Author Spotlight!!!!

Laxmi Hariharan

While born in India, Laxmi Hariharan has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong and is now based in London. She has written for various publications including The Times of India, The Independent, Inside Singapore, Inside Hong Kong and Asian Age. Indian mythology inspires her work. When not writing, this chai-swigging technophile enjoys long walks in the woods, growing eye-catching flowers and indulging her inner geek. 

Laxmi would love to hear from you. Reach her here:

• Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/laxmi
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/laxmihariharanauthor
• Find her on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/laxmihariharan/
• Visit her Website at www.laxmihariharan.com

If you like her writing and would like to be profiled in her Reader Avatar Series then please email her at laxmihariharan@yahoo.com

Kindle bestseller The Destiny of Shaitan is a delicious blend of gods & humans & profane; a gripping ride offering a glimpse into your own power. This coming of age story is partially set in a futuristic Bombay. 

When Tiina accompanies Yudi on a mission to save the universe from the ruthless Shaitan, she seeks more than the end of the tyrant; she seeks herself. Driven by greed and fear for his own survival, Shaitan bulldozes his way through the galaxy, destroying everything in his path.  Tiina wants Yudi to destroy Shaitan, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Shaitan being killed by his son. But she finds that Yudi is hesitant to do so. The final showdown between Tiina, Yudi, and Shaitan has unexpected consequences, for Shaitan will do anything in his power to win the fight, even kill Tiina.  The stakes are high and the combatants determined. Will Shaitan's ultimate destiny be fulfilled? 

Praise for The Destiny of Shaitan:

"Rarely is the Indian view of the world set in the far future, the land of science fiction, which almost exclusively seems to be the domain of the Western World. How refreshing it therefore is to read Laxmi Hariharan's coming of age drama partially set in a post-apocalyptic Bombay. A must read!!"—Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Creative & Executive Director, London Indian Film Festival


“A delicious blend of gods and humans, sacred and profane; an enlightening spiritual journey entertainingly disguised as Sci-Fi. It will take you on a gripping ride, catapulting you into a world that gives you more than a glimpse of your own power and potential. Let this author show you where we can all be headed when we get out of our heads and limitations and into a richer and deeper place, the expansive world of imagination." –Pippa  Merivale, Author of Rescued by Angels & Harps of Gold, pioneer Colour Therapy, Founder Metatronic Healing System.


"The Destiny of Shaitan is mind-blowing, dark, humorous, and clever. It took me on a powerful journey inwards, which was a surprise, as I'm not generally drawn to Sci-Fi or Fantasy. I love the scene where the planet is covered with water and Yudi rescues Tiina. It's core message is unity. I believe it will appeal to people across all ages." –Sonia Ducie Dip.CSN.AIN, Numerologist, Author of eleven Numerology books.

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Book Review: ManHunt

Sometimes you have to forget it all to remember what really matters. Michael Brennan's life and career come to an abrupt halt when he receives a phone call telling him the love of his life, Nikki Wright, is in the hospital after another attack by her ex-boyfriend Sebastian Cross. Rushing back to Hershey, PA, Michael turns up at Nikki's hospital bedside covered in Sebastian's blood and telling her they have to leave immediately. Though her injuries have induced amnesia, Nikki inherently feels she can trust this man with her life. Soon, they find themselves on the run from both their own troubled pasts and authorities hunting for Sebastian's killer. But with each new day and each touch drawing her further into Michael's embrace, Nikki remembers more about this fugitive she once loved, and who still loves her enough to risk everything to protect her and keep her safe.

Meet The Author

Lillie likes to joke that she is a mother, author, and wife - usually in that order. Although her background is in Wildlife Biology, writing has always been her passion. She was a teaching assistant for English Composition and English as a Second Language in college, and wrote countless stories in her free time before she was brave enough to submit one for publication. A preview of MANHUNT was an editor's choice recipient at textnovel.com in 2009, where it is still #10 on their "Most Popular" list, and was a semi-finalist in the Dorchester Next Best Celler (sic)contest. Lillie was also recently awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2011 RWA-Passionate Ink's Stroke of Midnight competition for her work-in-progress, THE CIRCLE, a paranormal romance. When not writing or freezing at soccer games, Lillie loves to cook and play video games with her family.




Connect with Lillie:

Facebook
Twitter

My Review!!!

Writing a Romance Suspense Drama is hard. You have to make sure you have enough action to keep things going, enough steam to heat up the romance, and enough twist and turns to make sure the web is constantly being woven. Then on top of that you have to add details to make the people feel real. To make the situations feel like you yourself would do the same thing.

Lillie does a marvelous job at making all of the above come true. There are some 'slower' parts like the description of grocery shopping but they need to be there. It needs to be there to help add the tension and awkwardness between the two and their shopping choices give you insight into the people they are. Every detail is important.

A page turner that you don't want to miss!



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Book Review: The Door is Open

The door is always open. The light is always ready to receive us. But we have to learn how to tread the path.  Fortunately for us, all of the wonderful myths and legends of ancient Greece, as well as all the sacred and beautiful stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have the common aim of showing us, through symbols and allegories, a practical method for reaching spiritual enlightenment, for returning 'home'.  THE DOOR IS OPEN describes the seven precise steps that are revealed in all great mythology and scripture, along with enjoyable and effective spiritual exercises and activities that are suitable for individual seekers or groups of friends working together.  This is a story that has been lost and forgotten, even though the entire tale has been right before our eyes the whole time.    

A native of Boston (and life-long Red Sox fan) who came of age in the turbulent 1960's, Dr. Andrew Cort has followed a uniquely versatile path through life. He received his Bachelor's Degree (in English) and Master's in Teaching (Science Education) from Colgate University. He then went on to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from New York Chiropractic College (he practiced in New York City for ten years, focusing on nutrition, exercise, applied kinesiology, and the mind's impact on physical health), as well as a Law Degree from Boston College Law School (he is a member of the Massachusetts Bar). During his years in New York, Dr. Cort served on the Executive Board of H.E.A.L., Inc. ("Health Education AIDS Liaison") and wrote his first book, on issues of health care and the environment, Our Healing Birthright: Taking Responsibility for Ourselves and Our Planet (Inner Traditions, 1990, currently out of print)    My Review!!!

Although mostly based on bible stories with random sections of Greece Mythology this spiritual awakening book is a very powerful self help book. Each section builds on the previous as many other good step self help books do. And this one provides some helpful exercises and activities to practice at the end of each step or chapter.

It helps to not only show but also remind us of what is truly important in life and how we can neither be reckless but neither be sheltered. If you are open enough to actually think and consider what this book is trying to show you then I believe it will be of great help to bring happiness and fulfillment into your life.

Blog Tour Post Pack of Lies

The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams.

Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.   

Both Sara Dailey and Staci Weber are avid readers, English teachers, friends, wives, and soccer moms. They have been teaching together for the past eight years, and writing together for four. Pack of Lies is the second young adult novel for this duo.

Interact with the Authors: 

Website Address:  http://www.saraandstaci.com

Blog Address:  http://www.saraandstaci.blogspot.com

Twitter Address: @srdailey80, @WeberStaci

Facebook Address:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Dailey-and-Staci-Weber/102330932229?ref=nf

My Review!!!!

Strong characters, Fast paced story, quick romance, and a lot of twist and turns. 

Allison is a strong character that is up front about her thoughts and stands down to none. 

Cade and Allison have a strong and instant love when they see each other.

Even though I think every thing moves a bit to easy and things just fall into place. The story was very easy to get lost into and is a great page turner. 

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Blog Tour Post: Tales of Lust, Hate, And Despair

Tales of Lust, Hate and Despair

By Ian Truman

Samuel Lee has known three days of freedom in the last eighteen years. Three days to come out of prison, see his daughter, settle a score and go back in again, for good this time.

Told in the tradition of the best literary noir, Tales of Lust, Hate and Depair is a modern, lowdown and gritty take on the genre. Inspired by the cinema of Akira Kurosawa and Samuel Fuller as well as the music of Tom Waits, Sage Francis, Neurosis and Marilyn Manson, it is a novel that is sure to please anyone who has ever found themselves trapped and cast aside from the world. 

About Me (Ian Truman Bio)

I am from a working class family and I am proud of my origins. For the last seven years, I have been employed as an assembly line worker, a forklift driver, a park ranger, a warehouse clerk, a janitor, an industrial laundry operator, a warehouse clerk some more and still am to this day. I have never stopped working full time and I saw first hand how the theories of political science could hardly apply to the realities of the working masses. I have worked in the downtown area, in Laval, Rosemont, Montreal-East (Between the Petro-Canada oil storage facility and the Falconbridge foundry) and the south-west prior to gentrification. I have seen Montreal change and the people suffer from these changes.

I write not because I believe that some great social revolution is going to come out of any novel I can write. I have no illusions about the revolutionary potential of fiction writing. I truly believe that it is only by changing economic structures that a society can change fundamentally. This is basic Marxism. So why write at all? It is a good question. I mostly write to purge the hatred inside me, to purge the hours of factory work, poverty and strife of all sorts. I am majoring in Creative Writing, in a language that is not my native tongue because I felt it was a challenge. I am also graduating with a minor in political science, through which I discovered many philosophers that have influenced me deeply. I have studied the essays of Karl Marx, Immanuel Wallerstein, Ernesto Guevara, Max Stirner, Mikhail Bakunin, but also capitalist philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes or John Locke. I’ve looked into dichotomies such as Anarchism Vs Fascism, Communism Vs Capitalism. Nationalist Vs Internationalist etc… I believe that my existence is guided by philosophies such as Buddhism, Hinduism but also Nihilism.

As Nietzsche explained, human beings are guided both by rationality and irrationality. We are capable of reason and structure but at the same time we need flesh and passion, if not sin. I write political essays when I need to exercise my rational side. I write it in order to better my knowledge of social structures. I write it to better society. Rarely have I included philosophers or philosophy in my fictional works. I believe they are underlining all the stories I write. But I don’t write Fiction in order to prove a point. I write fiction to fill my need for creativity and passion. Mostly, I write because I need to. It fills my passionate, irrational side. When I write, I look for truth, however ugly or beautiful it may be. I look for sincere elements, uncensored and raw; I look for the visceral. My works combine beauty and despair, struggles and hopes. I truly enjoy dichotomies that bring people out of their comfort zones. I avoid moralist statements and allow the reader to bring their own conclusion about the work, about the characters, and (hopefully) about their lives.

Aesthetically, my style combines vernacular language to noir elements. I also enjoy dirty realism and modernist novels. I try to avoid anything too conceptual or things such as “Streams of consciousness. I allow myself to be influences by all sorts of creative endeavours. In the visual arts, I’ve enjoyed graffiti art for quite some time. I see political postering as a creative act (Aka propaganda). I enjoy visual artists such as Matthew Barney and Shepard Fairey. In film, my most notable influences are Akira Kurosawa’s “Drunken Angel”, Imamura’s “The Pornographers”, Fukasaku’s “Yakusa Papers” or American (and Canadian) filmmakers such as Cronnenberg, Lynch or Smith. I also write under musical influences ranging from Grunge (Nirvana, Violent Femmes), to punk (Social Distortion, Bouncing Souls), hardcore (Warzone, Blacklisted, Blood for Blood), hip-hop (Dead Prez, Wu-Tang-Clan), folk (Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry), blues (Billie Holiday, Chester Burnett) and country (Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe). As far as authors go, I believe I am influenced by a large variety of authors. William Faulkner is the first one that comes to mind. But also Ernest Hemingway, Charles Bukowski, Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, Truman Capote, Henry Rollins, the RZA, Samuel Beckett, David Fennario, William S. Burroughs etc…

My Review!!!!

I personally do not like this type of story. However it sounded interesting and so I wanted to venture out and see if I could pick up another alley of books. Sadly I was unable to do that with this book. 
HOWEVER, for this type of book and those who enjoy the dark side of humanity where no sunshine and nothing lovely at all. Not even a happy ever after ending. Then you'll enjoy this book. 
You follow the story of how a desire to regain ones ex-girlfriend and daughter rolls into a dark mind that ends with murder. Following a life on the bad part of town with bikers, drugs, and low blows. But it proves that even a bad guy is willing to do everything for the women in his life. And there is no obstacle that can't be removed.

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Follow the rest of the tour:  

Tour

7/2 A Few Words /First Chapter 7/2 The Story of A Girl... /Review7/3 Creative Writing Addict /First Chapter7/4 Wonderland Reviews /Interview 7/5 All Things Writing /Review, Interview and Give Away 7/5 My Cozie Corner /First Chapter 7/6 The Book Hoard /First Chapter 7/9 Adventures of Frugal Mom /First Chapter 7/9 Book Lovin' Mamas Review 7/10 The Guardian of the Crossroads /First Chapter 7/10 Ramblings of an Amateur Writer /First Chapter 7/11 Cabin Goddess / Interview 7/11 Bunnys Review /First Chapter 7/13 Reviewing Shelf /Review 7/13 Purple Penguin Reviews First Chapter

The Awesome and Amazing Platypus!!!!

Amazing Facts: 

The male platypus has venom strong enough to can kill a small dog, or cause excruciating pain among humans.

Platypuses can consume their own body weight in food in a 24 hour period!

The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate fraud.

The real reason for this Platypus post is because I think they are SO CUTE!!!!!! I wish I lived in Australia and could see these adorable little guys in the wild!!! Of course I don't want to get bitten by a male so maybe I want to see a female... Anywho LOOK HOW CUTE!!!!

Movie Review: A Thousand Words

Jack McCall, played by Eddie Murphy, finds an unusual tree in his yard after an encounter with a spiritual guru. After discovering that with each word he speaks, a leaf drops off of the tree, Jack refuses to speak at all, as doing so will keep the tree, and him, alive. However, his work, marriage, and friendships are all affected by his choice. Can Jack figure out an alternative method of survival? Or will he simply have to live the rest of his life to the fullest?

2 out of 10 Oscars

My Review!!!

I picked up this movie because hello Eddie Murphy is HILARIOUS!!! Well not in this movie. He isn't allowed to talk. LAME! The movie is suppose to be a life changing event where he learns that he needs to stop being all about himself and stop saying everything he can to get a book deal. He is a book agent. 

The only reason I gave this 2 instead of 1 or even 0 is because of the other actors. Small parts but very funny and helped make the movie not a complete failure. Even though Eddie has to find new ways to show what he wants it just isn't the same...  

Movie Review: Big Miracle

An animal-loving volunteer and a small-town news reporter are joined by a native Alaskan boy to rally an entire community - and eventually rival world superpowers - to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

7 Out of 10 Oscars

My Review!!!

Big Miracle is showing how a small story can make a BIG IMPACT. However, as heart touching as it was it also reminded me about how cold, sinister, selfish and hateful the human population is. The end result is really what made me boost the grade from the original 5 to 7. As the views of some of these hateful people change and the warmth and help of everyone together can make amazing things possible. 

People out for self gain can learn that the bigger picture is something we should all strive for and not lose sight of how we need each other. 

Movie Review: Act of Valor

An unprecedented blend of real-life heroism and original film making, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy SEALs in a powerful story of contemporary global anti-terrorism. Inspired by true events, the film combines stunning combat sequences, up-to-the minute battlefield technology and heart-pumping emotion for the ultimate action adventure. Act of Valor takes audiences deep into the secretive world of the most elite, highly trained group of warriors in the modern world. When the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S., a team of SEALs is dispatched on a worldwide manhunt. As the valiant men of Bandito Platoon race to stop a coordinated attack that could kill and wound thousands of American civilians, they must balance their commitment to country, team and their families back home. Each time they accomplish their mission...

9 out of 10 Oscars

My Review 
This movie is NOT for those looking for a cheap Action thriller. Although there is action in this movie it is cut scenes and takes a bit of using your own mind to put all the pieces together. It leaves parts out, it doesn't show everything.
This movie is not done by big actors. People are downgrading the movie due to the actors and shot work of filming. To you I suggest just stay to you A-List actor  movies. 
This movie has also been thought of as a cheap buck for the Seals that act in the movie. Yes they are real Navy Seals that are acting in this movie.  People say they are sell outs as your not suppose to show what you do or how you do it. That is probably where the lack of some information is. 
I personally loved this movie. I don't know if it is because I have Military people in my family and have went through the NJROTC in high school but never went into a branch myself that makes me unable to see any hatred towards them.  
The movie brought tears to my eyes and rejuvenated my belief in what we can accomplish. The strength and pain that our troops go through daily. The pain those at home live with and the fear. You have to look outside the box to connect with this movie. But if you are capable. Then I think its worth it.