Shiva's Arms by Cheryl Snell

1 - How did you get interested in the topic that’s featured in your book?

When I married my Indian husband, I became fascinated by the dynamics of the Indian “joint-family.” Since an ocean separated me from my new in-laws, I thought I’d explore the “what ifs” in fiction. So I pitted Alice, an American “unsuitable” bride, against Shiva, a traditional Indian mother-in-law and the namesake of a god.

2 - Tell us a bit about your background. What have you done in the past that relates to your book and that topic?

I come from a background of classical music and poetry. Each discipline feeds the other, and feed, in turn, the transition from image to scene that a novel demands. As far as subject matter goes, I was the child of immigrants, and the romance surrounding their struggles resonated with me, and gave me a frame of reference for my husband’s own emotional statelessness.

Although the set-up of Shiva’s Arms is drawn from my life—American girl finds Brahmin boy with seventeen opinionated relatives-- I am not Alice. She has my hair and my fashion sense, but her character is influenced by my fictional universe and the demands it makes on her. Even a true story is held hostage to memory and interpretation. When fictional truth wins over nostalgia, the story finds its own voice. I am not Alice, but I know her very well.

3 - What advise would you give to someone who is interested in your topic?

Read and listen. The Indian diaspora has given rise to many works of fiction that examine the question of divided loyalties. Lahiri, Desai, Divakaruni are all drawn to the stories of immigrant families thrashing in their domestic seas. It’s such a brave act, to move to a strange land. But here’s the thing-- when a person is part of two cultures, what part of the self goes, and what stays?

4 - What do you see as the benefit to participating in groups and organizations? My first thought would be networking opportunities and the chance for personal and business growth. What are your reasons?

There is a wonderful sense of community in a writer’s group, the chance to learn about the craft itself, the business of writing, and the chance to encourage growth in others. Online workshops have the extra advantage of semi-anonymity. It’s easier to tell the hard truths about someone’s writing if you don’t have cues in their expression or body language to influence your opinion.

5 - Who is the ideal person to read your book? If each person that reads this was going to recommend your book to one person, what sort of person would they want to chose?

Anyone interested in cultural cross-pollination; anyone who relishes musical language; anyone who ever had a mother-in-law.

6 - What do you think ignites a person’s creativity?

Reading widely and deeply, noticing details, developing empathy.

7 - What have you found to be the biggest stumbling block for people who want to start writing?

They try to carve out enough of the ideal chunk of time. There is no such thing.

8 - How would you suggest they can overcome that?

Try to write every day. Routine may seem uninspiring, but you want to be at your desk if inspiration happens to strike! Think about what you’re writing when you’re doing other things—plot the next scene while you’re doing dishes, etc. Stay connected to your project, in other words. Leave your physical writing in the middle of a sentence. It will help jumpstart the next session.

9 - What do you find is the biggest motivator for people to succeed? Is it money, security, desire for fame or something else?

Fantasies about money, security, fame don’t really help a person take the necessary one step after another to learn their craft, and build a success. I remember a sad story about a gifted new writer who submitted her first story to The New Yorker and was rejected. Her friends tried to shore her up by pointing out the many excellent lit journals in the world, but she said, “I had my heart set on The New Yorker,” and promptly quit writing.

10 - Who is the “perfect” person to read your book?

I’m hoping South Indians will enjoy the inside jokes and cultural references. The recipes in the companion booklet, too.

A reader who learns how to understand an “other” through this story would be just about perfect.

11 - Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
One reader asked me how I can write about the ‘other’. I can write about this community because I do not truly belong to it. Being a perpetual outsider, standing in the doorway, is a good place to eavesdrop. I’ll leave you with a bit of Mr. Faulkner’s wisdom: "I never know what I think about something until I read what I've written on it."

Start With the Facts for Todd Rhoad's New Book

1 - How did you get interested in the topic that’s featured in your book?

When I saw my friends struggling to achieve their desired career success, no matter what they tried (e.g. hard work, advanced college degrees).

2 - Tell us a bit about your background. What have you done in the past that relates to your book and that topic?

Todd Rhoad’s expertise is drawn from twenty years of experience as an engineer struggling to climb the corporate ladder through government, private, public, profit and non-profit organizations. Thinking education alone would be sufficient to climb the ladder, Todd obtained both a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration. He has worked in numerous industries from consumer products to high technology research and development while serving in roles from engineer to finally reaching the managerial ranks. He is currently a Managing Director at Bt Consulting in Austin, TX. With over 30 publications in journals, books and conferences, he is a frequent speaker and presenter at high schools, colleges and conferences.

3 - What advise would you give to someone who is interested in your topic?

It’s a constant battle against global forces now. Staying ahead of the career game requires a lot of work and networking.

4 - What do you see as the benefit to participating in groups and organizations? My first thought would be networking opportunities and the chance for personal and business growth. What are your reasons?

I teach a team-based approach to career success. I truly believe greater things are accomplished by the many, not the few.

5 - Who is the ideal person to read your book? If each person that reads this was going to recommend your book to one person, what sort of person would they want to chose?
The ideal person is the young professional seeking to make his mark in the world. Not having been trained or educated on what the corporate world is really like or how the corporate landscape is changing, they’ll struggle to understand it. The book will teach them a great way to capture success without worrying about competition or the endless barrage of organizational restructuring.

6 - What do you think ignites a person’s creativity?

A simple idea. That’s exactly what was developed with the Blitz Approach. I saw a problem, came up with an idea that could resolve it and then took 3 years to prove it.

7 - What have you found to be the biggest stumbling block for people who want to start writing?

Knowing how.

8 - How would you suggest they can overcome that?

Just write. Get all your ideas down on paper. Then, get help make it read better. Learn from others.

9 - What do you find is the biggest motivator for people to succeed? Is it money, security, desire for fame or something else?

It’s not one thing. As a need gets filled, it becomes something else. As we grow and change, so does the brass ring.

10 - Who is the “perfect” person to read your book?

Anyone who wants more success in their career but can’t seem to get it.

11 - Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

The purpose behind publishing this book is to provide the many young professionals entering the business world a realistic view of how business is done and what they can expect to encounter. It will also help those individuals that display the skills and talents needed to progress up the ladder but somehow never seem to get the opportunity. The blitz method will hopefully convince readers they can put significant control of their career in their own hands despite the numerous forces that hold them back.

The approach presented will be from an insider’s point of view. The concepts are current and relevant to situations individuals will face in today’s business world. Typically strategies for career advancement are presented from academics or consultants. These authors typically work with individuals at the higher levels of the organization that are considerably removed from the trials and tribulations in climbing the ladder. This book presents the story from the soldier who just stepped off the field of battle when the echo of the bombs, the smell of the powder and the heat from the wounds are still fresh in his mind.