Why Gardeners Have the Best Job

Ever since a young girl, after reading about how looking at plush green habitation cleanses the eye, I have been a constant green-eyed monster:). If you can call someone who looks with doe-eyed interest at the lush greenery and feel the wonderful ways they uplift and immerse you in tranquillity - a doe-eyed monster.

Here's what I mean when on a recent holiday to the East, I captured this gorgeous scenery on my camera.

Gardeners in a true sense are known to have a green thumb - yet another reference to green flourishing.

There is nothing as satisfying as knowing that you were the reason beauty thrives in the lushness of a garden tended with care and love. The sweat and hard work that you have put in to ensure its growth is magnified by picturesque gardens, landscapes and beautiful, breathtaking views. These visions are a boon to the eye and amplify one's heart, mind, and soul to empower serenity.

This is why I say gardeners have the best jobs in the world. Gardening takes away any worry or anxiety, or at least for a certain measure, as one immerses oneself in working with the hands of nature to create, grow and multiply beauteous formations.

Cheers to gardeners everywhere.

September has rolled in and I want to wish each and every one of you, a productive and successful month ahead.

Have an inspiring month too by sinking your hands into the soil and growing a plant today. Each day as you watch the plant grow, you will feel immense pleasure in accomplishing a beautiful task.

-shobana-

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The firms hoping to cut down on wasted cosmetics BBC NEWS https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66585299 Here's my latest video, The Staircase for your kind viewing. Don't forget to like, share & subscribe to the channel.

Winning An Award - The Ultimate Satisfaction

I wrote an article in my last newsletter titled, Do You Feel Anxious When You Submit a Book for Review, which in turn was published by @PatriciaJRullo on the SpeakupTalk Radio.com blog, Blogatini, as a guest post.

Patricia shared the guest post on Instagram, and that's when I had the happiest news that my book, Where the Rain Falls, which I had submitted for the Firebird Book Awards had won (First Quarter 2023 Firebird Book Award)

Epic – Shobana Gomes

This book is very special to me. I began writing it in 2021. I suddenly thought of how the world was reeling in a pandemic situation and the subject of drought came to mind. As I was writing the book, the story unfolded like the flowing waters of the river. I couldn't wait to finish the chapters, always wondering how it would end. And, at the end of 2021, I sent it to a publication. The answer came back that they would not be accepting the book at that moment in time. 

I kept it on file after that, every time the book was at the back of my mind. Usually, my stories are research-based so I thought maybe it needed more work on it and each time I edited it, it didn't seem right. There are stories told, led and written and mine was led by a higher hand so it was hard for me to edit it. So, I thought I would self-publish it. Maybe someday:)

However, I published it on Amazon in February this year, 2023. Then, as I was browsing through Google News a couple of days after that, I read about the Euphrates River drying up. I thought what a coincidence as I had written about the river drying up in my story and how a family survives the drought. It was like an encounter between the past and the present.

This book had some of the most awesome reviews on Amazon and reached the No.1 top-seller list under ancient and classical literature a couple of days after publication. Thank you, Patricia, and to all my readers who have made it even more special for me to know that it has touched you somehow.

-shobana-

Writing Tips from President Ronnie Smith of Writer's Relief:

Here are the most common problems many writers have when trying to make submissions.

(And their remedies!)

Writer First Aid: 6 Remedies To Fix Your Broken Submission Strategy

QUESTIONS? Give us a call or visit the live chat on our website Monday - Thursday (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

We’ll free up more time for you to write!

Ronnie L. Smith
President, Writer’s Relief, Inc.
(866) 405-3003 (toll-free)
https://writersrelief.com/review_board/  (traditional publishing)

https://selfpublishingrelief.com/ (self-publishing)

Here's my latest Video for your kind viewing.

It is a translation from my poem, The Child In Me, published on A Little Time With Shobana: https://alittletimewithshobana.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-child-in-me.html

Do you feel anxious when you submit a book for review?

What terrifies me most after publishing my book is to have it submitted for review.

I have experienced the worst and the best reviews on my stories, and sometimes, the bad reviews are aimed at the author in me, not so much at the contents of the book.

I find those hard-hitting, negative remarks uncalled for. However, these negative remarks have made me a resilient writer.

At the initial stages of writing, I think from a reader's perspective. I think a lot about the reactions of a reader and if they will find my book a worthy read.

I tend to be hard on myself, especially if I haven't expressed myself clearly. I tell more than show as I feel descriptive language can evoke a better understanding of the time and place I choose to write about. I believe one becomes synonymous with their individual style of writing when a reader finds the book has a voice of its own - is unique and creative in the unfolding of sequences, words and description.

With all the great writers out there and the stiff competition, a different writing style might get your book noticed. Like mine has.

I accept that writing is the easiest part. Once your book is completed, do you think of the end result with pride or fear that your readers will reject it.

This is a question foremost on any writer's mind when they begin the process of publication.

Of course, we have writers who are seasoned and confident with their craft and who have surpassed their writing abilities by producing top-sellers. These writers are the creme of the crop and have a massive following of readers who love their stories, and in turn, support them in their writing endeavors.

These writers have no fear of their books being rejected and have only pride in their work, and that's a place I want to be someday.

Then again, getting a 4 or 5-star review on a book is the ultimate goal that will attract a reader's attention. Your book has to first be edited and polished to near perfection and that's hard work.

Editing a manuscript takes up a lot of time. However, I once read somewhere that too much editing takes away the originality of a story. A lot of the time I think this is true. Different word usage in a sentence will change to mean something entirely different from what you intended to say in the first place.

Anyway, I think you have to be happy with the way your book has turned out before a reader can like it. And, when a reader comments or writes a review, I think it should be taken seriously. Unless, of course, scathing uncalled-for remarks to make the writer look absurd are written in the review, then you can disregard those views as equally absurd or from someone who has no clue about what you or your story entails.

Do you feel anxious when you submit a book for review?

This post was published as a guest post on Blogatini (www.speakuptalkradio.com) on August 20th.

Here are the links: https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/shobana-gomes

https://www.instagram.com/patriciajrullo/

-shobana- 

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WORK-LIFE BALANCE

If You Can Pass Any of These 8 Tests, Science Says You're Likely to Live Significantly Longer (and Feel Happier and Less Stressed)

Regardless of what some trendy things some notable entrepreneurs may be doing--or investing in.

BY JEFF HADEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, INC.@JEFF_HADEN

Photo: Getty Images

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/if-you-can-pass-any-of-these-8-tests-science-says-youre-likely-to-live-significantly-longer-and-feel-happier-less-stressed.html

Here's my latest video for your kind viewing. Don't forget to subscribe, like and share the video.

What is the Craziest Thing that has happened to you?

A guy who I had never met in my life wrote a letter to me - a soulful, philosophical, sensitive letter that shocked me at that time.

I can still remember that day. I was fourteen and on my way home from school. Suddenly, I heard a shaky voice calling out my name.

I stopped and this guy walked up to me. First, he stood fidgeting in front of me for a few seconds. while I stared in surprise. Well, I was at a loss about what to do too. Who is this guy??

Just when I thought to ignore him and walk away, he said that I was pretty and that he liked me. Could he please get to know me?

What?

Of course, I was tongue-tied.

At fourteen, I was far from pretty. My friends were prettier. Anyway, I had never met him in my life, didn't know that he existed but there he was outside a church I passed to get home, with a letter in his hand.

"Can you please read it," he said to me. I took the letter only because I didn't know what to say or do and ran home. I was fourteen so I think that was excusable. Anyway, I didn't want to be caught talking to a strange-looking boy outside the church by anyone I knew.

They would probably think I was "not a nice girl" - talking to boys when that was a taboo age to have boyfriends, haha?

Before long, the school closed for the year-end holidays and I never saw the boy again.

He had gone missing after the letter. Anyway, I didn't reply or do anything other than read the letter a couple of times and think if it was really me he thought pretty. It was more of contention to me that he thought of me that way.

Then, one day, years later, I read about him in the papers. He had become a billionaire with a thriving business overseas. And, this my dear friends is a true story.

I heard him give a talk and thought he wasn't that gawky teenager who spoke with a nervous tint in his voice anymore. He had been sixteen then. He spoke with confidence about his businesses and had become an eminent personality to the world.

Just imagine that. Sometimes, things happen in the most bizarre way.

Do you have any crazy news to share? Let me know in the comment below. I'd love to know.

-shobana-

News & Views

I posted this article on my Twitter page. It is something every Malaysian should read. The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah wrote a new book titled, Buku Siri Titah II Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah which was published by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka. His Highness has always highlighted the importance of unity among the different races and religions in the country. He also highlighted the importance of literature in life and has always been an active advocate of poetry. As we celebrate Independence Day on August 31st, I would like to stress how important it is to have unity and freedom in the country. 

Shobana Gomes

@shobanagomes

·

Aug 7

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/677645 Buku Siri Titah II Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah. #Malaysia #Obama #HunterBiden #robinsharma #vishenlakhiani #manuelvalls #richardbranson #ShahRukhKhan #elonmusk

theedgemalaysia.com

Sultan Nazrin: Counter provocative voices by fostering unity

The following is a speech by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, during the launch of "Buku Siri Titah II Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddi

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Here's my latest video on HOPE. Thank you for watching. Please don't forget to subscribe, like and share the video.