book VI, Sri Aurobindo

Ancient India's legendary romance of Savitri and Satyavan has been told and retold through opera, ballet, on stage, on film and television, across continents. One of the best-loved tales of ancient India, it has continued to weave its magic on the Indian as well as the global psyche.

Unique among women in the Indian epics and scriptures, Savitri embodies not just the complete love for and commitment to her husband, which all epic heroines display, but matches that with the power of absolute will and action. Like Sita, Shakuntala and Draupadi, she is also a victim of circumstances; unlike them she does not seek help from without to free herself and her husband from a tragic fate.

Once she has decided to marry Satyavan, even with the dire foreknowledge of the catastrophic event, she does not regret or waver from her choice. In fact, she becomes determined to confront and challenge fate and bend it to her indomitable will.


What is perhaps unique to The Triumph of Love is the depth of its narrative that lends credence to the romance of Savitri and Satyavan, which has endeared itself to everyone down the ages, to this day.

Review:
The epic love of Savitri and Satyavan has been talked about since forever. When I was growing up, everyone said if you want to love your husband, do so like Savitri who took back her husband's life from 'Yamraj' himself. The story of this novel is more or less based on the same story and while reading it, it felt like a remake of the old one.

The story revolves around the two main characters, how they meet, their life together and love. The sad fact of his death and her persistence and struggle to get him back.

The characters of the story are beautifully written and woven together. The way scenes are depicted, you feel them come alive.

In terms of story, book and everything, it is evident author has put in extra efforts to make it perfect.
What I could not digest in the story is the certain weird instances, which just sort of happen. They seem acceptable in the old ages but now, they seem curious and little funny.

Overall, it is a rather fine read. And my rating is - 3.5/5.

You can grab your copy here.

The book was sent to me by Anuj Kumar, Kalamos Literary Services..

Hope you enjoy the book too.

Love and Cheers

Zika Virus: A potential threat to all mother's to be

#AllAboutHealth #ZikaVirus

I received a very informative article today about Zika virus and the stats worried me a little. It said that out of 544 Americans affected by Zika, 300 are pregnant women. Well, the numbers are very small considering population size but the % of pregnant women is really high.

The first thing that we need to know is that so far India is unaffected from this virus. The hot zones are Latin America, Pacific Islands and Africa. The second thing to know is that it spreads through mosquito bites and sexual transmission. Hence, if male partner has contracted it, it is highly likely that he may pass it on to females. And lastly, there are no vaccines or treatment available so far but Zika virus is not deadly. As per reports it goes away like in 2-3 weeks with simple symptomatic treatments. According to WHO, the list of symptoms for this are: 

• Fever and Rash
• Muscle and Joint Pain 
• Headache
• Pain behind the Eyes
• Conjunctivitis (itchy, red eyes)

The worst part of this virus is that in 80% cases no symptoms occur hence for most people there is no way to know if they have it.

Now the question that arises is that, if it is not deadly then why to worry?

Well to answer here, it is not deadly to you or your family but it is very dangerous for unborn children. Many organizations have taken out warnings saying that all pregnant women or likely to conceive women should avoid travel to infected zones. If the husband has traveled to these zones recently then also doctor should be consulted as it can be transmitted easily.

Unfortunately if mother-to-be contracts this virus then she can pass it to the unborn child. In certain cases fetus affected by Zika does not have any impact but there is always a chance that baby's head and brain may get impacted. Zika can cause microcephaly to the baby, which may cause mental retardation, as well as delays in speech, movement, and growth.

Given the severity of it to unborn children it is advised to take necessary precautions to save and protect future generation.

I know it is a good to know information but given I fall under the segment of 'mother to be' I felt it is important to share it further.

Hope you stay well and your kids do too.

Love and Cheers

Laundry Goes Odd Even - A Wonderful Initiative

#ShortStories  #LaundryGoesOddEven

PC: www.huffingtonpost.ca

Ariel has taken  a big initiative of making laundry not just 'women's chore'. Unlike the super flop
Delhi's odd even rule, Ariel's "Laundry goes Odd-Even" is a wonderful initiative.

In most households people believe washing clothes is a women's task and so is being promoted by many other players like Surf Excel, Tide etc. Even in an advert of Surf Excel they say - 'we cannot wash clothes better than your mom', as if a mom's hands will add magic touch which will magically disappear all stains. The perception is wrong and the concept is wrong. And Ariel is trying to change it and hats off to this initiative.

My family is very different, I believe it is one of the very few families in India where my father supports my mother by doing laundry and my husband supports me. It's not like they wash it with their hands but doing so using washing machine is also a huge help. Every woman (working or homemaker) will agree. However, I have seen so many other families of my friends and relatives where still the husband sits on the couch watching TV /reading something /or just pretending to do so while the wife works her ass off. We should stop that and all husbands should understand that if they will act like this, similar will be the situation of their daughters.

Laundry is just one part of daily chores and all men should understand that in today's world where women go out and work equivalently with men, men should also help equivalently at home.

I am taking part in the #LaundryGoesOddEven Challenge by Ariel India at BlogAdda. 
And in this initiative I received a complimentary 1KG pack of Ariel Matic which both my husband and I used alternatively. Given its just us in our home we don't get many soiled clothes to wash every day to follow odd - even by dates, but we have decided to go odd - even on turns to wash in a loving peaceful way. I wish every couple decides to do this and not just by dates or days but through turns. Because, I wonder (not accusing anyone) if, for example, all odd days are assigned to men, will any clothes be ever washed on those day ;)

This initiative is a big step in right direction and we all hope it brings a positive change in Indian culture.

I hope this post/video/initiative brings some change in your household too.

Love and Cheers

Poem - Her Melancholy

#MyPoems

When you are harassed

Nothing comes to mind

Just that you are alone

And the world is blind

The same she feel some days

Some days when she is sad

Wondering if things will go back ever

To times when it was not so bad

As the loneliness surround her

And misery envelopes her to core

She hopes he realizes her pain

And let it not become a chore

It's not him who is at fault

She is miserable because of his name

He still loves her to his soul

But sadly he is only the 'one' she can blame

~~Kritika Rajat Sharma

PS: Not written basis personal experiences

Love and Cheers