P. G. VAN, AUTHOR OF DESTINY DECIDES, SPEAKS TO SANCHITA SEN

Interview with author P.G. Van about her romance novel Destiny Decides

This San Francisco based romance novelist enjoys giving her readers an escape to the world of love and romance.  Her first novel was published in October 2015, and since then she has not stopped writing. With two published books, as part of 'The Pure Destiny Series' and another published independent story, she already has a planned pipeline of romance novels. Here she speaks about why love and romance is her genre and as she decodes love, its interesting to know the author who gives life to many love stories.              

Sanchita: Since love and romance is your genre, what is your idea of a perfect date ?

P.G. Van: A date will up being perfect when you are with the right person. The setting, the excitement and the conversation are all secondary but my ideal date is when people connect and have a wonderful time. My preferred location would be by the water and a cool breeze that eases the mind while sparks fly well into the night.

Sanchita: According to you, what's the best part about being a romance writer ?

​

P.G. Van: Giving the readers a way to escape to a beautiful world of love and romance. The romance genre is all about how love finds its way as a couple go through many different facets of life. The reader is taken into a new world that they can relate to and feel the emotions the characters feel through the story. When readers feel those emotions, feel for the character it gives them a new perspective on things that they have to deal with in life and I feel blessed to be able to do that for my readers.

Sanchita: The endearing tone of your novels does impress readers, what or who has been your inspiration behind this ?

P.G. Van: I feel blessed to have people that care about me and are always watching out for me. I draw my inspiration from every one of my loved ones and I like to portray that in my books. I want my readers to feel the emotion around the simple things that the people in our life do for us. 

Sanchita: Do you believe that love at first sight is still a reality?

P.G. Van: Absolutely!!! I am too much of a romantic to not believe in love at first sight. Unfortunately, in this hi-tech world people form opinions about the person by an online profile or a phone conversation. I am a firm believer in the chemistry that triggers when eyes meet across the room and something tells them the connection is important.

Sanchita: What according to you are the essential ingredients of a perfect relationship?

P.G. Van: Trust is the most essential ingredient for any relationship. A person needs to be in a trusting relationship to be themselves with their partner. Once you trust the person, you know they will be there for you when you need them most and will love you to eternity to make the relationship perfect.

Sanchita: Your take on what goes wrong, where, when two people who had once been deep in love decide to part ways after years of marriage/ relationship?

P.G. Van: Every time I hear about a couple that decided to part ways after being together for many years, I wonder if they gave up too easily. There is no formula for a successful relationship, its what you do to make it work and work well. Any kind of relationship requires attention and nurturing every step of the way and it is sad to see when couples start to drift apart because of the mundane things we need to handle in life.

Granted there are times where it's best for the couple to part ways but every couple needs to give their relationship a chance before giving up on it.

Sanchita: Your favorite romance writer?

P.G. Van: I read a lot of romance novels over the years but I have to say my favorite romance writer is Kay Thorpe. I was an Robin Cook & Jackie Collins addict and never considered Mills & Boons as a substantial read until I read a book by Kay Thorpe. Her stories are interesting, they don't have the regular dominant hero and a damsel in distress but strong characters with a good story line.

Sanchita: What is the next project that your are working on?

P.G. Van: Destiny Decides.. is part one of 'The Pure Destiny Series' and Destiny Embraces.. is part two that was published earlier this year. I anticipate two more books in this series. 

After I released part 2 of The Pure Destiny Series I worked on an independent story 'The Evil Twin?' and it is available in Amazon. The book I am currently working on is also an independent story 'A Reckless Night' and will be published soon. I hope to get back to 'The Pure Destiny Series' right after that.

Rapid fire round (The first thing that comes to mind when you hear these words)

    a. Love - Its all you'll ever need and can never have too much

    b. Coffee - The words flow faster after just one cup

    c. Rain - Smell of the first monsoon rains in India

    d. Sunset - Romantic evening on the beach

    e. Hero - Strong, Caring, Daring & Scorching HOT!!

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About the interviewer Sanchita Sen. . .

Sanchita Sen is a journalist who has worked with several leading national dailies in India. Currently she is finding her space in the world of authors and has co-authored two anthologies named 'Crossed & Knotted' and 'Rudraksha'.

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Blog Tour: DANGLE by Sutapa Basu

DANGLE 
by 
SUTAPA BASU

         

Blurb

Stunning, svelte, smart Ipshita is a globetrotter. She treks across the world to gather bytes for the travel chats she designs and hosts for TV channels. Despite being a self assured and sophisticated entrepreneur, Ipshita is haunted by a nameless fear. Social interaction with men unleashes psychotic turmoil inside her, making her wary of male attention. Yet, the cold and aloof Ips is inexorably drawn to the three men she meets at different points in her journey. 

Her arousal to the overtures of these men catches her unawares. Well-built defenses break as her dormant sexuality goes into overdrive until she discovers the horrifying truth about them…and herself. 

Life puzzles. Secrets tumble out. Will she be able to reclaim her life or let it dangle?

Read an excerpt from Dangle

  The lilt of a flute fills half shadows. Emerald green silk unfurls to lavender hills. Mist gives way to a golden spectacle. Thickly embroidered into flowing waters are hundreds of lotuses. Sunlight dazzles on ruby, sapphire, turquoise, and amethyst that reluctantly open their layers to reveal honeyed hearts. The humming of multitudes of bees reverberates in the room. Intoxicated by the sun-drenched perfume of blossoms, they weave in and out of the pattern. Sheer colours daze the senses. Drumbeats intrude softly, only to rise to a crescendo.

Another shape enters the frame. Hazy at first, the outlines darken gradually. It is an empty square etched in bold strokes holding within it diagonally a metallic piece curved to the bent of an index finger. The lens zoom out.  The shape takes definition. It is  the trigger of a snub-nosed AK-47. The drums fall silent.

Everybody holds their breath. There is a thud and the face of Beauty is blotted with a gun stamped on it. There is a collective gasp. The screen stills. Strobes pick out a small crowd, including cameras on cantilever arms. Each person in the room is mesmerized…nobody can look away.

Giving a couple of seconds for the impact to sink in, the focus beams on Ipshita, the host. She begins the chat. Microphones pick up frequencies of her voice, enhancing its soft huskiness. Statistics and logistics start appearing on two screens flanking the bigger screen on which images are projected. She proceeds as visions of  paddy fields, streets of Imphal, slim girls in phaneks with long raven-black hair flying, fishermen casting bait, rowing boats, sitting still as rocks for fish to bite fill the screen behind her. She goes on to the fascinating scenes of Loktak, the floating islands, the fisherman’s hut and through her words she builds up a metaphor. It is of Manipur, a dainty nymph struggling to escape rape by Mars, the god of war. She is crushed, yet nothing erodes her indomitable spirit. 

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About the Author

An author, poet and publishing consultant, Sutapa Basu also dabbles in art and trains trainers and is a compulsive bookworm. During a thirty-year old professional career as teacher, editor, and publisher, she travelled the Indian subcontinent, Nepal and Bhutan. She has visited UK, USA, Dubai and Singapore while working with Oxford University Press, India and Encyclopædia Britannica, South Asia until 2013 when she decided to start writing seriously. 

Sutapa is an Honours scholar from Tagore’s Visva-Bharti University, Santiniketan and holds a teaching as well as a masters degree in English Literature. 

As a publisher, Sutapa has developed and published around 400 books. Recently, her short story was awarded the First Prize in the Times of India’s nation-wide WriteIndia Contest, under author, Amish Tripathi. 

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Blog Tour: RIGHTFULLY WRONG, WRONGFULLY RIGHT by Varsha Dixit

RIGHTFULLY WRONG, WRONGFULLY RIGHT

by

Varsha Dixit

Blurb

Love is in the air again…this time it’s steamy, bold and manipulative!

Gayatri and Viraj both are products of childhood trauma. Yet they were able to survive, one because of her shrewdness and the other because of his genius. Rightfully Wrong Wrongfully Right, the final part in the best selling ‘Right and Wrong’ love trilogy is the story of these two damaged souls.

Gayatri Dutta, the poster child for rich spoiled diva is fighting to escape a life of servitude her tyrant father is hell bent on pushing her into. Her past string of failures have her backed against a wall. Lonely and desperate!

Viraj is a con who uses his genius to perpetuate his isolation. His life once of violence and abuse has left him cynical and cold. He shuns the society and its hypocrisies. 

And then Gayatri and Viraj cross paths. She needs him and he despises her.

To Viraj, Gayatri, is the epitome of all that he despises, shallow, manipulative and the kind who uses her beauty as a weapon. Or is she?

Gayatri sees Viraj only as a means to an end. She is sure that Viraj with his nerdy demeanor, owlish glasses and crude behavior will be easy to manipulate and walk over. Only he isn’t!

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Excerpt from #RWWR

‘I can do this, I can do this, I can...’ Gayatri wound her fingers tightly around her cellphone as she made her way to the cubbyhole Viraj called his office. I did not expect a freaking hug, but a polite ‘how are you’ wouldn’t kill that man. She rapped her knuckles on the door.

Viraj swung the door open. ‘What?’ His brows were furrowed and his lips, pursed.

Gayatri remembered what Nikhil had said to her once. Dr Viraj owns and runs this lab. He was the only one you needed to impress! ‘It’s my first day here!’ Gayatri could hear her voice shake. ‘Could you tell me...’

Gayatri scuttled out of Viraj’s way as he leaned out. ‘Find an empty room, do your work there. You are free to leave any time you want. You are free to come or to not come.’ The door shut on her face.

Flabbergasted, Gayatri kept staring at the door. What just happened? She cleared her throat. I should not piss him off anymore. ‘Thank you for this…this job.’ Her voice was as uncertain as the look on her face.

Viraj tugged the door open again. Gayatri flashed a smile at him and opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her short. ‘I don’t like talking. Find a room and stay there.’ He shut the door on her again.

 Asshole! Gayatri fisted her hands and retreated. I can do this! I am doing this! Bigger picture, please! Gayatri paused and peeped inside the first lab that she stumbled upon. The place was quiet except for a low hum of machines. Gayatri pushed the doors open and walked inside the lab. It was empty. ‘Does anyone else work here besides the mad scientist?’ She leaned against one of the steel racks. The door flew open behind her. With a big grin she turned to greet the person coming in. ‘Hi! I—’ she froze. It was the mad scientist with a bunch of papers in his hand.

Viraj noticed Gayatri at the same time. A familiar irritation flashed in his eyes. ‘Not this room. Not my lab! Find another room!’ He spoke with cool authority.

‘I was just looking!’ Gayatri smoothed her ponytail trying to mask her nervousness. He had her in knots.

Giving an indifferent shrug, Viraj walked past her. Gayatri got a whiff of his aftershave; it smelled clean and crisp, like water with a twist of lemon. At least he doesn’t stink like his manners! Gayatri stood there quiet and confused.

A loose paper slipped from Viraj’s hand and landed on the floor.

‘You dropped some paper!’ Gayatri said, her voice friendly.

‘Ignore it. Like you, it is not going anywhere.’ Viraj pulled a portable stool and took a seat in front of an electronic panel fixed to a bigger panel.

Gayatri gritted her teeth and grinned with the ferocity of a wild animal that could pounce any moment.

Unknown to her, Viraj gave a similar smile except his was more like the wild animal that had pounced and won.

‘I’ll go and find a room. Thank you!’ Swiveling on her heel, Gayatri headed for the door.

Something stopped her—her father’s face and the realization that two weeks ago she had physically fought for herself, and now she had to fight again but with her mind instead of hands. I have to win over Mr Madness. Maybe I could wear a beaker over my head and tattoo the periodic table on my arms!

‘If you are trying to open the door telepathically, let me be the first to tell you it is not working!’ 

Gayatri exhaled noisily. Scathing and sarcastic, what more could a woman ask for? Taking a few calming breaths, she slowly pivoted to face Viraj, specifically his back as he sat hunched fiddling with the panel in front of him.

 ‘I’m sorry if I have offended you somehow. I really need this job. And also, I’m qualified for it. I can show you my degrees. I can really make a difference here.’

Hearing Gayatri’s words and her apologetic tone, something melted inside Viraj...again. But to keep up appearances, he turned rude. ‘I’m busy!’ he barked.

 ‘Please Mr Viraj, give me—’ Just then, without warning, someone swung the door open. Gayatri wasn’t prepared for the push. ‘Ouch!’ She toppled. Her desperate hands grabbed the first thing in the vicinity—a steel rack. The rack shuddered violently and some of its contents landed on the floor.

‘What the hell!’ Viraj bellowed jumping to his feet.

Gayatri winced. A large electrical component had crashed into her hand ‘The door just opened, pushing me in,’ she said shaking her arm in pain.

 Viraj glared at the door. He instantly lost the frown and his mouth eased at the ends. ‘Oh it’s you! Come inside!’

Huh, Hyde turns Jekyll! Gayatri spun around.

A timid, bespectacled, five-foot-nothing girl, her long hair in a tight braid, clad in a pastel-coloured salwaar kameez, stood at the door. Her skin was smooth and her hands kept tugging at the dupatta around her neck ‘Sorry to interrupt! Dr Kalra wanted to show you some tests he is about to run in lab 2.’ She then glanced at Gayatri. ‘I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was an accident.’

Gayatri was about to speak but Viraj cut her off. ‘She’s fine. Let’s go!’

Viraj went out with the girl, not even sparing a glance at Gayatri.

Astounded, Gayatri watched them leave.

Urghh…the shit-faced scientist actually smiled and that too at that girl! Gayatri kicked the steel rack. It shuddered again! Shoot! Before anything else would fall on her, Gayatri went after the scientist and the simpleton.

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About the author

Varsha Dixit

Varsha Dixit, the bestselling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free,Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.

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Article by PG Van about the journey of an aspiring writer

The journey of an aspiring writer. From the day you picked up your pen till the day you chose Amazon. Why?

I never in a million years thought I would be a writer. I still remember the moment I decided to write a story. It was a beautiful July morning and I was on my way to work driving on a scenic California highway. I have a good hour drive to work and I spent the time that day thinking about what it would take for someone to find a long lost friend especially in this day and age of social media. I thought about all the friends I was able to get in touch with on Facebook and the ones I could not, no matter how much I searched. That’s when I thought of the story of Nick and Sameera who were friends in high school and lost touch.

I started by literally writing down on a sheet of paper the main aspect of the story, finding lost love. My characters were born and the story started to form. I wanted the characters to be Indian, but living in the beautiful San Francisco bay area. I still have notes from my initial days with the names and characteristics of each character and why I wanted them to have those traits. I wanted my story to be strong and deep so I needed something more than love and friendship and the only thing that gave my story the depth was destiny.

I spent two weeks from the day I thought of the story to figure out if I could really do it and I discussed with a few of my loved ones. In spite of the nagging question around the use of time I told myself I was going to put the story on paper so I can read the story even if no one wants to read it.

Once I started writing, I could not stop. I was writing part time but it took me two months to publish the book. The energy and the enthusiasm I had was just unbelievable. In the two months I spent working on my book the series was born, I carved out what I wanted to write in part two and three and put the outlines aside and focused on getting my thoughts out for the first part.

My family and friends were extremely surprised when I told them I wrote a book and a lot of them asked the standard ‘Who are you?’ question after reading my book. The feedback and comments I received from everyone was extremely encouraging and that’s what keeps me going.

P.G. Van lives in San Francisco and she published her first novel, Destiny Decides… in October 2015 and cannot stop writing. She loves to spend time with family and is a strong believer of retail therapy (mostly shops for boots and purses!!). She enjoys giving her readers an escape to the world of love and romance.

                                 

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