Host: Tarah Scott
I met Anju at a local Romance Writers of America chapter meeting and was immediately captivated by her work—and her. Her writing is so charming, so warm, one can’t help but be enthralled. Her first book Duty and Desire was just released. Yay! This cross-cultural novel offers a poignant insight into Indian culture that is exceptional. I really can’t say enough about Anju and her work. She is a unique writer. But don’t take my word for it. Read on and see for yourself.
A Kaleidescope of Christmas
Christmas with the Gattanis can be anything from confusion to chaos as we – our four member team- debate over how to pack it all in 24 hours.
The buzz every Christmas is: how do we put up the ‘Gingerbread House’ – a skill my husband is now proficient at after perfecting the art for 6 years. Then how do we bake together as a family – Christmas cookies and other high-cholestrol delights? How do we figure out what Christmas movies to watch – considering they continue to roll over from last year like our cell phone minutes? How do we decide what to eat for lunch and dinner? – we’re vegetarians and Hindus by religion but any Western / European celebration means mandatory non-Indian food day, as different and diverse as can be. Then, the icing on the cake is Christmas music (and carols) which have to waft from somewhere in the background all day long.
These are the Gattanis’ ‘must-haves’ so that Christmas is different from Halloween, Easter (yes, we celebrate them too with costumes, colorful eggs and imaginary, fluffy bunnies). And of course it has to lighten up the atmosphere… like our sacred Hindu festivals: ‘Diwali’ (in Oct/Nov) – The festival of Lights, ‘Holi’ (in March/April) – the Festival of Colors, ‘Janmashtmi’ (August) – the Birth of Krishna, and so on…
So this is the plan:
Since my husband’s a pro with the Gingerbread House now… he’s going to do a Gingerbread Train this year (which he doesn’t yet know and will freak about!) In addition we’re going to split into 2 teams (1 parent with 1 child) and he and I will compete. – BTW… I’ve been baking and icing since I was 13 and he hasn’t; so we can all guess who’s not going to be in their comfort zone.
For the baking bit we’re planning a bake-off. Making a cake from the pre-prepped cake-mix box and using pre-prepped frosting because if we do it from scratch we all know who’s going to lose.
We haven’t yet narrowed down the Christmas movie list but there’s still ‘Smurfs’, ‘Cars 2’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’ – OK… I know that’s not exactly a Christmas movie, but it’s the perfect time to sit back and relax – or should I say tighten in suspense? And ‘The Muppets’! How can I forget what I grew up watching – an absolute must!
The Christmas carols won’t be a problem either since we’ve been blasting the radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 – 24/7 !
Now for the meals… I’ve figured out a ‘Vegetable Wellington’ from one of the Vegetarian magazines we subscribe to and my husband’s thinking of the ‘Greek Lasagne’ Rachel Ray whipped up on Food Network not so long ago. Should we compete on that round too? Hmmm….. let’s see…. Let the kids – 15 and 11 – be the judges!
I’m guessing our Christmas will be different from what everyone else does in America… but we’ve learned, after having lived in several countries and adapting to so many cultures… to do the best we can with what we have… one celebration at a time.
Merry Christmas everyone and have a Happy New Year!
DUTY AND DESIRE:
How Can Happiness Survive When Duty Clashes With Desire?
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 most glamorous ‘royal family’, these very advantages turn against her and she is stripped of her freedom.
Meet the Dhanrajs — a powerful family bound together by a web of lies where infidelity, greed, secrets and hidden identities lurk beneath the lush tapestry. The Dhanrajs 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 ignites.
Genre: International Women’s Fiction
Debut novel in Anju’s ‘Winds of Fire’ series
Publisher: Greenbrier Book Co. www.greenbrierbooks.com
ISBN: 978-1-937573-01-0
Available in trade paperback at Peerless Bookstore, Atlanta, and online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon
Also available in trade paperback via order at most local book stores.
Available in eformats for: Kindle, Nook, Sony, Apple, Kobo
Author Bio:
Anju was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong. Her Indian upbringing and British education worked together to strongly influence her writing.
Anju’s fiction explores how the distinct mindsets and traditions of different cultures permanently shape people’s values, thinking, and behavior patterns—for both good and evil—despite the “leveling” effects of 21st century communications and travel.
Anju earned a Bachelors degree in English Literature in India and a teaching degree in the United Kingdom. She has also studied creative writing.
Anju has lived in Singapore, Australia, India, New Jersey and Connecticut. She now makes her home in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two kids. Anju is a columnist for a multicultural magazine in the USA. She is also an avid guest blogger, who loves to share her experiences in health and fitness, food, self-empowerment and great fiction reads.
0 COMMENTS
suzy
13 years agoIntriguing..did I spell that right? I'll be keeping an eye open for books by this author. Indian culture is unknown and very interesting to me.
Tarah Scott
13 years ago AUTHOROh boy! Anju has just informed me that she is going to sweeten the pot for the winner of my giveaway of her book. She's going to add an Indian Silk wedding invitation. This wedding invitation is like the one a guest would receive if she were invited to the protaganist's wedding. I have one. Lucky me! It is very cool.
Theresa Newbury
13 years agoWay to go Anju!! The invitation sounds lovely!
Elaine Breault
13 years agoThis is very different, we do not see that many Indian cross cultural books. It sounds like a good read though , thanks for letting us see it.
Patricia
13 years agoThat books sounds so interesting. I have added to my tbr wishlist. Thanks for the chance to win.
Joanne B
13 years agoYou guys sure pack a lot into 24 hours. I got tired just reading that. This book sounds interesting. I put it on my TBR pile. Thanks for the giveaway.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Fedora
13 years agoWhat an amazing background Anju has! Thanks for the introduction!
f dot chen at comcast dot net
Joder
13 years agoYour Christmas celebration sounds wonderful! We like to do something a bit different every year and now watch a scary movie on Christmas Day just to be different. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Suzy,
Thanks for joining us today and I'm glad you're thrilled to join the journey of DUTY AND DESIRE and so many more books to follow!
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Theresa,
I couldn't resist sweetening everyone's Christmas a little! The golden-silk wedding invites are for the fictitious wedding in the book and hand-made… according to the color of the protagonist's wedding gown desired by India's leading fashion designer! Thanks for joining us today! Will be mailing (via snail mail) to the winner so that fiction is no longer just words on paper but REAL!!!
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Elaine,
glad you could join us today and thrilled you like the sound of the book ! Perhaps you'll win and then you'll get to feel DUTY AND DESIRE too!
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Patricia,
Thanks for adding DUTY AND DESIRE to your TBR list… what an honor for a debut novel!
Hi Joanne,
Great to have you here and glad you're joining in the action-packed site! It's such a great feeling to be a part of this and share the journey with all of you!
Judi, Judi, Judi
13 years agoI love your melding of Christmas celebrations. Last year I spent December in Morocco and celebrated Christmas with my son and his family. Very interesting doing Christmas in a Muslim country. The thing I found most refreshing was the lack of buy, buy, buy advertising on tv. I baked cookies with my granddaughters, the girls opened presents Christmas morning, and we had capon instead of turkey for Christmas dinner. Much simpler and very relaxing.
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Fedora,
Thanks for your kind words and encouragement! I hope you enjoy the read of DUTY AND DESIRE and will share this with all your friends too!
Hi Joder,
Thanks for sharing your Christmas tradition with us too! Sharing and giving is a part of every culture and country… no matter where you go… it's just one of the many many things we've learned along the way!
Christy
13 years agoThat is impressive that your husband enjoys making gingerbread houses and making cakes. I have to laugh that he is willing to have a bake off with you. I am wondering who the judges will be… your kids? Too funny about the movies too. Not really Christmas movies but I am a little burned out with Christmas music and movies so feel you! Merry Christmas! Your book sounds good. christina_92 at yahoo.com
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Judi,
Life is full of surprises and we've had our share of sharing so many celebrations with so many people… it leads to a deeper understanding and respect to something outside of what we're used to. Thanks for sharing your experience in Morocco too… sounds like you had a blast!
QueentuttsWorld
13 years agoMerry Christmas!
Ronda Tutt mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com
Missy
13 years agoWe do a gingerbread train in our house also. The kids fight over who gets to do it, as I have baking molds for a whole village, but the train is their favorite.
So if the 2 klids are the judges, what happens if they both pick something different. Just wondering, because I also have an even number of kids. I know they would probably go 2 vs. 2, just because they could.
June M.
13 years agoThe gingerbread trains sound like so much fun. I have not put together a gingerbread house before. This may be something to do next year with my older nieces & nephew (the young ones may still be too young).
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Anju Gattani
13 years agoMerry Christmas, Ronda! Hope your New Year is fab too!
Hi Missy,
Wow! I'm impressed… you use molds and whatnot and probably do it from scratch! We get the ready kits that we just have to put together…. that's good enough for us, I think! We just finished the cake bake-off and it was a riot! Tomorrow's the gingerbread theme and the lunch… and then the movies! Since each kid pairs up with each adult… we've put a judging criteria beforehand and will use that… however that is something we've been debating all week! Fingers crossed for us lucky winners and you too!
Hi June,
It's a Santa sleigh with reindeers that we have lined up for tomorrow… we've never done it before either so this is a first for us too! Wish us luck and good luck to winning DUTY AND DESIRE! I'd love to hear your reviews!
Michelle
13 years agoThat cover is gorgeous!!! I would so love to have a necklace like that someday!:-)
Shadow
13 years agohmm..i thought i already left a comment. huh..all well! thanks for sharing. making gingerbread houses is so fun but hard! ive done two with my family. one resulted in a frosting war. lol good times! thanks! happy holidays!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Anju Gattani
13 years agoHi Michelle,
Thanks for appreciating the cover. The necklace is indeed the center of the story's plight and reversal of the protagonist's fate… DUTY AND DESIRE also looks at the true value of material wealth, having too much of anything and the downfall of having it all. Hope you enjoy the read!
Hi Shadow,
I did receive your comment and respond too… but thank you for taking the time and trouble to reach out to me again. Our cake-off last night was interesting (to say the least) and the Gingerbread Santa sleigh and reindeer package is the next event. My husband froze when he saw it! But he's going to man-up and 'just do it'!