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Short stories are anytime-snack. Quick, sweet, spicy savouries. They leave the heart craving for more. Novels are home-cooked meals. Long, leisurely, and fulfilling. They leave the soul gratified to the core. Bobby George

She never thought he would leave her He never thought he could ever leave her Then what happens between them… Two inseparable souls made for each other are torn apart It is true that Love hurts, and Despair is painful But worse…. Guilt stings Could remorse be the revenant? And retribution transcending Or is it the Love that conquers all? ONEwithin… a LOVE saga by Bobby George

Diminishing Democracy… nothing serious They say foreign invaders plundered India of its wealth, culture, and sanctity down the ages. They brought down worship places, renamed cities, and propagated religious faiths. They implemented newer policies with brute force on the pretext of building a Great Nation for its people without taking into consideration its people. Eh . . .! We all know what they overlooked and undermined in their callous one-way approach during the process. Yes! The basic needs, rights and sentiments of the communities living in it. But how different is the present scenario? Perhaps the savage style of the ruling has taken on a muted or so-called civilised form of suppression. They used lances and swords. Today we use sentiments and votes. The power at hand is used in the same way, with much the same result. Undermining the needs, rights, and sentiments of the communities in the Nation they proclaim to be building. For whom were/are they building a Nation, if not (us) the people? Just wondering . . . As far as I can comprehend, it is not to build a Nation but to even out centuries of wrongdoing that, too, centuries later. One whimsical ruler against the other. Is it any good? Where do we stand as the people of the Nation? We, as citizens, are dutifully surrendering our present and the future in its wake. To remain Nationalist. Let us applaud! Like the good Nationalists that we are. Come on, most of the Nation is doing it. Do not agree . . .? All right, as you say, let us remain silent like the rest of the Nation. Real people’s real causes are losing to fake opinions, hatred, and IDs. Who is suffering, and who’s going to suffer? Aren’t we the ones, the real people? Just a thought . . . nothing serious. . . .

Title–The Third Party Language–English Genre Specifics–Fiction Romance Publication–Independent–Evincepub Formats–Kindle Edition-49/-, Paperback-399/-, Hardcover-499/- Style–Narrative (Contemporary, Informal) Vithika Agarwal is a former Miss India (Asia Pacific) and now lives in Bangalore, India. Her very British husband and outspoken son ensure that there is never a dull moment in her life. From diving in the ocean to motorbiking on a volcano or climbing the Himalayas, these two adventure junkies constantly keep her on her toes. Her desire to write this book was born from her fascination for the intricacies of human relationships and her curiosity to explore these complexities through her characters. The Title–The Third Party—Thematic The Book Cover–Pastel hues of subtle romance with a hands-on feminine feel. The Theme–“Why do we make promises for a lifetime when we don’t know what the future holds?” It is a question that can make you pause and re-think your marital vows. Sara is in Love, the kind of Love that explodes in one’s head in a million different colours, the kind that puts a smile on the face for no particular reason. A Love that makes one glow from within and plays a special tune in one’s head in a loop. However, there’s a problem: the recipient of Love is not her husband, Rahul but her daughter Riya’s class teacher, Samar. “Why, as a society, are we set up in a way where we think it is wrong to share our love with more than one person at a time?” She asks herself as she spends countless nights lying awake. It is set against India’s vibrant and diverse backdrop, where traditional values and modern-day changes are learning to coexist. Join Sara as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Her tryst with Love, loss, and heartbreak. A soul-searching saga of moral introspection of the essence of duty, loyalty, romance and betrayal before culminating in happily ever after. But it might not be the ending she hoped for—there’s more . . . Find out more in Vithika’s The Third Party. The Narration and Style–The author has told the story in the limited third-person POV. The language is lucid and flows naturally. The narrative style used to tell the story seems conversational, while lots of flowery sentences and phrases make it sound chic. Whose read–With its simplistic approach, the book can be enjoyed across age groups. However, anyone looking for Romance Fiction with a modern outlook must go for it. Not as much–Nothing is left out in the book as it has a meticulous ensemble of soul-stirring moments. A well-balanced mix of dialogue and narration leaves no room for comment. My appraisal–The review is based on the specific genre to match it evenly. Written in a contemporary Narrative style and built on a modern romantic framework. The engaging storyline revolves around the female protagonist Sara and her romantic woes. This effortless page-turner deserves to be read by bibliophiles across genres and niches. Having read and enjoyed the book, I don’t hesitate to recommend it to my Romantic fiction aficionados, and neither would you. Must grab your copy and check it out, folks! End Note–Many man hours, hard work, emotions, Love, care and in-depth musing have been put into writing the book; kudos! Thank you, Vithika, for giving us a fantastic book. Keep up the excellent work. Cheers! Drop in your comments on this review. Ciao!

“I do not write for a living or as a pass time. Neither do I write to be popular. I write for the sheer love of expression. I marvel at the linguistic ability of humans to express what they see, touch, experience, and perceive. It fascinates me how they assimilate it all and put it down in words to convey it to another human in the form of a story; in a million different ways. There is an infinite possibility of this ability to be unique, with the same sights, thoughts, feelings, and the same experience. It is overwhelming when people can relate to my thoughts in words. And how we become one at that moment. It is a craft I keep honing and will all my life.” Bobby George

Bedtime Stories-Vedant Parashar “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” Albert Einstein–Theoretical physicist, A Nobel Prize laureate. It is indeed such a pleasure introducing ‘Bedtime Stories’ to the very young niche of readership, an enrapturing ensemble of short stories by an author as young as six years old. I was as amazed as you would be to know that this is his second-in-line book of ‘Bedtime Stories’; the first was published at the age of five. A fact that further separates this book from scores of other children’s books is its sheer authenticity. It is narrated by someone from the same age group as its readers. Vedant, for us, maybe a ‘Wunderkind’ or a Child Prodigy with intense creativity and awe-inspiring talents, but still a child. Rightly so, each story brims with a child’s innocence and fancy. They portray his perception of the world as he sees it. The stories interestingly use precise words and sounds of animals and try to derive a moral value from each read. Although the narrative has used the ‘dictate’ feature to convert recorded speech into text, the utmost care has been taken to conform to the standards of written English. Primarily meant for children his age, perchance a few years older. I am confident they will enthral anyone who reads them. Dear readers, here’s for you, A book by a kid for kids! Bobby C George Editor (Bedtime Stories-Vedant Parashar)

Ride Above The Clouds-Sanjeev Shekhar All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. ‒Walt Disney, Legendary animator, film producer and entrepreneur. It is not a great story, but rather a story of great Dreams, Passion, Grit, and Mettle, so endearingly told by Sanjeev Shekhar. Having edited scores of books in my long-standing editing career, (Title) bookmarks my journey. I pause. I fondly reminisce, an awe-inspiring metamorphosis of a dream—from an idea to the joy of accomplishment. The author maintains an excellent grip on the plot as he takes the reader through the by lanes of powerful human emotions. Thrilling suspense, subtle humour, painful travails and tickling romance meet you along the way as seven friends dare the most challenging expedition. The novel also has a big heart and accommodates readers readily in its narrative, never letting them wander off the line. You may not have lived the experience of Rajeev Tripathi and his friends, but I am confident you will easily recognise and relate to every moment as you funambulate the taut storyline with bated breath. While you are still dwelling on the power of a dream, another vital aspect of Sanjeev’s story strikes home: the unflinching spirit of camaraderie between friends. Yes, it is not about individual aspirations but the bond between the friends and their determination to see through their dreams together. A dream doesn’t become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. Colin Powell–An American politician, statesman and diplomat. Rightly so, their expedition may sound fascinating, but the progress was intimidating, and the fruit of success lay across the test of fortitude. In the end, you can do nothing but salute those courageous men who dared to step out of mediocrity and endeavoured to create the life of dreams. Friends, I invite you to journey through the fascinating Himalayan massif with Rajeev and his friends. Bobby George Editor Ride Above The Clouds-Sanjeev Shekhar

EDITORIAL Dear Friends, It indeed is a pleasure to present the autumn edition of ‘The Rise Insight’ with its myriad tone, texture and flavours. This compilation has made a conscious effort to explore the talents of many rising and aspiring authors, writers, poets, reviewers (both print and digital) and some worthwhile bloggers. In pursuance of this plan, the highest standard of literary criticism has not been the criterion of selection; but some compositions, which though may not be perfect in form or linguistic technique according to the standards of English purists, have gained a place in this edition based on their sheer freshness and originality. Literary critics, reviewers and bloggers have interestingly and carefully viewed and reviewed their work and brought out the finer points of their submissions. You must also go through this quarter’s top releases by Evincepub. These are the rising literary stars of today destined to become the legends of tomorrow. Pleasantly so this season, women rule the roost with two out of three qualifying for the ‘Editor’s Pick.’ In particular, I would like to draw your attention to contemporary fiction— ‘Women & Their World-Tales of love, loss and survival’ by Varunika Rajput and then in another not-so-common category faction, we have THE HIDDEN GEMS by Amar Talwar. For the non-fiction aficionados, there is an interesting title by Y Srinivas, BE THIRTY AT SIXTY. The season’s tip to all my aspiring writer friends—Most writing is a private activity but a public service. Writing is, above all, for communication, conveying ideas and feelings from one mind to another. The prosody of any language aims at genuine eloquence. Therefore, all our budding writers are advised not to resort to a high–falutin style in some misguided effort to impress the readers but rather to portray individuality in their writing. Before you flick the pages ahead, I need to let you know of my indebtedness to those who have contributed to shaping this edition, whose contribution, though latent, has rendered an indelible impression on this compilation. Specifically, I take this opportunity to thank our contributors profusely, without whose support we could not have envisaged the overwhelming response we receive each season for our endeavour. It is hoped that every reader of this edition will find something conformable to his taste in the variety of its content. Bobby George Editor The Rise Insight (Volume 1) October ’22

Today, I thought I must speak about the absolute must-do things before you even consider submitting your manuscript to an agent or publisher. And the reason I cite to do so as an editor is: during my long editing career, I have rarely come across a complete and presentable manuscript. Mostly I see the half-baked, hurriedly written collection of words spread across pages. Most writers don’t even pay a second glance at what they have written before they start approaching publishers. Perhaps, this must be their rush to see their books on stands or another: They might be thinking, aren’t agents/publishers going to be editing my manuscript, anyway? I have done my job, the herculean task of writing. Well, yes, to an extent. But more often disastrous. Both agents and editors will go through rounds of Editing before committing a manuscript to be formatted for print or eBook. However, you must not forget, Editing is a cost, both in time and money. An agent with limited time will always prefer a polished manuscript over a piece (YOURS) that needs significant work before it can even be presented to a publisher. A publisher will weigh the expense of a substantial edit against future earnings potential, a factor that costs an acceptance/rejection decision. Now you are ready for your biggest shock. In all probability, your manuscript pitched to a traditional publisher, or an agent has already landed up in a trash can while you are waiting; fingers crossed. Let’s get to the basics. If you have completed your manuscript. Manuscript submission checklist: ü Title page ü Dedication ü Epigraph ü Table of contents ü List of illustrations ü List of tables ü Preface ü Acknowledgements ü Any other front matter ü All text matter, including the introduction and part titles ü Notes ü Appendixes ü Glossary ü Bibliography or reference list ü Any other back matter ü All illustrations and all tables ü Illustration Captions ü A list of special characters used in the manuscript ü Abstract(s) and keywords ü All permissions, in writing Once you have all these (You may not necessarily need all of the above depending on you book) in place, I strongly recommend closing your manuscript. Set it aside, and don’t even think about it for at least a week. Now all the anxiety, anxiousness and excitement would have settled, and the clutter cleared. Pick up your manuscript and start the clean-up process, cover to cover, word by word. Weed out everything from typos to grammar errors, unwanted pieces or paras. Repeat the process until you are satisfied that you have done all you can to the best of your ability. Well, now you have in your hands a completed manuscript ready for a professional editor. This task is essential to let the editor focus peacefully on his Editing instead of spending his precious time and your precious money cleaning the manuscript. As to whether or not you need one, well, you do, always. You shouldn’t consider a professional edit to be a luxury any longer. At a time when over a million new titles a year are being added to Amazon each year, your book will be in brutal competition against so many other works. You must do everything possible to ensure your manuscript rises above the fray. Whether you’re submitting to an agent or a publishing house (self or traditional), a professional edit is crucial to ensuring your book gets a fair shot. Don’t take the risk. Get the manuscript edited! However, I can’t promise that doing these things will get your book published traditionally. But we can promise that doing them will help your manuscript stand out from the slush pile. Bobby George

“Religion is the only word that means divine, but understood as divide.” “Correct me if I am wrong—a phrase used by people who don’t like to be corrected.” “Knowledge is like wealth; no matter how much you acquire, there’s always somebody with more.” The weight of your wisdom is directly proportional to the height of your success. “Hope is farther than life; it outlives us every time.” “People think writing is like switching gears at your own sweet will. But it is much more than a mere gear-switching mechanism. “Struggle, when it meets success, is acknowledged and held in awe. Or else, it is any other survival activity no one cares about.” Bobby George

Today, after a long time, I went for a walk. Walking in the countryside under the star-studded morning sky was transcending. In the silence of the virgin chill . . . I walked . . . breathing in the pristine air. I jogged . . . on the lone road narrowed by the splashing water. The lush paddy fields stretched as far as the body could feel and as far out, the eyes could see. I run . . . to conquer the expanse. Breathless . . . I paused. I Looked up at the immensity of the starry blue sky. A moment. A musing. . . I walked back, for I understood the insignificance of my significance. Bobby George

A bird flew into my room the other day. Had it missed its line of flight or out of curiosity, I do not know. Nevertheless, the moment it entered, it realised its folly and began flapping nervously. Tired of its failure, perched at the curtain rail, it gazed outside helplessly, perhaps trying to assess the situation. I do not shoo it away, fearing it could hurt itself in its frantic attempts to escape. I could have posted a picture of that pretty little sparrow in my room. But I hated to photograph a trapped, helpless creature. The room where I write is large, with picture windows all around. I can gaze from my desk at the mountains, the trees, and the rolling clouds over the valley. I tiptoed and opened each movable section of the window as discreetly as I could, trying not to startle it anymore. However perplexed and scared that it was, it could not tell the difference between the clear glass windows. The poor little birdie crashed on the windowpane each time it attempted to escape. After many desperate, failed attempts, it flopped in one corner. Trembling. It gazed out at the alluring freedom across the confusing windowpanes. It could see the trees swaying in the breeze and the clouds floating over the mountaintops. It could even feel the wind in its wings through the window frames I had opened. Tired and hurt, it sat in its corner silently. Perhaps wondering what could be wrong with its judgement. Why does it keep crashing in its attempted flight to freedom . . .? * Likewise, I, too, sat at my desk every day, after many failed attempts, tired and hurt, musing . . . gazing at the lofty view outside, wondering which window led me to freedom. Or which attempt could give me a breakthrough? We both sat in our corners, trapped in the same room that day, with the same thoughts racing in our minds. To my surprise, the little bird rose again, perhaps for another try. I turned away, unable to bear the sight and sound of the failure. The crashing attempts faded each moment as I delved deeper into my thoughts. * The sound of the thud had stopped, perhaps a long time now. I turned around with a heavy heart, expecting to find it on the floor . . . dead. I looked for the little carcass on the floor to at least give it a small burial before I left. However, I found it nowhere. Epiphany! It had found its window. It had wings; it could fly; it kept trying until it found its skies. Today, as I sat musing at my desk, gazing at the lofty view outside, I found a little note on it, left by that little birdie. It read: Dear mate, remember! WE ARE BUT PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS “You, too, have wings. You, too, can fly. Rise again; why don’t you try? To your freedom, out your fly Don’t you tire, yet another try. Find your window, and soar in the sky. You, too, have wings. You, too, can fly.” -Little birdie, who tried. Bobby George Instagram:@bobbygeorge15 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobby.george.94617