Good evening, beautiful readers! As a member of RWISA, I was challenged to think about how I could change the world if money and time were not an issue. Although I deviated a little from the question, I was inspired to write this poem. I hope you enjoy it!
Friday, November 22, 2019
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Author Spotlight - Balroop Singh!
Hello, beautiful readers! Today, I'd like to share you with a wonderful poet, Balroop Singh. She is a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club (#RRBC). Here is more about her from her author bio:
Balroop Singh is a
former teacher and an educationalist and has always had a passion for writing.
She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a
doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not
a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on!
No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are
trampled upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your
path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
When
turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen
robbers, with muffled exterior, when they threaten to shatter your dreams, it
is better to break free rather than get sucked by the vortex of emotions. She has always
found poetry a more suitable genre of expression as it flows spontaneously and
smoothly. Just a metaphor can evoke emotions that can’t be described in a
thousand words. Poetry touches our deepest cords; develops perceptions and
liberates us from the mundane. Due to its ambiguous nature, it can be
interpreted in more than one way, depending on how the reader discerns the
thoughts.
A self-published author,
she is the poet of Sublime Shadows of Life, Emerging From
Shadows and Timeless Echoes –
her widely acclaimed poetry books. She has also written When Success Eludes, Emotional Truths Of Relationships, Allow Yourself to
be a Better Person, her latest poetry book Moments
We Love has just been released.
Balroop Singh has
always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch
birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend
to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling leaves and
the sound of waterfalls. The moonlight streaming through her garden, the
flowers, the meadows, the butterflies cast a spell on her. She lives in San
Ramon, California.
Her bio makes me want to visit her and spend time with her amid her surroundings. So, let's read some of her beautiful poetry.
Excerpt from Emerging From Shadows
OASIS OF PEACE
Blooming blossoms, whispering wind
Carried me far into the haven of peace
Solitude softly spoke in serene tone,
We welcome weary travelers alone
Divesting dirty robes of dissent
We revel in the glorious sun
You too can embrace this light
Just follow it with smiling delight
The light that enlightens the mind
The light that permeates all around
Adds new dimension to thoughts
Guides us out of those knobby knots
Illumines those innate virtues
When we try to shake them off
In annoyance, in rage, in resentment
Leisurely hours are wistfully spent
Rejoicing in the new found glee
We sat and shared upon His knee
Palpable peace pervaded all around
Into which all dismay drowned.
© Balroop Singh
Excerpt from Timeless Echoes
Revelation
The ink dried on the pages
You left at my desk
Words glare at me
And echo your thoughts…
All that you didn’t say!
Did you say you love me?
How could my arms oppress you?
Was your soft tone a show off?
The sea of your eyes
A delusion?
The ghosts of your journal
Follow me unawares
The embers of your love
Still smolder within me
Smothering my breath out
I carry dead demons of your memory
Looking for a place to bury them.
© Balroop Singh
Excerpt from Moments We Love:
When Love Whispers
We walked those woods
A thousand times
The silence; the symphonies
The shadows; the light
Lingering in the aura of love
Velvety sky watches
Stars shine brighter
With our whispers
Our love deeper than woods
Paces through night
Swaying with the breeze
Stilling my heart, singing lullabies.
© Balroop Singh
Balroop doesn't only write poetry. She also writes non-fiction. Here is an excerpt from Allow Yourself to be a Better Person.
RESPECT YOURSELF
Self-esteem is not
given; it is earned; it is cultivated and it is snatched when others try to
smash it. I have faced the worst of criticism and ridicule for being too thin
and tall, for failing in Math, for writing beautifully and neatly but incapable
of completing a given test within the specified time, for keeping aloof and
being arrogant. The list is very lengthy but the reality is that my self-esteem
could never get shattered with the insensitivity around me because I knew those
were hollow observations of jealous people. I knew I am enough!
People around me could never hurt my self-esteem, not because I was
never in such a situation but because I never let them! Even as a child when I
was asked to apologize for no fault of mine, to please somebody’s ego, I
refused. I knew I would be punished but I didn’t care!
My
mirror has never told me that I am not the best or I can’t excel. I always knew
I am much better than many. Criticism of others affects me in a
positive manner. I try to introspect and dismiss the judgment of others as
their opinion. I try to work on my imperfections in such a manner that enhances
my self-esteem.
What lowers self-esteem?
·
Negative home environment
·
Broken families
·
Bullying
·
Insensitive friends
·
Shaming by a parent or a teacher
·
Self-blaming
·
Intimidating or controlling partner
·
Demanding boss
·
Dwelling on your weaknesses
What can help?
Positivity: Read positive quotes, think positive thoughts, spend more time in
the company of positive-minded people. Walk away from those who don’t respect
your opinion. Try to understand that there is no age for personality
enhancement and your growth and development is an ongoing process. Have faith
in yourself and your capabilities. Don’t compare yourself to your friends or
colleagues. Stop blaming yourself just because others try to shift their
responsibility.
Face your fears: If you let your fears hibernate, if you don’t discuss them even
with yourself, they could shrink your heart, wound your spirit and keep consuming
the remnants of your mettle to fight them. Let those alligators out of your
mind. Discuss them with a confidant or a therapist. Learn to accept the fear of
failure because only when we fail do we rise with renewed zeal and energy.
Forgive yourself: Forgiveness is that virtue, which sets us free and acquaints us
with the finest emotions. It unshackles the chains of guilt that we weave
around us. It soothes our mind. We can emerge out of those dark corridors of
fears and insecurities that people around us pushed into. We can see ourselves
in a new light. Self-forgiveness, even if we may be guilty of hurting others,
is of utmost importance to build our self-esteem.
Quit self-criticism: Self-judgment is more detrimental than the nasty remarks of
others. It makes us doubt our own intentions, it ruins our confidence, it pulls
us back into the dumps of depression and lowers our self-esteem. Self-reflection is good as far
as it encourages us to work on our weaknesses. It is better to train your mind
to think positive, to remember that those who attack our self-esteem are
actually dealing with their own insecurities.
Take pride in pursuing activities you love: Invest in yourself. Search within.
Spend time with yourself and indulge in those activities that you enjoy. Stop
pleasing people around you. Be proud of yourself and your little
accomplishments. Self-love is not being selfish, it is being kind to yourself.
Don’t allow anybody to disrespect what you like to do. Count
your strengths and your blessings. Be yourself. The best freedom is being you.
© Balroop Singh
As you can see, Balroop Singh writes beautifully and has so much to share with everyone. If any of this has peaked your interest in her works, you can connect with her here:
Thanks for joining me today for this author spotlight! Feel free to share your comments below. I'm sure Balroop would love to hear from you. :-)
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Author Spotlight - Beem Weeks
Hello, beautiful readers! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Beem Weeks, a dedicated and incredible member of the Rave Reviews Book Club( #RRBC) and the Rave Writers - International Society of Authors (#RWISA). He is an author, editor, blogger, blog talk radio host, video producer, and social media director for Fresh Ink Group. He has written many short stories, essays, poems, and the historical fiction/coming of age novel entitled Jazz Baby. Beem has also released Slivers of Life: A Collection of Short Stories and Strange Hwy: Short Stories. Apart from two years spent in Ft. Myers, Florida, Beem is a lifelong native of Lansing, Michigan, USA.
So, let's learn more about Beem and his writing!
What inspires you to write?
All sorts of
things. Little snippets of conversation overheard at the grocery store, a story
on the news, an obituary in the newspaper, simple ideas with a “What if?”
tossed in the mix. Inspiration is all around. We just need to become aware of it.
What do you love most about writing?
The creativity
of bringing a story to life is always an amazing feeling. At a certain point in
writing, that flow will take over, and the story almost writes itself. I’m also
a big fan of completing the story. Nothing beats the finished product.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing?
Finding time to actually write. I have so much on my
plate these days, writing time seems scarce. When I do have a few hours, they’ll
often come at the end of the workday, when I least want to stare at a computer
again. I have ideas for a dozen short stories and three novels written in notebooks,
on scraps of paper, and in partially written form on my computer. I just need
to find the time, and to be motivated when I have a few hours.
How do you craft your stories and characters?
The characters
are often ideas in my head. I’ll get a feel for certain personality traits for
a character. From there, I’ll conjure some situations for this new person
inside my head. I’ll usually come up with a short outline of the story from
start to finish. Then, when the actual writing part begins, I’ll play around
with it until I find the narrator’s voice, the cadence of that voice pacing the
story, and the weave of the plot threads (Does the story make sense?). Sometimes
this might take a few attempts. But often, all these items will fall into place
and I’ll be off and running.
How much research is involved?
That all depends
on the story itself. Jazz Baby required long hours of research, spread
out over months—and even years. That story takes place in the 1920’s. Since I came
into this world many decades after that era, I needed to learn the details of a
typical life in 1925. But it’s often the little things that matter most. I
couldn’t have my characters listening to a car radio at that time, since those
weren’t available until 1927—and even then, most people couldn’t afford such a
luxury. I learned radios in cars didn’t become common until 1931. Upon learning
this fact, I was forced to change a scene in the story—which worked out even
better. Most of the time, I’ll spend a few hours on research, then Google
anything specific as I’m writing.
How long did it take from idea to finished book?
Jazz Baby took eight years. However, I put it away for two
years, leaving it alone for that entire duration. I never intended to release
it. I did many rewrites on the story—which ate up most of that time. My short
stories and short story collections took much less time. I can write a 2500+ word
short story and have it ready for publication in under three days.
Do you have any writing rituals or habits?
Well, I’ll
usually sacrifice a unicorn and roast it on an open fire. Just kidding. I have
no ritual or habit—other than needing complete silence when writing. I lock myself
inside my room and just write. There’s no special preparation, nothing that
sets the mood.
What is your favorite theme or genre to write?
I love historical fiction. Writing in a long-past
era is like traveling through time—if done correctly. My short stories are
written in various genres: sci-fi, spiritual, horror, coming of age, humor,
young adult. I love to tell stories about people who feel like your neighbor or
friend or former classmate.
Which character you've created is your favorite and why?
Emily Ann “Baby” Teegarten is my favorite. She’s
really the one who kicked things off for me as a published writer with the
release of Jazz Baby. She’s just a strange mixture: complex, yet simple.
Writing her really sharpened my skills in character development. After her, I’d
say Vrable Tambor, from my short “Looking for Lucy”, is a close second. He’s a
young boy, ten years old. His parents have separated. I just really connected
with him, as my parents divorced when I was seven. I knew the pain and confusion
this boy dealt with.
What do you hope readers take away from your books?
I hope they’ve been entertained, first and foremost.
And I’d like the story and the characters remain fresh in their minds once they’ve
finished the story. There are books I read years ago that still
creep back into my mind from time to time. Good writing will do that.
Do you ever hate something you've written?
Sure. Most writers
have those things they’re not happy with. These are the pieces that never meet
the readers. They stay in a file on my computer. Sometimes I’ll cannibalize them
and take scenes or lines of dialog from them and add them to a current work.
But mostly they stay hidden from public eyes until I can re-write them. I have three
such items in that file at the moment.
How do you overcome any nagging self-doubt that inevitably creeps in?
I’m not arrogant
or cocky where my writing is concerned. But neither am I filled with self-doubt.
All I can do is write the piece and let readers determine if it’s good or bad.
I am blessed and fortunate to have mostly positive reviews for my work. But I
have also received some not so positive words concerning my stories. As with
any creative endeavor in this life, some will like it while others may not. In
those rare moments where I may feel self-doubt creeping in, I just sit at my
computer and write my way through it.
Do you read all the reviews left for your books?
I read each and
every review I receive. Most have been encouraging.
Why are reviews important?
Reviews allow the author insight into readers
thoughts on their work. It’s a good way to know if the author is connecting
with readers.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Know what you’re
doing. If you don’t understand proper punctuation, sentence structure, or the
difference between showing what is happening versus telling the readers what’s
going on, reach out to others who may be able to teach you these things.
Nothing kills a good story quicker than mistakes. If the tense or the POV keeps
switching up, I won’t bother finishing the story. I have a Kindle full of half
read stories. Be sure of every word you are releasing into the world.
What can you tell us about what we will see from you next?
I am currently hard at work on several projects. I
hope to have a stand-alone short story (5000 to 8000 words) ready for release
around Christmas. I’m still working on my second novel, another historical
fiction piece, entitled The Secret Collector. That may be finished by
spring—though I make no promises to that. There are also four other short
stories in various stages of creation. Hopefully those will meet readers in the
new year.
Do you have any other words of wisdom to share with our readers?
Take your work seriously, but at the same time, have
fun with the entire process. If you find yourself frustrated or angry during
the run from writing to release, take some time away, clear your head, and change
your attitude. And always be sure to share only your very best with the world. If
it’s any good, your work will most assuredly outlive you.
Thank you, Beem! If you enjoyed this interview, check out his newest release, Strange Hwy: Short Stories.
If you ever find yourself on the
Strange Hwy—don’t turn around. Don’t panic. Just. Keep. Going. You never know
what you’ll find.
You’ll see magic at the fingertips of an autistic young man,
•A teen girl’s afternoon, lifetime of loss.
•A winged man, an angel? Demon—?
•Mother’s recognition, peace to daughter.
•Danny’s death, stifled secrets.
•Black man’s music, guitar transforms boy.
•Dead brother, open confession.
•First love, supernatural?—family becomes whole!
You can exit the Strange Hwy, and come back any time you want.
See, now you know the way in, don’t be a stranger.
•A teen girl’s afternoon, lifetime of loss.
•A winged man, an angel? Demon—?
•Mother’s recognition, peace to daughter.
•Danny’s death, stifled secrets.
•Black man’s music, guitar transforms boy.
•Dead brother, open confession.
•First love, supernatural?—family becomes whole!
You can exit the Strange Hwy, and come back any time you want.
See, now you know the way in, don’t be a stranger.
Do you want to learn more about Beem? Find him here:
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Welcome to Part 2 of "THE MEREST LOSS" Blog Tour! @ StevenNeil12 @4WillsPub #RRBC #RRBC_Community
Hello, beautiful readers! Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Steven Neil, a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club (#RRBC)! Steven writes historical fiction and Victorian historical romance. He has a BSc in Economics from the London
School of Economics, a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from the
Open University and an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University.
He has been a bookmaker's clerk, bloodstock agent, racehorse breeder and
management consultant amongst other professions in his varied career. He is married
and lives in rural Northamptonshire, England. The Merest Loss is his debut
novel. Steven is here today to share with us some authors who inspire him.
Inspirations
for writing: Ten authors.
Here are ten snapshots of the authors who
have inspired me in my writing career.
Jane
Austen
Ground breaking. Smart, funny, acute and
influential on authors ever since. All her novels can be read again and again
but I particularly love Mansfield Park and Persuasion.
Anthony
Trollope
The master craftsman. Witty, arch,
satirical and full of wonderful observation and subtle character assassination.
Try the Barchester Chronicles or The Way We Live Now.
Thomas
Hardy
The doyen of 19th century rural
romance with a cutting edge. Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Far From The Madding
Crowd combine plot, character and setting to great effect; elegies to a time
gone by.
Ernest
Hemingway
The man who showed us all how to tell a lot
more story in a lot less words. The Old Man and the Sea and For Whom the Bell
Tolls do not disappoint.
F.
Scott Fitzgerald
A gifted, extravagant and flawed genius. The
Great Gatsby still glitters. The best short stories have their own special
magic and The Diamond as Big as the Ritz and The Lees of Happiness are two of my
favourites.
John
Steinbeck
Doesn’t seem to get the attention he
deserves these days but Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath are great
examples of how to develop character through dialogue and action rather than
telling.
J.D.
Salinger
First person stream of consciousness
writing at its best. The Catcher in the Rye is quite rightly a modern classic
but the much less well known, and equally brilliant, short story collection,
For Esme with Love and Squalor, is also a joy.
John
Fowles
A truly English 20th century
author with his roots in the 19th century. The Magus is wonderfully
exotic storytelling and the effortless switching between points of view, in
Daniel Martin, shows how it should be done.
Kazuo
Ishiguro
An author other writers can learn from:
meticulous, elegant and atmospheric. Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go are
very different but equally captivating.
Hilary
Mantel
A modern ‘great’ in my view. Wolf Hall is
not an easy novel but it repays investment and the omniscient narration in the
present tense is a powerful mix in Mantel’s hands.
©
Steven Neil
I'm sure many of us can agree with him on those authors! If you love historical fiction or Victorian historical romance, then you are going to want to read his debut novel, The Merest Loss.
A story of love and political intrigue, set against
the backdrop of the English hunting shires and the streets of Victorian London
and post-revolutionary Paris.
When Harriet Howard
becomes Louis Napoleon’s mistress and financial backer and appears at his side
in Paris in 1848, it is as if she has emerged from nowhere. How did the English
daughter of a Norfolk boot-maker meet the future Emperor? Who is the mysterious
Nicholas Sly and what is his hold over Harriet?
Can Harriet meet her obligations and return to her former life and the man she left behind? What is her involvement with British Government secret services? Can Harriet’s friend, jockey Tom Olliver, help her son Martin solve his own mystery: the identity of his father?
THE MEREST LOSS is available in
paperback and eBook in the UK, US, France, Canada and Australia.
Follow
Steven Neil on https://twitter.com/stevenneil12 for information on how to purchase the
paperback through an independent bookseller in the UK.
Email - stevenneil1@aol.com
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author's tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you'd like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Thanks for supporting this author and his work!
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