Lifestyle

10 Things you must do after winning a Challenge!

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 30, 2018 10

Did you just finish with a personal challenge? Overcome a professional hurdle? Struggling with everyday small irritations? What do you do after winning a challenge?

The Super Blogger Challenge results just came out yesterday, and this is the best time to share my best-kept secrets to do back to back challenges.

10 Things you must do after winning a Challenge!

#1 After every challenge, even if you have half a day relax and unload your brain. Physically you can’t pick up the used and stale thoughts. But you can use your mental fingers to delicately lift them up and release them into the ether. Let these thoughts spread their wings and gain new energy, while you breathe and let your brain breathe.

Your brain loves complex problems, but they need those empty spaces to think.Empty it now!

#2 Drink water like a fish. Hydrate till you can’t drink anymore. Water has a role to play in concentration. Try to skip the caffeine.

#3 Go out. Visit a park or if that’s not possible garden.

#4 Cook something sinful for yourself and family. I love making a chocolate lava cake.It has one whole Dairy milk Silk in it and the baking is as much fun as the cake itself.

#5 Read storybooks, which make you forget everything. I have a good stash of this.

#6 Cuddle with your loved ones and thank them. They are the pillars which built your castle.

#7 Lock away your cell phone, laptop and pretend you are on a brain holiday!

#8 Plan your next holiday and daydream.

#9 Thank the universe you survived.

#10 Write a blog post on your experience after taking out the laptop again! Writing is relaxing, right?

Takeaway:

With every challenge, you take part in, you grow. Challenging yourself to push your personal limits, is the best way towards greater personal development. I realized early in life, that the only way to do well in life, is to take responsibility for own actions and choices. While you can’t predict the future or guess hat the next person will do.If you regularly challenge yourself, unclutter your brain and repeat, guarantee your life will have all the colors you always wanted. Happy daydreaming.

Want a list of all the Blogging challenges you need for a Successful Blog? Read this.

Sunday Readings with Healthwealthbridge(2)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 29, 2018 7

No one told you life was going to be this way.

It may seem like it hasn’t been your month, day or even your year, but believe me when I say this, Friends rerun is still binge-worthy. These lines from friends are iconic and nostalgic. They remind me of the time when I studied all day before my premeds so that I could catch half an hour of friends on Television. I am still a fan of Phoebe and can’t for the life of me understand why Ross is so confused!

Some of the links in the following parts are affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

One more series I am having fun watching is Suits on amazon prime video makes watching back to back episodes a lot of fun.

When I started writing for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge this month daily blogging with the current schedule was not going to be easy.B ut then I was happy to just go with the flow. I missed a total of four days posting till date and I plan to make up before the month is over.

Now coming to my Sunday reading list.

I am revising the Famous five series with my daughter.T he Famous five has some of the most delicious food descriptions I have ever read.
I am also still reading Business Sutra by Devdutt Pattanaik. Yes, it’s taking some time.
I am reading a Bengali detective series as relief reading between Business Sutra.

I often have 5 different type of reading on my daily mind diet

1)The newspaper

2)My favorite blog updates

3)A Bengali detective book. I have a running stock which I update every year at the book fair

4)Medical topics from books

5)The current nonfiction which is fertilizing my mind.

Now this kind of variety may or may not suit you. But I believe reading a book like good food needs a variety of components. You can’t just stuff yourself with protein just because they are good for you. Right? You need fruits, veggies, carbs and everything in right proportion to keep your body working. For your mind to grasp difficult concepts, solve complex problems, develop a world view and make sense of life in general, you must read .

If you are a writer blogger, vlogger using digital media in any form you can’t afford to cultivate a reading habit.The only time I write less is when I read less. Reading keeps your mind fresh hydrated with new thoughts.

This week what my brain learned:

You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make them drink.
You never call a thief a thief. It just doesn’t work, except in movies.
The middle class prefers to bury their head in the sand rather than face problems head-on. It’s complicated.
Life, death everything in between is a myth and Devdutt Pattanaik agrees with me on this. Now if only this made sense.
You can always forgive, but you can rarely forget .forgetting does put you at risk of repeating weird mistakes.
You cannot wish away problems and you cannot run away.
Your best intentions will be misunderstood, just deal with it.
YouTube is my favorite place to go recipe hunting.

It’s finally raining and I am enjoying the pakodas as I write this, but will probably publish it later. The Super Blogger Challenge results are almost ready and we are excited to get it rolling . Just pray the internet God’s and rain God’s help!

Bridge Course Ayush Doctors or Ayush Doctors?(Part 2) #NMCBill

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 28, 2018 1

Doctors are struggling to give care. The overburdened state is the reason cited for all healthcare problems. But will shortcut work? Does the jugaad mentality work in this case? I admire the Governments dedication towards spreading the light of health, education, and entrepreneurship in India. But the NMC bill is going to challenge the trust of the very rural poor, Government wants to help. The backward deserve as good a care, as the not- so-backward. They also deserve to know the truth.

Ayush doctors are trained in a different branch of healing than modern medical practitioners. There’s a reason for this. Courses offered in the Ayush entrance exams are Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga, and Naturopathy and Homeopathy. There are some more, but they don’t get an MBBS whatever they learn.

The interesting thing about Ayush is, it’s a branch with tremendous promise. It has the potential to spread wellness into the life of everyone which modern medicine can overlook. But the problem is when you mix up stuff. Its great to innovate, but with care.

On one hand, there’s a claim that Ayush is the most complete and perfect branch of medical sciences. That does take a load off the shoulders of modern medical practitioners. But then I wonder, why Ayush practitioners don’t want to maintain the sanctity of their branches. If they have complete faith in it, why this want to practice modern allopathy?

Why not help Ayush reach the farthest corners of India’s healthcare frame and make dedicated Ayush subcentres, Ayush Hospitals, Ayush emergency, trauma care, Speciality, and superspecialities? Why mix it all up? Bridge course will cause confusion and irreparable damage. Let Ayush practitioners heal with their own sciences.

I am working in a small town in India and I know that there is a need for doctors urgently. But when the going gets tough, you need to decide with care. Just because people are poor, doesn’t mean they deserve any less right to choose. Give them a choice to visit Ayush subcentres and I am sure they will be helped. But not Ayush bridge coursed into Allopaths.

You should have a problem with that. If you don’t have a problem, remember this day when you are reading this post, you will regret not sharing this.

[bctt tweet=”As a doctor, I know whom to visit when I want treatment. The question is, will you know? If Ayush Doctors are so qualified, why not set up Ayush Hospitals, emergency facilities and promote Ayush? https://wp.me/p5dNmM-uoz #BlogtoPM ” username=”misra_amrita”]

When it comes to the health of the nation and my fellow Indians I am ready to stand up and protest, if things look dicey. It’s time you did the same! Share this post and comment below to let me know your thoughts.

Bridge course Ayush Doctors (Would you like to get treated? )Part 1

National Medical Council Bill

World’s largest Health Care programme

Universal Health Care

DHIKKAR DAY against National Medical Commission Bill: Press Release

For the Nation For the People

IMA’s call for action was responded very well to by doctors across the country today. The withdrawal of non emergency services affected patients in almost all major states, especially in tier 2,3,4 cities and towns.

IMA National President Dr Ravi Wankhedkar claimed a moral victory over the Government. IMA’s call against the NMC Bill has generated awareness in doctors community and understanding amongst common people. Many ordinary people identified themselves with the cause for which the doctors were fighting. “The Struggle will continue” said he. Actually withdrawal of non-emergency services was only a warning signal to the Government. IMA will intensify its agitation if the government tries to bulldoze this Pro-rich Anti-democratic, Anti federal NMC bill which will promote corruption. We want the Government to reconsider the current bill. We APPEAL to our hon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji to intervene to protect the interest of marginalized & underprivileged sections of the society.

Dr Ravi Wankhedkar pointed out that 50% of the seats in the private medical colleges will go to the highest bidder. He reiterated that this issue is an issue of the common man. There was a necessity for the community to wake up. The cost of medical education in the country will escalate many fold, and will become unaffordable to even the upper middle classes of people. Taste of what was to come was seen in Uttarkhand and Maharashtra where the management raised the fee to around 25 Lakhs per year for MBBS.

Marginalisation of State Governments, State Medical councils, State Health universities and state medical graduates cannot be ignored. It is a direct threat to the federal nature of our constitution. The state governments should take up the cause which IMA is fighting for. Institutions of excellence like the Medical council are a temple of democracy and represent the true plural nature of the country.

The common final year Exit exam is a conceptional flaw violating the Universities Act. Between the EXIT exam and the NEET the students will become the cannon fodder. More so the students from OBC, SC and ST.

Dr A Marthanda Pillai, Action committee chairman said that NMC will function as an extended Government department. Autonomy of regulation is the right of medical profession. Allowing beaurocrates and non medical persons to trample with the regulation of medical education and practice is a nightmare.

Dr R N Tandon Honorary Secretary General of IMA said that IMA was getting ready for a long struggle. Efforts were on to get all the speciality organisations, Resident Doctors Organisations, Service Doctors Organisations and Medical Students to join in the next phase.

Dr Ravi Wankhedkar IMA National President said that the trust imposed by IMA on the Prime Minister by partnering AYUSHMAN BHARAT was lost in the NMC quagmire. He expressed confidence that the medical fraternity would have the last word on how the profession would be governed.

Dr Ravi Wankhedkar Dr A Marthanda Pillai Dr R N Tandon

IMA National President Chairman, Action Committee HSG

Mommy Tincture Anupriya’s Author Journey: Parenting & a Slice of Life

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 24, 2018 5

Mommy Tincture Anupriya is an engineer, MBA a mother of two, an author, blogger and is from Kolkata!My favorite city forever.

When I invited her to share her story, I was surprised at her range of professional expertise. But the surprise just reinforced the belief that education, you understand or not, gives you the confidence to let go, start new, challenge ourselves and constantly reinvent. Life and professional experiences give men and women unique perspectives, which education help shape. Even when you feel it makes no difference, your brain absorbs the knowledge and reshapes into what your soul needs.

Celebrating another Blog to Book Journey, today on my Blog, please welcome AnupriyaGupta, the talented author of Parenting and a Slice of Everything.

Why did you want to write a book?

I got introduced to the world of books rather late in my life. The only books that my middle-class roots constantly urged me to pick up during school were my textbooks. Once I did start reading, I got enchanted by the magic of books. As I started penning my thoughts on my blog, explored the blog-o-sphere and discovered Blogchatter, I realized that I too have an opportunity to write and publish a book. The possibility to have my name on a book cover was something that gave me many sleepless nights. It was then that I knew that I had to do it.

What is this book about?

My parents and people, who know me well, know that I derive my confidence from what I do. When I had to finalize my theme for the AtoZ Challenge, I knew from the start that at this juncture in my life, parenting is what I am doing practically all the time. So the theme had to be parenting. Yet I did not feel equipped enough to write a self-help guide to any aspect of parenting. (I am an extremely imperfect parent who needs a lot of working on my parenting style). I pondered for months, on what is it that I could write about. Eventually, I decided to draw inspiration from everyday incidents that were occurring around me and turned them into short stories. This book is about those little emotions, actions, and words which are a result of that single relationship that governs the various equations of all our other relationships. That central relationship is that of ‘a parent’.

Who helped you write the book?

My book is an amalgamation of real life experiences – my own and of those who I know or observe around me. I would say that everyone who has been a muse in each of my stories deserves to be thanked for helping me write my book.

Apart from that, my mom-in-law deserves all the credit to help in managing my kids and get me the time that I needed to complete the AtoZ challenge. Given that the average word length of each of my stories is over 1200 words, it in fact called for a huge time commitment. All thanks to her for having my back covered.

And I have to mention my husband here, who never says no to anything. If in a moment of madness I were to tell him that I want to jump of the roof of our house, he would sigh calmly, raise his hands and say,

“Well, if that’s what you want to do, think about an after-life on a wheelchair. Just incase, if you don’t die!”

Jokes apart, he really helps me maneuver my risk-taking ability.

Tell me a little about your writing habits. (How many hours a day, how do you proofread, edit, format, to help those who are inspired by you)

Well! My boys still need hand-holding with a lot of their chores. Also, I live in a joint family with a huge extended family, all in the same city. This takes up a lot of my time and energy to be able to set a definite routine for writing. Yet! I have set myself a target to write at least 500 words every day. There are days when I am in the flow and am able to dole out double or triple that stipulated word length. Such days help me have a free day once in a while when I can relax or catch up on reading or do other personal stuff.

Proofreading and editing happen mostly when I am fresh and not tired because writing is like giving my emotions a channel to flow out (it’s spontaneous), but I have to be more clearheaded while editing. I have recently discovered Grammarly, but haven’t explored it completely.

Tell me a little about your background. Your Story.

I belong to that herd of idiots, who did their engineering first and then figured what they really wanted to do. Engineering happened for the simple reason that I grew up in the era of the big IT dream and this particular professional course ensured a career with a good pay package. It ensured my financial independence. But then life happened and I explored and realized that I wanted to be a Human Resources professional. The way to make the switch was to do MBA. So I did that! Life happened again and I went on to conceive my second child and realized that I couldn’t continue with my job any further. The person who I consider to be my friend, philosopher and guide professionally and personally also happens to be an extremely popular food and photography blogger. He put this idea in my head that given I have a way with words I should start blogging about my parenting experiences. I was anyway looking for an avenue to keep myself busy after leaving my job. So blogging it was! And here I am on the blogging bus. I still don’t consider myself to be qualified enough to call myself a blogger though.

Do you think this has helped you write?

Before I set up my blog, I was using my creative juices to write fanfiction in a public forum. I wrote around two dozens of short and not-so-short stories there. I was really encouraged by the feedback I received. A colleague who is also a literary fanatic did not give me any negative reviews when I coaxed her into reading one of my works. This encouraged me further.

‘Parenting & a Slice of Everything’ contains snippets of my own life, my parents’ life and of those who I have known very closely. So yes, every experience has helped me shape my perspective and come up with the stories that this book contains.

When you started blogging, did you have a plan of writing a book?

No. I planned to write a book much before that. The thought of writing a book first occurred to me years back, when Mills & Boons launched their first book with an Indian Author. I am a sucker for romance and I often dreamt of telling a love story to the world. Books were mostly published the traditional way then, with publication houses. It wasn’t an easy feat. My blog, mommytincture happened quite late in the timeline. As I explored the blogging world, I realized that book publishing was now a very achievable goal, with ebooks gaining immense popularity. I realized that my secret wish could actually see the light of the day.

What about BlogchatterEBookCarnival? What is your favorite part?

The best part of BlogChatterEBookCarnival is that it is for everyone who is committed to their dream of becoming a published author. It is like that one big magnetic horse-shoe that attracts all the metal pieces and combines into a huge mass body resulting in the accentuated attraction of success for an entire community.

Woah! That sounds a little weird to my own ears. But that is the truth. Imagine 55 e-books, launched on the same day. I look at it as 55 dreams curated for long, realized in a flash.

Your Favorite Quote

[bctt tweet=”Desire. Deserve. Derive- Anupriya @Anupriya_Guptaa #Healthwealthbridge #Authorinterview” username=”misra_amrita”]I feel these three words sum up the story of every dream manifested into achievement. It could be personal or professional, anything.

Did you have a launch plan?

No. Until my book got published recently, I had not much clue about how e-book publishing works. I obviously wanted to promote my book on the social media and all, but there was no formal launch plan. I decided to go with the flow and follow BlogChatter’s plan of action. I am not regretting it. The way they have touched upon various aspects of launching a book has had me trained and equipped with all know-how that will count for a successful launch plan.

How happy are you with this milestone?

Happy! Happy is an understatement. The launch of this book has reinstated my belief in the Alchemist theory. As I have already mentioned that I have harbored a secret wish to write and publish a romance novel for long. My first book isn’t a romance, yet it is a book no less. And I have enthralled that the universe tuned into my thoughts, and equipped me with everything I needed to carve them into a reality.

Tell me about your future plans and goals.

My dream to write romance remains, so I am working on another manuscript. For that, I have to thank you, for informing me about the NaNoWriMo Challenge that happens every year in the month of November. The original manuscript has been reviewed by a couple of beta readers and needs some working around. The plan is to get that published within a year.

For two years, I have struggled to keep my blog active. Creating quality content has posed a real challenge. But I have learned a lot in the last two years and now have a content plan for my blog. I am really excited to take my blog to the next level now. I think the day when I can call myself a blogger officially is quite near.

With Blogchatter as a confidence boosting companion and the annual AtoZ challenge, I hope to bring forth at least one ebook every year.

One wish you have for your journey as a writer.

How so ever clichéd it may sound, but every writer aims to reach out to more and more readers who identify with their work and appreciate it. I also wish the same. At the same time, I do not want to restrict myself to any one genre. Writing for me is a way to absolve my soul of its inhibitions. While I will always be drawn towards romance, I also wish to explore relationships in different hues and not restrict myself to fiction only. A concept for a non-fiction book is already brewing in my mind. I think I have my theme for the next AtoZ Challenge ready. Above all, through my work in the writing world (blogs or books) I wish to evolve into the kind of person that my kids will be proud of.

Find Anupriya here

Blog: http://mommytincture.com

Buy here book here

Parenting & A Slice Of Everything

About the author: A mom by day & a reader/writer by night, Anupriya believes in the magical power of stories and story-telling. Her blog www.mommytincture.com is an account of her experiences as a mother/daughter/woman/human being, all churned together.

Book Blurb: ‘Parenting & A Slice Of Everything’ is a collection of 26 short stories that bring forth a galore of characters, incidents and emotions directly or remotely related to the life-cycle of parenting and its tyranny on life and relationships.

Sunday Readings on Healthwealthbridge

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 22, 2018 4

I know that its difficult to write daily. It’s probably even more difficult to edit the work immediately after. But what’s not difficult is trying to write everyday..

This week I read Eighty Hours to save Karen by Sitharaam Jayakumar. I am reading IPL-ology by Paresh Godhwani, Business Sutra by Devdutt Pattnaik and The 80/20 Rule. The best part of reading books of different genres is it makes me think and understand stuff I never even knew. Just like you need a balanced diet for a healthy body, you need a balanced reading habit to nourish your mind.

If I read about only things in my comfort zone, I would be writing with a fish-eye view. The written word is powerful. It helps you plant those ideas in your brain. What you do with those ideas depends on you. If you want to write on your blog, you need to have things which you can write about. If you don’t replenish your thought pools you do yourself a disservice.

As a doctor, we need to keep on studying to keep up with current scientific researches. The real life of a writer matches this perfectly. If you avoid reading, writing will always be a challenge. You may or may not agree, but you know.

What are suitable reading materials?

Books
Newspapers
Blogs
Research papers

All this help air your mind with new thoughts and ideas. They help you get out of your comfort zone and challenge your brain to understand concepts and beliefs which are not always in sync with your own.

The power of reading is immense. Ignore it at your own peril.

My favorite quotes on Reading

“We read to know we’re not alone.”
― William Nicholson, Shadowlands

If you love books you know this to be the truth.

The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.”
― Alan Bennett, The History Boys

This happened to me when I was reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

When I started reading blogs, a world opened up. I moved to a small town with my 10-month-old daughter in 2013.My Samsung tab helped me keep track of all my blog subscriptions.But it was more than a year later, when I realized my online journey needed to be shared. I started blogging in 2014.Writing opens up a world of opportunities. But you must make a daily habit of reading to keep writing. I love writing,but I feel unhappy if I am not reading too daily. Thats why in second half of 2018 ,I am going to be careful of what I spend my time on.

It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”
― Oscar Wilde

That’s a million dollar advice. I read my medical books,fiction,nonfiction ,everything I could lay my hands on . That’s the only way I could write .

“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

This is what a writer who feels the art and craft of the written word understands. Books have the unique ability of transporting you from the constrains of time,place and situations.

If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

The truth . Relative or absolute is for you to find out.

Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.”
― Anna Quindlen, How Reading Changed My Life

A life without books would not be worth documenting.

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot’

A friend who never leaves your side,a teacher who never gives up on you.

Do you read? Let me know in the comments below your favorite book and the name of the author.L ets spread the word.

Shipra Trivedi’s Spicy Blog to Book Journey with Spicy Trail #BlogtoBook

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on July 18, 2018 3

Shipra is a well-known blogger. She has penned one of the most unique books, this season of Blogchatter Ebook Carnival. The many spices, that make Indian cuisine unique, makes her book Spicy trail a spicy read! She had a dream and today on this blog to book journey, you will get to know how she made it a reality.

Welcoming Shipra Trivedi of Vibhuandme.com on this #AuthoJourney feature.

Tell me a little about your background, your story.

I come from a small place, Raebareli, in UP, India. I am the first person in my family who came so far here in Delhi to pursue higher studies and eventually settled here. I am a software professional by the line of work. Starting from being a junior developer, I am now a project manager. I am very attached to my roots and my family. I frequently visit them as they are in my hometown. Despite I have been living in Delhi since last more than 10 years, I still prefer the easy lifestyle of my hometown.

I am married to my childhood friend. My husband is also a senior software professional. He is my mentor for all sorts of problems. I am also the mother of a 3.5 years old son. He is the biggest inspiration behind my enthusiasm. His creativity encourages me to go beyond the limits.

[bctt tweet=”Shipra Trivedi’s Spicy Blog to Book Journey & Spicy Trail #Writer #BlogtoBook #AuthorJourney #AuthorInterview #Healthwealthbridge @trivediship” username=”misra_amrita”]

When did you start blogging?

In my childhood, I used to take part in various writing competitions. My father always encouraged me to take part in them and he only wrote all my write-ups. I used to just practice them. Somehow I always secured a prize; either first, second or third, and this made get inspired by Papa’s writing which is actually very good. Then, as I reached in higher classes, I stopped writing. There was so much to do other than this. However, after I started working, I used to have time and I jumped into writing technical blogs. There was no regularity though.

My pregnancy was the time when I read so many parenting posts. They gave me the much-needed motivation and when my son was only 8 months, I wrote my first personal experience post on a parenting website. It was a success there. Since then, I am trying to write as much as I can. Initially, I wrote mostly parenting posts, but soon I also tried my hands in writing about social issues, womanhood, relationships, health and of course food. For first three years as a blogger, I wrote on different parenting platforms. Last year I got my own blog setup, Vibhu & Me (www.vibhuandme.com). In short, I am a parenting and lifestyle blogger, who can also write about Indian culture, technology, and food.

Did you have a plan of writing a book?

I never thought to write a book, frankly. A writer holds a great responsibility as he/she influence readers with his/her idea and theory. That’s why I feel every book carries an accountability towards readers. I like the idea of ebook though. A quick read, that readers can enjoy being anywhere anytime through their smart devices. One such book I also launched recently after taking part in Blogchatter ebook carnival. For novels and science fictions, I feel, paper books are better.

Tell me a little about your writing habit.

Being a working mother, honestly, there is no fixed schedule for my writing. I write when I get time. Often sitting in the office during my breaks, and back home when my son is out for his play. Basically, I am a blogger of wee hours when my boy sleeps, that is the only peaceful span I get at home. At times, it gets difficult to balance my work, domestic chore, and my writing. But I try my best to give time to my writing commitments with giving most of my time to office and family.

I write both in Hindi and English. I also have two separate blogs for Hindi (https://hamaritumhari.wordpress.com) and English writing (www.vibhuandme.com). My husband is always the first person who reads my blogs (my first known reader). He gives feedback and I incorporate them immediately. I take his help in generating ideas. I also rely on my younger sister, who is also into writing, for unique thoughts as a reader and writer. My sister is a freelance writer and has been writing white papers and market studies for last many years.

Why did you want to write a book?

I am still in the path of learning and improving my writing. And I always felt that for writing a book, the writer should be very mature and expert in skills. But, with taking part in Blogchatter A to Z challenge this year, I understood “A writer is a writer”. There is no course that can give a certificate of being a published author. One can launch his/her book anytime with following a few requisites. I got to learn so much about book publishing during Blogchatter A to Z challenge.

Getting a book out is the ultimate dream of every writer. And with understanding self-publishing and the concept of the ebook, I felt why not try ebook and this way my first ebook came into the picture.

What is this book about?

When Blogchatter ebook carnival happened, many of my friends convinced me to try my hands in ebook publishing. I went ahead and managed to put my ebook “Spicy Trail” in Blogchatter ebook collection of this year. This is a short 33 pages read about spices. I fundamentally compiled my 26 Blogchatter A to Z posts in the form of an ebook. Every chapter of the ebook “Spicy Trail” explains a spice, its origin, history, and benefits. I have crafted each chapter with a personal touch out of my knowledge about specific spice.

What about Blog chatter ebook carnival? What is your favorite part?

Initially, I was apprehensive about this carnival. I thought I don’t belong to the set of writers who have the capability of getting their books published. However, as I followed the sessions and tweet chats of ebook carnival, I realized this year could be my leaning span of book publishing. I really liked the tweets chats and facebook sessions about book publishing arranged by Blogchatter platform.

Who helped you write the book?

I feel blessed that I got support from my family and friends. The month of April this year went in so much of reading and writing for Blogchatter A to Z challenge. And thanks to my husband who helped me through this. I had not drafted any post prior so it was literally daily writing for the whole month of April. After making the post live, I used to ask my husband to immediately read the post on that specific day. So, he was my in-house proofreader for the book “Spicy Trail”. A few days when I was busy with my office, my sister did study the spice of that day, and with her help I managed to post my blog of A to Z challenge.

When the time came close to preparing the ebook out of posts of Blogchatter A to Z, I was very confused. I was thinking if my book of spice can do any good. But I got a lot of help and positivity from Dr. Amrita. I was following her on twitter and I also took part in Super Blogger Challenge 2018 hosted by her with Dr. Bushra. This way, I was in touch with her and her friendly nature gave me the confidence to ask my silliest query to her. She even arranged special calls to take questions of ebook publishing. Amrita’s fair reasoning convinced me to go ahead and get my ebook ready for Blogchatter platform.

Did you have a launch plan?

My ebook is already there in Blogchatter platform. I am happy that many people have downloaded it and willing to review it. However, this year, I don’t have any plan to launch my ebook on other platforms like Amazon, Goodread or Kindle. To be honest, this book happened in hurry. I was both confused and busy so I couldn’t spend much time in shaping the book for specific platforms. I also couldn’t get my book proofread by any third person. That is why I am not launching my book on any other platform. Hopefully next year, I would plan better for Blogchatter A to Z and ebook carnival both. And then I would come with bang targeting different reader platforms.

How happy are you with this milestone?

I am really very happy. I never thought that people would be interested in reading about spices. Even my friends who only prefer fiction have downloaded the book. This is a big achievement for me.

Tell me about your future plans and goals?

For my writing, I would continue giving my best. Any opportunity that comes in front of me, I would not fail to grab it. I have listed down a few of my favorite subjects over which I want to write, and one by one I will write on them. I also have a dream to start my cooking YouTube channel about Pickles and Chutneys. This is still in my mind and I want to involve my mother-in-law and mother in it. I hope very soon I would start making process towards this. That’s why I am moving to a city close to my hometown.

One wish you have for your journey as a writer?

I want to be a known name in the blogging world. I know there are many talent writes and bloggers. But I wish to make my own name among all of them. And If I succeed, I would think about taking writing as my full-time career. I have left that on time to decide. As of now, I am enjoying every bit of my writing journey. And I would continue doing what gives me happiness rather than trying to re-invent the wheel.

Ebook: Spicy Trail

About the author: Shipra Trivedi is a working mother and has a great interest in reading & writing. As a new age woman, she plays multiple roles in a single day. A family-manager at home, a team lead in the office & a writer of wee hours. She blogs at http://www.vibhuandme.com.

Book Blurb: The intent of this book is to give a brief of 26 different spices in 26 chapters. Each chapter has one spice, its attributes, history, and ayurvedic benefits. Get set go on a spicy trail!

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