Tuesday, 14 July 2015

Interview with Ryan Hill Author of Barking Madness


1. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your blog/writing, website, and your aspirations and your hobbies!!
I love watching movies and playing video games.  Something about exploring new worlds and experiencing new stories fascinates me, so I wanted to create stories of my own.  If my stories fascinate other people, then I will consider myself successful.

2. How you first got involved in with blogging/writing, are you an imaginative person?
I consider myself an imaginative person.  When I was little, I used to always play pretend with my friends, and I would always make up the game because my friends liked when I did.  I first got involved with writing in 6th grade.  My teacher assigned the class a 4 page mystery story to write, but when it came time to hand in our work, I had a 25 page sci-fi story instead.  That's when I knew I loved to write.

3. What do you find most challenging about blogging/writing about your topic?
Creating convincing characters is the hardest thing for me, and it gets harder with the more characters involved.  I have to make sure each one has a background and each one is believable.  Thankfully, the majority of my characters in my novel Barking Madness are teenagers.  Being a teenager, this made writing their characters slightly easier.

4. Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog/book?
I haven't officially met anyone in person yet, but I have reached out to tons of family and friends for support.  I also got to know some of the wonderful people working on my book at my publishing house, Pulse Publishing, through email.

5. How would (someone) describe your blogging/writing style?
Some might say that it needs work, and it does, but I think my writing style does not impact the quality of my story.

6. What do you do when you are not working on your blog/writing?
I am constantly doing things with my friends or family.  Whether that be going out, exploring Boston, or simply watching T.V. it's always fun.

7. Where do you see yourself blogging/writing wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?
Six months from now, I hope to be deep into my next novel.  Five years from now, I hope to be writing at least my fourth.

8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging/writing business?
I use Twitter and facebook.

9. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog/writing? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.
Creating new content isn't hard when writing a story.  All I have to do is think about what I like, and write it down.  Other people with similar tastes will read it.  Those who don't like it won't read it, but I am lucky. It comes easy for me.

10. What’s your strategy with your blog/writing in general?
Constantly surprise the reader.  Do things they won't see coming.  Sudden changes in a story's narrative are always fun, and usually it keeps people reading because they'll want to see what comes next.

11. Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers/writers who want to make it in the blogosphere?
Don't ride on the back of a trending topic.  By the time you finish writing about it, the topic will have changed. Write what you want to write.

12. What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?
I would prioritize the deliverance of content.  How a writer delivers a plot set piece, I think, is most important.  It needs to be written well, otherwise, readers won't care about that set piece.

13. What’s the best thing a blogger/writer can give to his readers?
An ever-changing story that differentiates itself from the rest; something that stands out.

14. A lot of people are interested in blogging/writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging/writing? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?
I wrote my story without money in mind.  This is my first novel, so I consider it my test run into the writing world.  I would like to see what works and what doesn't work before I move onto larger more involved stories.  Realistically, I don't expect to make a fortune, but any money at all makes me happy because it shows me that some people want to read my work.

15. What motivates you most in life?
The idea of a future where I do what I like to do and live happily doing it.

16. What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog/writing?
Harassment (not literally).  I constantly attack people for reviews.  How else will an unknown author get noticed if they're not spreading their name.

17. What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?
Editing down.  I definitely incorporated too much. Getting rid of some of the unnecessary content was tedious.

18. Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?
I guess my favorite book is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet.  It was just so vast in content.  I don't think many others could create a book of that size and have it be so entertaining.

19. Name some of the bloggers/writers whom you look up to and why?
Other authors I look up to are Stephanie Meyer and Christopher Paolini.  I loved Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga when I was in middle school, and I was very motivated to write from reading Paolini's Eragon.  He was so young when he wrote it.

20. What is the story behind the name of the blog/book?
Barking Madness actually has a double meaning.  One for the story revolving around a werewolf and two for the character Rosetta.  She's pretty much insane.  It took me a while to come up with the name, but once I did, I knew it was the one.

21. Your connection with any Blogger Network or any other and the experience?
I had no personal connections when I wrote this book.

22. Which genre do you feel gets the raw deal?
I honestly don't know.

23. Which one plug-in would you suggest all bloggers to have?
No idea.

24. Five adjectives that describe you.
Friendly, caring, gamer, dog-lover, witty

25. What book would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?
Twilight.  It showed me what level of descriptive detail and imagination is required to write a fantastic book in today's day and age.

26. Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments??
No.

27. Do you plan to write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?
I already have.

28. Are you a judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?
I like to take sides, and I would consider myself judgmental, but I never aim to offend anybody.  I mostly keep all my comments to myself.

29. Your collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us everything about it?
I am very against social networking, but it is a necessary evil for promoting my book.

30. What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid?
I'm attracted to sci-fi survival horror the most, and I actively avoid romance.

31. Your Views on Contests and increasing plagiarism?
Plagiarism should never be allowed under any circumstances.  And although I'm not competitive, I think contests are good.

32. Words for me and my blogs Desire v/s Destiny and Blogger Interviews and my Website www.MyMagicJobs.com
Keep it classy.

33. On winning the Award/s, Are they Really necessary.
I think awards are a great thing.  They make whoever gets them happy, and whoever wants one, work harder.

34. So what’s Next in your list?
I plan on writing more novels.  I am 19 and have plenty of room to improve my writing.

35. Words for your readers and why they should follow you?
I will constantly be writing new content, and I plan to hop across genres until I find my click.  If you're up for drastically different adventures…story to story, then stick around.


Monday, 22 June 2015

Book Review of Abhimanyu Bana Gulzar by Ankit Rawat

'Abhimanyu bana Gulzar', a collection of Hindi poems, is first book written by Ankit Rawat. Ankit narrates the various colors of his journey through the quintessence of poetry; these colors are sometimes stories, sometimes emotions of heart, sometimes half baked thoughts, somewhere the passages of memory and somewhere the depictions of country and society. 

As a friend when I received my free copy from Ankit I was exited to read it and decided to finish it overnight.The book is easy going , easy to read and easy to absorb.The book contains thoughts roped into few sentences which will touch your heart.The book is about the thought process of human minds and how it sees the different scenarios if life by Ankit.

The book is short lengthen ,can be read in couple of hours and is light on the mind as well , if you enjoy reading thoughts on how you see life and situations you will certainly enjoy this book , This book is not a poetry book but actually when you will read the sentences you will feel the poetry behind it ,There are some half baked thoughts which you will be able to bake and may be take for future references in your life.The book takes on situations in real life scenarios and how one's mind speak of it.This book is must read for Hindi thought readers.

My rating  : **** (4 Stars)

Friday, 19 June 2015

Interview with the Francis Powell Author of "Flight of Destiny"

Can you tell us a little about yourself ,your blog(s)/website(s),and your aspirations and your hobbies!!
I was born in a “dormitory town” called Reading, not famous for much, apart from a huge Rock festival, and for the fact that Oscar Wilde was sent to prison there and wrote “The Ballad of Reading Gaol”. My family then moved to a farm in the country, in Sussex, not too far from London. I was sent aged eight, to a boarding school, so I would spend long periods away from my family.  Imagine having regular prison sentences, imposed upon you, as a child. At some of the schools I attended, there were psychotic teachers and cruel nasty children.  I used to count the days when I could be reunited with my family.  I became a recluse in the art room and painting was my salvation. I had a teacher who encouraged me to paint and introduced me to various artists, including Kandinsky. I went from austere harsh boarding schools to Art College, a very different environment.
My websites are
https://francishpowellwriter.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/flightofdestinyshortstories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwNl0F6095Q
http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Destiny-Francis-H-Powell/dp/0988664097/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
http://theflightofdestiny.yolasite.com/

How you first got involved in with blogging/writing, are you an imaginative person?
I moved to a remote village in Austria. It was not far from Vienna, but a very oppressive and strange environment. I thought I should try writing a book. I launched into it…nothing came of it. I do many creative activities, painting as well as writing music. Writing lay dormant, put to one side. Then later, living in Paris at this point in time, via an advert, I made contact with a man called Alan Clark, who had a literary magazine called “Rat Mort” (dead rat).  I submitted four short stories for this magazine, encouraged by Alan, I began to write more and more short stories, and developed a style…I guess if I compare these stories to earlier efforts at writing…there has been a huge development…I am sure my early attempts were imaginative but raw.  I have always been a creative and imaginative person. I  went to Art College, but I have always done different creative things, like writing music, making videos…


What do you find most challenging about blogging/writing about your topic?
I think with writing, especially as I write short stories, it is important have really powerful first sentences, as well as finishing strongly.

Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog?
Since I have been promoting my book (Flight of Destiny) I have met some fellow writers.

How would (someone) describe your blogging/writing style?
I have been compared to Edgar Alan Poe.  I am very much influenced by  Roald Dahl’s short stories and I try always to put an unexpected twist, at the end of each story.

What do you do when you are not working on your blog?
I am a teacher, I teach different students,  some are architecture students. I teach both British and American culture.

Where do you see yourself blogging/writing wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?
My aim is to have follow up books published.

What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging/writing business?
I do Goodreads, facebook, Twitter, as well as other social networking sites.  I have posted videos on youtube,  my page is called Flight of Destiny.

How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.
I think about things from different angles. I do an author to author interview exchange.

Whats your strategy with your blog in general?
I guess I want  it to be linked to as many websites as possible. To see “Flight of Destiny a book of 22 short stories by Francis H Powell” in as many places as possible.
Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?
To look for likeminded people so you can grow together.

What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?
I suppose a mix of all three.

Whats the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?
Interesting information and updates.

A lot of people are interested in blogging/writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging/writing? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?
My hope is that if I work hard enough,  I will sell more copies of my book.  Maybe I need a lucky break…Somehow a Tim Burton type, chances on my book, and decides to make into his next film.  I can but imagine.

What motivates you most in life?
To do things well, to be creative, to entertain people, make them think, to inspire others…many things…

What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?
To post…post..post…and to search for as many opening as I can.. 

Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?
I am more thankful to anybody who has given me an opportunity to do an author spotlight or do an interview…it is hard to name names…

What is the story behind the name of the blog?
It is the same as the name of my book…Flight of Destiny…
  
Five adjectives that describe you.
I would like to think…creative…witty…brave…unusual…humane…

What book would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?
Any book by the writer Rupert Thompson has a powerful positive impact…

Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments??
I would like to think “no” but the reality is different, most people like or not are stung and hurt by criticism.

Do you plan to write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?
As I said before I am hoping to have a second book published…

Are you a judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?
I am strongly opinionated, but being a teacher I often have to present both sides of an argument.

Your collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us everything about it?
At the moment I am really into social networking…expanding my contacts and I have already said spreading my name and my book as far as I can.


Words for me and my blogs Desire v/s Destiny and Blogger Interviews and my Website www.MyMagicJobs.com
God luck carry on the good work…

On winning the Award/s , Are they Really necessary.
Nice if you can get them…

So whats Next in your list?
As I said before a second book of short stories.

Words for your readers and why they should follow you?
My book is about, the freaks, outsiders, the downtrodden and oppressed of this world. Maybe people who were or who are still fans of “The Smiths”…people stuck in bedsits…in dingy surroundings…you might like this book.  People who wear black, who are “Goths” who like Edgar Alan Poe…you might like this…People who hate hunting…have issues with the establishment…abhor the British class system…this will be a book for you…I don’t consider myself a horror writer…but I certainly show the cruelty of mankind…and the depths they can sink to…There are also 22 illustrations that go with the stories…


Thursday, 21 May 2015

Interview with Copywriter,Editor and Author Shuchi Kalra

Rahul : Today on Blogger Interviews we Present to you socially active Copywriter,Editor,Author and Supermom Shuchi , Her works speaks a lot about her talent and her future plans are amazing too , Lets try to know a bit about her and her work.
Buy her book Here   1. Can you tell us a little about yourself ,your blog(s)/website(s),and your aspirations and your hobbies!!
As a freelance writer, I have worked with several print and online publications, both in India and abroad. My bylines have appeared in Femina.in, Good Housekeeping, Home Review, Hotelier International, Investors India, Dogs and Pups and Womens Era, to name a few. I have also worked with corporate clients such as The Princeton Review and Skyscanner, apart from many medium and small businesses.  As a rare honor, a popular international blog recently put me on top of the list of “12 Highly Successful Non-Native English Freelance Writers”.
While I can call myself an experienced copywriter and editor, I am very new to fiction writing. Some of my short stories have found a place in anthologies such as ‘Love Across Borders’, ‘Stories for your Valentine’ and New Asian Writing’s upcoming collection. Done With Men is my first solo offering.

2. How you first got involved in with blogging/writing, are you an imaginative person?
Imaginative is all I am. My mind is always restless, constantly buzzing with thoughts. I mostly live in a parallel universe, completely zoned out from my reality.
Writing for me has been a need, more than a hobby or a profession. I just have to write, be it to vent, express, soothe my soul, talk to myself or organize my thoughts. It is much later that I started writing for others and took it up professionally. Somewhere in 2005, I got really sick of my job as an optometrist. I took up a few academic writing assignments on the side for the heck of it, thinking I’d make some extra money out of them. Fortunately, that worked out for me and I dumped that soul-sucking job and took to writing full time.

3. What do you find most challenging about blogging/writing about your topic?
The more challenging a project, the more fun I have working on it. However, I wish I could be more disciplined with my writing schedule. There have been days when I have written half a book and others when I have been totally unmotivated to do anything.

4. Tell me about some of the people you have met while working on your blog?
Lots of amazing people! Through the Indian Freelance Writers Blog, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with other established and aspiring writers, like-minded bloggers and people from the publishing industry. I’m happy to say that I’ve made many good friends along the way.

5. How would (someone) describe your blogging/writing style?
Most describe it as tongue-in-cheek and irreverent. I often hide behind humor to express my deepest, darkest thoughts.



6. What do you do when you are not working on your blog?
I am mom to a preschooler so time just flies. Else, you would find me travelling to less-explored places or fooling around in the kitchen. I love baking and I make my own wine.

7 .Where do you see yourself blogging/writing wise in the next 6 months, and 5 years down the road?
I don’t plan that ahead and prefer to take each day as it comes. I just see myself writing more and more because there’s no other thing that I’d rather do!

8. What networking do you do that you feel helps your blogging/writing business?
Networking is everything when it comes to finding work and building connections in the industry, especially for freelancers because most us work in isolation. I have found LinkedIn very useful in this regard. Not only can writers find credible job postings, there are also several groups where they can share and discuss issues related to the profession. I have recently become more active on Twitter as it is a great medium to interact with readers and promote your work. And it is a hell lot of fun :P.

9. How do you keep coming up with material/content for your blog? Many people struggle with coming up with different articles/posts and they only have one blog.
Unfortunately, due to my other professional commitments, I am no longer able to update my blog as frequently as I’d like. Despite that www.indianfreelancewriters.com got featured among the Top 105 Blogs for Writers & Authors, which was quite unbelievable if you ask me! Right now, most of the recent posts on IFW are contributions from guest writers. They are the ones who are keeping my blog alive!

10. Whats your strategy with your blog in general?
I have no strategy at all. In fact, I never had one. I started IFW because at that time, there were very few resources for Indian writers available online. I just wanted to share my experiences and knowledge with aspiring writers, hoping it would benefit them in some way. It was never meant to be a commercial venture and it still isn’t.

11. Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make it in the blogosphere?
There are no short cuts to getting noticed. Just keep up the quality of the content and the rest will automatically follow.

12. What would you prioritize? Content? SEO? Traffic? Readers?
Definitely content – nothing else will work if that is not in place.

13. Whats the best thing a blogger can give to his readers?
Something to smile about. Something to think about. Something to draw inspiration from.

14. A lot of people are interested in blogging/writing for the money earning potential. What are some tips for people interesting in making money from blogging/writing? What are some realistic expectations in regards to what can be made?
You’re asking the wrong person! Like I said, my blog is not really a commercial venture. However, it makes a meager amount of money from Google Adsense, but that can’t qualify as “earnings”.

15. What motivates you most in life?
Just an urge to be a better version of myself with each passing day.

16. What has been your strategy for creating visibility to yourself and your blog?
Right from having my own website and being active on freelancer forums to guest posting on high profile blogs and using social media to share my work, creating visibility for myself and building a credible online presence has been a multi-dimensional process.

17 What was the most challenging moment in your blog content development process and why?
There have been many or different kinds, at different times. The most challenging thing, however, is to go out there and market your work. I don’t particularly enjoy it but I also know that no one else is going to do that for me.

18. Everyone has a favorite/least favorite post. Name yours and why?
My review of the Writers Bureau course is undoubtedly the most popular post on my blog and also the one that keeps up the traffic.

19. Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?
There are so many I read and follow. I love Vidya Suri’s blog(s), Mridu Khullar, Carol Tice, Sharon Hurley Hall (I’m sure I’m missing out on a lot of names here). Any blogger who can churn out fresh, original, informative and engaging content has my vote.

20. What is the story behind the name of the blog?
The name of my blog ‘Indian Freelance Writers’ is pretty straightforward and was purely chosen from a SEO perspective. Looking back, I think it was a good decision.

21. Your connection with any Blogger Network like Indi blogger or Writeupcafe or any other and the experience?
 Nope, I still don’t know how to work those.

22. Which genre do you feel gets the raw deal?
Horror. It is seriously underrated.

23. Which one plug-in would you suggest all bloggers to have?
Social media share buttons? Sorry, I’m really awful at this.

24. Five adjectives that describe you.
Footloose. Reckless Rebel. Emotional as fuck. Impulsive. Outgoing Introvert.
In one word: Disaster!
Also, Judgmental :P

[ Rahul : Judgmental , This word has story related to twitter rants from me ;) ]

25. What book would you say has made the biggest impact good or bad on you?
I don’t think a book can ever make a “bad impact” on anyone. If anything, it can only make you question your beliefs or offer an alternate perspective, which is always an interesting experience.

26. Do you get easily provoked by positive/negative comments??
If they come from strangers, not at all. If they come from people I love and care about – then definitely. In fact, I can be an oversensitive wreck at times.

27. Do you plan to write a book, as every bloggers dream it is?
Two down, and several more to go. I hope!

28. Are you a judgmental person, do you prefer to take sides instead of standing neutral?
Again, if I am an outsider to a situation, I can look at it neutrally and offer a balanced perspective but if I’m emotionally invested, then it’s a downhill crazy ride. No logic. No reason.

29. Your collaboration with other bloggers, are you much into social networking, tell us everything about it?
Yes, I am quite active on social media, mostly Twitter and to a slightly lesser degree, Facebook. I am lucky to have made many writer friends over the years and I think it is necessary too since they are the only ones who understand your challenges and motivate you to do better.

30. What genre attracts you the most and which genre you avoid?
I rarely judge a book by its genre. In fact, I read everything that I can get my hands on – right from Shakespeare to Murakami, to Sophie Kinsella and even self-published authors if I find their books interesting. I enjoy almost all styles and genres and my writing style is an amalgamation of all the reading I have done since I was a kid.

31. Your Views on Contests and increasing plagiarism?
I don’t know about contests because I haven’t taken part in any, but I see a lot of unoriginal content floating around. At Pixie Dust Writing Studio, we have a zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism and I take it very seriously. Any writer found indulging in it is immediately fired. No questions asked. No explanations given.

32. Words for me and my blogs Desire v/s Destiny and Blogger Interviews and my Website www.MyMagicJobs.com
You are doing awesome work. I wish you the best in all your ventures!

33. On winning the Award/s , Are they Really necessary.
Well, awards have nothing to do with your worth as a writer. There are thousands of brilliant writers who have never received an award. That said, they make for a good ego massage and I wouldn’t mind receiving one.

34. So whats Next in your list?
My next book, a rom-com involving a plus-sized protagonist, is scheduled for a late 2015 release. Watch out for it!

35.Words for your readers and why they should follow you?
If you’ve read my book, I love you – here’s a hug of gratitude. If you haven’t, you’re really missing out on some amazeballs stuff (just kidding). But seriously, read it. I’m on Twitter and Facebook for anyone who’d like to connect: @shuchikalra and on Facebook

[Rahul : It is truly amazing knowing you and the talent you have got is amazing , Best of luck for your future endeavors ]Buy her book Here 

Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Facts about the April 21st 2015 Google mobile-friendly update

Your site's mobile-friendliness is now considered as a Google Search ranking signal.So keep writing .
Facts about this update.

1.This will only impact searches from mobile phones.

2.This is a page level update , so It will positively only impact those pages which are mobile friendly on your website.

3.Take the mobile friendly test right now so that you may know where you stand , Take the Test

4.Google bot will automatically re crawl , so you dont need for another update to check the mobile friendliness of your page.

5.If your site fails the test but you feel that it is still mobile friendly , then please allow the google bit to crawl through your necessary files.

6.Even if your page is linked to a non mobile friendly page but your page is mobile friendly you still may pass the test.

7.More and More people now use mobiles for browsing so being mobile friendly should not be a over head but it actually be a responsible improvement

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Stages of Love

Hand In Hand…
Hand in That…
That in Hand…
That in That…