Write in such a way so readers never forget how your book made them feel.

The title seems a bit long here:). However, it's a point I wanted to emphasize. Anyone can write a book, it is the lasting impression it leaves the reader that makes it an exceptional book.

Have you read books that have influenced your way of thinking or even moulded you into the human you have turned into? Are you proud of who you are?

Beautiful thoughts create a beautiful mind, and I believe in that adage, to live a life amidst resplendence.

In this regard, I mean to adore nature and live simply, and you will never regret life. 

This morning I wrote a short article (3 min. read)  on Biopage titled "The Influence of Vivid Imagery & Descriptions in Storytelling." Here's the link:https://www.biopage.com/post/the-influence-of-vivid-imagery-and-descriptions-in-storytelling. Leave me a comment to let me know what you think.

Here's an excerpt:

Dialogues are important structure-building elements of a story. Dialogues add depth, and realism, and are a vital component to effective storytelling. However, stories can be told without them if the imagery and descriptions ignite an interest in a reader's five senses. ‘The Road' by Cormac McCarthy is a fine example of a successful fiction novel without dialogue that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2007. McCarthy concentrates on rich descriptions to attract the reader's senses, adding depth and rhythm to the story. He was so good that his book exemplified the power of descriptive language to pique a reader's interest and win the coveted title.

Happy reading.

Shobana

May's Light

It's not only the month to celebrate Mothers, May represents a transition period in seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is Spring to Summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is autumn to winter. A time for growth and blossoming of nature. A time for renewal in various cultures. A time to celebrate life.

May which means Elder in Latin, is named after the Roman Goddess Maia, representing growth and fertility. The Lily of the Valley flower symbolises the month of May. What purity the flower represents and one of the most gorgeous, gentle flowers which bloom with pride. I remember it was Queen Elizabeth's favourite flower.

And even more special is, in May, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Catholics pray their rosaries fervently, especially for World Peace in this climate of great upheavals. 

Even, nature has been upheaved. What a sad thing. Everywhere there is some form of disaster taking place. 

There is the distress of war which has disrupted the order of the world. And yet, it continues.

Last Tuesday, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning.  What was it that woke me? I was not sure. So, I got dressed and attended the morning mass at Assumption Church.

The church had just been renovated and I thought to take a picture of the Grotto. Here it is: 

It was still dark in the morning, so the Grotto picture looked like it was taken at night.

I decided to stand before the Statue and take a photo. However, this is reflected in my picture. 

The statue of Our Lady was not visible. And I was standing right in front of her. The light from the Grotto radiated to create a mystery instead. Strange but uplifting that the light fell on me. Something I can't explain.

The month of May is gorgeous. Let's hope we find the courage to bring peace back to warring nations and turn Mother Nature's wrath into placidity. Think about the future of our children.

We need to bring peace and stability back to the world. We can only do this if we respect each other's diversity and build strength with our differences.

Have a great month everyone.

Shobana

Free Book to Read #Inkittbooks: Coralia

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/romance/1205996

In the Limelight of Fame.

How do you feel when you're in the limelight of fame? If you had asked me that twenty years ago, I would have said that it was a motivating factor and jumped at the chance of coming out in the limelight if there was an accomplishment I was proud to highlight.

Now, all I want to do is to hide away. To seek quiet redress and just be, as I have experienced the negative effects of being in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

What is being in the limelight all about? Limelight in a positive context makes you an accomplished person, good enough to be an example to others. So people emulate your ways and you serve their purpose as a mentor.

When you are in the limelight of fame, you experience a wide range of emotions, from pleasure to pain to fear, from the sadness of accepting failure to the exhilaration of being a success. 

Being in the limelight can be a source of joy, satisfaction, and validation, as you are recognized and celebrated for your achievements. You may feel proud of yourself and your accomplishments, and enjoy the attention and admiration you receive from others. 

On the other hand, being in the limelight can also be a source of anxiety, stress, and self-doubt, as you are under tremendous pressure to perform and meet the expectations of others. You may feel overwhelmed by the attention and scrutiny, and worry about making mistakes or disappointing your fans, for instance. It's hard to be in the limelight of scrutiny once you reach your highest level of achievement.

How do you handle being in the limelight without letting it affect you negatively?
You can do this by focusing on your strengths and passions, and developing a sense of purpose and meaning in your work. You can also cultivate resilience, self-compassion, and self-care, and seek support from your loved ones and peers. 

By doing that, you can learn to embrace the limelight as an opportunity for growth, learning, and fulfillment, rather than a source of fear or anxiety.

Here's to the limelight of success and fame for all those deserving.

-shobana-

Free Books to Read by Shobana

I finally completed the story. Please let me know what you think. Read about Coralia's love and the magical island of Langkawi's legendary Mahsuri.

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/romance/1205996. thank you for reading and reviewing. 

Webnovel has published my book, The Curse of the White Rose. It's free to read here:

https://www.webnovel.com/book/the-curse-of-the-white-rose_29233836600347905. I hope you enjoy the story.

Here's the book everyone is talking about, The Wealth Money Can't Buy by my friend Robin Sharma. A certain portion of the proceeds go to children with leprosy. 

Pope Francis is coming to Asia this September. 

https://news.google.com/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZhdGljYW5uZXdzLnZhL2VuL3BvcGUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTA0L3BvcGUtZnJhbmNpcy12aXNpdC1mb3VyLWFzaWFuLXN0YXRlcy1zZXB0ZW1iZXIuaHRtbNIBAA?hl=en-MY&gl=MY&ceid=MY%3Aen

Say a prayer with me for World Peace. Everyone needs a little prayer, especially in these volatile times.

Please like and subscribe to my channel.

Nothing is Impossible and the Solar Eclipse 2024

Did we ever envisage astronauts flying to the moon? And yet, here we are watching them create history by travelling the galaxies.

At sixteen, I remember the excitement of going to India to pursue my tertiary education. I wanted to be a dentist and started my pre-university studies at the All Saints College in Trivandrum. I loved the college and the friends I made were from all over the world. 

Those were the best days of my life. Unfortunately, things took a different turn, and one day my guardians there, an aunt and an uncle received a phone call from the matron of the hostel and was told that I was ill and advised them to take me to see the doctor. 

The nuns who ran the hostel noticed that I had grown thinner and wasn't as bubbly as I was when I entered the college. For months I hid the fact that I was ill and unable to eat and missed my meals many times over.  I never missed classes though, and no matter how bad I felt, I made sure I attended them. And, even then, the French Language was the second language I chose as a subject. It's funny but I always felt there was a deep connection between me and the language. I thought it was the most romantic language in the world. Years later, I worked for a French company here in Malaysia, and the company required me to study the language as their correspondences were in French and I studied the language at a local institute.

Anyway, the doctor advised that the place was not suitable for me. There was a chemical factory nearby and I was allergic to the fumes there.

I left India broken-hearted that I hadn't accomplished what I had set out to do.

I joined a bank and within a couple of years saved enough money to buy a house and a car. I was proud of the fact that I could do that for my parents. They were so deserving of that kind of love from me for the sacrifices they made to send me to India.

I was determined to succeed in any venture that I undertook. 

Years later, after all the hard work and finding the right path to peace and fulfilment, I realized that my calling was in writing. I now feel the accomplishment of being a writer and it is a great feeling to have that eloquence and mindfulness to write and inspire.

In school, I excelled in my comprehension and English studies, and that augured well for me in this passion.  I had the confidence I needed to write, took up writing courses and earned a Global Teaching Certificate in the process.

Some dreams are meant to be broken for one to find their right calling, and my life has been a testament to that fact.

Nothing is impossible if you find your calling and set your heart and mind to accomplish it.

Here's the latest:

Why April's total solar eclipse will be a historic event in the US

Because the next total solar eclipse in the contiguous USA won't be until August 2044.

ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos

https://abcnews.go.com › story

https://abcnews.go.com/US/aprils-total-solar-eclipse-historic-event-us/story?id=107977119

In the U.S., the path of totality begins in Texas and will travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse, according to NASA.

What is the path of totality?

The track of the moon's shadow across Earth's surface is called the path of totality, and to witness the April 8 total solar eclipse, viewers must be within the 115-mile-wide path.

Make sure you wear the right shades!

National Poetry Month: On Love & Life.

It's poetry month and I'd like to share this with you.

https://shobanagomes.blogspot.com/2024/04/national-poetry-month-on-love-life.html

Pray with Shobana for World Peace. For the Children of War. Subscribe to her channel for great content.

Happy International Women's Day.

 

On International Women's Day, I want to express my heartfelt tribute to the woman that's you and the woman you have become.

A woman is the heart of a home and an equal partner in worldly affairs.

Did you know women can rule the universe if they wish to:) Look at all the great men? At the centre of their lives is a woman with great wisdom and patience who strives to support them in their initiatives. A woman completes a man.

This International Women’s Day, I’d like to say something about what I learned as a writer. For the first, you never stop learning. There’s always something that will jolt you to realisation as you write. 

I ventured into the world of writing with zero knowledge of what it entails to be a writer.

I had yet to learn that being a writer was as complicated as getting out of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary then. The craft incarcerates you. Just for the record, the prison was closed in 1963 and turned into a museum. 

A writer's work would someday become museum pieces. Though not confined to a museum setting, as an exhibit displayed in a library or any location to feature their writing, such as online platforms, bookstores, or even the shelves of your home.

Once writing becomes a passion, know that it is a rewarding venture, especially on a personal level when you tend to be imprisoned by walls of creative pursuits.

I began with writing poetry. At the first attempt, I was told by my family members that I write with heart and that my work will appeal to readers and continue in my newfound interest.

Their words encouraged me. Writing was a healing experience, and I became engrossed in the craft.

The writers who had carved a name in the industry were my inspiration. They motivated me with perseverance and grit. Though I have yet to achieve what I have set my heart out to do, I have come a long way to be recognised at some level in the industry, which spurs me to do even better. I thank everyone who is supportive of my work. I am thankful to the writers who have mentored me to grow into a better writer and person.

Writers touch people's lives with their stories, experiences and insights. The readers often learn about the person behind the writer through their words.

Honest writing plays a big part in authenticating a writer. Honesty has an element of vulnerability that will appeal to readers so you gain the desired reputation as a writer.

If you are willing to put in the effort, it's a skill that will pay off in the long run. 

I am glad I ventured into the art of writing all those years ago.

Here’s the woman writer in me wishing all you beautiful women out there, A Happy International Women’s Day.

A Bientot, Shobana.

A Heartfelt Poem by a 15 year-old

Pain resides in the darkest corners of our minds, one day to find liberation through strength and will.

Please read a heartfelt poem by 15-year-old Joanne Ng. Her strength shines through

in this poem as she overcomes trauma and pain.

In the darkest room where pain resides,

A shattered soul with secrets hidden.

Through life's storm, a heart's left traumatized,

This song's for all souls who have realized.

Broken souls seeking healing flames,

Life's cruel game left us scarred and in pain.

Let me guide you through the depths untamed,

On this journey, together, we'll reclaim.

Reminiscing on life's bittersweet chase,

Memories dance a fragile soul's embrace.

Each scar tells a story etched on our faces,

But we'll find strength, longing, we'll erase.

In tears, we find solace, pain we embrace,

Shattered hearts healing, life we retrace.

'Til these broken souls find their rightful place,

Through the flames of healing, life will race.

Broken souls seeking healing flames,

Life's cruel game left us scarred and in pain.

Let me guide you through the depths untamed,

On this journey, together, we'll reclaim.

From these depths of despair, we shall rise,

Life's redemption paints our endless skies.

Through this song, our spirits realize,

Broken souls will heal, and love never dies.

Shobana:     What does this poem mean to you, Joanne

Joanne:        This poem means a lot to me it means that through the cruel life, I had I've realized that I should seek  help and know that no matter what, I can get through life.

You can visit Joanne's website here: https://joannespoetry33975.blogspot.com/

When quotes resonate with a Poet

Yesterday, I read a quote on the Realistic Poetry International website that impacted me greatly.

It said, "Poetry builds bridges."

The quote "Poetry builds bridges" resonates deeply with poets, recognizing the profound impact of poetic words on individuals. Just as bridges connect distant places, poetry has the power to bridge hearts and minds, transcending differences and fostering mutual understanding. Through the artful arrangement of words, poets create pathways of empathy, inviting readers to traverse emotional landscapes and explore diverse perspectives.In a world where division often overshadows unity, poetry constitutes a beacon of hope, weaving threads of shared humanity through the tapestry of language. Each verse becomes a stepping stone, guiding souls across the turbulent waters of misunderstanding towards a place of connection and resonance. Like a master architect, a poet constructs bridges of empathy and compassion, inviting others to walk hand in hand and uphold the artistic love for words, just as paintings do to a painter or wine to a wine connoisseur.As poets continue to craft poetic expressions, the transformative power of words is evident in the world around us. Embrace the role of a bridge builder, uniting hearts through the beauty and depth of verses. Let poetry be a testament to the unifying force that transcends race, religion, and accent, leaving an indelible mark on those who dare to cross its lyrical expanse.

The World Has Indeed Gone Volatile:

Here's A Prayer for World Peace for your kind viewing.

A Prayer for World Peace

Je Vous Salue Marie Pleine De Grace

Thank you for reading. Have a great weekend.