Eyes that follow the trail of the fire...

Eyes that follow the trail of the fire in the sky are filled with astronomical distractions - shobana

A couple of days ago, when I stood at the window of my bedroom, I witnessed a magnificent sunset. As always, sunsets and sunrises are a phenomenon to me.

The phrase "Eyes that follow the trail of the fire in the sky are filled with astronomical distractions" is a poetic way of describing a person's experience when gazing at the night sky.

It means that while a person is focused on a single, striking event, such as a meteor (the "fire in the sky"), their attention is simultaneously captured by countless other objects and phenomena of the universe. The "astronomical distractions" refer to the stars, planets, and galaxies that become visible as we look up at certain times of the day or night, mainly during sunrise and sunset. A person's focus on one specific, fleeting event leads them to become engrossed in the vastness and complexity of the cosmos.

On another note: 

My children's book, The Adventures of Tiny Star, has been published on Amazon, Apple and Odillo. Please read the sample on Amazon here. #Giftachildabook today.

Thanks for reading. Have a great day.

-shobana-

#cosmos #universe #blogger #asterisks #sunsets #sunrise #phenomenon #nature #applebooks #Amazon #publishdrive #odillo

The Adventures of Tiny Star

New Publication by #PublishDrive - Read about the adorable Tiny Star who slips and falls from a cloud and what happens when it lands and gets stuck in the Earth's crust.

#The Adventures of Tiny Star is an adorable story I wrote for a very special young man. He turned six on 27th August. I was more excited for him, and began crafting this story a couple of weeks before.

It has everything a child will love - adventure, intrigue, and it will bring on that infectious smile with the antics of the forest animals. 

The links are below. Read the sample on Amazon. #GiftAChild a book today - and let's begin their first reading experience.

The book is published on the following #marketplaces and is available to buy. @Publishdrive. 

Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-adventures-of-tiny-star/id6751627915

Odillo (US Marketplace)

https://marketplace.odilo.us/opac/?id=08447378#recordCard

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP2B8Z84

In conjunction with #MerdekaDay, please watch this video. I have also written a poem titled 'The Raised Flag' on SHOBANA - my poetry blog.

Please #like and #subscribe to my @YouTube channel. Thank you.

@YouTube #MerdekaDay #IndependenceDay2025 #Malaysia #Blogger 

September Tides - Will it make a splash in our lives?

It is that beautiful month of September once more at our doorstep. Nine months into a year we just ushered in, and I can't believe it. What's in store for September, now that August has passed by? 

I'd like my books to soar because they were written with so much passion and love. My new publication is a children's story titled The Adventures of Tiny Star. Adults and children will fall in love with adorable Tiny. #Gift a child a #book, and give them an edge in educational fun. Reading a storybook will empower them with a love for learning. You can buy them from various #marketplaces, and they are also distributed to #libraries. I published the book through PublishDrive (https://publishdrive.com). I will keep you updated.

With Merdeka celebrations still ongoing, I'd like to share a part of a poem my good friend, Ray Smith, sent to me. A patriotic Malaysian, she is married to a British national. I believe we think the same when recounting our beautiful nation, when growing up, and how it has changed over the years. 

In profound nostalgia, she says this: 'Give true meaning to Merdeka.'

Turn it around (the country)

Into a green pasture

A Land of Milk and Honey

A land of promise for 

All

Give us a sky that's blue

Give us a future that's bright

Give us a reason to live 

And thrive

And most of all

Love all your children 

Equally

Thank you, Ray, for the meaningful verses. A true way to feel and hope for our country.

-shobana-

In conjunction with #MerdekaDay, please watch the video. I have also written a poem titled 'The Raised Flag' on SHOBANA - my poetry blog.

Please like, subscribe, and share the video. Thank you.

@YouTube #MerdekaDay #IndependenceDay2025 #Malaysia #Blogger 

The Adventures of Tiny Star

New Publication by #PublishDrive - Read about the adorable Tiny Star who slips and falls from a cloud and what happens when it lands and gets stuck in the Earth's crust.

#The Adventures of Tiny Star is an adorable story I wrote for a very special young man. He turned six on 27th August. I was more excited for him, and began crafting this story a couple of weeks before.

It has everything a child will love - adventure, intrigue, and it will bring on that infectious smile with the antics of the forest animals. 

I published the book through @Publishdrive on August 14th, and they distribute the book to libraries and marketplaces. Apple Books was the first to publish it. The link is below. Here's a summary for your kind reading. #GiftAChild a book today - and let's begin their first reading experience.

The book will be published on the following sites and more through @Publishdrive. I will keep you updated. They will distribute the book to libraries, retail outlets and other marketplaces.

Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-adventures-of-tiny-star/id6751627915

Odillo (US Marketplace)

https://marketplace.odilo.us/opac/?id=08447378#recordCard

68 Years of Independence.

Malaysia celebrates 68 years of Independence today. Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia. May God bless and keep this land safe from all calamities - shobana 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ad0c5bcjjhQ

The Raised Flag, a poem in conjunction with Hari Merdeka, is published on SHOBANA. Here's the link for your kind reading: https://shobanagomes.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-raised-flag.html

Thank you for watching the video. Please like, share, and subscribe to the channel. 

Have a great celebration.

-shobana-

Nature is Our Greatest Provider

Nature is our greatest provider—offering the essentials of life: clean air to breathe, pure water to drink, nourishing food, and a harmonious environment in which to thrive. It is the sacred home of plants and animals, a sanctuary where life unfolds in its most beautiful forms. Beyond survival, nature gifts us shelter, healing herbs, and the rhythm of the four seasons that shape our lands and awaken our senses.

Yet today, nature stands on fragile ground. The careless actions of humankind—wars that scar landscapes and erase history, pollution that chokes oceans, and the relentless rise of global warming—have pushed our planet to the brink. What once took lifetimes for poets and visionaries to celebrate and preserve now risks fading into silence.

If we do not act with reverence and urgency, the beauty that inspired generations may vanish—leaving behind echoes of what once was.

We must work really hard to leave our children a clean Earth so they may live fruitful lives.

-shobana-

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The Children of the Sun continues to make waves with readers. Read the great reviews and Sample here:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJWXDLRP

Don't forget to leave a review, since it motivates the writers to work harder in their craft.

 

Don't forget to like, share and subscribe to the channel. Thank you for supporting my channel.

The Feast of Our Lady of Assumption - Patron Saint of France

It has been three years since I visited France. When I was in Paris, the Notre Dame Cathedral was undergoing refurbishment, and I couldn't enter the renowned church.

Our Lady of Assumption is the Patron Saint of France, and her feast is a major celebration, a public holiday in the country, and marked by processions, masses, and cultural festivities, reflecting the deep devotion to Mary among the French.

The feast also holds great importance to Catholics everywhere and is a tradition observed in many countries.

The Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated on August 15 and honours the belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. The Assumption highlights Mary's role in salvation history and her special position in the Church as the Mother of Christ.

#France #FeastofAssumption #MotherofChrist #Catholic #tradition #Blogger

#YouTube #NotreDameParis

Our Lady holds a special place in my heart. I have seen her visions, and she has come to me in my dreams. The first time I saw her vision was when I was six years old. I was standing before her statue at the grotto, and I saw a brilliant light illuminate the statue. The light was a dazzling, white light. She looked so beautiful and radiant, and I saw her smile. Then her light fell on me. "You are so beautiful," I said, and ran into the church. I was a little fearful, but the feeling soon disappeared. Since then, I have seen her many times in my dreams. She is the one I turn to when I am troubled - my one and only recourse for salvation.

Cela fait trois ans que je suis retourné en France. Lors de mon séjour à Paris, la cathédrale Notre-Dame était en rénovation et je n'ai pas pu entrer dans cette célèbre église.

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption est la sainte patronne de la France. Sa fête est une célébration majeure, un jour férié dans le pays, marquée par des processions, des messes et des festivités culturelles, reflétant la profonde dévotion mariale des Français.

Cette fête revêt également une grande importance pour les catholiques du monde entier et est une tradition observée dans de nombreux pays.

L'Assomption de Notre-Dame est célébrée le 15 août et honore la croyance selon laquelle la Vierge Marie a été élevée au ciel corps et âme à la fin de sa vie terrestre. L'Assomption souligne le rôle de Marie dans l'histoire du salut et sa place particulière dans l'Église en tant que Mère du Christ.

Notre-Dame occupe une place particulière dans mon cœur. J'ai eu ses visions et elle est apparue à moi en rêve. La première fois que j'ai eu sa vision, c'était à l'âge de six ans. Je me tenais devant sa statue à la grotte et j'ai vu une lumière éclatante l'illuminer. C'était une lumière blanche et éblouissante. Elle était si belle et rayonnante, et j'ai vu son sourire. Puis sa lumière est tombée sur moi. « Tu es si belle », ai-je dit, et j'ai couru dans l'église. J'étais un peu effrayée, mais cette sensation a vite disparu. Depuis, je l'ai vue de nombreuses fois en rêve. C'est vers elle que je me tourne lorsque je suis troublée – mon seul et unique recours pour trouver le salut. Joyeuse fête !

Happy Feast Day!

-shobana-

Why Readers Need Indigenous Fantasy

Why Readers Need Indigenous Fantasy

Indigenous fantasy awakens the soul and broadens the mind. Rooted in ancestral wisdom and cultural storytelling, it invites readers into worlds where land, spirit, and myth intertwine. These stories cultivate empathy, ignite imagination, and decolonise traditional fantasy tropes. By embracing Indigenous voices, readers experience spiritual resilience and strengthen their connection to nature and heritage. Whether you're seeking magical realism or ancient truths, Indigenous fantasy offers transformative journeys that reshape how we think, feel, and dream. It’s not merely fiction—it’s a return to sacred storytelling.

Reading Indigenous fantasy is like wandering through a dream woven with roots. It’s grounding and vast. It teaches readers to listen to the land, honour ancestors, and envision futures shaped by wisdom—not conquest. #AmazonUKreaders #Escapism #Fantasy #Sacred #StorytellerUK2025 #wisdom #indigenous stories.

The Children of the Sun is published on Kindle, Free on Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback copies are available. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJWXDLRP

Need help marketing your books?

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From hate to something other than hate

It definitely isn't love...

Not for your country should you kill, nor your people.

When I began writing poetry in 2007 after the tragic passing of my youngest brother, I used it as a way to escape the pain of losing a sibling. I was devastated. Then, I experienced a major breakdown, unaware that I was silently enduring persecution. Each time a tragedy or setback occurred in my personal life or business, I didn't realise it was intentional abuse. I suffered in silence, but by writing about topics that interested me, I managed to overcome my fears about what lay ahead. The future was bleak, I can tell you. Everything was falling apart around me. Thank God for my family, who stood by me. I was worried about my children, as they were teenagers preparing for higher studies. I knew they were distressed, too. Poor things. We couldn't talk openly about what was happening to us either. 

I suffered the persecutions every day, and my only recourse was to turn to divine help. As a Catholic, I prayed and said novenas and rosaries diligently. I needed to find some peace of mind, and this was the only way for me. I found the writing world challenging since it was filled with talented writers. Even now, it remains difficult for many reasons. It was nerve-wrecking since my family and I have never discriminated against anyone for their beliefs, race or nationality. I learnt the truth of the world ever since. How could I possibly achieve the status of a writer? I began studying the craft and reading. Then I started reviewing books, and from then on, I reached tiny milestones, though it still remains an arduous task to achieve any. I didn't get much support; some thought it was a passing phase. However, I was relentless, since it brought me much satisfaction. 

However, the naysayers still abound. People bring me down with my book ratings, write all kinds of comments, and if that's not discrimination, ongoing still, after all these years, I don't know what is. I have people levelling hate remarks through my books like "Writing from someone who doesn't know how to write!" or calling me names when they review my books. I understand that some buy my books to bring me down through reviews. But, I have been through so much persecution both mentally and physically that I ignore these weird people who have it in them to hurt people this way. 

So what has saved me all these years? What has kept me alive? It is the prayers that I faithfully recite every day. It is miraculous that with so much hatred and discrimination around me, I am still alive and writing. Hence, I am utilising each milestone I achieve to reach greater heights. It's like a few people rushing to climb the same ladder; some will fall off if they don't step carefully, leaving the most deserving person to rise to the top.

As with the wars around the world. 

The poor children suffer the worst fate, and they grow up to be hateful themselves because of the hard lives they have to endure. In the wars that are ongoing right now, the warring parties have no compassion for their own children. They are insane to continue tarnishing the world this way and causing so much destruction and abuse to the natural world. 

Why? Is peace not worthy that you show your power with your might and kill to accomplish sovereignty? When is it going to stop? 

I say stop it right now and get our world back in order! No one has the right to destroy our world for any reason whatsoever. What is taking the world by storm today is that from hating, we have evolved into feeling something even more sinister than hate!

Think before you act.

#FaithAndResilience #PoetryOfHope #StopTheWars #stopthehate

-shobana-

🌿 “From the ashes of sorrow, I rise—guided by prayer, guarded by grace. Let the world hear the voice of peace, for even in silence, truth endures.” — shobana

My latest book on Amazon's Bestselling Ranking:

The Children of the Sun has so much to offer. Amid a #fantasy #tale, there are so many nuggets of #information and #educational material about the rare culture of the #ancient #Inca #Civilisation. The story will intrigue you, too, as one reader has reviewed it as a 'masterpiece in cultural storytelling'.

Thank you for watching. Please like, share & subscribe to the channel

#Youtube #Blogger #mythsandfantasy #writingcommunity

The oldest myth in Vietnamese Culture

In the 28th century BCE, one of the oldest myths in Vietnamese culture, tied to the Hồng Bàng dynasty and the ancient kingdom of Xích Quỷ, originated during the reign of the dragon lord Lạc Long Quân. The dragon fell in love with a mountain fairy named  Âu Cơ. They married and birthed 100 eggs in a magical pouch, which hatched into 100 children who formed the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. However, the dragon lord and the mountain fairy parted, taking 50 children each to their respective realms. The sea called to Lạc Long Quân while the mountains called to Âu Cơ. 

Vietnam’s diverse geography is explained through this myth and symbolises unity through shared origin. Hence, even now, the Vietnamese people call themselves “con Rồng cháu Tiên”—children of the dragon and fairy, who are bound by love, nature, and ancestral spirit.

#ancient Vietnamese legends #Hồng Bàng dynasty #Southeast Asian folklore #dragon and fairy myth #Vietnam cultural heritage #mythological ancestors of Vietnam #Vietnamese origin story #traditional Vietnamese myths #ancient Vietnamese history #Vietnamese spiritual traditions #Vietnam myth and legend blog 

Thank you for reading - shobana

The Children of the Sun

The Children of the Sun is more than a novel — it’s a tribute to ancient civilisations, spiritual awakening, and the lasting resilience of women across generations. Set against a backdrop of #myth and #history, the story invites readers to move between #fiction and #fact to discover truths awakened.

Discover why readers across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia are calling it a “masterpiece of cultural storytelling.”

🔍 #historical fiction, #indigenous wisdom, #ancient civilisations, #spiritual journey, #poetic storytelling, #bestselling novel, #Shobana Gomes, #cultural heritage, #feminine power, #The Children of the Sun #librariesworldwide. #StorytellerUK2025

(In the #Amazon #US markets, the best-seller rankings for the book have gone up.)

📚 Where to Find the Book

You can now read #The Children of the Sun  - a poetic fiction from the annals of #South American history. Read the book on Kindle, Free on Kindle Unlimited, and Paperback copies are available.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJWXDLRP

💬 Join the Journey

If you’ve read The Children of the Sun, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a review, share your favourite quote, or tag me on social media. Your voice helps this story travel even further.

Thank you for your support.

The Intriguing ancient culture in Japan - the Jomon civilization.

It has always been the natural world that ancient cultures revered and worshipped. Is it the same today?

The Jomon civilisation (c. 14,500–300 BCE) is one of the most intriguing ancient cultures in Japan, renowned for producing the oldest pottery in the world. The Jomon people lived as hunters and gatherers and created intricately decorated clay vessels with rope-like patterns. Their spiritual life is rooted in nature worship, and they crafted intricate haniwa figurines believed to represent deities or ancestors. They built semi-permanent settlements and left behind a legacy of artistry and ritual that shaped Japan’s indigenous identity. The Jomon culture was the foundation for Shinto beliefs and Japan’s reverence for the natural world.

HANIWA Japanese Warrior Figure Jomon Takehito Kofun Rustic Clay Sculpture

www.vintagefreakss.com

古代日本の神秘 (Mysteries of ancient Japan) 縄文美術の魅力 (Charm of Jomon art)

日本の歴史的遺産 (Japan’s historical heritage) 縄文時代の文化 (Jomon period culture)

日本の古代文明 (Ancient Japanese civilization)

The #story of the #Ancient Incas and their intriguing beliefs.

The Children of the Sun

#bestsellers #kindlebestsellers #Amazon #fantasy/myths #Sales #books #reviews #indigenous stories.

#StorytellerUK2025 #ancient #blogger #youtube #Australia #US #UK #France #Canada

#spiritual historical fiction, #feminine power, #indigenous wisdom, #mystical journey, and #UK readers who love The Alchemist #StorytellerUK2025

The Children of the Sun is published as an #audiobook. Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLF4PXWM #amazon #audible

🌞 The Children of the Sun — A Journey into Indigenous Fantasy and Forgotten Wisdom

In a world where ancient voices are revered and the forgotten truths are revealed, The Children of the Sun invites you to step into a realm where indigenous fantasy, spiritual resilience, and feminine power converge.

Since its release, this evocative tale has touched hearts across the globe—earning a spot on Amazon’s Best Sellers list in Indigenous Fantasy eBooks. Now, as the story continues to unfold, I invite you to be part of the journey.

Whether you're drawn to mythical storytelling, cultural heritage, or the healing power of ancestral wisdom, this book offers a tapestry of themes that resonate deeply in today’s world.

✨ Why Readers Love The Children of the Sun:

• Richly woven with indigenous mythology and spiritual themes

• Celebrates the strength and grace of feminine archetypes

• A lyrical narrative that bridges past and present

📖 Available now on Kindle —