IndiaBookStore.net – Interview

Hi friends, I take this opportunity to introduce you all to, IndiaBookStore an upcoming book price comparison website and a community that deals with the world of books and book lovers.

I had requested Ms. Priyanka Gupta, (Product & Content Manager at IndiaBookStore) to answer a few questions about ‘IndiaBookStore’. She is an IIT Kanpur alumni and a new age entrepreneur.

1. What sow the seed for ‘IndiaBookStore’ and how did it develop?

Animesh Jain, (the founder of IndiaBookStore) who is an avid reader and a frequent book buyer, while struggling to find the best deal online for his desired book, realized the need of a portal which can throw the price from top online stores in no time. Being a geek, he hates wasting time on little things, and the idea of developing IndiaBookStore was such a trivial thing.

2. What is happening on ‘Bookish’ – Official blog of www.indiabookstore.net and what are your plans on the same?

The blog brings users book reviews, latest book releases, information on literary events. Our latest section “Authors Exclusive” is a recent initiative, where we feature interviews with authors and exclusive articles written by published authors.

We are spreading our association with more and more publication houses, through writing book reviews for them and running book promotional contests.

3. How has been your experience while interviewing various authors and their works for ‘Bookish’?

This is really amazing, I personally boast around that I know the author of ** book.

I am thankful to all the authors who contributed to our blog, certainly a very kind gesture. I envision to make Bookish, a platform which brings authors and readers close. The user response on this section is overwhelming.

4. Tell us about your dedicated team?

Animesh – The founder and the “Geek Guru”. He acts like a “Guru” for the development team

Priyanka – The Product Manager or “The fuel ”, I manage the show.

Developers – A team of 3 that actualizes the dreams of Priyanka.

Content writers – And then there is a team consisting of free-lancers and interns who bring Bookish to life.

5. Which are the modes through which readers can follow latest news from ‘IndiaBookStore’?

Follow us on :

Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/IndiaBookStore),

Twitter(https://twitter.com/indiabookstore),

Subscribe for our blog newsletter (http://www.indiabookstore.net/bookish/).

For any feedback/suggestions, mail us at feedback@indiabookstore.net.

6. How is ‘IndiaBookStore’ different from other search engines?

a.  Focused on only one product, BOOKS. This makes the search results precise.

b.The simplicity of site – No distraction by advertisements. We emphasize on giving our users an uninterrupted experience.

c. The search suggestions shown while browsing are very accurate and save a lot of time.

7. How would you define the growth of ‘IndiaBookStore’ so far?

It’s been pretty good so far, about 100K visits per month and a repeat customer rate of more than 50%. The user base for the overall site and the blog is building at a good pace.

8. How can authors and publishing houses benefit from associating themselves with ‘IndiaBookStore’?

We have been doing lot of promotional activities for authors and publication houses. Book reviews, author interviews, book centered contests – all of this to help authors and publication houses publicizing their work and help the readers to get a closer perspective of writing community.

9. How does ‘IndiaBookStore’ plan to expand in the next two years?

We want to become one stop destination for book lovers – where people can know about the book from our blog, compare prices across different online stores, read store reviews before making final purchase.

10. What is your take on the arrival of e-books ? Do you feel that they are a threat to ‘Mom and Pop’ book stores?

e-books would definitely change the face of publishing, it will reduce the challenges of budding authors. e-books come cheaper and are handy for travelers, so enhanced accessibility. It certainly is a threat for publishers and our next door book stores. But at the same time, I feel that the experience of holding a printed book in your hand certainly can’t be matched by e-books, so the market for “the real books (that’s how I call the printed version of the book)” will always remain there.

11. What would you like to tell our readers so that they would feel welcomed and more comfortable in accessing ‘IndiaBookStore’ online community?

I can vouch for the fact that this is the fastest book search engine, and our regular users tell us the same. We aim to be a user driven site, which gives a lot of credit to its users. I won’t brag much, try out IndiaBookStore.net and if you find any issues, shoot a mail to us, bark at us, do whatever you wish to, I make sure that we will act on it quickest possible in the limited strength of our team.

Thanks a lot Ms. Priyanka Gupta for taking time out from your busy schedule and answering the questions. Friends, next time when you want to buy a book don’t forget to check ‘IndiaBookStore’ for the latest updates in the world of books. Make an informed choice.

Mothers Day Greetings

One of the blessed aspects of being a writer is the potential to change lives across the globe. Mothers, help us realize and understand the value of this potential and guide us to be responsible with our craft.  They are like the silent trees who with their very presence, bring innumerable blessings in our lives and in return ask for nothing. They guide every entity from their first breath. If humanity can learn to understand the love in the eyes of a mother when she looks at her child, then perhaps it can reach the goal it has been destined to. I wish every Mother – a very ‘HAPPY MOTHERS DAY’.  May your divine blessings continue to sanctify and guide our every moment.

Poem on eve of International Women’s Day

The below drafted poem from my fiction novel ‘Age Of Hiblisk’, is a humble attempt from my end to encompass the spirit of  a ‘Woman’. Through this poem, I wish to extend my warm wishes and best greetings to all the wonderful women across the globe, on the eve of International Women’s Day. May this day inspire you all, to guide ‘Humanity’, towards a better future.

“Few things that I know and a few things that I don’t,

I have combined them all to make them my own.

The sky in the day and the sky in the night,

They both shine bright by the virtue of your might.

The water in the lakes and the water in the sea,

They all are still as your will commands them to be.

The birds in the sky and the animals on the ground,

They all pay respect to the might of your crown.

As foolish as I am and as wise as I can be,

The words of wisdom never looked so true, for anyone other than thee.

For all things are from you and all things are within you,

Hence, my Namaskar, to all forms of you.”

(Namaskar – Is a form of salutation similar to ‘Namaste’ in India. It means to humbly bow to the  human spirit in front of you.)

Free Sample Chapters

Hi friends, you can now read the first three chapters of my fiction novel – Age Of Hiblisk via the below mentioned links.

http://www.apkpublishers.com/product/58-age-of-hiblisk-a-story-with-a-soul.html

OR

Age Of Hiblisk – Sample Chapters

Also, sharing a brief intro / review as carried by *DNA – Daily News & Analysis (Mumbai Edition Pg 12) on 24.02.2013.

Enjoy!!

* DNA is one of India’s leading English daily.

Happy Valentines Day

Too much love in the air, no one can ever complain about it. It is beautiful feeling to be in love. To wake  up every morning to know that your genuine smile, voice, touch, thoughts can make the life of a very special person more beautiful than ever. It is an emotion that grows on you like the ascend of the majestic sun. With every passing moment, the emotion of  love, illuminates facets of our personalities which, under normal circumstances are very much hidden from ourselves.

Allow me to further romaticize the feeling of Love itself. It is an absolute honor to borrow the below lines from my favourite artist Jason Mraz’s song – ‘Life is Beautiful’:

“……It takes no time to fall in love
But it takes you years to know what love is
It takes some fears to make you trust…..”

I have always felt that the efforts required to be in love and understand it everyday, are far more important and difficult to execute as compared to the efforts required, to fall in love with someone. But love is such a mesmerizing emotion that any and all efforts are worth it. It is important to understand that falling in love, means to be committed in enriching all aspects of that special someone. Many a times, we fall in love to seek comfort and means to complete ourselves. That’s all right, it is important too. But, the next step is to ensure that this very process becomes a two way process. Always try to ensure that the feeling of love evolves into a more divine one which benefits both.

It is about how much do you selflessly pledge yourself and your actions to this very feeling of love. How much are you devoted and committed to each other, without being selfish.

Let your love help the person of your dreams to evolve into a better personality in all aspects and facets of life. Aid the person whom you love to overcome their respective demons and help them realize their goals. As long the element of ‘EGO’ remains in either one of the love birds, the complete realization of love can never be achieved. Learn to seek genuine happiness in your partners triumphs and concern for their every trials.

Shape your love in accordance to the nature of a tree, wherein you can be the roots in each others life, thus helping to whether off any storm and also like leaves, which will help the tree of your life to nourish itself and survive. When in love, be like a tree; give abundantly,  and passionately without hesitating. Nourish each other and see the wonder of life that will grow beneath the shade of your love.

In love, always be generous and selfless. Help each other to become a true and better person. Always be on a quest to understand the true and many aspects of love. It will aid you in understanding yourself better. Being forgiving and compassionate will always help in this adventurous journey.

Wish you all a very Happy Valentines Day! May your life be sprinkled with a million moments of love.

Don’t forget to rate the blog

Article on Vegetarian Diet

I am a Vegetarian; not by chance but by choice. I am extremely proud of the fact that I am a vegetarian. Honestly, it really irritates me when people, many people, who have just been introduced to me and also those who know me, make much fuss about the same. All end up asking the same question – “Seriously, a vegetarian!?” Such an expression from their end, many times, makes me feel as if I am a serial offender towards a global cry against vegetarians. But jokes apart, honestly, I never liked meat. I was born to eat vegetables and not meat. It is a choice which perhaps the good heavens have made for me. And, I am extremely glad for the same.

On a serious note, please give the following words some serious thought. The natural tendency of all living beings is survival. When faced with threats of deathly proportions, every cell, tissue, nerve, veins and all other aspects of an animals’ body, gear up to defend their lives. When an animal is in such a state, the natural tendency to protect its life gets enhanced many times over than usual. This natural tendency is converted into energy which equips an animal or infact any living organism with additional energy backed by high rush of emotions too. Hence, when an animal is slaughtered, one can hear them screaming in voices usually never heard off.

There is always a strong chance for this ill and disharmonious energy to get ingrained in the very tissue, organ, nerve and cell of that organism. Now, imagine yourself feasting on a flesh of such an animal whose every inch of body is embedded with such violent energy. You directly inject your body with heavy doses of this very ill energy by consuming a meat product.

The below mentioned wise words of Mr. Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, further the above mentioned point :

“Der Mensch ist, was er ißt.”

That translates into English as

‘Man is what he eats’.

Being a vegetarian will aid you to keep your mind clear and conscience clean.

Your choice to be a vegetarian can so very easily make a difference to your life in a very positive manner.  Do not be ruled by the fancies of your taste buds. Control your mind and make a decision which will make your conscience proud.

Multitasking

I hate multitasking. It is an idiotic exercise. I have subjected healthy portions of my working hours to the vigorous of multitasking and I realised that it is nothing more but a fancy name invented to cover a pathetic and useless act. Multitasking effectively reduces a refined human being to a caged monkey. There is nothing glorious or poetic about it.

I feel, while doing a particular task, if you are not giving 100% to it, then you are cheating the task at hand and also yourself. You are actually robbing yourself of a sense of satisfaction that follows when you devote 100% of your resources towards the task at hand. Many at times, I have seen people multitasking, to achieve many different results. The results vary from impressing the elements in your immediate surroundings to saving time or even evolving yourself to maximizing your output. Trust me, you do not maximize your output but only reduce it. During the course of multitasking, a person, inadvertently, looses on finer nuances of his or her work. It may not happen immediately but be rest assured, it will happen eventually. The discipline in a persons approach towards his work gets corrupted and before one can realize anything, it is already too late to make amends.

Why rob yourself of a genuine pleasure that arises after completion of a job when you devote yourself 100% to it? Multitasking only exposes you to hazards, that slowly creep into your life system. A person might unknowingly carry this hazards to even his home. Now, how ill your loved ones would feel, if you do not shower them with the attention they deserve. Will you not be cheating them of true love that they are supposed to receive from  you. Imagine yourself playing around with your smartphones or laptops when they are trying to communicate to you. If possible, then please note your reaction in such cases and also of the ones who are trying to communicate to you. Such actions are very repulsive and go against the very structure of manners and etiquette.

Think on the hazards of multitasking instead of its positives, which I sincerely believe are illusionary. Focus on the task at hand. Devote your complete attention towards it. Let this habit also flow into your personal lives. Devote your 100% attention while interacting within your social circle. Try to be a genuine human being instead of trying to evolve into a an animal that highlights a circus show.