On Tour with Prism Book Tours
The Exotic Tour Grand Finale Happy Festival of Lights!
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| Diwali |
An Incurable Insanity by Simi K Rao Paperback, eBook, 376 pages Published October 8, 2013 by Tate PublishingHer heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack.
She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now...
* Read an Excerpt *
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We offer flowers in traditional welcome.
You are our honored guest on our tour...
10/20: Launch - Tressa's Wishful Endings
"In Rao's debut novel an arranged marriage sets the stage for an intimate look at the exasperating madness of love....An often intoxicating...will-they-won't-they tale."- KIRKUS REVIEWS
No discussion on India would be complete without mentioning its food which is as rich and colorful as its residents. And I am not kidding when I say that travelling from one region to another will not only introduce you to different languages and dialects but also to markedly varied cuisines.
I still have very fond memories of my Grandma’s kitchen where food used to be prepared the way it should be—from scratch. It was labor intensive but also a lot of fun. I know because I used to help.
Hindu marriages are all about customs and rituals. There are several both before and after the wedding ceremony making it a very elaborate affair. But the most important of them all is the Seven Vows or Saath Pheras which occur during the ceremony because they are said to contain the essence of the practice of marriage. Without them a marriage is considered meaningless.‘Ruhi quietly and blissfully followed Shaan around the sacred flames carefully listening to and reciting the Saath Pheras in her mind.’ – An Incurable Insanity
Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the homeland,) cling to it, even though several aspects especially in these modern times, make no sense at all.
10/24: #Vivaah-Marriage RitualGiveaway Breaking News for Indonesia
Cherish your wife as a blessing sent to you from heaven; let the kindness of your behavior endear you to her heart.
10/25: #Desi-Indian CultureChristy’s Cozy Corners
"Unclasping the sacred marriage necklace from around her neck, she laid it down carefully on the counter. Then, wiping off the vermilion dot from her forehead, she examined her face again. She smiled. Finally, she knew who she was. She was Ruhi Sharma, and there was no looking back." – An Incurable Insanity
10/25 - #Desi - Shakti "the Divine Woman" - A Casual Fling with the Keyboard
She is bold and liberated. She speaks her mind. She is tough and vibrant. She knows what she wants and doesn’t compromise on her values.
“Chai?” “Huh? Yes please with just a pinch of sugar. Thanks!” He took the cup from her hands, careful not to touch her fingers. - An Incurable Insanity A cup of this refreshing brew served piping hot, awakens the senses and drives the blues away.
"It was the best puddinghe’d ever tasted…for obvious reasons." ~ An Incurable InsanityAfter all the spicy heat of chai and parathas, let’s cool the tempers with something sweet and delish!
"Standing in front of the large bathroom mirror, she combed her long thick hair. Should I leave it loose or braid it? Should I put on makeup or go bare? Should I wear all my bangles or just a couple of them? So many questions! Why don’t all men come with a user guide?"She had gone through all the miscellaneous ceremonies associated with the typical grand Indian wedding—the engagement, the Mehendi, the Sangeet, the Haldi, and the grand finale; her father had spared no expense… - An Incurable Insanity
Mehendi (Henna) is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word Mendika. The tradition of applying it is several thousands of years old and is perhaps the most traditional form of body art. It is meant to ‘awaken the inner light’.
10/30: #Vivaah-Marriage RitualMel’s Shelves
The bombshell had dropped on their wedding night. He had walked into the room late as she sat there, a shy bride in all her wedding finery waiting, nervous yet excited at the same time, to meet the man she had hardly spoken to or looked at. What would he say, talk about, or do?
She had heard a lot of stories about what to expect, some factual and some fabricated (her friends had prepared her well), but she wanted her own to be special, unique, and it was…
– An Incurable Insanity
10/31: #Desi-Indian Culture Shannon McDermott
“Go ahead, Shaan,” Bee said softly, giving him permission.
He pinched a small amount of the red powder and placed it firmly in the parting on her forehead. Not entirely certain why, but this makeshift ceremony appeared more meaningful to him than the one on his wedding day.
“Perfect! Now my mishti bon looks like a bride, a very beautiful bride.”
11/1: #Dawat - Beck Valley Books
Paratha [par-AA- THA] Hindi पराठा is one of the most popular types of unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian Cuisine and Pakistan.Prepared from pan frying whole wheat dough which usually has ghee (clarified butter) or cooking oil in it, parathas are often stuffed with vegetables such as mashed boiled potatoes or aloo, cauliflower (gobhi), radish (mooli), other vegetables and or paneer (fresh Indian cheese).
Parathas, particularly the stuffed ones, are simply eaten with pickles, chutneys and or yogurt on the side and make for a wholesome meal at any time of the day.
In my book ‘An Incurable Insanity’ my protagonist Ruhi, when she first arrives in America, longs for home, the feel of her mother’s pallu (sari’s edge) and for the taste of fresh homemade parathas and piping hot chai. 11/1 - #Dawat - "Bashful Bride" - A Casual Fling with the Keyboard
She sits on the rose strewn bed
A bashful bride In all her jeweled splendor Hennaed hands resting on drawn up knees Innocent and uninitiated Awaiting the approach of her beloved
11/3 – 11/5: Grand Finale - Giveaway runs through 11/11 Happy Diwali!
Go read the #Talk on Simi's Facebook
as she has walked us through the beautiful backdrop to her amazing book...
Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. The inspiration for An Incurable Insanity came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances...
Giveaway: $100 Gift Card to Amazon 5 eCopies of An Incurable Insanity October 18 - November 11, 2013. International giveaway. Must be able to download winnings. Must be 18 to enter. See Rafflecopter for additional restrictions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Grand Finale design by Laura of Colorimetry
& Tressa of Tressa's Wishful Endings
Content by Simi K Rao
Quotes from blog posts
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