Sharing: WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NAVRATRI!

Today is the first day of Navratri, a nine-day festival celebrated across India. I wish each one of you a Very Happy Navratri.

On this day, I bring you a brief excerpt from my novel, MEGHNA, that portrays the scene of the Dandiya Raas, a part and parcel of the celebrations during these nine nights. 

Do read it to check out how much fun Rahul and Meghna are having during their outing...

THE EXCERPT

The scene was a classic fusion of the Orient and the Occident. The clothes - Rahul couldn’t remember ever seeing such variety and colour at one venue.

   Guys were dressed in smart casuals, semi-formals as well as Indian formals. Colourful waistcoats vied with the short embroidered kedias. Many sported colourful caps or turbans.

   As for the women’s attire, the choice was mind blowing. Jeans with embroidered hems teamed with short colourful tops, ghaghra choli, salwar kameez, sari—you name it and someone was wearing it.

   They all blended into a kaleidoscope of art and colour and the overall effect was a pleasing eyeful.

   Then there was the music. Indian folk music, music adapted from Bollywood and of course disco music. The crowd went crazy as the band started playing. They separated into groups and formed circles, each holding a pair of sticks or dandiyas.

   They began dancing, holding a wooden dandiya in each hand, clicking the sticks against each other or those held by their partners. The clacking of the dandiyas formed a rhythm and the dancers moved ecstatically in time to the music.

   Sanjay and Reema along with the kids joined a circle in the centre of the ground. This had many children of similar age as Sasha and Rehaan.

   Rahul and Meghna got together with a group of strangers and swirled to the music, clacking their dandiyas away, swinging to the rhythm. They both were excellent dancers, as they naturally enjoyed dancing. They were too absorbed in each other to be aware of the rest of the crowd. They were completely unaware of Prashant watching them avidly, raw hunger in his eyes as he devoured Meghna’s graceful movements. His expression changed to one of hatred every time his eyes fell on Rahul.

   The next hour flew away on wings as Meghna twisted and turned, moving forwards and backwards in the circle, her eyes on Rahul’s animated face. His face was alight with the joy he felt swaying his body to the high-pitched folk music. Then it suddenly changed to a disco number and the crowd swayed at a frantic pace. The two of them gave themselves up to the pace set by the band, now fast, now slow.

   A short break was announced when the crowd rushed towards the stalls set up for food and drinks. Rahul and Meghna stood back to let the others move ahead. Rahul put his hand around Meghna’s waist and gently wiped her perspiring face with a snow-white handkerchief that he removed from his kurta pocket.

   Meghna gave a sigh of contentment as he smiled at her. “So tell me; how do you feel now?” he asked, an eyebrow raised in query.

   “Just great,” she replied in a whisper. He bent down his head close to her mouth to catch the soft words. Meghna placed her left hand on the nape of his neck to hold him in place and further cooed in his ear, “that gold ring of yours looks sexy.” She smiled into his startled gaze.

   He gave her a broad grin saying, “Well thanks, kind lady, you’ve made my day.” He pressed his lips to her hot cheek for just a second before raising his head to look at her face with dancing golden brown eyes.

   Meghna felt her heart overflow with the love she felt for him. She did realise to some extent the struggle he had had to undergo to come to terms with his attraction for her. She knew about his insecure childhood and could well understand his fear of commitment. But he had reached a decision, it seemed. He appeared more peaceful than ever. Her eyes shone with excitement as the band struck again.

Sharing: AN EXCERPT FROM MY NOVEL "MEGHNA"

Meghna is the second novel that I penned. It's an entertaining romance with a "Happily Ever After" ending. The ebook also happens to be a #Bestseller on Amazon around the world. Meghna is also available in paperback in select countries.

I remember publishing this book with a friendly warning to my readers. Here you go...

This book has been written only for the purpose of Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment! If you are looking to learn something or improve your lives after reading this work, then this book is not for you. I am not trying to get into competition with the Author Biggies of this world. I wrote this simply for the fun and joy of it. One thing I can promise the reader though: Well proof-read, perfect language that I feel is very important for every book that's written in any tongue. 

Click here to check the blurb...

An excerpt from my book:

A tear slowly found its way down her golden face as Meghna stood at the window. She dashed an angry hand against her cheek, only to have another one coming right after the first. The shock of meeting Rahul after so many years had taken its toll.

   Life had never been the same after Rahul kissed her. Meghna unconsciously touched her lips. All these years she had waited for him to contact her. And suddenly he was here, larger than life and, she clenched her fists, teasing her mercilessly. It appeared as if the years in between ceased to exist. The tears flowed faster. 

   Rahul placed a gentle hand on Meghna’s shoulder. “Meghna.” She tried to push his hand away in vain.

   “Meghna, look at me.” Rahul right hand came out to take hold of her chin and turn her head to face him. 

   There was no reply as Meghna kept her gaze down, refusing to meet his teasing brown eyes.

   “It’s lovely. Your choice, I suppose,” said Rahul.

   Her head came up at that and she looked at him as if he had taken leave of his senses.

   “The floor - the pattern’s beautiful.” Rahul explained patiently.

   Meghna glared at him, confused.

   “Where are your wits, my darling? Weren’t you trying to draw my attention to the floor? I’m impressed. It looks great,” his expression was serious. 

   “Rahul,” said Meghna, “You’re impossible, incorrigible and, and—”

   “And?” prompted Rahul, his eyes alight with mischief.

   Meghna just managed to stop herself from saying, ‘adorable’. The devil didn’t need her to feed his already swollen ego.

   “And nothing.”

    “Nothing?” Rahul looked at the self-confident woman in front of him. He thought of the young girl - short and plump with no confidence at all - he had left behind. His lips parted in a slow smile. “Why the tears?” He asked in a sudden change of subject.

   Meghna had been watching the morning sun’s rays playing on Rahul’s handsome face, totally absorbed in the dashing figure he cut. She didn’t hear his question.

   “Meghna,” Rahul’s voice came from near her ear, curious at her wandering attention.

   She raised startled grey eyes to his face that was too close for comfort.

   “What?” 

   “Why the tears?” he repeated.

   “Forget it. It’s nothing important,” said Meghna.

   “How can I? As you mentioned earlier, it’s barely a few hours since—”

   “Please Rahul. I’m perfectly fine.” Meghna answered quickly, worried that he might leave.

   “Would you rather I stayed elsewhere?” continued Rahul, “I don’t want to upset you.”

   “Don’t be silly, Rahul. Sanjay and Bhabhi will be very upset if you stayed elsewhere.” Meghna refused to look above his shoulder.

   “And you?” A dark eyebrow rose up in query. 

   Meghna didn’t reply. She was afraid of saying the wrong thing. He had seemed like the Rahul from her childhood days in the dining room. Now he appeared to be a sophisticated stranger making demands on her that she didn’t even begin to fathom. He was like a new person. She didn’t realise that the change was more in the way she perceived things, then as a teenager and now as a young woman. 

   Rahul snapped his fingers in front of Meghna’s startled face, “Earth calling Meghna,” he said, his face breaking into a wide grin.

   Meghna brought her rambling thoughts under control and looked at him questioningly.

   Rahul sighed extravagantly. “Meghna,” he said, “Do you want me to leave?”

   “Well,” answered Meghna softly, “if you stay elsewhere, how will you find time to bug me?” She tried hard to look sad. But her twinkling eyes gave her away.

   “That’s my Meghna.” Rahul put an arm around her shoulder. Thank God!  For a minute there he thought he was going to be thrown out. 

   Meghna was just the perfect name for her. Her grey eyes reminded him of dark, rain-bearing clouds. The lightning temper in her eyes and the thunder in her expression added to his conviction. Just now the grey eyes were smiling guilelessly up at him.

If you enjoyed reading the excerpt, you can purchase your copy here: Meghna on Amazon #KDP 

Tornado Giveaway 2: Book No. 99: MEGHNA by Sundari Venkatraman

Go to Book No. 98

Check all the Books Here 

Name of the Book: MEGHNA
Author: Sundari Venkatraman

Read some reviews:

1. Rubina Ramesh
2. Inderpreet Kaur Uppal 
3. Meghan Duce 

The Story:

The young and dashing Rahul Sinha lives in England with his parents, Shyam and Rajni. He is an only son of the rich banker. Rahul is totally attached to his father but does not care for his mother. Read the book to find out why….

Rahul is exulted with his efforts at work paying off and plans a holiday with his best friend Sanjay Srivastav who lives in Mumbai with his wife Reema, kids Sanya and Rehaan and most importantly, his sister, Meghna. Rahul recalls meeting Meghna just before they parted six years ago.

Meghna works for a website and also teaches modern dance as she loves it. She’s thrown for a toss when Rahul comes visiting. She had thought he had forgotten them.

But how could Rahul do that? Sanjay’s his best friend and Rahul had always treated their home as his own. Sanjay’s mother had been more of a mother to Rahul than his own. Rahul had stayed away after moving to England or so Meghna believes.

Thus begins the story between Rahul and Meghna, the teasing, the flirting, the anger, the tears… …will they find love?

You can also buy @

About The Author 

Sundari Venkatraman 

Even as a kid, Sundari absolutely loved the ‘lived happily ever after’ syndrome as she grew up reading all the fairy tales she could lay her hands on, Phantom comics, Mandrake comics and the like. It was always about good triumphing over evil and a happy end.

Soon, into her teens, Sundari switched her attention from fairy tales to Mills & Boon. While she loved reading both of these, she kept visualising what would have happened if there were similar situations happening in India; to a local hero and heroine. Her imagination took flight and she always lived in a rosy cocoon of romance over the years.

Then came the writing – a true bolt out of the blue! She could never string two sentences together. While her spoken English had always been excellent – thanks to her Grandpa – she couldn’t write to save her life.

All this changed suddenly one fine day in the year 2000. She had just quit her job as a school admin and didn’t know what to do with her life. She was saturated with simply reading books. That’s when she returned home one evening after her walk, took some sheets of paper and began writing. It was like watching a movie that was running in her head – all those years of visualising Indian heroes and heroines needed an outlet and had to be put into words. That’s how her first novel, The Malhotra Bride, took shape. While she felt discouraged when publishing didn’t happen, it was her husband who kept encouraging her not to give up.

In the meanwhile, she landed a job as Copy Editor with Mumbai Mirror. After working there for two years, she moved to the Network 18 Group and worked with two of their websites over the next six years, as Content Editor.

Despite her work schedule, she continued to write novels and then short stories and had them published in her blogs. She also blogs voraciously, writing on many different topics – travel, book reviews, film reviews, restaurant reviews, spirituality, alternative health and more.

Her first eBook Double Jeopardy – a romance novella – was published by Indireads and has been very well received by readers of romance.

In 2014, Sundari self-published The Malhotra Bride (2nd Edition); Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) and Matches Made In Heaven (a collection of romantic short stories).

2015 brought yet another opportunity. Readomania came forward to traditionally publish this book – The Madras Affair – a mature romance set in Madras.

Stalk her @
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Go to Book No. 100

Now for the Rafflecopter: Gather as many points as you want to. The more points you get, the more you have a chance to win it all. Show your love for books.. Tweet, Like and Spread the Word... Thank you for being a Reader... You keep the Authors motivated... This is our way of saying a Thank you :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#TornadoGiveaway is an initiative of The Book Club. Click on the icon to go to the event page of the Tornado .. Lots of fun awaits you :)

Sharing: LIVE INTERVIEW ON THE BOOK CLUB (MEGHNA)

Bestseller MEGHNA

The Book Club conducted a LIVE INTERVIEW (August 17, 2014) on their Facebook page after the launch of my novel "Meghna". A number of readers/bloggers/authors came together on one platform to ask me questions. I must say I had a lovely time answering their questions. Thank you The Book club, Rubina Ramesh, Dola Basu Singh, Ahana Mukherjee, Devika Fernando, Adite Banerjie, Aparajita Dutta, Janaki Nagaraj, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal and Nilima Mohite. 

The Book Club: Dear Sundari Venkatraman. Congratulations on Meghna doing so well. We have been getting questions regarding on how you create the characters? Do you plan them out?

Sundari Venkatraman: Hmmm... Yeah, I plan my main characters to some extent. The hero and heroine, especially. But somehow, once I give them names and imagine their features, they begin to do a drama in my mind. It runs like a movie. I just watch it and write. The side characters pop up at every point. Like a parent, housekeeper, a hotel waiter, etc

The Book Club: So do movies influence you?

Sundari Venkatraman: Oh yes, to a very large extent - almost as much as books 

Dola Basu Singh: Sundari, you have published traditionally as well as gone indie. Which do you prefer? Why?

Sundari Venkatraman: That's right Dola Basu Singh. Thank you for the question. I prefer Indie of course. It's as independent as you can get. No strict Editorial Guidelines to follow. Creative work needs a free expression. Otherwise, what's the point? Yes, we need an editor to tell us what works and what doesn't. But not turn the story topsy turvy. Besides that, amazingly better returns and faster too.

Dola Basu Singh: Better returns sounds great! But do you think that when we self-publish we have to put in more efforts in marketing, editing etc in comparison to trad-publishing? Also, do you think the quality of the work may suffer?

Sundari Venkatraman: Better returns happen only with sincere work. I was always putting in a lot of effort with marketing even for traditional publishing. The publisher can help only up to a point. The crowd wants the author there - approachable, reachable. Editing is a must if one doesn't plan to be a one-book wonder. Those for the long haul will realise that if the first book is trashy, the reader will not touch the author. I wouldn't as a reader, so why would I expect others to do it? The quality of work need not suffer. That much self-respect is required. Yes, one needs to be determined and disciplined to achieve all this of course. I think I am.

Dola Basu Singh: Definitely. We've seen you churn out 2 bestselling books within a year. Meghna is also doing well. Good luck for success of Meghna.

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you so much Dola Basu Singh

Ahana Mukherjee: Meghna seems to have struck a chord amongst your readers. Were you targeting a particular section of the audience when writing? Do you bear in mind who your readers might be and write for them?

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you Ahana Mukherjee. I am glad to see that it has. I think part of the credit will go to that friendly warning that I posted. I enjoy reading fun romances and thought there must be people out there who are like me. There used to be a different type of M&B a few decades ago. I used to love reading them. They basically spoke about places, people, culture, relationships. They influenced me a lot. I always wanted to write those kind of romances set in India. So, basically, I write my books for those readers who are like me, I suppose. Does that answer your question?

Ahana Mukherjee: It was good to read a through and through rom com for a change... :)

Devika Fernando Author: Sundari Venkatraman what would you say are your favourite parts of a book to write? and what do you consider your writing strengths?

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you Devika Fernando Author. I would say that all parts of my book are favourites, actually. But specifically, I love writing dialogue and descriptions - of nature as well as homes. Regarding writing strengths... hmmm... that really set me thinking. Building human relationships, I think that's what I like best in my writing and so would call that my writing strength.

Devika Fernando Author: having read "meghna", I agree that this is one of your strengths. 

Sundari Venkatraman: :D 

Adite Banerjie: Hi Sundari. Just saw on Amazon.in today Meghna is among the top 50 romance bestsellers. Congrats! As an indie-published author, do you rely on someone to critique your story or tell you what's working or what's not? Or do you just go by your own gut feel?

Sundari Venkatraman: Hi Adite Banerjie! Wow! Thank you for the info and best wishes. Yeah, both The Malhotra Bride and Meghna have been in the Amazon Bestsellers contemporary romances lists over the past few days. To answer your question, I definitely call in for critical appreciation. I rely on at least 2-3 critiques / Beta readings before going public with a novel. My viewpoint alone will never do. The project is my own creation and too close to my heart for me to understand if it works. In the meanwhile, gut feel helps too. I write from the heart and I hope that it will resonate with a lot of people around the globe.

Adite Banerjie: You're so right....if a story doesn't have heart it won't resonate with readers. Best wishes to you and hope you write many many heartwarming tales! 

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you so much Adite Banerjie :D

Devika Fernando Author: congratulations! and I agree, beta readers are important.

Aparajita Dutta: Hi Sundari Venkatraman ..Why did you choose to write on this particular genre? Are you planning to stick to this particular genre in future?

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you Aparajita Dutta. I am not sure that I chose this genre. I think it chose me. I loved fairy tales as a kid and grew up to like mushy romances with 'lived happily ever after' endings (read M&B and Georgette Heyer). I still like them. I think I would prefer to stick to this genre with a bit of thriller, historical and paranormal thrown in - separately, of course.

Aparajita Dutta: thank you so much :)

Janaki Nagaraj: Hi Sundari. I have not read Meghna. This is a general question. Most of the romance novels revolve around rich couple; the boy is rich, well educated, either a businessman or earning very well, classy and Mr. Perfect. The girl too is beautiful, sexy with perfect figure and the works. Have you ever thought of breaking this barrier of stereotyping the characters? Will you be able to write a romantic story revolving around very ordinary, middle or lower class people who have lots of odds placed against them?

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you Janaki Nagaraj for asking me this question. The world has both the positive and the negative. That is how the third dimensional world has been created. Obviously, it is populated by both the rich and the poor. I prefer to focus on the rich. There is a misapprehension in parts of our society that thinking ‘Money’ is wrong. Well, I don’t belong to that strata of people. 

1. My typical hero is 30 years old. If he is not a success by then, I don’t want to write about him. Even people from the slums break out of poverty to make something of themselves. Financial success is very important to be my hero – as important as being honest. 

2. ‘Beauty,’ as they say, ‘is in the eye of the beholder’. My heroine appears beautiful to my hero; and sexy too. She may not necessarily appear beautiful to everyone. She has a perfect figure – in Meghna’s case – because she dances 7 days a week.  

I hope I have answered your question :)

Janaki Nagaraj: You have, thanks :)

Inderpreet Kaur Uppal: Hi Sundari, you have 3 very successful romance books under your name, did you always have this feeling of love in your writing? Do you think anyone can be a romance writer or do they have a special something that helps them express the power of love?

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you Inderpreet! Sorry that I took so long to reply to your question. I am also a dedicated homemaker besides being a writer. :D To answer your question, I always have this feeling of love even while reading. I read more romances than any other books. Even the other books I read need to have a happy ending. I don’t much care for tragedies. Anyone who is passionate about love and romances and has a flair for writing can definitely become a romance writer is what I think. 

Inderpreet Kaur Uppal: Thanks for answering my question :D

Nilima Mohite: Sundari Venkatraman you always give details about traditions, locations, events, .... How do you research for them?

Sundari Venkatraman: I love your question Nilima Mohite! Most of it is from personal experience. The rest from google search. Like I have written about Mumbai; ISKCON Temple @ Juhu; Arya Samaj Wedding; Dandiya Raas; Fort Hill Garden and JW Marriott - all these I have personally visited. I love soaking into different atmospheres. So I instinctively absorb them and they automatically flow into the scenes in my novels.

Nilima Mohite: Gr8. I too absorb details & pour them into blog posts ;)

The Book Club: Thank you Ladies and err... ladies... for taking the time to drop in. Thanks Sundari. It must have been tiring for you answering all the questions. But you did a brilliant job 

Sundari Venkatraman: Thank you The Book Club for this wonderful opportunity. I thoroughly enjoyed the Q&A :D

Sharing: BOX SET OF MY THREE BOOKS

I would like to share my latest news with all my readers. Having self-published three books on Amazon under the banner of Flaming Sun, I decided to make a box set of the collection under one umbrella and sell it as a combo unit. That's how Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India Box Set was born. I have to thank both my kids - Vinitha & Vignesh - for making the 3-D cover for the same. 

This Box Set contains my novels The Malhotra Bride, Meghna and The Runaway Bridegroom and is priced way lesser than the three books if bought separately.

Buying links:

Amazon.com | Amazon.in | Amazon.co.uk | 

Amazon.ca | Amazon.com.au

Blog Tour: “MEGHNA” REVIEWS from The Book Club members

This "THANK YOU" blog has been long overdue. I would like to thank each and every person who has come forward to read and review my novel Meghna on their blogs. 

ONE

Sumeetha Manikandan

I met Sumeetha through Indireads, the publishers of both our novels. Sumeetha is also a member of The Book Club and is a regular reader of my novels. Thank you Sumeetha for the wonderful review of my book Meghna!

About Sumeetha Manikandan:

"Sumeetha Manikandan, a freelance content writer is an English literature graduate with a journalism and mass communication diploma. She lives in Chennai with her husband and daughter. After a decade long career in dotcom industry, she started working as a content writer from home. She wrote her debut novel, ‘The Perfect Groom’ as a script for a serial, which she converted into a novella for Indireads."

Sumeetha reviews Meghna:

Sundari Venkatraman is an anomaly among today’s self publishing authors. In my experience, most of the self-published books are badly edited with a shoddy plot line and not to mention bad language but Sundari’s books stand out brilliant amidst huge slush pile of bad books. Meghna is a hot romance and as the author herself mentioned, it is meant for complete entertainment. Needless to say, it delivers its promise.

Click Here to read the complete review...

TWO

Meghan Duce

It was a lucky day when I contacted Meghan Duce and requested her to review Meghna. What struck the lady was the name of my book as it sounded so similar to her own. Not very fond of romances, Meghan still showed a lot of enthusiasm for reading and reviewing my book. Thank you so much Meghan Duce for that awesome and detailed review! 

About Meghan Duce in her own words:

“I am a woman of many passions and goals! I am a mother and I am a survivor! I have been through a lot in my life, and my goal is to give what I have learned to other women who have walked the same path. I pray that we all be free from suffering, and if I can ease it for anyone, then it’s a job well done.”

Meghan’s review of Meghna:

I liked the suspense and drama between Meghna and Rahul because you never quite know till the end whether they are gonna make it or not.  Plus their love is so innocent and naive, because in life they both only wanted each other...never anyone else. They also make some pretty hilarious comments towards each other!!

Click Here to read the complete review...

THREE

Ahana Mukherjee

I met Ahana Mukherjee through The Book Club. I felt very happy when she showed interest in reading and reviewing my book. Thank you Ahana for thE positive and encouraging review!

About Ahana Mukherjee in her own words:

“An avid reader, can read whatever I lay my hands on but I think as I am growing old I am gravitating towards lighter reading. I also like travelling. I have been to a few places but the the world is so huge and with so many many beautiful places to visit and new things to see and experience, this life time will be not be enough to explore all. And last but not the least I am a movie fanatic. I am not just interested in movies made in Bollywood and Hollywood but everywhere around the world and in any language. After watching so many of them I do think Hollywood movies are over rated, there are so many other world movies to catch up with.”

Ahana’s review of Meghna:

Meghna is an out and out entertaining book. A Bollywood style rom com with a cute, innocent heroine; suave and wealthy hero; a scheming mother; lusty colleague and a sexy trying hard to be wife, vamp. Sundari Venkatraman has cooked up a masala story with a flavor for all palates with her latest book Meghna.

Click Here to read the complete review...

FOUR

Aditi Saha

Aditi Saha won my book The Malhotra Bride during the Tornado Giveaway conducted by The Book Club and gave it an awesome review. That’s when I requested this #1 Goodreads Indian reviewer to read and review Meghna too. I was thrilled when she agreed immediately. Thank you so much Aditi for the awesome review of Meghna!

About Aditi Saha in her own words:

“I am a software-engineer by profession and a book-lover by passion! Why I love fiction? In a recent interview, Ruskin Bond, my favorite author, has been asked the same question, he replied: "It makes one understand life better, be philosophical about it. Take the ups and downs of life more easily because if you are reading good books—I am talking about fiction—you learn so much about human nature and the difficulties that people might encounter. It helps you to be more sensitive to others." I'm a reader..end of story!!..I read as much as possible and review as much as I like. All credit goes to Good reads for turning my passion for books into an obsession. I'm an online shopaholic, animal-lover, in-love with the weekends, and sucker for all kinds of stupid TV Series. In short, living my life as much as possible.”

Aditi’s review of Meghna:

MEGHNA by Sundari Venkatraman, is another coming-age Bollywood-style love-story, which will leave you happy, amused and totally full-on "ENTERTAINED"!

Click Here to read the complete review...

FIVE

Pooja Abhay

I met Pooja Abhay through The Book Club and was quite thrilled when she showed interest in reading and reviewing Meghna. Thank you so much Pooja for the lovely review of my book! 

About Pooja Abhay:

“I am Pooja. I was born in Sirsi (a small yet beautiful town in the Western Ghat region in Karnataka) and was brought up in Bangalore. Currently, I reside in Oceanside, California with my husband, Abhay.

Back in Bangalore, having completed my masters in Biochemistry, I worked as a Scientific Analyst in an Insilico Discovery based company. Currently, I am a full time blogger.

“Thoughtless Ramifications…” was started around 4 years ago as a personal blog on blogspot. However, I decided to take it a notch higher and bought my own domain “poojaabhay.com”. Most of the posts that are published here are my own life’s anecdotes. However, I also do book reviews on a regular basis. You can also find that I have pages called “Pooja’s Café” and “Being Silly”, one being my food blog and the other being a cartoon page that I have on Facebook, where I make husband-wife cartoons using Bitstrips.”

Pooja reviews Meghna:

There comes a time when nostalgia knocks on the door and sometimes, it knocks very hard. Well, this is what happened when I finished reading Sundari’s book Meghna. It took me back to my school and college days where I was a sucker for “happily ever-afters”. The equation hasn’t changed much, but now that I read more and more genres, this book was like a flash back into the good old times.

Click Here to read the complete review...

SIX

Ruchira Khanna

I met Ruchira Khanna via The Book Club and was very happy when she came forward to read and review my book. Thank you so much for the lovely review Ruchira!

About Ruchira Khanna:

Ruchira says, “Just another soul trying to make a difference in this lifetime by juggling between my passion and responsibilities.”

A Biochemist turned Writer who draws inspiration from various sources and tries to pen them down to create awareness within her and the society. Recently published a novel, which peeps into every one's daily life named, "Choices" She is working on a children's book, which should be out this year.

A Reiki Master in her spare time where she passes out information about channelling universal energy and conducts sessions.

Ruchira reviews Meghna:

The author does a good job in delivering the characters’ deep sentiments with regards to their thoughts, reflections, and understanding from what they each want from a relationship.

Click Here to read the complete review...

SEVEN

Shilpa Garg

I met Shilpa Garg via Write Tribe when she offered to read and review Double Jeopardy. I am glad that she showed interest in reading and reviewing Meghna too. Thank you Shilpa for the awesome review!

About Shilpa Garg:

"Shilpa Garg is a blogger from the Pink City of India who is passionate about the written words, sweets and beautiful conversations that happen over a mug of tea. She loves writing micro fiction, book reviews and general observations of life, things and circumstances on her blog, A rose is a rose is a rose! Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Google+."

Shilpa reviews Meghna: 

The overall story is good, the sizzle is nicely done and the climax is delightful. A vivid, rich, descriptive style with not a single dull moment in the story, the author manages to keeps you engrossed in either sweet romance or high emotional drama.

Click Here to read the complete review...

EIGHT

Nilima Mohite

I have known Nilima Kadam Mohite for a few years now since I met her at Web18 where we both worked together. Thank you so much Nilima for taking the time out from your extra busy schedule to read and review my book. 

About Nilima Mohite:

Nilima is a software engineer who was holding a full time job with www.rediff.com when she reviewed Meghna. As on today, she’s taking a break. Nilima is married and lives in a joint family and is mother to little Pranav. 

Nilima reviews Meghna: 

Rahul is the fast, nimble minded young member of the board for a bank. He is quick, intelligent, has a knack for making people agree to his ideas, generous, caring, gentleman-types, added to this, he is drool worthy, an eligible bachelor, millionaire... but still single.
Reason: Meghna, the grey-lightning eyed sister of his best friend Sanjay whose mother embraced Rahul as her own son.

Click Here to read the complete review...

NINE

Jaibala Rao

I got introduced to Jaibala Rao via The Book Club. Thank you Jaibala for taking the time to read and review my book!

About Jaibala Rao in her own words:

"Although new to professional writing and reviewing, Jaibala has lived in a world of books ever since she could read. Outside that Utopia of books, she is academically a Microbiologist and professionally has been an Event Manger and Content Writer. Just like her colourful professional background her interest in books is also spread across various genres. “There is something good in every book,” is a belief she carries while reading."

Jaibala’s review of Meghna:

True to its genre, and full of all possible problems that the lovers have to face before realizing their love for each other and it ends in a happily ever after. True to her word, the language of the story is simple and perfect and the book is well edited and proof read.

Click Here to read the complete review...

TEN

Yamini Vijendran

I met Yamini Vijendran via Indireads as we both published our debut novellas through the publisher. Thank you Yamini for your constructive review of Meghna!

About Yamini Vijendran:

"Yamini Vijendran is the author of ‘Full Circle’, a romance novella published by Indireads. After being a Software Professional for 7 years, Yamini has been freelancing from home for the past 3 years. She loves to dabble in fiction and romance and drama are her favorite genres. Her short stories have been published in ‘Love Stories That Touched My Heart’, an Anthology published by Penguin India, New Asian Writing and Six Sentences. Yamini also likes to pen poems when inspiration strikes, and her poetry has been published in The Indian Review, Contemporary Literary Review of India and ‘A World Rediscovered’ a poetry Anthology by Cyberwit Publications. Yamini draws material for her stories and poems from the world around her. When she is not converting her experiences to stories or poems, Yamini reads, plays with her toddler, and fools around her laboratory, that is, the kitchen."

Yamini reviews Meghna:

Sundari is one of the most talented writers I have had the privilege of interacting with through my writers’ network. I read her Double Jeopardy, published by Indireads, and enjoyed it. What stands out in her writing in the crackling style. There is never a dull moment, and the words bring out rich flavors and vibrant hues of romance and drama. It is, to let the foodie in me get the better of me, like an authentic spicy Hyderabadi Biryani, which makes your eyes water but you just can’t stop eating. Meghna is no different. Right from the first page till the last, the book is packed with all the flavors of romance. Sizzling – if I were to describe it in one word. 

Click Here for the complete review...

ELEVEN

Archana KB

Archana offered to read and review my book on behalf of The Book Club. Thank you so much Archana for the lovely review of Meghna!

About Archana KB in her own words:

“My name is Archana K B residing in Bangalore with husband, RK and daughter Nayana. I did work in Software Testing in Chennai before resigning after marriage. At present, I am on the path of rediscovering my identity and career through photography, writing and other interests and dreams of being popular, creative, productive superwoman one day…”

Archana reviews Meghna:

The dialogues, full of tongue-in-cheek comebacks were quite different from the romantic clichéd ones. The writing style of the author is somewhat old-fashioned and laced with heavy influence of the Bollywood movies, but that’s what I loved in the book!

Click Here to read the complete review...

Blog Tour: RUBINA RAMESH reviews MEGHNA

Rubina Ramesh

It was a blessed day when I met Rubina Ramesh on social media a little more than a year ago. She has been a friend, guide, philosopher and a lot more to me. If I am a self-published author who is also successful today, I will give full credit to Rubina. She’s like a Tornado who works 24/7.

Blog Tour of Meghna – my third one with The Book Club – has been super successful thanks to Rubina and her team. Yes, Meghna’s been on the Amazon Contemporary Romance eBooks lists pretty often over the past few weeks.

Rubina Ramesh has reviewed Meghna while I got an opportunity to write a Guest Post on her blog. Thank you so much Rubina for that awesome review (I promise you guys that you will roll on the floor laughing when you read this hilarious piece) and letting me answer a question (through a Guest Post) that been running on many readers’ minds when they read Meghna.

About Rubina Ramesh (Courtesy: http://nanowrimo.org):

I read, if possible, every moment of my waking life. Even while cooking I have audible books plugged into my ears. I am an Arts graduate with an MBA, but the thought of staying put in an office environment never appealed to me. I had a few stints of work life at Aptech and StarSQL. My friends and family call me a gypsy. Thankfully my husband's line of work allows us to travel all over the globe. 

Though I have been writing for a long time, I have only one short story published in an anthology. When I was 12, I had sent an article to Women's Era and it was rejected. I never sent one out again. But the Blogging world gave me a new confidence and after I started my own blog for promoting new authors and book reviews, the bug of writing bit me again and I picked up my pen again (literally). I have a strong belief “Every writer has a story to tell”. I hope I will be able to tell the stories that are made for me. 

Rubina Ramesh reviews Meghna:

Sundari: "Ok Rubina, cut the crap! Did you like the story or not?"
Gulp Gulp
Rubina: (whispers) "I hate you ..."
Sundari: shocked!
Rubina: "Then what, you write such simple stories. Putting lives into the characters, taken from people you know in real life. Simplicity is your poison, Sundari. Some will love it and some won't. But those who do will come back for more and more and more and..."
Sundari: "So this book will sell or not?
Rubina: "It has been on the bestseller list..."
Sundari: I rest my case :D

Click Here to read the complete review.

My Guest Post on Rubina’s blog:

Q: Sundari, you have a lip-lock situation in your story. How do you think our Indian audience will react to the lip-lock of a 16-year-old in your story? Do you think it is too bold for our Indian audience - especially the middle class society?

Guest Post: I attended a course on mothering at the Oneness University. It was truly an eye opener. The guide - a monk - taught me a number of truths about myself.

I realised that the tendency of an adult is to forget her own childhood days while handling her kid. My daughter was about seven years old at that point and I was highly troubled that she was a rebel. I had completely forgotten that I had been one myself as a kid. I was amazed when Akshayamati gently made me recall my tantrums as a child. After that, handling my daughter was almost a breeze.

Click Here to read the rest of the post.

Blog Tour: BHAVYA NANDAKUMAR reviews MEGHNA

Bhavya Nandakumar

I got to meet Bhavya Nandakumar through The Book Club and I must say I am glad that she’s a regular reader of my books. Thank you so much Bhavya for that wonderful review along with a Spotlight of Meghna and also letting me write a Guest Post on your blog about Self-publishing.

About Bhavya:

Bhavya Nandakumar works for an online advertising business while writing on her blog that gives her a sense of freedom.

Bhavya Nandakumar reviews Meghna:

Meghna, by Sundari Venkatraman is probably as Bollywood as it gets. The author begins by stating that her book is for entertainment purposes alone yet it does so much more than that.

Click Here to read the complete review on Bhavya’s blog.

My Guest Post on Bhavya’s blog:

The advantages of self-publishing are that there’s no need to wait for the verdict of a publishing house and no Editorial Guidelines that at times tend to turn one’s novel completely topsy-turvy. The best part is the fantastic percentage of royalty.

On the downside, you have to get your own editor and proof-reader; you have to get the cover done from an artist (there’s a lot of back and forth in that) and there’s no publisher backup for marketing.

Click Here to read the complete post.

Blog Tour: DEVIKA FERNANDO reviews MEGHNA

Devika Fernando

I  met Devika Fernando, who is also an author of romances, on social media. Later on, Devika joined The Book Club and regularly participates in our Blog Tours. Based in Sri Lanka, Devika has two published books to her name – When I See Your Face & Playing With Fire.

About Devika:

Almost as soon as Devika Fernando could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally different worlds – something that influences her writing. Her trademark is writing sweet, yet deeply emotional romance stories where the characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust. What she loves most about being an author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. She draws inspiration from everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, she works as a self-employed German web content writer, as a translator, and as a faithful servant to all the cats, dogs, fish and birds in her home. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or thinking about writing.

Devika Fernando came forward to read and review my book Meghna. Not just that, she did an author interview as well. THANK YOU so much Devika. I am glad you liked my book and I thoroughly enjoyed answering your thought provoking questions!

Devika Fernando reviews Meghna:

“Meghna” by Sundari Venkatraman is much more than the author so humbly proclaims. It IS filled to the brim with entertainment, reminding me so much of the Hindi dramas and Bollywood movies I like to watch. It does, however, also contain hidden lessons for life.

Click Here to read the entire review of Meghna

Devika Fernando interviews me:

Q: What do you like most and least about being a writer?

A: What I like most is the thought of playing God; create characters and make them dance to my tunes. I just love it. I feel a powerful sense of freedom that their lives will work out the way I want and not like reality (where a lot of negativity happens). This is also probably the reason why I love penning romances. I can’t think of anything I don’t like about being a writer.

Click Here to check out the complete interview

Blog Tour: ARTI METROREADER reviews MEGHNA

Arti Metroreader

I met Arti Metroreader on facebook and later connected with her via The Book Club. While Arti has bought all my books and reviewed them, she also came forward to do an Author Interview with me for promoting Meghna as well as she gave me an opportunity to write a Guest Post on her blog. Thank you Arti for helping with the promotion of my book! 

About Arti Metroreader:

“Arti is a doctor by profession and mother of two small children. She loves reading books, especially romances. She’s reviewed a large number of romances on her blog. She has also interviewed a number of authors on her blog.”

Excerpt from Arti’s review:

As with all Sundari Venkatraman books, the plot is simple, the story is sweet and the characters loveable. Meghna’s family is a typical Indian middle class close knit family with a brother, bhabhi and kids. The easy camaraderie between the characters has been beautifully depicted. The relationship of Sasha and Rehaan has been depicted very well.

Click Here to read the complete review

Excerpt from Arti’s interview:

Q: I know it is difficult for an author to choose between her books, but which of the three is closer to your heart?

A: First of all, I would like to make it very clear that I love all my books. There are more than three, by the way. If you insist on my choosing, then I would say The Malhotra Bride as it is my first book. The book amazed me as I penned it as I never could believe that I was capable of writing before this one was born.

Click Here to read the complete interview

Excerpt from Arti’s Guest Post:

I visualise my characters a lot before I create them in words. I see them walk, talk, dress, check them out in different moods and more. I see them interact with one another. I logically think of how a person would react in a particular situation.

Click Here to read the Guest Post