Wednesday, 12 April 2023

Unique 'n' Cool Workshops, Summer Camp 2023 - Priya's Vision Academy

                                           WELCOME TO CHILL OUT!

                FOUR UNIQUE 'N' COOL WORKSHOPS

                                         MAY 2023

                 The Summer Camp will be conducted by Priya's Vision Academy 


at Jump Thru Joy Preschool on Pashan-Sus Road, Pune




Hurry up, kids from Pune! We are eagerly looking forward to meeting you all!

Welcome to our family!

Thursday, 6 April 2023

KCD - You Compromise, I Won't! -

                                            Kindle Countdown Deal - You Compromise, I Won't!

My e-book, a collection of engrossing, slice-of-life stories is now available for only $0.99 at www.amazon.com till the 8th of April, 2023. Hurry! Only 2 days left! Kindly consider purchasing and perusing it. Also don't forget to post your invaluable reviews at Amazon. Thanks in anticipation. Priyaa


How Kimaya Devi Lost an Election! - An Excerpt

“And what can I do for you, Madam?”
“I wish to contest the Assembly elections as an independent candidate. I don’t know how to go about it. Will you help me?”
“Anything for you Madam,” he smiled meaningfully. She ignored his sly smile and continued, “I mean that I want you to take me under your wing and train me for the same. I’ll be ever-grateful to you.”
“I’ll teach you the ropes, Madam. But first let me inform you that it’ll be better if you contest for an established party, instead of contesting as an independent candidate. Your chances of winning will be better, as that party will throw all its money and muscle power behind your candidature. You’ll not have the tension of raising funds, or the headache of gathering resources and man-power. It’ll all be made readily available to you. Of course, you’ll be expected to toe its line, but you may function independently within the ambit of your vested powers. Once you learn the ropes, the sky will be the limit for you. Who knows, you may be the next CM…! ”
“Oh, come, come, Sir, please don’t show me such far-away dreams. First things first! How do we start? I agree that contesting for a recognised party symbol will give me more leverage. I’m sure that you’ll want me to go with your party, isn’t it?”
“Right, young lady. I must say that you are very sharp. You’ll definitely go far.” His broad and square-jawed face creased into an ingratiating grin. He straightened the creases of his starched white pyjamas and kurta, as if to draw her attention to his massive frame. He self-consciously touched his bald and oily pate and smoothed the sparse grey hair at the back of his head.

End of Excerpt

(The copyright of this book is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.)

Intrigued? Can't wait to find out what happens next? Hurry! Purchase the e-book and enjoy your delightful reading session.... Only 2 days left for the discount to end....

B
Do read Vijay Singh, my student's review, of this book; on this blog.

Blog-post dated 23rd July, 2017
( I was pleasantly surprised when he dropped in one day and presented me with a copy of this book that he had purchased!



Here's his review:

Priya Ma’am,

“What a creative and thoughtful book 'You compromise, I won’t! - No right or wrong' I love it! You apply words so appropriately in the sentence.”

Till now I have got only 1 book from your wonderful collection. It took 20 days to deliver on my address.

Just now I finished your wonderful book "No right or wrong…" It’s an awesome collection of stories. Just loved it!

Feeling happy while reading all stories line by line. Still thinking how beautifully you have placed some unknown words for me, which forced me to take out the dictionary.

Trying to learn some clues from your published book and learn these skills from you Ma'am.
It’s amazing! The way you explain the incidents with your magical words, it’s beautiful and motivating to read the whole book ceaselessly.

My review is Perfect blend of innovation & contemporary issues. Ma'am is an inspiring writer.

Thanks a lot.
Regards,
Vijay

(Thanks Vijay, for your kind words and appreciation. You are also a wonderful and promising writer, so I take your review of my novel as a huge compliment! - Priya Swaminathan)


Monday, 3 April 2023

The Baby-doll - An Excerpt from my e-book, You Compromise, I Won't!



                                           
Kindle Countdown Deal - You Compromise, I Won't!

My e-book, a collection of engrossing, slice-of-life stories is now available for only $0.99 at www.amazon.com till the 8th of April, 2023. Hurry! Kindly consider purchasing and perusing it. Also don't forget to post your invaluable reviews at Amazon. Thanks in anticipation. Priyaa

The Baby-doll, a fascinating, surreal story (in the Magical Realism Category) won me the 'Writers' Award Certificate' from Penfactor.com. Do read it in this book!

An excerpt from the short story, 'The Baby-doll'
The owner of the store had asked him whether he was buying it for his grand-daughter and whether he’d have liked it gift-wrapped. Mr. Gonzalves had just said simply “Gift-wrap it please!”
When Mrs. Gonzalves had opened the package and set eyes on the doll, her eyes brimmed with tears. She clasped it against her bosom. Then she wiped her tears and smiled the most beautiful smile that her husband had ever seen. She looked so beautiful.
Their son and daughter-in-law had gone for a movie. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalves played the songs recorded in the doll, over and over again and childishly sang along and danced to its tunes. They also had an impromptu birthday party for their ‘Baby-doll’. They couldn’t recollect when they had been so happy in their lifetime.
Ronnie and Margaret too loved the doll at first sight. Somehow that ‘Baby-doll’ as Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalves had christened it, cheered all of them up. The ‘Baby-doll’ kept singing all her songs again and again, day in and day out. But none of them tired of the routine. And then a miracle happened.
End of Excerpt
Intrigued? Can't wait to find out what happens next? Hurry! Purchase the e-book and enjoy your delightful reading session....

Friday, 31 March 2023

Life is not the same without you, dear Anna!

          


I had dedicated my novel titled 'Just Not Meant For Marriage!' to my dear Anna. Here's the tribute...                                       

Myself with the two Rs in my life!

                                        A tribute to my beloved father (Anna)

                                                   For a Very Special Person!

                     I dedicate this book to my evergreen Dad, Ramesh Sharma. Fondly called Anna by us, he is the person who taught us to be brave and confident, while struggling against all odds. His unstinting support was behind the success of my mother as a Principal. An old adage goes, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman.” My father turned this adage on its head! “Behind every successful woman, there is a man!” 

                      He was like ‘The Rock of Gibraltar’ for her, always helping her out with the chores, guiding us in our home-work, availing leave for our Board Exams to ferry us to and from our respective exam centres and attending to his work at his office. He ensured that we didn't only study, but had hobbies and other recreation too.

                 I’ll especially never forget how he spent several sleepless nights when I had severe jaundice, as a young girl. He would be always at my bedside, at the hospital and later, at home, administering my medicines on time, buying and giving me the appropriate diet as prescribed by the physician and encouraging me with kind, loving words and lots of Chandamama books!    

                      Later in life, when I insisted on having an arranged, but registered marriage, without matching horoscopes; and with a list of attributes to be possessed by my would-be groom, my father ran around meeting prospective grooms, apprising them of my ‘demand’ for a simple, no-frills, registered marriage ceremony, braved being rejected by them; till he finally discovered one such ‘gem’ for me! A perfect match - my husband Ramesh! What a beautiful coincidence it was, to have my husband sharing my beloved father’s name!  Of course, I soon discovered that they share several endearing traits too! In fact, I often joke that they could pass off as father and son!            

                      He is also a great multi-tasker and shows us how life must be lived and enjoyed. He is great pals with our friends too and they envy us for having such an easy-going and friendly father. We are never scared of him and always look up to him for any advice, and he has never ever failed us. He is a living example of how a person can be a constant source of joy for everyone around him! He is very helpful, dependable and doesn't thrive on any ego. He takes equal pride in my mother's and our achievements. He never boasts about his accomplishments, which are quite a few! 

                      He’s blessed with a photographic memory as he remembers people and places, even after meeting and visiting them just once, no matter how long ago! He’s a good singer, a great artist and an excellent palmist. His exhibition of water-paintings and fabric paintings was very well-received by one and all! He’s fond of listening to good music and watching movies. He dotes on his grand-daughter and constantly teaches her new things. Apart from our family, his friends at the Senior Citizens’ Association are his other lifeline. He enjoys spending his time with them and often goes for picnics and other programs, with them. They miss his lively and cheerful company when he is not around. His enthusiasm is highly infectious!

                      He appreciates the wonders of Mother Nature and has inculcated the same perspective in us too. He has always encouraged us to be forthright and fearless, honest and just, in our dealings and interactions with others.

                 Thanks to these two great teachers, my mother and father, we siblings have become well-balanced individuals and always strive to make them proud of us. For them, we are three little gems and for us they are our heart and soul! We owe everything to them. Dear Amma, we miss you a lot!

                      Thank you Anna, for always being there for us!

                                                                                                                        





Anna - Our Guardian Angel!

 

                     Beloved Anna's Second Death Anniversary

                                  Anna - Our Guardian Angel!

                 Anna, rapt in painting! We loved painting together, bantering alongside!


                 Always happy to be amidst nature, like me! Ha Ha! I'm a proud chip off the old block!

                                      Some of his lovely paintings! (his arthritis notwithstanding!)




         This blog was published in 2016. Though my father, whom we lovingly called Anna, has made Heaven his home, he lives on in our hearts and souls, ever-green and ever-encouraging! So I decided to let the present tense remain in the following tribute to him.   

          Our father, whom we fondly refer to as Anna, completed 80 years of age today. A happy, enriching and successful life, in which he has encouraged and nurtured us and made us good and accomplished human-beings. Always there for us, at all times! A loving and devoted husband, a friendly father and father-in-law, a doting grandpa and a friend in need to friends and even acquaintances! In short, a wonderful human-being.
          He spreads good cheer even when he is not around. Always jovial and easy-going, with a great sense of humor, his zest for life draws people to him and keeps him going great guns!
          He's a talented artiste and palmist. What sets him apart from others is his infectious, child-like enthusiasm, helpful and active persona. He is modest, self-effacing and quietly does whatever is expected of him without any fuss.We are very happy and lucky to have such a wonderful Dad!
        
Happy Birthday, dear Anna and wish that you may have many more splendid Birthdays. Wish you all the happiness in this world, peace, prosperity and good health. 
                                                                                          From your three little gems.

Here's a poem that I had written a long while ago, dedicated to my Dad:


           To Dad, with love!                    
Our Special Hero!
            
My friend, philosopher and guide
You are always there by my side
Between us there is nothing to hide
Life has been such a smooth ride!
     At times a friend, at times a brother,
     Even a mother, aren’t you dear father?
     Like you there can be none other
     I can vouch for that, my dear father!
Easy-going and fun-loving you’ve always been
Principles and values like yours, I’ve never seen
Never strict even when I was a teen,
Your countenance is ever so serene!
     You always take things easily in your stride
     By honesty, patience and faith, you always abide.
     You are the best father, I say with pride
     Always my friend, philosopher and guide!

Thursday, 30 March 2023

You Compromise, I Won't! - Kindle Countdown Deal

 Dear friends,

What is life if not a compromise? Yet, while some compromise, others don't!

Read on to experience it in my e-book titled You Compromise, I Won't! This e-book will be available at www.amazon.com under a Kindle Countdown Deal from tomorrow, the 1st of April to the 8th of April, 2023 for just $0.99 at a whopping discount of 67% 

(This is not an 'April Fool' joke!)

Hurry! Peruse it and let me have your invaluable feedback!

Thanks in anticipation. 

Priyaa






Here's the link:

You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............

$0.00Free with Kindle Unlimited membership

Buy for $2.99



You Compromise, I Won't!: No right or wrong............ Kindle Edition

No reviews

See all formats and editions

When it becomes a conundrum in life, to choose between two difficult or equally tempting choices, one is in a quandary! Life’s always gleefully throwing up such situations. One must pick and choose with utmost care, to avoid getting one’s fingers burnt. Sometimes one gets the right end of the stick too! Just when he’s congratulating himself and patting his own back, life may deal a vicious blow and he is left holding the wrong end, wondering what went wrong! At other times, the fine line between right and wrong is so blurred that one can’t make the correct choice. What happens then?
Read these delightful stories to find out….




Wednesday, 29 March 2023

Priya's Vision Academy (Pune) - Unique 'n' Cool Workshops, Summer Camp 2023


The Summer Camp will be conducted at your Society subject to a minimum number of 20 kids.

Hurry up kids! We are eagerly looking forward to meeting you all!

Welcome to our family!