The Leibster Blog Award Challenge

 I've been nominated for the Leibster Blog Award Challenge by Mary Middleton. The purpose of the challenge is to help bloggers be more popular. I have to tell you eleven little known things about  myself, answer eleven set questions and nominate eleven other bloggers to take the challenge after me.

If you are nominated below, post on your own blog linking back here, with 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions and nominate 11 new bloggers (and think of 11 questions to ask them - can be anything!)

Here are eleven supposedly interesting facts about me! Some of them are my laments about myself, so do bear with me here.

1. Being a diehard procrastinator, if something can be put off in my day, it will be. I find it terribly difficult to set a given task into motion.

2. I love to store cards. Birthday cards. Anniversary cards, Christmas and Diwali greetings. All are packed up securely. I still have most of my Congrats on Getting Married cards. And of course my kids' birthday cards.

3. Singing relaxes me. I find it soothing, especially singing sad songs. Unfortunately people around me don't find it so…lol!

4. When I'm in the thick of a story, characters start talking in my head. Sometimes the dialogue is so crystal clear and snappy I have to stop whatever I'm doing to note it down.

5. I love pics of flowers. This is a particular hobby of hubby (pun unintended) and I love it.

6. One habit I’d like to get rid of is that of stressing over nearly everything, probably one reason I'm often forgetful. However, sometimes my mind is champion at remembering important things to be done! Wish it would happen more often.

7. I often signal to mothers while travelling on the road to keep their kids' body parts inside the vehicle. You can't believe how often this happens.

8. My favourite colours are pink and green. At one time I had about six sea green outfits including nightwear. I also love peach and red.

9. Have a confession. I'm terrible at remembering faces, though am trying to improve. I’m better than I used to be…I think! :/

10. This one is out of my control. I buy books like they're going out of style. I always have unread piles and now bytes in Kindle but put me in a bookshop and I can't come out empty handed.

11. If kids are sulking I would do zombie dance or something as silly to cheer them up.

The Questions set for me by Mary Middleton

1. What sort of books do you like to read?

    I read anything and everything. But my favourite reads are contemporary romance and murder mysteries.

2. If you were stuck on a desert island who would you like as your Man Friday?

    The cola man? Or the ice-cream man would do too :)

3. When the coffee runs out, what do you like to drink?

    That's easy. Tea!

4. Are you a cat or a dog person?

    A dog person. Though I don’t keep one as I feel it constitutes a big responsibility. 

5. How different is your present partner to your first love?

    My mom told me I used to be a big fan of actor Rishi Kapoor when I was about ten. So I guess not too different if you compared them at the same age. :)

6. Do you prefer sad or happy endings?

    Happy ever after all the way for me!

7. What did you do all day before the internet was invented?

    Reading! Also watched movies. Wrote.

8. Have you ever read a book or seen a film that has heavily influenced your life?

    Penny Jordan’s books. They made me want to write.

9. What is your ideal holiday destination?

    Somewhere cool and green and peaceful. A hill station in summer like Dalhousie or Mussuorie where you can take long walks.

10. Do you like wild, over grown gardens or gardens where the flowers are planted in regimented rows?

     Wild ones. Colourful ones. Though an ordered garden sounds cool too.

11. Do you prefer blogs that offer factual articles, personal information or details of new book releases or giveaways?

     All of the above.

Here are my Eleven Qs for my nominees:

1. What's your favourite movie of all time and in that which was your absolutely favourite scene?

2. Have you ever said I love you and how did you say it?

3. For a sufficient distance would you walk or take the car?

4. Who is your favourite singer?

5. What's your favourite dish to eat or make? Share its recipe if you want to. 

6. What motivates you to write? In other words, what stimulates your muse?

7. Are you a summer person or a winter person?

8. Which sport do you like to play/watch? You can name indoor games as well.

9. While shopping do you buy the first thing you like or keep looking till you've seen everything available and then decide?

10. Thing you wouldn't step out of the house without, excepting phone, credit card and driving license.

11. What makes you cry?

For the Leibster Blog Award Challenge I nominate:

Adite Banerjie, Carmen Clavout, Rohinee Rajagopalan. Nominees, please link back to me in your post and also leave your blogpost link in the comments below.

I still require more bloggers. If you would like to join in please let me know in the comments below. 

Thanks for tuning in J

My Call Story

The Call. That great moment in an author's life. Yes, it's happened for me!
I'm a bit late but still want to share the exciting, EXcitng time when my manuscript got an offer. Tuesday, Feb.,19th.
It had been under review of my editor after I got the revisions done. I got her email that she wanted to chat on Skype. At that time, all I prayed for was 'please not more revisions!'. Some nasty inner voice needed to be quietened which kept saying she's looked it over and she doesn't like it after all. Well, time went by in haggling with inner uncertainties and there she was on my laptop screen and there was me getting the jitters. Then she told me my ms has been accepted for publication. The words coming from none other than an HMB editor, it suddenly took me to that magical moment when all I could get out was Oh my God! Not very smart for a writer but definitely expressive :) Then the next bombshell! I was told that they wanted to offer me a two book contract! Wowee! I nearly said I want to hug you for this, forget being professional. Well anyway, after finally reducing me to a blubbering idiot and asking me how did I feel (for which I don't know what incoherent reply I managed), she was nice enough to say she'd leave me to celebrate with my family. But damn, did it feel unreal. While I must have staged the moment a number of times in my mind, at that time, it didn't quite sink in. Finally I realized that the stream of words I'd poured out via qwerty keys had the makings of a book. At least they must have, for the offer to have come from a publisher like that. "Ground to Ruchita, please come back!" Had to give myself this reminder to get functional in daily routine :D

On the serious side, the time spent in swotting over the ms feels worthwhile now. I set out for this and on the scale of personal achievements this is certainly a step up - to have got where I aimed to be.

Thanks to everyone who helped me along and the blog readers who've followed my writing journey. Stay tuned for what comes next, I will be sharing my experiences.

Ciao

Here, a little belatedly, are two posts I did for Mills and Boon India blog. I'm talking about what I learnt during the writing of my first ever completed manuscript in them.


Building a Character

Inspirations



Hope they'll be helpful to you also, and work to decrease some writing hassles. Do let me know if you find anything useful. Cheerio! :-)

Claim code : YQF73D96G95M

Right or Wrong? – my entry to the GetPublished contest’’

My story Right or Wrong is the story of Raina Kapoor, a woman who finds herself displaced from her husband's exclusive attention and is unable to handle being second place in his life.

Six years ago, at her graduation day, two men proposed to her, Siddharth and Arnav. She accepted Arnav because she loved him and to all appearances he loved her. Attractive and charming as he was, she had eyes only for him. As time wore on, Arnav became the typical workaholic medico. Now absorbed in his patients, he has no time for her. He even passes onto her the presents he gets as gratitude tokens from his patients, making her feel less like a loved wife and more like forgotten washing left hanging on the clothesline. Raina, an only child of wealthy parents, was used to being doted upon. All her life she took affection and adulation as a matter of natural reaction from people. Now she begins to feel she's been cheated by the veneer Arnav wore of an attractive and debonair man. At this point Siddharth comes to stay with them and shows her what a man's attention feels like. Being a dutiful wife she doesn't encourage him. But a message on Facebook pierces her armour. 

Would she succumb? Is it a second chance at love that she threw away? Or a senseless temptation that could destroy her marriage?

I was inspired to write this story by observing real people like professional couples who find it difficult to give time to their marriage and their spouse. A fact which creates distance and detachment between them. Being a doctor myself, I know all about being busy in work. Nowadays, couples are finding it harder and harder to find time for each other in marriage. Furthermore, for doctors, it's the patients welfare and their own livelihood tied together. Even other professionals have to face demands of their job in this competitive world. However, I strongly believe, that work, any kind of work, does not provide an excuse for ignoring your family. 

Extract : The boat wobbled as it drew to the bank. Siddharth got off and extended a supportive hand. She placed her own in it and it closed over hers. His clasp felt dry, firm. Not as warm and big as Arnav's but what it lacked in sensuality it made up in strength. Closing it tight, he pulled her with a jerk that brought her right up to him till she found herself looking into his intent dark gaze.

Last but not least, there's another angle to the story. Society can impose restrictions but when it comes to following her heart, what is right for a woman? That which is right for the mind or that which maybe wrong? When heart is involved what is right, what is wrong? How hard is it to make the distinction? 

"This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with inputs from Yashodhara Lal and HarperCollins India."



To vote for my contest entry, please go here:http://www.indiblogger.in/getpublished/idea/519 

Why New Year resolutions fail

“The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” 

― Samuel Johnson

New Year Resolutions!Oh those (dirty) words again!  By now most of us have had enough of of them. In the spirit of the beginning of the year and when it was safe to just 'make' them, they looked quite easy. But once they're on the way to becoming an uncomfortable reality, it's safer to have them slide out of your life. Why? Why can't we stick to those despite our (former) best intentions?

I've heard it said, it takes 21 days to form a habit. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So all you have to do is keep at a undesirable routine for 21 days and there! It becomes an ingrained part of your life. Or does it?

I believe the first thing to do is ask yourself. Do these resolutions feed into my long term goals? Those of staying healthy. Staying fulfilled. Staying productive. If it does, why am I not giving my best shot at it?

Here are three most common reasons why resolutions fail. All you have to do is avoid them.

1)Inadequate preparation: Are you prepared for it?  Mostly, we fail to make place for the resolutions in our life. Space. Time. Preparation. All are needed. If it is dieting, have you stocked your fridge beforehand? Have you handy crunchy carrots to tide over the munching impulses? Have you set aside  more food preparation time for healthy snacks and soups?

If, like me, your aim was to get more writing done, have you created space in your day? This  might involve something as routine changing as a later bedtime for you (and earlier one for kids if you have them.) Some free minutes around lunch time, tearing yourself away from your gossip hour at work. A "don't disturb me time" few hours at weekend. Shedding tears over missing your favourite sitcom or serial. Also beware of your surfing time. That's where most free time drains. Says one who knows :(

2) Failure to view repercussions :  It was ok to have that workout for a week, but now it starts to feel punishing so you stop pushing yourself. This 7th to 14th day window period is hardest to get through. Most resolutions collapse during this. My previous routine was better, you think. This is the time to ask yourself : why did you have this resolution? Review if your productivity has increased after the new routine? Do you feel better for taking the time for exercise? Moreover, remember it's part of the plan feeding into your long-term goal of staying healthy. Instead of a year more, think two more weeks to get through. It will actually become easier because it will become a habit after that. You'll thank yourself and be proud to say, yeah! I did it! 

But do remember to ease up if what you've set is actually hard to keep up or if you find you are ignoring other important tasks. You can't take 5 km morning walk and then if your body isn't accustomed to it, be sleepy at work. Slow down and build it up again.

3) Failure to be accountable : Have someone crack the whip and make you do it. Mom, spouse, friend, anyone around to keep a check. Give your expected word count for the week to your writing group and have them nag. Get them to do it and be honest in reporting your progress.

So to sum up, prepare adequately, review and rev up, and lastly have someone to supervise. Sound simple? It is! Just think I HAVE to do this. 

Hope you have success!

Do let me know if you found this useful.

I'd also like to know. What kind of resolution are you struggling with this year or did you struggle with last year? How do/did you aim to fix it this time around?

Happy good-habits-forming weeks!

What 2012 brought

At the year end, I'm duly taking a retrospective look at the gone by.

Like probably all of you, 2012 has been thick and thin for me too, treacly at times, custard-smooth at others.  

Now it's  near its end - where did the time go? Maybe that feeling is better than having time sit on your hands :)

It brought me a lot of things that I'm thankful for. New friends, surprisingly people I haven't yet met in person, only online, and some of them with whom friendship quickly grew till they entered firm friends list. And like firm footing, my writing group friends, still there to share things with. And (psst) vent your frustration at when you need it :)

Growing closer with my husband, yes, that may sound strange after sixteen years of marriage but is true, along with long morning walks we definitely found new things to learn about each other and appreciate.

Watching kids grow. Every mom and dad rushes through this. But on occasion you sit back and reflect and you get a warm mellow glow.

Then regarding my own personal growth. Learnt to listen (slightly) more. I learnt to take criticism better. At times even admitted my weak spot instead of flying off the handle when anybody pointed out what I had done amiss. But only at times, mind you ;) I'm not wearing a halo yet. (Don't want to be all goodness and sparkles.)

Writingwise, my major leap was winning Mills and Boon Passions III contest. And getting a chance to work with a - whoops - editor! Made my writing make inroads and go into depths I should never have dreamed of otherwise. Take it from me, an ed can really put their finger on what thing in the story niggled you but you didn't know what to do about it or shirked from taking that blind bjt spectacular jump. I learnt to strengthen my characters. Not hang onto scenes which didn't work for the characters however emotionally attached I was to them (the scenes, not characters) :(
*sigh* Still not satisfied with my writing and most of the time feel like throwing it all away or hiding under the blankets BUT for my writing friends' support. Plus my ed is so kind and encouraging enough about the parts that do work that it gives me enough turbo power to go on.

And yes the most important lesson I learnt this year. The lesson of last year's mistakes, now reinforced that family comes first or even writing doesn't give me satisfaction. Last few days, I took time off for my visiting relatives and played with my five-year-old nieces and their smiles and chuckles will stay with me, warming me. Especially, when writing is frustrating and you feel like throwing wip at the wall, you know you did some good. Gave people joy like bro-in-law and his wife relishing the stuffed paranthas I made. So if you're doing something right, maybe you can make this work too.

So like me if you suffer from bad writing days or bad days in general, my advice is to remember and reflect on things you've done well and decide you can tackle this too, the problem you have in hand. 
Most of all, take a minute to dwell on past lessons and learn from those mistakes. But never beat yourself up about them, however tempted you are to.

So with this wish you a very Happy New Year. And hope it won't bring bad days at all for any of you!

Yayyy.....and Merry Christmas

Yayy! We're all still here and very glad to be! Having survived the apocalypse (warning), we, I mean all of us, are looking forward to Christmas and spending holidays with family.
All this doomsday prediction stuff made me think of the times such warning have occurred in the past. I was a kid of maybe seven years, when I had first brush with this sort of mortality warning looming overhead, that was Skylab crashing to earth, the debris of which, thankfully went mostly into the Indian Ocean. Later came nuclear threats. Then these predictions began to become popular. The Nostradamus forecasts for the end of the world, and most recently this Mayan Prophecy. I don't deny I do get murky thoughts when I hear them and when children hear of these predictions...well, I do think nowadays they are suave enough not to take them to heart but somewhere they do stick, don't they? My son did show me a YouTube video of the meteor crashing into and burning the Earth and I had to look up and show him the NASA website where they absolutely denied its threat. Suffice to say, can do without kids feeling insecure because of all the widespread propaganda. Had to reassure him with a lot of counter-arguments and hugs.
Anyway, holiday season is here and time to dwell on these things is...well, can't find it! School break has begun, brother-in-law is coming over today with his family, so kids are pretty excited to meet their cousins. Thankfully whatever fears plagued us are done away and we are free to celebrate.
So I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Have fun in the holidays and even after the hols, infuse every day of your life with fun. I say we can permit ourselves, out of the sheer relief of having survived so many dire prophecies! Am sure you'll agree :)