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Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 404 – Revealing!

04 Dec 2022 15 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Bookapalooza, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“A new book is like a friend that I have yet to meet.”
Abraham Lincoln

Yes, Spidey, it’s bookish again this week!

So, if you missed any of my myriad posts across social media yesterday (if so, where were you?!?!) I had the book cover reveal for book two of the Rishtay Series, Straight As A Jalebi!

This has been another labour of love for me.

When I wrote Marriage Unarranged, I never, in my dreams, thought it would become anything more than that one book they say we all have inside of us. And yet, here I am with a series on my hands! The characters were so close to my heart, and they all wanted their stories written, so I complied! The second one is written, and the third has been started. Who knows if a fourth will end up coming out!

However, the difference with this second one is that there is a major part of the plot with which I have no personal experience. It is always hard to write in that situation, however, I needed to write this story. To help me out, I have had a couple of specific sensitivity readers read the manuscript, to make sure I have health with all aspects of the story in a sensitive, realistic manner. So far feedback has been extremely positive!

Micro Blurb

Who knew that an innocent trip to India in the year 2000 would have such an impact on his life?

Sunny had only gone as a chaperone for his sister and her best friend, and to attend to a few business matters while out there.

He ends up with a deal that will change the shape of his professional future, and possibly his personal one, too.
But how would he be able to explain that to his family, who are gearing up to get him married off?

The road to love isn’t always straight…

But, for now, let me share the cover with you here. Please let me know what you think of it!

Straight As A Jalebi is out on 1st June,2023, to coincide with Pride Month!

And, if you remember for last week, today is the day I am in the My Book Friends Group with a giveaway, if you are interested. in joining! There are lots of other authors there, too!

´¨)¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•`

CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS! JOIN THE FUN with LOADS OF AUTHOR GIVEAWAYS on December 4th as over 50 authors will be visiting with readers in the Season of Giving Bookapalooza! Don’t forget to join us in My Book Friends. #MBFBookapalooza2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends/

GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY! FREE BOOKS, I SAY! TELL YOUR READER FRIENDS!

And YOU are invited! #MBFBookapalooza2022

(¯`•.•´¯)¸•´¯`☆`•.¸¸.•´••

Be sure and click over to the group, answer the easy questions, and you’re in. You won’t want to miss this event on Sunday, so join us TODAY.

So, tell me, will you be joining us in the My Book Friends Group?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 403 – Bookapalooza!

27 Nov 2022 17 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Bookapalooza, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“There is only one thing that can replace a book. Another book.”
Anon

Thanks for handing me the stage today, Spidey.

So, next weekend I am doing a bit of a ‘thing’.

I took part in this ‘thing’ a couple of years ago, too.

Basically, a wonderful bookish group on Facebook has invited me to be one of their featured authors next week, in a Bookapalooza, and I have a paperback giveaway of Marriage Unarranged, as well as the cover reveal for book two in the Rishtay Series, Straight As A Jalebi, happening next weekend as well!

´¨)

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS! JOIN THE FUN with LOADS OF AUTHOR GIVEAWAYS on December 4th as over 50 authors will be visiting with readers in the Season of Giving Bookapalooza! Don’t forget to join us in My Book Friends. #MBFBookapalooza2022 https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourbookfriends/

GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY! FREE BOOKS, I SAY! TELL YOUR READER FRIENDS!

And YOU are invited! #MBFBookapalooza2022

(¯`•.•´¯)¸•´¯`☆

.`•.¸¸.•´••

Be sure and click over to the group, answer the easy questions, and you’re in. You won’t want to miss this event on Sunday, so join us TODAY.

Cover Reveal Next Week!

So, tell me, will you be joining us in the My Book Friends Group?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 402 – Anniversary Thoughts

20 Nov 2022 47 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Anniversary thoughts, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays

“Grow old with me. The best is yet to be.”
Robert Browning

What a lovely quote, Spidey. Thank you. So apt since our anniversary was on Friday.

When we married, we were in the throes of love.

The freshness of our feelings for each other was intense.

We had been together for four years before that. However, due to our culture, we couldn’t be seen to be with one another. (One thing I thank the evolution of time for since it is much more acceptable to be with your chosen partner openly before marriage nowadays than it was, even 21 years ago.)

Sure, people knew, and we were officially engaged for a good couple of years before the big day. But still, it wasn’t the done thing to bring him to any family events, for me to go to his house or to openly meet other members of his extended family.

We were a bit rebellious, though, because, before marriage, we did meet others out of familial situations because how can you be together for so long without meeting anyone else other than your friends?

That love we felt on that day 21 years ago has never lessened, but it has changed over the years.

Our hearts have had to expand to invite in the families who became one with our union.

There is a huge space extended for our children, both human and not (Sonu Singh, our Punjabi Cat, Heer and Ranjha, our parrotlets (RIP), and the numerous fish we have had over the years.)

And as is natural, our feelings have evolved. It’s not all just about physical attraction.

Yes, those feelings are there, but the way love changes, we have more insight into one another, and we value each other more.

Companionship has become even more important.

Okay, yes, we do argue. There are fallouts once in a while, but isn’t that just the case with everyone?

And that is only overcome because our love for each other is so strong.

Each stage of our relationship with each other changes, as does our love, and as the quote says above, quite possibly, the best is yet to come, and I am excited to see where the future takes us and our family.

So, tell me, what does love mean to you?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!

21 Years And Counting

18 Nov 2022 72 Comments

by Ritu in Family Tags: Anniversary, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family

Today…

… we celebrate 21 glorious year’s married 🥰

Happy Anniversary, Hubby Dearest 🥰

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 401 – Together Part 2

13 Nov 2022 46 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Together

“Time together as a family is a gift.”
Joanna Gaines

Yes, I am revisiting Togetherness as it felt apt, again, this week.

For two reasons.

The first is that Pops and Mum are back after being away for four weeks in Kenya, doing the whole togetherness thing with family there. My mum lost one of her brothers during the pandemic and could not see him or grieve with her other brother at all. This visit was filled with sadness and happiness, too.

They visited many families who have lost people over the last couple of years.

Then spent quality time with my uncle and aunts.

We all know how precious and fickle life is. In your golden years that is felt even more keenly. Mum and her brother live in different countries. That distance feels bigger, now, at a time they would love to be a short drive away from one another.

However they packed many memories into the few weeks they were there, and have come back with many stories for my brother and me to listen to.

The second one is to say that family is not only blood-related.

On Friday we went out for a meal, my colleagues and I. The whole school staff were invited, and a fair few were there. It was an emotional gathering for various reasons, and one thing our Head Teacher said was that she considers us all family.

And we are.

You sometimes spend more time with the people you work with than with your own family, which is a drain. But, having that bond with your colleagues makes those long hours pass much more pleasantly. So an evening with people I had already spent the day with was still as much of a pleasure as spending time with my own family.

And, as an aside, I have my friends who are more like family, and you, my Blogily, as I always call you!

So, tell me, do you have people you consider ‘family’ outside of your blood relations?

Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!