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Short stories are anytime-snack. Quick, sweet, spicy savouries. They leave the heart craving for more. Novels are home-cooked meals. Long, leisurely, and fulfilling. They leave the soul gratified to the core. Bobby George

Today, after a long time, I went for a walk. Walking in the countryside under the star-studded morning sky was transcending. In the silence of the virgin chill . . . I walked . . . breathing in the pristine air. I jogged . . . on the lone road narrowed by the splashing water. The lush paddy fields stretched as far as the body could feel and as far out, the eyes could see. I run . . . to conquer the expanse. Breathless . . . I paused. I Looked up at the immensity of the starry blue sky. A moment. A musing. . . I walked back, for I understood the insignificance of my significance. Bobby George

“I do not write for a living or as a pass time. Neither do I write to be popular. I write for the sheer love of expression. I marvel at the linguistic ability of humans to express what they see, touch, experience, and perceive. It fascinates me how they assimilate it all and put it down in words to convey it to another human in the form of a story; in a million different ways. There is an infinite possibility of this ability to be unique, with the same sights, thoughts, feelings, and the same experience. It is overwhelming when people can relate to my thoughts in words. And how we become one at that moment. It is a craft I keep honing and will all my life.” Bobby George

She never thought he would leave her He never thought he could ever leave her Then what happens between them… Two inseparable souls made for each other are torn apart It is true that Love hurts, and Despair is painful But worse…. Guilt stings Could remorse be the revenant? And retribution transcending Or is it the Love that conquers all? ONEwithin… a LOVE saga by Bobby George

Diminishing Democracy… nothing serious They say foreign invaders plundered India of its wealth, culture, and sanctity down the ages. They brought down worship places, renamed cities, and propagated religious faiths. They implemented newer policies with brute force on the pretext of building a Great Nation for its people without taking into consideration its people. Eh . . .! We all know what they overlooked and undermined in their callous one-way approach during the process. Yes! The basic needs, rights and sentiments of the communities living in it. But how different is the present scenario? Perhaps the savage style of the ruling has taken on a muted or so-called civilised form of suppression. They used lances and swords. Today we use sentiments and votes. The power at hand is used in the same way, with much the same result. Undermining the needs, rights, and sentiments of the communities in the Nation they proclaim to be building. For whom were/are they building a Nation, if not (us) the people? Just wondering . . . As far as I can comprehend, it is not to build a Nation but to even out centuries of wrongdoing that, too, centuries later. One whimsical ruler against the other. Is it any good? Where do we stand as the people of the Nation? We, as citizens, are dutifully surrendering our present and the future in its wake. To remain Nationalist. Let us applaud! Like the good Nationalists that we are. Come on, most of the Nation is doing it. Do not agree . . .? All right, as you say, let us remain silent like the rest of the Nation. Real people’s real causes are losing to fake opinions, hatred, and IDs. Who is suffering, and who’s going to suffer? Aren’t we the ones, the real people? Just a thought . . . nothing serious. . . .

How Authors Kill . . . their work before it has a chance With self-publishing gaining ground and the ease of publishing growing by the day. We come across more and more carelessly presented books. I tell you, some of them have potential. But the miss by a hair to their readers’ hearts is not the storyline, style, or hard work they have put behind their lifelong dreams. It is their callous indifference/ignorance (pick your choice). There could be many other reasons, but I will focus on the most prevalent yet fatal. As soon as we conceptualize a plot and have decided to sit down and take up the Herculean task (of writing, of course). We have already settled in our minds that it is a flawless piece of art destined to break all records in the literary world. Trust me, not all of us are wrong. But how many of us reach the pinnacle or accrue tangible success with such a smasher in our belt? Perhaps a few. We can count them on our fingers. I have come across some unique writings during my long Editing Career. They were exceptional on their own merits. Some for their sharp, witty writing, some for their delicate narration, and some for the languid lethargy you enjoy. Thoughts are different, styles are different, but the ‘Sweat and Blood’. . .? It is the same behind each work. So, what kills our Dream Book? Yes, you are right. Editing! All authors cannot be good editors, and all editors cannot be good writers, but some can be both. But we are not going to discuss exceptions and rarity. A professional editor can do wonders for your book; he can cut, shape and polish your diamond-in-rough to a sparkling masterpiece. A piece of artwork worthy of the public eye. Another important point that I must clarify—Editing is not like correcting your English notebook, spelling and grammar. It is way deeper than that; in fact, correcting grammar and spelling is only the first rung of the ladder in the editorial process. There are Levels of Editing that a good Editor performs on your manuscript before you can pitch it to a publisher. Speaking well and fluently does not translate to the ability to write equally well. I speak flawlessly, and my vocab is excellent. In fact, my friends and colleagues tell me they admire my linguistic skills. But what about when writing a book? Are we able to express ourselves in the same way? Have we plugged in all the gaping holes in the plot? There is a trick that our mind plays on us. While writing, we feel we have written everything we wanted and exactly how we had perceived it. Believe me. Your mind is tricking you. Half the time, we are not conveying all that we had perceived. We hate to admit it when someone tells us so. Embarrassed or indignant, whatever. By God, we hate it. And stubbornly refuse to incorporate. As a writer, we must understand that we have undertaken to build something massive. As I mentioned in my previous post, publishing a book is a collaborative project. Many experts are required to create an architectural marvel. Likewise, it takes many experts to present a well-done book; they are the experts in their fields. For example, The author—It is his baby. He has created, nurtured, and rightly so aspires to see it bring fame and fortune to him. He has the perception and the vision. Beta readers—Provide the first-hand review as neutral readers. Detecting plot holes, flow, and the feel of the story/manuscript. The editor—He is your man! Trust him; this guy can do wonders for your manuscript if he is worth his salt. Proofreader—He cleans your work and makes it look presentable after it has passed through all hands. Interior layout expert—He sets the way your book looks inside the covers. Book cover designer—He is another guy you can’t do without. He is the one that makes a reader pick your book. Have I missed out on the marketer? Okay, let us underline it. Marketer (We are no good without them either). Now, imagine yourself to be all these rolled into one. How does that sound? And here’s where you start slipping, trying to do most work (at least the first four) yourself. A genuine reader would pick up a book very cautiously, and if it is self-published, he has already deducted five points out of ten for Language and Content. He, but obviously, has assumed that you haven’t got your book professionally edited. Now he is going over the sample chapter. Believe me; he is doing it very critically and sceptically. If you fail to hook him. He will avoid it altogether. Your building crumbled. Professional book reviewers (those bunch of high school kids) may soothe your ego for a while with the number of paid reviews, but not help your book. Because ninety-nine per cent of the time, these reviewers are not professionals but some school-going kids working towards their pocket money. They have nothing to do with your book or its success. Most of the time, they don’t even go through what you have written, or, for that matter, what they are writing. What do we do then . . .? Yep! Hire a good Editor. Unfortunately, they come at a price. A price that we (I am talking about my class of budget—shoestring.) can seldom afford. But your BOOK is priceless! Ciao! Note- If you have completed your manuscript or are in the process. Leave your queries in the comment box below. I would love to help you out with your Dream Book.

Title–The Third Party Language–English Genre Specifics–Fiction Romance Publication–Independent–Evincepub Formats–Kindle Edition-49/-, Paperback-399/-, Hardcover-499/- Style–Narrative (Contemporary, Informal) Vithika Agarwal is a former Miss India (Asia Pacific) and now lives in Bangalore, India. Her very British husband and outspoken son ensure that there is never a dull moment in her life. From diving in the ocean to motorbiking on a volcano or climbing the Himalayas, these two adventure junkies constantly keep her on her toes. Her desire to write this book was born from her fascination for the intricacies of human relationships and her curiosity to explore these complexities through her characters. The Title–The Third Party—Thematic The Book Cover–Pastel hues of subtle romance with a hands-on feminine feel. The Theme–“Why do we make promises for a lifetime when we don’t know what the future holds?” It is a question that can make you pause and re-think your marital vows. Sara is in Love, the kind of Love that explodes in one’s head in a million different colours, the kind that puts a smile on the face for no particular reason. A Love that makes one glow from within and plays a special tune in one’s head in a loop. However, there’s a problem: the recipient of Love is not her husband, Rahul but her daughter Riya’s class teacher, Samar. “Why, as a society, are we set up in a way where we think it is wrong to share our love with more than one person at a time?” She asks herself as she spends countless nights lying awake. It is set against India’s vibrant and diverse backdrop, where traditional values and modern-day changes are learning to coexist. Join Sara as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Her tryst with Love, loss, and heartbreak. A soul-searching saga of moral introspection of the essence of duty, loyalty, romance and betrayal before culminating in happily ever after. But it might not be the ending she hoped for—there’s more . . . Find out more in Vithika’s The Third Party. The Narration and Style–The author has told the story in the limited third-person POV. The language is lucid and flows naturally. The narrative style used to tell the story seems conversational, while lots of flowery sentences and phrases make it sound chic. Whose read–With its simplistic approach, the book can be enjoyed across age groups. However, anyone looking for Romance Fiction with a modern outlook must go for it. Not as much–Nothing is left out in the book as it has a meticulous ensemble of soul-stirring moments. A well-balanced mix of dialogue and narration leaves no room for comment. My appraisal–The review is based on the specific genre to match it evenly. Written in a contemporary Narrative style and built on a modern romantic framework. The engaging storyline revolves around the female protagonist Sara and her romantic woes. This effortless page-turner deserves to be read by bibliophiles across genres and niches. Having read and enjoyed the book, I don’t hesitate to recommend it to my Romantic fiction aficionados, and neither would you. Must grab your copy and check it out, folks! End Note–Many man hours, hard work, emotions, Love, care and in-depth musing have been put into writing the book; kudos! Thank you, Vithika, for giving us a fantastic book. Keep up the excellent work. Cheers! Drop in your comments on this review. Ciao!

LOVE LINES… “Life and love can be interpreted in a million different ways.” “Her smile lit up her face like the rising sun, lighting up the world in the backdrop. A beautiful day in God’s Own Country had blossomed in its full glory.” “In the battle between the heart and the mind, it’s the HEART that always wins.” “Love, in its purest manifestation, is the strongest of all human emotions and senses. It easily surpasses hatred, anger, and revenge all at once. It can easily trump physical senses, heat, cold, pain, and pleasure. Nothing compares to love.” “You cannot reason out with your heart; it has a mind of its own. Love claims no wisdom.” ONE within…a LOVE SAGA by Bobby George Days of Despair… “Every rising day was a Victory, every falling night a Battle.” “The wounds on the surface had healed, but the pain had embedded deeper into my heart and soul. It hurt me with every breath I took.” “I wanted to live my pain, I thought; the more pain I endured, the sooner I would be free from her tormenting memories.” “The sound of the snow falling off the treetops and the occasional cracking of twigs under its weight was only the fermata in the music of silence in this icy blue world.” “She was everywhere I went. In every moment I lived. In every breath I took.” ONE within…a LOVE SAGA by Bobby George Women and her many shades… “God has bestowed Women with such complexity; Men can never simplify.” “Her eyes had the pain of the dying day and the crimson gloom of the sinking sun.” “She did not make me feel alone, even in my failure.” “In the silence suspended between us, I felt what we felt for each other. It meant I was in her thoughts in some part of her days and maybe nights, and that seemed enough for me to live.” ONE within… a LOVE SAGA by Bobby George

“Freedom is expensive. For women, the price is slightly higher.” Varunika Rajput. - The Author- Born and brought up in the charming picture-postcard Himalayan Lake town, Nainital, the author has had a childhood frolicking in the laps of minty Deodars and Pines. Inadvertently, as it may be, her sheer fondness for the land reflects in her stories. With a degree in Agriculture, Varunika also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. She bid adieu to corporate life early in her career and chose the field of education. She has worked closely with several educational institutions as a management faculty, communication, and life skills trainer. As per Varunika, it is Motherhood that taught her the most. She enjoys her weekend in the company of a good book, her camaraderie with a pen, and the smell of freshly baked cakes in her oven. In pursuit of her passion for writing, she has authored ‘The Road to Redemption,’ published in 2022. Co-authored ‘Perfect Surprise,’ an anthology published in 2021 by the literary platform WriteFluence. As an ardent blogger, she frequently pens her thoughts on her site, ‘The Lotus Flower Diary.’ In addition, she is also a celebrated blogger on ‘Momspresso’, earning herself a special spot through her simple and soulful write-ups. Varunika lives in Mumbai with her two gregarious girls and her husband, happily juggling the roles of a mother, wife, and writer. The Book- Title–Women & Their World‒ Tales of Love, Loss & Survival Language–English Genre Specifics–Fiction Publication–Independent–Evincepub Length–128 Pages (Paperback), 124 Pages Kindle Edition Formats–Kindle Edition @ 120/-, Paperback @ 249/-, Hardcover 299/- Style–Contemporary (Informal) On My Table–.6 point six 1. The Title–Pivotal. Is a hands-on depiction of women at various phases of their lives with which the book deals. 2. The Book Cover–Thematic and aptly conceptualized, with a symbolic representation of ‘Women.’ 3. The Storyline–Explores women and their myriad facets from all walks of life. How the fundamental freedom taken for granted by men is still an aspiration for women. 4. The Theme–However successful women may be, they are confronted by discrimination and inequality every day in every country. They face violence, abuse and unequal treatment at home, work and in their wider communities—denied opportunities to learn, earn and lead. They have fewer resources, less power and less influence than men and can experience further inequality because of their class, ethnicity and age, as well as religious and other fundamentalism. How different women respond differently to such situations outlines the concept of this book. The book attempts to interpret multifarious women in our lives with its fictional characters. The stories are a classic blend of feelings, emotions and, at times, sheer courage that the author has carved out in each character through her stories. 5. The Characters–Women protagonists under various names and frames are the central characters in the stories. 6. The Narration and Style–The author has told the story in the limited third-person POV. The contemporary informal style of the narrative does well. The language is polished, and lots of flowery sentences and phrases make it sound chic. 1. Whose read–The book can be enjoyed across age groups. However, anyone looking for a crisp new read with a blend of soul-searching narratives in the modern context must go for it. 2. What I liked–“To the women who raised me. To the ones I am raising. & To women everywhere, I owe you this.” The lines, though, lifted from the ‘Dedication’ page caught my attention particularly. It cleverly sums up the thematic interpretation of the entire book. And–The stories are very interestingly and thoughtfully chosen by the author and would undoubtedly hold a special place in the heart of the readers. There is something in each one of them for us to muse upon. And also–A sign that I look out for in a good writer is to be able to grab readers’ attention in the first few lines itself. Varunika very efficiently continues to do so; cover to cover with whatever she tries to convey. And then–Easy and light read, with relatable characters and a familiar setting. Not as much–There is nothing left out in the book as it has some in-depth thinking and a fantastic assemblage of ‘female emotions.’ A well-balanced mix of dialogue and narration leaves no room for comment. My appraisal–The review is based on the specific genre to match it evenly. Narrated in the third-person POV. Written in a contemporary style with a hard-hitting feminist perspective. The book revolves around the female protagonists and deserves to be read by bibliophiles across genres and niches. I hope that gives you a clear insight. I won’t hesitate to recommend it to my reader aficionados, and neither should you. Must grab your copy and check it out, folks. End Note–Many man hours, hard work, emotions, love, care and above all, some deep thinking has been put into writing the book; kudos. Thank you, Varunika, for giving us another author, writer and torch bearer. Keep up the excellent work. Cheers!! The Score–On My Table–5/6, and the stars as per the industry format–4+/5 Drop in your comments on this review until the next. Good Luck! Bobby George

Bedtime Stories-Vedant Parashar “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” Albert Einstein–Theoretical physicist, A Nobel Prize laureate. It is indeed such a pleasure introducing ‘Bedtime Stories’ to the very young niche of readership, an enrapturing ensemble of short stories by an author as young as six years old. I was as amazed as you would be to know that this is his second-in-line book of ‘Bedtime Stories’; the first was published at the age of five. A fact that further separates this book from scores of other children’s books is its sheer authenticity. It is narrated by someone from the same age group as its readers. Vedant, for us, maybe a ‘Wunderkind’ or a Child Prodigy with intense creativity and awe-inspiring talents, but still a child. Rightly so, each story brims with a child’s innocence and fancy. They portray his perception of the world as he sees it. The stories interestingly use precise words and sounds of animals and try to derive a moral value from each read. Although the narrative has used the ‘dictate’ feature to convert recorded speech into text, the utmost care has been taken to conform to the standards of written English. Primarily meant for children his age, perchance a few years older. I am confident they will enthral anyone who reads them. Dear readers, here’s for you, A book by a kid for kids! Bobby C George Editor (Bedtime Stories-Vedant Parashar)

Ride Above The Clouds-Sanjeev Shekhar All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. ‒Walt Disney, Legendary animator, film producer and entrepreneur. It is not a great story, but rather a story of great Dreams, Passion, Grit, and Mettle, so endearingly told by Sanjeev Shekhar. Having edited scores of books in my long-standing editing career, (Title) bookmarks my journey. I pause. I fondly reminisce, an awe-inspiring metamorphosis of a dream—from an idea to the joy of accomplishment. The author maintains an excellent grip on the plot as he takes the reader through the by lanes of powerful human emotions. Thrilling suspense, subtle humour, painful travails and tickling romance meet you along the way as seven friends dare the most challenging expedition. The novel also has a big heart and accommodates readers readily in its narrative, never letting them wander off the line. You may not have lived the experience of Rajeev Tripathi and his friends, but I am confident you will easily recognise and relate to every moment as you funambulate the taut storyline with bated breath. While you are still dwelling on the power of a dream, another vital aspect of Sanjeev’s story strikes home: the unflinching spirit of camaraderie between friends. Yes, it is not about individual aspirations but the bond between the friends and their determination to see through their dreams together. A dream doesn’t become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. Colin Powell–An American politician, statesman and diplomat. Rightly so, their expedition may sound fascinating, but the progress was intimidating, and the fruit of success lay across the test of fortitude. In the end, you can do nothing but salute those courageous men who dared to step out of mediocrity and endeavoured to create the life of dreams. Friends, I invite you to journey through the fascinating Himalayan massif with Rajeev and his friends. Bobby George Editor Ride Above The Clouds-Sanjeev Shekhar

EDITORIAL Dear Friends, It indeed is a pleasure to present the autumn edition of ‘The Rise Insight’ with its myriad tone, texture and flavours. This compilation has made a conscious effort to explore the talents of many rising and aspiring authors, writers, poets, reviewers (both print and digital) and some worthwhile bloggers. In pursuance of this plan, the highest standard of literary criticism has not been the criterion of selection; but some compositions, which though may not be perfect in form or linguistic technique according to the standards of English purists, have gained a place in this edition based on their sheer freshness and originality. Literary critics, reviewers and bloggers have interestingly and carefully viewed and reviewed their work and brought out the finer points of their submissions. You must also go through this quarter’s top releases by Evincepub. These are the rising literary stars of today destined to become the legends of tomorrow. Pleasantly so this season, women rule the roost with two out of three qualifying for the ‘Editor’s Pick.’ In particular, I would like to draw your attention to contemporary fiction— ‘Women & Their World-Tales of love, loss and survival’ by Varunika Rajput and then in another not-so-common category faction, we have THE HIDDEN GEMS by Amar Talwar. For the non-fiction aficionados, there is an interesting title by Y Srinivas, BE THIRTY AT SIXTY. The season’s tip to all my aspiring writer friends—Most writing is a private activity but a public service. Writing is, above all, for communication, conveying ideas and feelings from one mind to another. The prosody of any language aims at genuine eloquence. Therefore, all our budding writers are advised not to resort to a high–falutin style in some misguided effort to impress the readers but rather to portray individuality in their writing. Before you flick the pages ahead, I need to let you know of my indebtedness to those who have contributed to shaping this edition, whose contribution, though latent, has rendered an indelible impression on this compilation. Specifically, I take this opportunity to thank our contributors profusely, without whose support we could not have envisaged the overwhelming response we receive each season for our endeavour. It is hoped that every reader of this edition will find something conformable to his taste in the variety of its content. Bobby George Editor The Rise Insight (Volume 1) October ’22