As abrupt as the firing of Diana Vreeland as the
editor-in-chief of Vogue in 1971,
women’s clothes immediately began to reflect the seriousness of the times. And
no one understood or represented the seventies’ woman better than Grace
Mirabella, Vreeland’s successor. She replaced fashion-fantasy spreads of the
sixties with all-American chic and girl-next-door models like Lauren Hutton.
Classic, timeless styles appropriate for active and professional woman. Suits
and sportswear becameknown as
‘investment clothes” in quality fabrics of good taste: English tweeds,
double-faced wool, Viyella, wool jersey, and cashmere. There was a craving for
lasting value and tradition.
With full schedules and busy days, the new American woman
chose small boutiques offering personal service, requiring department stores to
re-think retailing to create the shop-within-a-shop concept.
ABOUT THE BOOK
As
a fashion buyer at one of New York’s most glamorous department stores, Dana
McGarry is a tastemaker, her keen instinct for fashion trends and innovative
ideas coupled with a razor sharp business sense. But like the elegant and
conservative store that employs her, Dana is caught between two eras—between
being liked and standing her ground, between playing by the rules and being a
maverick. Dana is sensitive and beautiful, but what you see is not what you
get. Behind the cool and attractive facade, Dana
is both driven by her need to control yet impeded by her expectation of
perfectionism. As she competes to replace women
at the top of their game, she is challenged by jealous colleagues. And when a
wealthy love interest wants to open doors and support her ambition, she
embraces Coco Chanel’s mantra of “never wanting to weigh more heavily on a man
than a bird.” As the women’s movement paves the way, Dana finds a path to the
career she wants at the expense of happiness that was not meant to be.
Steward
captures the nuances of 70s life in New York City and provides the perfect
backdrop for an independent woman determined to make her mark. What Might Have Been is a story that
transcends any period.
Lynn Steward, a veteran of the New York fashion industry and a buyer on
the team that started the women’s department at Brooks Brothers, created the
Dana McGarry series, set at a transformational time in the 1970s world of
fashion and in the lives of multigenerational women. What Might Have Been is the second volume in the series. A Very Good Life, Steward’s debut novel,
was published in March 2014.
Karan Pratap Singh is on the brink of winning the Amateur Boxing Championship, when in a moment, he loses it all. His fall from glory seems fuelled by ruthless arrogance and an out-of-control anger management problem. That, however is just symptomatic of a deeper issue. Buried under layers of his fractured subconscious lies a childhood secret he cannot come to terms with.
Sonia Kapoor is a beautiful, volatile young woman with a secret that torments her at night but a secret that she feels no guilt for.
When fate throws Karan and Sonia together in Mumbai, their personal demons and pasts collide and stir up trouble in their fragile and uncertain present. But, is redemption possible without forgiveness?
Dancing with Demons is a fast-paced action drama of love, loss and resurrection.
1. Tell us a little bit about your background. When did you start writing?
My journey into the world of storytelling began way before I graduated with honours in English literature and was offered scholarship by the university. The early formative years took me into the world of the Panchatantra and classic English literature while I also watched my mother paint. At the same time, I got introduced to the joys of adventure sports too since my father was in the Armed forces. On hindsight, I think these early influences shaped my storytelling ability, albeit in a visual way.
I read voraciously through my teenage years and graduated to Booker prize winning novels quickly. I think reading good literature is hugely instrumental in widening mental horizons and giving the reader an ability to comprehend complex characters, their emotional and physical graphs, along with a unique insight into the geo-political landscape of the times the novel is set in. All of this is a fantastic bedrock and training ground for good writing.
I started experimenting with poetry and short stories initially, and a lot of the early writing during my childhood happened under the open sky in my garden, lying on the grass, dreaming about heroes, action and adventure.
At the age of twelve, I had written what might now be called a Novella. It was about the daily exploits of a girl and her group of friends and how they explored a new part of the nearby jungle every day, in search of wild animals, thrills, and adventure. It was autobiographical of course and my delighted parents had it printed and bound into a small book. They treasure it to this day.
Studying English literature in college helped me enormously in comprehending and interpreting works of literature and soon after, I started to write book reviews for national newspapers. I also wrote short stories every single day during those college years and I think that has helped me hone my craft.
I realize now that writing a drama set in the world of combat sports, which most critics have called visual and action packed, is no accident. Dancing with Demons is a sum total of all my early influences and experiences.
2. How would you describe your book Dancing with Demons? What prompted you to write a book on boxing?
‘Dancing with Demons’ is a gripping romance drama set against the backdrop of combat sports in India. It is the story of two fallen souls who must vanquish their inner demons to become the people they were destined to be. When the story begins, Karan Pratap Singh, an angst-ridden boxer and the mysterious and volatile Sonia Kapoor are angry and emotionally damaged by their pasts and when fate throws them together in Mumbai, their personal demons and pasts collide and stir trouble in their fragile and uncertain present. "It was some night. Thunder and lightning playing, chasing one another like two furtive, carefree lovers, oblivious to the havoc they were wrecking. Sonia put her hand out of the window as the bus started to hurtle down the highway, to Mumbai. A sliver of lightning fell on the trees just ahead of them, setting a large bush on fire. Then thunder roared again... Perhaps this was an appropriate setting for what was to follow...two tumultuous lives on a head-on collision course.”
This book explores if redemption is possible without forgiveness and also delves into the depth and unsaid connection that Karan and Sonia have with each other. In fact, Sonia’s poems in the novel throw light not only on self-love and forgiveness but also on the passionate and intense relationship that these two anti-heroes share.
“I know I’m not easy to love
On somedays there’s no God above
And maybe it’s a messed up world
Into which we have been hurled
And maybe I remind you of you
So Love yourself darling, to love me too”
Overcoming one's limitations or demons is essential in order to fulfill one's true potential. That is the real core of this story. The good thing is, millions of people find a way to battle and overcome their inner demons. So there is hope for everyone and 'Dancing with Demons' is about that hope. It's about the light at the end of the tunnel.
This novel is a fast-paced story of love, loss and resurrection for both Karan and Sonia.
3. What prompted you to write a book on boxing?
I was brought up in an army background that exposes you to adventure and the outdoors very early on. Having studied in various army schools across India, I trained in karate, horse-riding and attended adventure camps. Camping, trekking, hiking along with all the unforgettable misadventures shaped my love for the outdoors.
As a teenager, I watched live boxing matches as well. They fascinated me no end. Two men beating the hell out of each other while spectators egged them on. I noticed that every time a boxer bled in the ring, the audience cheered even louder. Human reaction to violence only shows how deep and primal that instinct is and this totally fascinated me back then. I started to watch boxing championships on the internet. Soon I was following the sport like a fan and started going for the big fights to Madison square garden while I was studying filmmaking in New York. I met boxers and coaches out of curiosity and interest. I spent time inside boxing gyms and also started to train and spar.
Personally, I love the raw athleticism in this sport and the fact that it is a skillful craft, needing strategy and forethought . Also, when the boxers fight, it is almost like a dance in the ring, lyrical and rhythmic, and that has drawn me to it visually as well. Given my exposure and interests, I think the stage to write Dancing with Demons, was set long ago.
4. What inspires you to write?
A lot of things actually but my mother’s abstract paintings have been my greatest inspiration. Almost nothing inspires me more than a work of art, even a great piece of music for that matter. The outdoors and the sight of a rising sun sometimes triggers the need to put pen to paper. Since I enjoy observing life and am particularly fascinated by human duality and contradictions, I spend a lot of time creating complex and flawed characters and then throwing them into a world I am familiar with. The writing that follows is automatically organic and un-manipulated. Ultimately for me, it’s almost always about exploring and learning something new through the process of creation.
5. And do you ever have a writer's block? What do you do to get rid of it?
I am very passionate about the stories I want to tell and on most days I don’t feel the block but when I do, I think discipline helps. I’ve realized through personal experience that showing up in front of that laptop every single day is the only way to beat it.
6. Who are your favourite writers and poets and have they in anyway motivated you to be better at your craft? If so, how?
My favorite writers are Rohinton Mistry, Ian Mcewan, Maya Angelou, Kiran Desai, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Samuel Beckett, John Donne and T.S Eliot, to name a few. The unparalleled quality of their writing is a huge motivation for any young storyteller and I’m no exception. Like I mentioned earlier, my journey into the world of writing began with reading good literature and I strive every single day to better my craft.
7. Apart from writing what are your other interests?
I enjoy the outdoors, adventure sports, photography, watching plays and music of all genres.
8. You are also a filmmaker, how do you juggle between both the crafts?
The first step for a Writer-Director like me is to put an interesting story in place and once that is accomplished, then it’s all about visually interpreting and executing it.
As a filmmaker, I think I am lucky to have a unique advantage by virtue of being a novelist too. It has given me a deeper understanding of story, characterization, plot, subplots, genres, mood and tone, all of which are an essential part of building an engaging narrative, be it for a movie or a novel. I also have greater understanding of the source material (the novel) and the training to adapt it for the screen. Infact, I have already finished adapting ‘Dancing with Demons’ into a screenplay and thoroughly enjoyed the process.
Although Cinema and literature are principally two different mediums, both aim at telling an interesting story well and despite their own unique challenges and audiences, I think it is possible to straddle them equally well if one has the talent, passion and training for storytelling.
Personally, I fell blessed that I am able to juggle between these two crafts and I’m having a lot of fun doing so.
9. Finally, what is your next novel going to be about and where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I write every single day and am sure the next story will find me soon enough.
The journey for ‘Dancing with Demons’ is still on and my full focus and energies at the moment are on directing the film.
I am a filmmaker-novelist and that’s all I know, so that’s where you’ll find me even five years down the line.
In the historic Indian town of Agra, you can find a very unusual tour company, which is owned by a charming young man named Raj. Although Raj's official job is to show off the historical landmarks of Agra, including the legendary Taj-Mahal, his true mission is to heal the souls of his broken "birds," as he affectionately refers to his tour participants. His business operates purely upon word-of-mouth referrals, ensuring that all of his tour members arrive in Agra with their hearts in their hands, ready for the spiritual growth and cleansing that Raj is known to provide. Healing the hearts of the spiritually damaged can be a difficult job, and in this particular tale, Raj finds himself faced with his most challenging tour group yet. First, there is Ira, a stunningly gorgeous but fragile young woman on the brink of suicide. Next, we meet Darci and Lennard, a couple on the verge of divorce. Then there is Carl, an irritable, antisocial workaholic who has burned all of his bridges. Lastly, we meet Asha, an elderly widow who still yearns for the company and comfort of her late husband. When disaster strikes the tour group, everything is thrown into jeopardy, including lives, relationships, and Raj's very reputation as a tour guide. Raj must find a way to lift the spirits of these five special travelers, even in the face of death and despair. Venture into the unknown and discover how Raj Touristry heals the brokenhearted, one soul at a time.
A Reiki Master where she passes out information about channeling universal energy and conducts sessions. The author of “Choices”, “The Adventures of Alex and Angelo” but just another soul trying to make a difference in this lifetime.
Today on the blog, join Author Bronwen Evans for the release and celebration of her new historical romance,
A WHISPER OF DESIRE, A Disgraced Lords Novel.
BLURB:
Sensual heat melts the ice in the new Disgraced Lords novel
from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans, as a marriage of convenience
leads to delightful pleasure—and mortal danger.
Lady Marisa Hawkestone’s nightmare is just beginning when
she wakes up naked, with no memory of the night before, lying next to Maitland
Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton—a man so aloof and rational he’s nicknamed “the
Cold Duke.” A scandal ensues, in which Marisa’s beloved beau deserts her. As a
compromised woman, Marisa agrees to marry Maitland. But on her wedding night,
Marisa discovers the one place the duke shows emotion: in the bedroom, where
the man positively scorches the sheets.
Taught from a young age to take duty seriously, Maitland
cannot understand his new wife’s demands on his love and affection. Marisa’s
hot-blooded spirit, however, does have its attractions—especially at night. In
retrospect, it seems quite silly that he didn’t marry sooner. But being one of
the Libertine Scholars requires constant vigilance, even more so when the enemy
with a grudge against his closest friends targets Marisa. Now Maitland must
save the woman who sets his heart aflame—or die trying.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew
up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for
the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate
alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has
been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New
Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.
Bron loves hearing from avid romance readers at Bronwen@bronwenevans.comYou can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her
Check out Rafflecopter and an excerpt below: A WHISPER OF DESIRE :
Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton, had always simply
been her older brother’s somewhat handsome yet standoffish friend. He’d never
shown an ounce of interest in her, or her in him. She looked him over. “Are you
ill?”
Perfectly arched eyebrows lowered into a frown. “I’m very
well, and you?”
“I’m stunned, actually. You’re flirting with me.”
“I wasn’t flirting. I was merely stating a fact.”
Of course he was. Literal was his middle name. “Then perhaps
you can unhand me, sir,” she said, looking pointedly at his large hands still
firmly holding her waist, “unless you do have intentions of flirting with me.”
To her dismay, he did not take his hands from her; instead,
they tightened and pulled her close, and he gently moved her into an alcove,
away from prying eyes.
“What if I decided I did want to flirt with you? Perhaps
even declare my suit? Don’t look surprised—you are one of the most sought-after
debutantes this season.”
“Has Sebastian put you up to this? There is no need for him
to pester me. I know who I will marry; I’m simply waiting for him to ask.”
Maitland’s eyes roamed her face, stopping at her lips. “A
beauty such as you should not have to wait. I would decline him on principle.
What would you do if I got down on bended knee here and now?”
Heat flared over her skin. Flustered, she didn’t know how to
reply. What had come over His Grace tonight?
“I suspect I would think you in your cups, Your Grace. In
all the years I have known you, you’ve never looked at me twice.”
He pressed closer. “That’s not true, little one. It would
have been inappropriate for me to notice you until I knew my mind. I find that
tonight I know exactly what I want.”
His eyes flared with something she’d swear was heat. Perhaps
their dance earlier had affected him as much as it had affected her.
“I’m not for the wanting, so you can stop this silly
flirtation.”
“I have no need to flirt, little one. When I want a woman
she is left in no doubt as to my intentions.” His mouth trailed up her neck
until he reached her ear. He softly added, “And they rarely deny me.”
.png){kind=small}
