A Book On Simple Living: Destination Simple by Brooke McAlary

Simple living isn't simple any more. Even for someone like me, who doesn't follow the standard pace (read: alway on the buzz) and trends of the world, simplifying takes some amount of thought and practice. 

Like a lot of you, I enjoy packing my to-do list with multiple tasks, can't help myself multi-tasking and feel a little lost when I have a spare moment to sit down and stare into space. As it turns out, living a slow simple life, does take some practice. Like meditation.

Brooke McAlary's second book "Destination Simple" is just the book to curl up with for those of us, who are craving a measure of slow and a cuppa of simple living tips. Many of us intuitively know what it is we need to do to simplify but still need a guide to hold our hands and lead us into a simple way of living. 

McAlary of Slow Your Home, who champions the slow lifestyle, packs quire a punch in this little book of simple living tips. She lays out the basics to creating morning and evening rituals, unplugging from screens, initiating a gratitude practice and looking at our priorities and lifestyles from a perspective of "tilting" rather than complete balance. 

There are a few more rituals and ideas on simplifying, and I found each one of these relevant and necessary.

As you read this short book, you realise that you probably know about many of the ideas, but even though these seem very basic, the art is in implementing them into your daily lives and creating a habit. 

Destination simple is a book that you may want to read once but revisit several times as you take baby steps towards creating simple and satisfying days.

When I was reading the book, I realised that even though I had dabbled in some of the ideas (like morning and evening routine, gratitude, tilting, brain dump), I had not been doing them consistently, which is why probably, I wasn't able to enjoy the measure of calm that I have been hoping to create. This book is a gentle reminder of all those little things that can enrich our lives considerably.

Get ready to wrap yourself in a blanket of peace and calm as you read Destination Simple by Brooke McAlary.

Call To Action: For more ways to create a joyful stay-at-home life, check out my new book "Queen Of The At-Home Lifestyle". You can download it here.

For more ideas on creating a simple and joyful stay-at-home life, which includes homeschooling and working-from-home as your own boss, check out my Youtube Channel.

Book Review: Slow Homeschooling by Milva McDonald

'Cinnamon Reads - warm books to curl up with': Slow Homeschooling: Short Essays About Mindful Homeschooling by Milva McDonald

Sometimes, you’re craving a good book and it pops out of the blue, just when you are totally ready for it. “Slow Homeschooling” is that book for me. While scouring the net, looking through slow living blogs and joyful homeschooling posts, I stumbled across Milva Mcdonald’s blog A Potluck Life, where she writes about her take on homeschooling and homeschooling 4 kids, the slow, relaxed way. It was after reading a handful of her posts that I spotted her book and downloaded it immediately.

Slow Homeschooling book cover

As a homeschooling parent and an author, who writes about homeschooling, working-from-home and homemaking, the whole discussion on slow homeschooling really appeals to me. Since we are transitioning into an eclectic and more relaxed form of homeschooling ourselves, this book is just what I wanted to sink into, with a cup of rich coffee to enjoy it with.

Each of the 23 chapters in the book is a short essay on the various facets of creating a homeschooling lifestyle focussed on joy, your children’s interests and a learning-rich home environment. Since Macdonald’s four adult children have created interesting and successful careers and lifestyles for themselves, you know that the concept of slow homeschooling does not just sound good, but works in the real world too.

Book Review: The Chic Author by Fiona Ferris

‘Cinnamon Reads - warm books to curl up with’: The Chic Author by Fiona Ferris

Create your dream career and lifestyle, writing and self-publishing non-fiction books

Cinnamon Reads is our bookish series, where I review books that I've enjoyed and would recommend curling up with, and interview self-published authorpreneurs.

Here is a book that’s been like salve to my authorepreneur’s soul. The kind of book that I often flip through to assure myself that even though the hike up this hill is steep, it is worth every minute and every bit of hard work. 

The Chic Author by Fiona Ferris

For the past few weeks I’ve been immersed in the self-publishing world. My second Kindle book, “Queen Of The At-Home Lifestyle: A gal’s guide to working-from-home, homemaking and homeschooling” is just out on the virtual shelves of Amazon; but before it could be officially released, there were lots of itty-bitty things to look into. As an authorpreneur, you’re in-charge of end-to-end production of your book. From ideating and researching to the actual writing and re-writing to getting the cover designed and the book formatted, there’s tonnes to do before you birth your book and send it out to the world and in the hands of readers. And then, there’s all the posting and sharing to create a bit of buzz around the book.

A lot of this work is satisfying; while some of it is a tad exhausting. But every time I’d been coming up for air, I would grab my Kindle and flip open “The Chic Author” for the prose, gentle advise and the firm reassurance that being a self-published non-fiction author is definitely a “dream career and lifestyle” to eke out and aspire to. 

The 21 chapters and the bonus one with 100 tips at the end have a lilting quality to them, taking the aspiring or new indie author by the hand and guiding them through the many phases of an authropreneur lifestyle. From Fiona’s own story of how she became a successful indie author to how to make time for writing your book to structuring a book, this book is packed with lots of goodness. 

The chapters where Fiona writes about how to visualise yourself as a successful author, self-edit a book and get a cover designed are some of my favourite ones. Though I’m not entirely brand new to self-publishing, with two books out on Amazon, I still enjoyed her tips on structuring one’s writing, writing fast (no writer can have enough of these tips), developing a flow and getting past your fears. Every nugget that she has shared in The Chic Author is precious and it is so heartening to follow her author journey. 

When I finished this book, it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling, like a hand-knitted blanket around my shoulders. I carry Fiona’s reassurances and advice with me, as I begin work on my next non-fiction book, and visualise what my successful authorpreneur journey will look like, as I write and publish one book after another.

Call to action: If you’re an aspiring author or a newbie writer, and have been wondering how to take the plunge into creating a writing career, check out The Chic Author by Fiona Ferris. 

If you’re wondering how to craft a work-from-home career while homeschooling the kids and tending to the home & hearth, take a peek at my brand new Kindle book “Queen Of The at-Home Lifestyle”.

My new Kindle book

Note: If you’re an author and would like your book reviewed on my blog and Instagram, please write to me at chandanabanerjeewrites@gmail.com.

Find my books here.

And do drop in and Subscribe to my YouTube Channel here.

#indipublishing #selfpublished #selfpublishebooks #fionaferris 

5 Ways to Savour this Lockdown Summer - What’s your favourite way + My new book cover

Summer is not the easiest of seasons for me to bear. The days are thick with heat and humidity, as thick as molten cheese and  often it feels futile to move or cook or do all the things that bring me joy.

If I could have my way, I’d build a small castle in a turquoise pool and spend my days like a mermaid soaking in the cool water. But with the lockdown and Coronavirus whirling around the world, I (and all of you) have had to find smart ways to cool down, stay grateful and savour this scorching season. 

Cool Treats :)

With oodles of determination ;-), I’ve come up with simple and small ways to bring my mojo back. 

1. Start the day with a small pinch of slow and a dollop of gratitude. I try to wake up early, when the sun is still saffron and languidly rolling up the sky, still an inch away from its fiery sunniness. After I get ready, I sit down on a fat cushion for a few minutes of meditation and gratitude prayer. I play some meditation music and use this time to centre myself and start the day with a positive intention.
2. Load up some good books on my Kindle. Now that we’re corralled in a single room with the air conditioner and trees around cutting out the heat (where we live, the temperatures are touching 50 degrees Celsius!), I love having a stack of books on my Kindle. A simple comfort that I can fall back on (literally), when I want to catch my breath and sink into a story. (I’ve been indulging in tonnes of wholesome Amish fiction by Amy Clipston and Tricia Goyer.)
3. Create art with my son. As the summer started notching up its heat factor, we decided that sticking to the same old’ homeschooling routine was going to be tedious. So now we begin with a small bang - an art project to kindle joy and add colour to the otherwise fiery yellow day. (If you’d like to know more about these projects, do stay tuned for our arty homeschooling posts soon).

The Brigade that Builds Brands: Author & Army wife Tanushree Podder on creating a successful writing career on the move

Hello friends! Hope you're well and making the most of this slow-down + stay-at-home phase. Today, I have a special guest at The Brigade that Builds Brands - a series that turns the spotlight on fauji wife entrepreneurs/authors/ladies who launch. Meet Tanushree Podder - a well-known author and veteran Army wife, whose articles and books we've enjoyed reading for years. It is an honor to have her over at the blog and I'm really looking forward to knowing more about how she has carved out a prolific writing career over the years.

Author & Army Wife Tanushree Podder

CB. Please tell us something about yourself – what do you do, where are you based and how long have you been a fauji wife (and are you an Air Force or Army wife).

TP. I am an author based at Pune. To tell you the truth, I have wandered through several professions before opting to write. After finishing my management degree, I worked as a HR professional with Larsen & Toubro Limited for about seven years before opting out of the corporate scene.  As an army wife, there were two options before me – to pack my bags and travel with hubby or to stay put in a big city and continue with my career. I chose the former and followed my soldierly-half to the remotest locations of the country. Not for a day have I regretted my decision.

At one point in life, I did Montessori teacher’s course and took up a job in a renowned convent school, so my daughter could get admission in it. I did a beautician’s course, and several other things before realizing those were not my calling.

It was at this point that I decided to change my hobby into profession. I had been freelancing for many magazines and newspapers even when I was working, but now I began to take writing seriously. I ventured into the world of books. My first book was published while we were posted at Bikaner. It’s been twenty years since that day.

CB. What kind of books and articles do you write & what is your writing routine/schedule/process like?

TP. I call myself a maverick writer. I am a free spirited person with a curious mind and that doesn’t allow me to stick to a specific genre in writing.

As a freelance journalist, I wrote on several subjects and interviewed several prominent personalities for various newspapers and magazines before deciding to specialize in a genre. Since I loved travelling, I chose to write on travels and that took me to about sixty odd countries around the world.

Books by Tanushree Podder

My journey in the world of books began with non-fiction and soon I ventured into the fiction territory. I write whatever comes to my mind. Right from the Death of a Dictator, which was about Saddam Hussein to several books on health, fitness and nutrition, I wrote about 13 books in non-fiction, before moving to fiction. Here again, I didn’t restrict myself to any genre. As a result, I wrote Nurjahan’s Daughter and Escape from Harem, both of which are historical fiction, to Boots Belts Berets, On the Double and No Margin for Error, which are military fiction, I have been writing in various genres.

5 Work-from-home Online Business Ideas for Military Wives & Moms

Don’t you think one of the most common obstacles to actually working-from-home is finding a tangible idea to run with? Maybe you would like to turn a passion/hobby/skill into a career but aren’t sure where to start. Or, you already have a qualification that you can build on by getting a few more degrees but aren’t sure which direction to take. Or, maybe you’re just confused about what you can do from where you’re posted?

Here are 5 online work-from-home ideas that can help you start thinking:

1.     Blogging: If you're planning to step into freelance journalism, content writing or self-publishing, starting a blog can be that first step to showcase your writing to the world. Eventually, you can create a portfolio on your blog and use that to pitch for creative writing or freelance journalism projects.  I started my personal blog www.chandanabanerjee.com to jot down my early motherhood snippets and my take on situations happening around, but over the years it has grown into a place where I feature my freelance journalism portfolio as well as offer ongoing series to inspire fauji wives to create work-from-home brands.

2.   Counseling: If helping people is your forte, you can think of offering a counseling service via the phone or Skype. For this, you will have to get the appropriate education in the field, create a website and build a client base. With the increase in mental health issues and the need for good counselors, this is a field through which you can help other as well as earn a fee for doing what you like. Interestingly, if you’re a counselor or want to train as one, you can also offer your services to the people at your base.

The Writer's Den: Novelist Katie Mettner's journey as a prolific writer & self-published author

Hello friends! We’re launching a new series this month called The Writer’s Den (#thewritersden)! Once a month, we’ll invite a writer and author to come over to the blog and tell us about their journey in writing and publishing, their craft and their struggles, their inspirations and their stories. Today, we’ve invited #inddieauthor Katie Mettner, who has written 36 novels and published 31 of those, to tell us what got her started in this journey.

 C. Please tell us about yourself – what you do, the number of books you’ve written, where do you live, your family.

K. My name is Katie Mettner and I live in the Northwoods of Wisconsin near Lake Superior. My husband is a teacher for a local school district, and we’ve been married eighteen years. We had our own little instalove story. We met online in November 1999, met at Thanksgiving, he proposed on New Year’s Eve 1999, and we were married in April 2000! We have three kids, whom we call the three E’s because their names all start with E! Emily is starting college this year as a music education major, Edward is learning to drive, and Elias is learning the tuba! Our only pet is a very special leopard gecko named Leroy Jethro Gibbs (my daughter is a huge fan of NCIS).

I’m disabled as an amputee, but I used to be a medical transcriptionist for a dozen years. That job gave me a lot of fodder for stories and the knowledge to write about physical conditions and how to research them. I spend my days writing, editing, reading, crocheting, and momming (is that a word?) I just finished my 36^th novel and currently have 31 published. I have two more releases for 2018.

How to Write & Self-publish your First Kindle Book: Lessons from my indie publishing journey

Hello friends! I recently wrote and published a Kindle book (which made it to the #amazonbestseller list in the first week) called ‘The Work-At-Home Military Wife – A quickstart guide to creating a pack-and-carry career and work-from-home lifestyle on the move’. It took me a few months, from start to finish, and it’s been one roller coaster of a learning experience.

How to write, launch and promo that first Kindle book

I’d love to write and publish more books, both non-fiction and fiction, and the lessons learnt here will help me in the months to come. If you’re self-publishing your first book, I hope my journey will help you too.

Writing a book: I started writing this book in December 2018, when my parents were visiting me, and I could grab a few extra hours to write every day as they were helping out with my homeschooled son. When it comes to writing a book, there are so many tiny steps, and Hassan Osman's ebook helped me break down the process into bite sized pieces. Here are the steps I followed:

1.      Write down the ideas for your book, and choose one that you want to take up for the current project.

2.    Break it down into a list of topics and create a table of contents.

3.    Add in the extras like Acknowledgements, notes, copyright information and anything else that you want in your book apart from the chapters.

4.    Set some deadlines for yourself, like maybe 1000 words each day or 45 minutes at your desk writing your book. While a lot of authors suggest writing tonnes of words each day, I fit things according to my schedule. This is the best thing about Hassan’s book; he asks you to spend only 30 minutes per day, if that’s all you have, to get your book done.

5.     Spend at least 5 days a week on your book, so that you don’t lose the rhythm and flow.

6.    Finish the book. This can be the tedious part because by the time you’re at the end of it, you might feel a tad bored or may want to take a break from it.

‘The Work-At-Home Military Wife’: Why is it a necessary read for military spouses with ambitions and professional dreams of their own?

Hello friends! I have some happy news to share. I’ve just released my first #Kindlebook about creating a work-from-home lifestyle on the move (The Work-At-Home Military Wife – A quickstart guide to creating a pack-and-carry career and work-from-home lifestyle on the move) + a Free ebook with 25 legit work-from-home careers.

(on Amazon)

While there are lots of books on work-at-home jobs, there weren’t any for the always-on-the-move military wife. But why is a book like this even necessary, you may ask?

Here’s why:

We’re always on the move. And when you’re on the move, you’re moving on to a new base, a new part of the country (or world), new friends and new horizons. It’s difficult to hold down a permanent job, unless you’re in the military yourself. This often leaves us wondering about what we can do at this new place and how we can use our education and talents to get a job.

We’re often in the boondocks. Several military bases are in farflung areas of the country, with zero job opportunities. In such situations, the choice is often between not working and well, not working.

Inherited Love by Katie Mettner

There’s much to love about author Katie Mettner’s Inherited Love. Cuddly dogs & heroes, characters with regular imperfections (I don’t like perfect dudes and dames!) and plenty of goodness to go round. I enjoy wholesome stories like these where there’s more good than evil, tantalizingly unusual names to mull over and protagonists who aren’t the perfect body shape, always swathed in designer glad rags.

Author Katie Mettner with her novel

Cinnamon Mabel Dalton (Cinn for short) has a cracker-jack of a grandmother, and she’s just inherited a slobbering Saint Bernard and a house from her. With no clue about how to take care of him, she starts talking about pet care with Dr. Foster Kern, a slightly chubby, baby-faced vet and director of the Humane Society, as well as a friend of her grandmother’s (he’s just a few years older than our Cinn here). What begins as a tete-a-tete in a dog park named after Cinn’s grandmother, turns into so much more.

The Creative Writing Student’s Handbook by Cathie Hartigan and Margaret James

Book review by Chandana Banerjee

As a writer, creative writing teacher and evergreen student, books about creative writing are special for me. Reading a book on creative writing book is like sitting with another writer, and learning their tools and tips as they take you through their writing or teaching journey.

Cathie Hartigan and Margaret James’s book is packed with creative writing know-how that they’ve taught to students over the years and practiced as authors & writers themselves. From chapters on finding your voice, to getting the basics of creating characters and plots right to building the foundations of a solid story, there’s a lot of creative writing nitty-gritty in this book.

What’s particularly interesting is that they also talk about topics that are often not mentioned in other creative writing books. For example, how to write flash fiction, craft a novella and how to promote your fiction through a blog. As a non-fiction writer, who’d like to transition to writing fiction, and try my hand at shorter pieces of fiction, all of this, and in general everything they’ve mentioned in chapters 5 to 12, is what I found much more engrossing than the first four chapters.

With lots of examples sprinkled across the text to help the writer understand how to really create a beginning or character or story arc, The Creative Writing Handbook is all about showing you how to do a piece of writing rather than just telling you how to.

Who is this book recommended for? I’d say anyone who wants to learn how to start writing any sort of fiction, or a writer, who is already knee-deep in creating stories, but needs a book to refer to every now and then.

What can you do with this book? After you’ve read through the entire book, go back to the chapters that you want to explore more and re-read + put the lessons in practice. The thing about being a writer is that even if you read tonnes about the craft of writing, you’ll still have to dip your fingers in ink.

As for me, I’m diving back into the flash fiction and novella chapters, and also getting myself a copy of the author duo’s ‘The Short Story Writer’s Workbook’.

So go on, get your copy of The Creative Writing Student’s Handbook and learn how to craft a crackling story!

Thank you Margaret James, for sending me the book to review!

Are you an author with a book that you’d like reviewed on my blog? Do get in touch via Twitter (@4GGorgeousGreen) or email me at chandanabanerjeewrites@gmail.com.

Till then, read lots (my blog too ;-)), and follow us on:

Facebook

Twitter

Gorgeous Girls Go Green

#bookreview #creativewriting #thecreativewritingstudentshandbook #writers #newbiewriters 

Book Review: Secrets And Tea At Rosie Lee’s by Jane Lacey-Crane

Book Review by Chandana Banerjee

Here’s a brand new column about book reviews and authors – something to look forward to if you enjoy reading as much as I do. In the past, I’ve written about books that I’ve enjoyed; but from now on, I will be posting my reviews about new + some not-so-new books as well as interviews of authors. Whether these are books for grown-ups like us, Young Adult fiction, non-fiction and even cute children’s books, there will be something we can all tuck into while we sip our coffees and ponder about what to read next over the weekend (or what books to buy for our children).

So, onto my #bookreview of Jane Lacey-Crane’s first novel ‘Secrets And Tea At Rosie Lee’s’:

Abigail aka Abby Cowan is almost 40 with a daughter about to leave for college and a café that needs both – some serious profits and a makeover in terms of the menu and décor to keep it afloat. When Abby takes up a catering job to help out her event manager friend Liz and earn something extra to pump into the Rosie Lee café, the side job turns out to be much more than she bargained for. A chance meeting with the host of the party sends her reeling back into a past thick with secrets and reignites all those sparkler-like feelings that she thought she had got over long back.

Jack Chance – her first love and first kiss is no longer the boy next door, but a successful and dashing millionaire in America. He’s still in love with Abby but this only brings back painful memories for her. Also, with Abby’s emotionally-distant mother and the secrets that she’s got stashed away, an old gangster who resurfaces to collect something that he feels Abby has been hiding and answers that she finally begins to find, Jane Lacey-Crane’s first novel is packed with everything good you’d want in a weekend read.

A chat with Shruthi Rao on writing for children

A while ago, I posted an interview with Debasmita Dasgupta about her illustration projects and her adventures illustrating children’s story books. Debasmita’s latest illustration project was the gorgeous little book called ‘Avani and the Pea Plant’. My son loves this books with its simple story and lively illustrations. Since we plant vegetables in our garden and just finished gobbling the last crop of the sweetest peas, this book about how a little girl discovers a pea plant in her garden felt so familiar and endearing.

Today, I’m chatting with Shruthi Rao, the author of this story book. If I could, I’d have loved to talk with her about writing, a mom-writer’s life and children’s books over cups of steaming coffee. But since that’s not possible at this moment, I did the next best thing – invited her over to my blog for a bit of writerly gupshup.

 Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I've lived most of my life in Bangalore, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area less than a year ago. I live with my husband and a story-monster (our 8-year-old daughter). I have a post-graduate degree in Energy Engineering, and worked in the software industry for a few years. And then I changed tracks and started writing. I love books and long walks. You can find out more about me and my published work on http://www.shruthi-rao.com or on my blog http://nychthemeron.blogspot.com

What kind of things do you enjoy writing?

I've experimented with different kinds of writing, but what I love most is to write fiction. To create worlds and to populate them with characters who sometimes take on a life of their own -- it is a beautiful feeling. I also enjoy editing -- to play around with a piece of text, spruce it up and make it all shiny and impressive!

You’ve been writing for children for sometime now, right? Will you please tell us about your other books?

I haven't written for children as much as I have for adults. But yes, I've published a few children's stories here and there, and have written children's content for several NGOs. One of my stories, The Story Lady, won the Unisun-Reliance TimeOut contest in 2011, and it was converted into a picture book by Unisun Publishers.

image credit: Debasmita Dasgupta

Please tell us about your journey from thinking up the idea of Avani and the Pea Plant to getting it published.

Avani and the Pea Plant grew out of one of the stories I told my daughter when she was a toddler. She loved stories, and she was full of questions. Once she asked me how plants and trees grow without anybody planting the seed and watering them. To (partially) answer that question, I made up this story, which she loved, and asked me to narrate to her again and again. A couple of years later, for some reason, I remembered the story again, and thought it might make a good picture book. So I wrote it down and sent it to Pratham. I'm delighted with how it has turned out -- the illustrations by Debasmita Dasgupta are gorgeous.

Are you writing another story book?

A book for children, "The Secret Garden", is about to go into print. I wrote this for Nature Science Initiative. The book has been beautifully laid out, full of the most wonderful illustrations and cartoons and photographs, and I'm looking forward to its release.

What would you say to those who want to write and publish a children’s story book?

I'm a novice myself, so I can't really afford to give advice to others! But I've gathered from the picture books I've liked that it probably helps to retain a child's sense of wonder about the world around you.

Thank you Shruthi!

#storybooks #wednesdayinterview #writing

Re-starting the reading habit with my son

Even before my son was born, I knew I wanted to read to my child. One of the most appealing images of parenthood for me was of a parent and a child snuggled up under a quilt with a dreamy expression on their faces and a brightly illustrated storybook propped up against their knees.

So, of course, I had stock piled a collection of picture books and was determined to read to my son from the day he tumbled out of the womb, all ripe and wrinkly. I finally did start reading to him when he was three weeks old, and he seemed to enjoy listening and looking at stories in the way a newborn could. Solemnly with eyes as round as marbles.

As I made my way across this foreign terrain of motherhood, with its cracked ice ground and egg-shell thin emotions, I clutched to stories. As I fumbled and stumbled in those initial long months, it was stories and books, pictures and a legacy of reading that I held on to. Always hoping that my son would one day love books and that one day, I’d be more of the mother I wanted to be.

Fast forward a year, and my son was loading books onto his pillow, asking for more stories to be read before he was finally ready to go to bed. We’d read anywhere from eight to 10 books in a day. And while, I would get bored of reading his favorites again and again and again, I was secretly happy that he had dived into the land of books with such enthusiasm.

Fast forward another year-and-a-half, right to the present. The box of children’s books beckons us brightly from the corner of the room. The regular pile of children’s books, tucked under the pillow, begs to be shuffled and exchanged for new ones. My son still loves stories just as much, but I lie beside him, tired of reading one book after another. Laziness. That’s what it is on my part. And a need for shaking up the old routine.

So here I am today, renewing my vows to read more to my son, to offer him stories before his afternoon nap and before he nods off at night. I’m crafting this reading goal with a healthy dollop of realism, which means that he not only enjoys listening to the stories, but that I equally enjoy reading/telling them as well. And for this, I’ll choose books and the number of books, depending on how much time and energy we have to offer to this ritual on that particular day. So, rather than choosing between 10 books a day and no books at all, we do books to suit the day. The middle path that makes story reading doable.

And this time, since he is older and very interested in the nuances of language, I want to also introduce him to the world of audio stories. I love the free story apps and I am also considering trying out a subscription to Sparkle Stories with their treasure chest of beautifully told stories about children and animals and gnomes.

So, here’s to reading to children. And here’s to a new promise to sustain and thrive on this journey into the land of stories!

What kind of books do you enjoy reading to your children?

#storybooks #reading

A chat about business and books with Megha Mehta

I’d like you to meet my buddy from my Institute of Integrative Nutrition days. Megha Mehta is a mother, health coach, writer and business woman, and she juggles all these roles with her balance mantra. Here we chat about what she does and how we as mothers can find time to fit in our dreams.

(Psst…Megha also has a offer for 20 of our blog readers. So stay tuned!)

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a holistic health coach and energy medicine practitioner and a work from home mother of a 4yr old.

I started coaching 3 years ago and my work has been evolving ever since. I most actively work with women - working and stay at home mothers.

Megha, you’d published a book earlier, right? What was it about? 

My first book was called Find Your Rhythm - feel your way to perfect wellness. It was all about letting go of the stress around being healthy and eating well. It was about understanding the huge role that our bodies' play in guiding us towards eating and living well.

What is your current book about? Have both your books been self-published?

This book is an updated second version and is called Find Your Rhythm - Your Guide To Eating and Living Optimally For Your Body's Specific Needs.

Both my books have been self published.

Will you please share with the process of self-publication?

It's a hugely creative process that gives you full freedom to create your work the way you like it. You can decide the level, scale, and intensity of work and time and money investment that you would like to put in.

I enjoyed the process very much but it was also very draining in parts. I have learned a lot through the process however!

You also run a essential oils biz. Please tell us about the blends you create and the idea behind this biz.

Essential Oils are the most purest and potent part of the plants and I have been fascinated by them for a long time. In fact, I got so hooked to them that I gradually collected a drawer full of essential oils from different countries. I use them for every day mood upliftment, refreshing, relaxing, soothing, and also specific purposes like adrenal support.

When I moved back to India I realised that the range of essential oils here was very limited and also there were barely any blends available. That's when I decided to create some of the most useful blends under my brand name - The Balance Mantra.

The first three in this range are Perk Up - for relaxation, calming and uplifting, DeBuzz for mosquitoes and bugs and De Congest for Sinus congestion, colds and flus.

We are soon launching blends for sleep, meditation and prayers too. They're all available online on Amazon.

How do you think moms like us can take an idea and create it into a tangible product/business ?

I think it's important to start with the message that you want to share with the world. What is the thing that you want to shout from roof tops about - and want the world to take notice and adopt?

Then find ways to get your message out there. Blog, youtube channel or even just your Facebook account are great ways to refine your message and clarify your communication about the idea you're passionate about. As you start interacting with people about the idea, you'd have gotten your market research and will find the confidence to launch!

Will you please tell us more about the offer that you have for our readers?

For the blog readers I'd like to offer 20 spots to get the online training program 'Body Feedback System' for free when they order my book Find Your Rhythm' this 29th of March' 2016 on Amazon.in.

1.Go to Amazon.in - search for Find Your Rhythm.
2. Order for the print or Kindle version online
3. Forward me the email receipt at megha@thebalancemantra.com to get your free access.

The spots are only 20 so make sure to be the first few to order.

#motherhood #wellness