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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wednesday's Romancing Christmas Guest Author Post on the Giveaway BlogHop!



It's Wednesday, which means it's Anju Gattani's Guest Post !


Click on the picture for more blogs to hop to, more books to register to win! 
And don't forget to enter WriterMason's Giveaway entry form here. There is another Rafflecopter entry form at the end of this post too. 

Today let's meet.... 

amazon   barnes&noble   peerless bookstore
Sheetal Prasad has it all: youth, beauty, wealth and education. But when this modern, Indian woman surrenders love for honor and marries into India’s titanic ‘royal family’, these very advantages turn against her and she is stripped of her freedom.Meet the Dhanraj’s—a powerful family bound together by a web of lies where infidelity, greed, secrets and hidden identities lurk beneath the lush tapestry. The Dhanraj’s have plenty to hide and will do what it takes to mask the truth from the world.As Sheetal peels back the layers of deceit, she confronts a haunting reality and is threatened by the blazes of passion she ignited.

"I think the phrase that probably suits me best is ‘all over’… not because I’ve lived and travelled in several different countries but because I’m usually all over the place at any one time.  Some call it multi-tasking, others would say I’m juggling, but I know the truth! J The characters in my debut novel, DUTY AND DESIRE, and other books to come, are the same… we seem to share the sweet-sour mix of not being able to contain ourselves in a specific mould and not sit quietly on a shelf.
What started as a story, a single book, in 2002, shortly after we moved from Singapore to New Jersey, USA, ended up becoming a spider-web of tales as my characters took up a life of their own and eventually some began demanding stories (a book) of their own too. 
 I still remember waking up after a quick nap one afternoon, just before I had to go pick up my (then) kindergartener from the bus stop and the fast-paced action scene I had just day-dreamed about.  That stuck with me for several weeks.  With about 10 years of international freelance journalism experience, having written for magazines in Hong Kong, Singapore and India, I thought I had it figured out, it was just another seed of thought for another article.  Loads of research and after reading up on writing the fiction novel I realized this idea might just be a book.  In January 2002, with a lot of confidence from my husband and Mom (in Hong Kong) and my stomach churning somersaults at the prospect of such a daunting task, I put pen to paper (literally--all my original manuscripts are still hand-written) and began writing the story. 
A year and half later I finally wrote THE END only to realize it was the beginning of another book in the story.  Since then the characters in the ‘Winds of Fire’ series have spiraled more and more books, each one bringing to the page his or her own story, conflicts and unique issues. 
Two of the leading characters in DUTY AND DESIRE carry international blends with perfection.  For example, Sanjeet Dhanraj, the leading male.  He wears and carries an international ensemble – created and designed by India’s leading fashion designer, Arjun Khanna: www.arjunkhanna.com  Then there’s Sheetal, the leading character in DUTY AND DESIRE; her ensembles have been created and designed by India’s leading fashion diva, Anita Dongre: www.anitadongre.com... all according to Indian fashion today.  Sanjeet and Sheetal are glamorous on the surface but struggle with inner conflicts of modern vs. traditional values.  Their story explores this and many, many other themes. 
I hope readers will enjoy DUTY AND DESIRE and post reviews online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble… because the current work-in-progress deals with cross-cultural issues and “fitting in” on a whole different level. "
Find Anju on FaceBook: Anju Gattani Author
Find Anju on Twitter: @Anju_Gattani


My website: www.anjugattani.com
Barnes & Noble page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?keyword=anju+gattani&store=allproducts&page=%2Findex.asp&prod=univ&pos=&box=


In addition to a download copy of Duty and Desire, Anju is giving to one lucky winner a fictional  
invitation to the Wedding of the Century! 
"Marriages made in heaven are solemnized on earth in Duty and Desire
Anju Gattani 
Cordially invites you to grace the marriage of 
Sheetal Prasad
Grand daughter of Late Shree Kishan and Shreemati Asha Prasad
Daughter of Mr. Rana and Mrs. Neha Prasad 
Induslink Corporation 
with 
Sanjeet Dhanraj
Grandson of Late Shree Ranvir and Late Shreemati Saraswati Dhanraj
Son of Late Mr. Ashok & Late Mrs. Rashmi Dhanraj
Dhanraj & Son"

Included are Anju's acknowledgements and source list for the designers and advisors she consulted for Duty and Desire, as well as the schedule of pre wedding events. 
All enclosed in a silk envelope with gold trim. 
Winner will need to provide their snail mail address for delivery! 

I'm sorry this picture doesn't do it justice! It is beautiful and exotic and very special! 

Tomorrow: Get out the tissues for Linsey Lanier's 
Somebody Else's Daughter






a Rafflecopter giveaway

17 comments:

  1. Once again, I'm blown away by the grandeur of this story. The cover takes my breath every time I see it. This is s must read.

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  2. Congratulations on your release, Anju. I remember when you told your story at the GRW meeting. The story sounds amazing. Best wishes to you!

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  3. Congratulations on your release, Anju:) I love reading books written by Indian authors, the most recent being Shobhaa De's Starry Nights and Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. Look forward to reading yours:)

    Sarah

    randomthoughtsofaconfusedadolescent.blogspot.com

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  4. DUTY AND DESIRE looks fabulous! I would not only love to win a copy of the book, but the wedding invitation sounds amazing! How fun!!!

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  5. Hi Linsey! Hi Delaney! Thank you for stopping by today! I know-- this story sounds amazing & is on my TBR pile now!

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  6. Hello Sarah! Thanks for stopping by today! I am unfamiliar with the books you mention, but after Anju's, I see I'm missing out on some great stories. Something to remedy I think.


    Susan, Hello! The book does look fab, and you wouldn't BELIEVE the wedding invitation - Fab-ER!

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting and Good Luck to both of you!!

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  7. Congratulations, again Anjana. This is what we need, stories that break the mold. Can't wait to read this and let it take me home :)

    -Sonali

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  8. Hi Linsey,
    When my publisher initially gave me a choice of 4 covers to choose from... I instantly knew this was the one... and Greenbrier had narrowed it down from many more they had initially had designed. Thanks for your comments and good luck!

    Hi Delaney,
    Thanks for sharing my story at GRW and being a part of the long journey... I just wanted everyone to know that if I can do it, you can too! Good luck!

    Hi Sarah,
    You might also try the following authors: Jhumpa Lahiri, Anjali Banerjee, Shobhan Bantwal, Khaled Hosseini, Lisa See... I could go on and on... but their fiction is absolutely rivetting! Good luck!

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  9. Hi Susan,
    I had the wedding invitations made specially for the book... how could I not invite my readers to the wedding of the century? :) Indian style!! Bonne chance!

    Hi Sonali,
    I'm glad you see a possibility of DUTY AND DESIRE taking you back home. We both know how much India and Indian women have changed in today's global economy and how we have to break the mindset imprinted in people's impressions... that's why I write books: To Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers... one book at a time. Bonne chance!

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  10. Blazes of passion are always good reads. LOL Count me in! BTW, Anju, I got your first notice. I just wasn't able to get away for awhile. ;D

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  11. Anju, I am so proud and excited for you! This book rocks!

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  12. Hi Victoria,
    Thanks for stopping by and Yay! you got my msg! Hope you enjoy the read and crossing my fingers for you too on the lucky win!

    Hi Mary,
    Thanks for rocking this book and I hope the characters rock for you too! It's been a journey and it still is. Good luck!

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  13. Way to go, Anju!! The story sounds amazing!!! Looking forward to reading it!

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  14. Thanks, Maura!
    I hope you enjoy the read and will share it with the CT chapter and all ur friends!

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  15. Book sounds wonderful and your prize gorgeous.!

    Great post! Wish I've travelled as much :)

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  16. Hi Leanne,

    Thanks for stopping by and your appreciation; I wish you luck too!

    Good luck to Maura as well!

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  17. Thanks for having me, Pamela! It was fun Christmas blogging and sharing the week with other fab authors!
    Regards
    Anju

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