Interview with Olivier Lafont author of "Warrior."

An actor, a model and a writer, Olivier Lafont is a very talented individual! Recently I got the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his book, his childhood as well as his creative pursuits. Read on to know what he has to say….

➢    Tell us a little about your childhood?

My family moved from France to India when I was about 7. We lived in Delhi and I went to the American Embassy School, and I grew up with French, Indian and American culture. I didn't speak any English or Hindi when we moved, so the culture shock was significant. It was as I learned English that my initial love for language, reading and writing began to develop. I started writing stories seriously from a young age. Over time I developed other interests, like acting and basketball.

➢    What are the books that have influenced you the most?

From the earliest, Redwall by Brian Jacques, The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, The Shannara series by Terry Brooks, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams, The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, The Eearthsea Quartet by Ursula K. Leguin, A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin.

➢    Name a writer you would consider a mentor?

I don’t think I consider any writer a mentor.

➢    Which book are you reading now?

I just read Mark Lawrence’s The Broken Empire series and Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law series.

➢    How do you find time to write?

Since my careers are fairly modular I’m able to fix and shift chunks of time here and there. I may shoot for a month and then take a few weeks to write. It’s flexible, but I do make it a point to make the time when I’m in a writing space.

➢    Who inspires you?

My wife. She’s the most intelligent, most extraordinary person I've ever met. I admire her perspective on life, her uncompromising honesty, how she thinks about and through things. An exceptional person.

➢    Actor, Model and Author…How has the journey been?

It’s been fantastic. I've had the fortune of being part of some great films, many great ads and now I have a book published by Penguin. Living in Mumbai has been a wonderful experience and working here has also been fun. And I met my wife here! Life just keeps getting better and better.

➢    Why did you choose to write about this particular genre?

I've read and written in the fantasy genre since I was very young. It was something that I've always loved, long before Harry Potter popularized the genre for the world. Writing ‘Warrior’ in this genre was a very natural progression.

➢    Describe your writing process – Do you write more by intuition or logic or would you define it as a combination of both?

A combination of both. Since storytelling is primarily an emotional activity, I use my intuition a lot to gauge the effect my writing should have on a reader. I believe that great storytelling also requires great structure, and structure needs a logical approach. So it all happens at the same time, logic and intuition work together to craft a great story.

➢    How much time did you spend writing your novel- Warrior?

At the time I was working full-time and working on ‘Warrior’ on weekends, so my sense of how long it took is somewhat distorted. All together I suppose about three months.

➢    What was the hardest part of writing this novel?

I didn't really face any difficulty with writing the novel. For me writing is and should be an effortless endeavor. Art needs to be flowing and easy, not hard.

➢    Which part of the writing process did you enjoy the most?

Everything - from the very beginning, the creation of Saam and the story and his dynamic relationship with his father Shiva, to the actual writing, creating the other characters and subplots, to the editing. Every part of it was fun.

➢    Your book has been shortlisted for the Tibor Jones South Asian Awards…How does it feel?

It’s nice to have your work recognized by a literary body of standing. It’s a really lovely validation of your creativity and work.

➢    What projects are you working on next?

I've just written a feature film script, the first one I've written for myself as the main character. It’s a fun comedy, and I’m looking for a producer to partner with on it. What’s particularly interesting is that it could be an Indian film or an international film, so the producer could be Indian or international.

➢    Words of Wisdom! Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

Read what you enjoy and read with joy!

Links - 

“Warrior” Book Trailer - http://youtu.be/qDLMISZAzME

Facebook Page -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Olivier-Lafont/625633327480645

Twitter - https://mobile.twitter.com/OliLafont

“Warrior” Amazon Link - 

http://www.amazon.in/Warrior-Olivier-Lafont/dp/0143423630/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425650490&sr=8-1&keywords=warrior

If you would like me to review your book or feature you on my blog, mail me at myriadhues14@gmail.com

Twitter - @GuptaRach

Review of "Bombay Mumbai - Life is Life, I am because of you" by Amin Sheikh

Name of the Book – Bombay Mumbai – Life if Life, I am because of you

Author – Amin Sheikh

Genre – Autobiography

Price – Rs: 300

A few months ago I did not know anything about Amin Sheikh. It was during a discussion with one of my clients that the name popped up! She knew that I had published my book and that I was interested in meeting and interacting with others like myself; the fact that I am working with an NGO and wanted to make a difference to the world, was another reason she asked me to connect with him on Facebook! Well, it wasn’t easy, as mentioned in my last post; I am just not comfortable with adding unknown people or sending them friend requests. And so I did not add him for some time, but took that time to research about him. I read his interviews, an excerpt from his book, understood his plans of building a library café called “Bombay to Barcelona” in order to help homeless children and others like him who have turned into skilled professionals and that is when I decided to add him as a friend and help him spread the word. Reading and reviewing his book to give you a glimpse into his life is one of my attempts of making sure that he gets closer to his dream!

What I liked about the book –

This is one book that did not take me long to read as the language was simple and the emotions real and heart-wrenching! The book covers about 25 years in the life of the author, right from the time he ran away from home till the time he began his own travel agency known as Sheha travels. The main thing I liked about the book is the fact that the author, Amin has given equal importance to all the people who made a difference to his life. He talks about each of them with so much respect and love that it is amazing that he can be so positive given the circumstances he grew up in! Yes, the positivity in this book outshines all the negative experiences he has been through and spoken about. In his autobiography. Amin his shared his experiences which range from getting bullied, eating leftovers from the dustbin to begging on the streets. These narrations may make you cry, but Amin talks about them as learning experiences; moments that made him strong and increased his belief that things will turn out better! A young boy who ran away from home at the age of 5 and went through so much till the angels from Snehasadan found him and gave him a better life! Amin Sheikh has come a long way. May all his dreams come true.

My Personal Views -

As I read the book, I sometimes felt guilty of having so much and giving back so little. The harsh truth that there are people, especially children living on the streets, eating out of dustbins and being raped and sodomized brought me back to reality. It’s not that I did not know about these things, it’s just that like many of us, I kept telling myself that one day I would do something for them. After reading this book I have realized that the “one day” will not come to me or any of us. Time is the one thing that does not wait, it flows like a river; the time to make a change is now. All of you who are reading this post can make a difference by buying his book, the proceeds of which will help him build his library in order to help the street children and the environment too!

I would like to end the review with lines from his book -

"This is just the beginning,
I came a long way and
I still have a long way to go.
Remember smile without reason,
Why? Because life is beautiful!
See you all around my dreams."

You can read more about him from his website –

www.iambecauseofyou.com

Facebook Pages -

https://www.facebook.com/bombay2barcelona?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/amin.sheikh.963?fref=ts

E- Book - 

http://www.amazon.in

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-in/

The book is also available in Kitab Khana - http://www.kitabkhana.in/

If you want me to review your book, mail me at myriadhues14@gmail.com

Twitter - @GuptaRach

Review of "India Was One" by An Indian

A poem from the book –

India, an Enigma

She stands with arms open,

steadfast in times of turmoil,

donning the lovely tri-colors,

holy rivers making a beautiful smile.

She is the mother of pearls.

The land of festivals,

with a romantic history,

language and God of choice,

and culture has an identity.

Here music finds its voice.

Her magnetic architectures,

as old as her mysterious traditions,

hold beautiful treasures.

When people want to break her,

it so pains my heart,

the image of her future seems,

a mirror of the past.

And my dreams remain just memories.

But India has won,

you and I can live together

as one,

now and forever.

- Rahul

About the Author – 

The author of this book has chosen not to reveal his identity and has instead used the penname “An Indian.” The only information we have about him is that he was born and raised in Mumbai and moved to the US in 1989. He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

What the book is about – 

As the name suggests, the book is about our wonderful country, India and the different people who inhabit it. The story revolves around Vijay (Jai) and Kahani (Kaahi), their college life, their friends, their families, their interests and their future. As the story unfolds we find the protagonists falling in love and moving to the US for work. Life goes on and they settle in, but soon there are other things in store for them. Will they separate? What will happen in the land of their birth? Will India remain one?

What I liked about the book – 

As mentioned earlier, I am very particular about the books I read and because of that I usually read books only by an author I like or one that a friend recommends. Well! This one was an exception and I am glad to have read it! The main thing that worked for me in this book are the sentiments attached. The love that the author has for the land of his birth is clearly evident from the way he describes the festivals, the food, the customs and the places. Any reader who has never been to India would actually have a very good idea about India because of this book. Of course, I would be wrong not to mention that he has written about other places in the world in with the same amount of detailing, providing readers a view of the world as seen through his eyes!

What did not work for me – 

One thing the writer could have done in order to keep the flow intact was write the explanations of the new words/words not known by people outside India, at the bottom of the page. That way the story would have flowed better. He could also have gone deeper into some of the topics instead of just touching upon them and leaving the reader wanting more!

All in all the book is a good read, especially if you want to see India through the eyes of someone who left long ago and yet feels so much love for his country.

Where can I buy the book? 

India Was One, is available, both, in paperback as well as in eBook (for all devices) format. It is available on popular sites, like: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, Google Play etc., which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. For reader in India, in addition to it being available on online stores, such as: Flipkart, Infibeam, etc., it also is available in bookstores in Mumbai at Oxford Bookstore and Crossword bookstore. Very recently, it is also available in all the Sapna Book House stores in Bangalore and online with free shipping.

The book's website also has a lot of goodies, such as, artwork used in the book, poem used in the book, some reviews (including media reviews that was published in India, Canada and the US), interactive map of India, a few sample chapters, and much more.

Website: www.IndiaWasOne.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/IndiaWasOne (over 27,000 fans) Twitter: @IndiaWasOne 

Find out more about the book at www.IndiaWasOne.com/FindOut

If you want me to review your book, mail me at myriadhues14@gmail.com

You can also follow me on twitter - @GuptaRach

Guest Post - Yash Pawaskar author of "When We Clicked – A twisted love story?"

The following is a poem from the book ‘When We Clicked – A twisted love story?’ by Yash Pawaskar

  FRIENDSHIP IS…

To give  without any request,

Find co –travelers in your quest.

To take without the need to ask,

Be yourself without any mask.

To choose with whom you want to be,

Be unshackled and feel free.

To share a tiffin box,

Watch movies and drink cola on the rocks.

To laugh endlessly on things which are silly,

Drool over butter nan and paneer chilly.

To lend a shoulder to cry,

When things don’t work out, give another try.

To stand by each other during adversity,

Roam every nook and corner of your city.

To tease each other by weird names,

Crazy sleepovers and mad games.

To be together in joy and sorrow.

Always wish for a better tomorrow

To be together, tease, stand, cry, laugh, share, choose, take and give,

 Friendship is a gift to ensure that you just don’t exist, you LIVE.

About the Book

Two strangers, one city, four days, one night, one lie and a fantastic journey. ‘When We Clicked’ is my twisted love story. I am Akhil Parlekar, a Mumbaikar in my early twenties. Like every other Mumbaikar I love my city, consider Sachin Tendulkar a God fantasize about Katrina Kaif, but I am about to die.

Before I was dying, I lived my life in four days, when we clicked. It was love at first sight for me, but not for her. I spent the four days with her wandering in the city, thinking that she would fall in love with me, but the night that followed the fourth day, changed everything.

This journey is about emotions like humour, lust, hatred, betrayal, heroism, friendship and the biggest emotion of them all; love. I am letting you in my heart as well as my brain, you be the judge if this is a love story or not. 

`You are the protagonist of your life’s story, the central character around which all the other characters and incidents occur. When the protagonist of your story changes to someone else, you are in love. That person becomes the central character of your story and everything else revolves around the person you love.’

The book is available online at Amazon, Flipkart and other stores.

About the Author

Yash Pawaskar is a traveller, enjoying the journey called life. He loves stories, both reel and real, and is known as an entertaining storyteller. Born on the same day as his idol Farhan Akhtar, he is a multitalented individual.

Yash was an active sportsman and a dramatics enthusiast in his school and college days. He has a degree in Banking and Insurance, is a certified Fitness Trainer, an MCA panel umpire and an MBA in marketing. He has work experience in market research, sales, advertising and wrote his first book when he was in between jobs; he is currently working in the content and advertising arena and is concentrating on his second book.

He is a huge fan of Christopher Nolan, J.K. Rowling and a host of young Indian writers, who write for the young India.

Get In Touch:

Email: yapawaskar@yahoo.co.in  

Like on Facebook: Yash Pawaskar – Writer

Guest Post - India was One

A few months ago I got a friend request from an unknown person. Since I am not comfortable adding anyone I don’t know well, I just ignored it. One day while doing some research on the Internet I chanced upon a book with the same name. I found out more about the book and the author and accepted the request. Today the author and I chat off and on and thankfully he has been gracious enough to grant me permission to share this guest-post on my blog. This is what he has to say about his book - "India was One."

The following guest-post was first published in The Book Club.

Almost three and a half years ago, I wrote the afterword for my book. Not being a writer (I am a web developer by profession), it was written from my heart, the way I saw and felt things. I just knew that I was right about my feelings, and more importantly, I was right about the feelings shared by millions like me. It really didn’t matter where they were, in India or abroad. So it came as no surprise to me as the current “Modi-tsunami” reflected the same sentiment throughout India. A common identity of being an Indian. If review and ratings of my book on Amazon and Goodreads are the yard-stick for how well it is received, it is very well received, not just by Indians, but also by non-Indians. Why? Because it has a story that tugs at your heart. Some folks who have never visited India want to go there now. A lot of feedback I am getting here, in the US, is that “I had no idea how rich of culture and diverse India was.” Even Indians here whose kids don’t know much about India learn a lot about how their parents think. About how their relatives back in India think.

This is what I wrote:

So, what is being an Indian?

Is it religion? Surely it can’t be, as India is a melting pot of many religions: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, Jews, and many more. Would an Indian who was born in India and an Indian who was born in a different country have religion as a common bond? What if they both were Hindus and worshipped the same gods and goddesses, but were from different states? Is Gautam Buddha, who was born in India, and is now worshipped, by many more non-Indians, an Indian God?

Is it language? 

Again, the answer is no, as there are 15 national languages, and over 1,600 dialects. Take a look at the Indian Rupee bill (the Indian currency). Its value is written in all 15 national languages.

Is it the culture and customs? 

Could be, but it isn't the only thing, as different states have different customs.

Is it looks and features? 

Do you see a stranger abroad and assume that he is Indian just because of his looks? What if he is from one of the ‘Seven Sister States’ of India? Many of them have oriental features. Do you assume that he is from an oriental country? Or, he could look like an Indian, but be from one of the neighboring countries.

The Seven Sister States are a region in the northeastern corner of India, comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

What about the millions of Indians who are not in India? What about their kids? What is their identity? They look like Indians, but think like westerners. What about kids from mixed marriages, where one of the parents is an Indian while the other is not. Where do they fit in? Are they Indians or something else? Which custom are they supposed to follow?

Is it the nationality or citizenship? What about all those Indians who are now citizens of different countries? Sure, they are not Indian citizens, but are they not Indians? When there is a catastrophe in India (like the earthquake in Gujarat), Indians all around the world rush to help. What makes them do it?

What is the common thread between a Punjabi from North India and a Tamil from South India? If both of them are Hindus, is it enough? Is it cricket and Bollywood movies? Yes, both are loved by most Indians. However, they are not the only thing. They both are great conversation topics.

If you live in India, the answer is very simple, you are among Indians, but not if you live abroad. Having lived in the US for the past 20 years, the definition of being Indian has been nebulous. My wife and I, like most Indians living abroad, try to instill Indian values in our kids, by sending them to Sunday school to learn our religion and culture. We take them to the cultural shows, musical shows, Indian festivals, etc...trying to hold onto our Indian-ness. We try to teach them cricket, and we take them to see Bollywood movies. Does going to Indian stores for groceries, cooking Indian food, and going to Indian restaurants (and ordering food for our non-Indian friends) make us Indians?

In the future, will an Indian who has just come from India, feel a common bond between himself and my great-great-great grandkids? Or will the Indian think to himself, “They look like Indians. They must be ABCD (American Born Confused Desi),” and my great-great-great grandkids will think, “Oh! A FOB (Fresh Off Boat).”

What is it that makes you go back to India? Is it family, friends, sight-seeing, business, or something else? Is your comfort level much more when you go to India because you fit in? Do you still feel it is your country? Is it the people there that make you feel at home? Or is it just a state of mind? Is it just a way of life? Is it just the way you look; the color of your skin, your features, the way you dress, or the clothes you wear?

The intention here is not to provide you with an answer, but to make you think, and ask yourself, “What is being an Indian to me?”

It’s entirely up to you…your point-of-view.

An Indian lies in the eyes of the beholder…what you choose to see.

You can travel the length and breadth of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Mumbai to Kolkota, and not see a single Indian. You will see Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, etc. You will see Maharashtrians, Gujaratis, UPites, Biharis, Bengalis, Tamils, Telugus, Malayalis, etc.

Or you will see Indians. जय हिंद (Jai Hind) -An Indian

About the Author:

The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 to New York. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

His book, India Was One, is available, both in paperback as well as in eBook (for all device) formats. It is available on popular sites, like: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, Google Play etc, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. For readers in India, in addition to it being available on online stores, such as: Flipkart, Infibeam, etc., it also is available in bookstores in Mumbai at Oxford Bookstore and Crossword bookstore. Very recently, it is also available in all the Sapna Book House stores in Bangalore and online at -

https://sapnaonline.com/india-was-one-12004218 (Free Shipping)

The book's website also has a lot of goodies, such as, artwork used in the book, poem used in the book, some reviews (including media reviews that were published in India, Canada and the US), interactive map of India, a few sample chapters, and much more.

You can also check out the website - http://www.indiawasone.com

Source: http://www.tbcblogtours.com/guest-post-of-india-was-one.html