Blog Tour for Shiva's Arms by Cheryl Snell ~~ Review and Giveaway...

Product Details from Amazon.com

Hardcover: 209 pages
Publisher: The Writer's Lair Books (March 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0615340814
ISBN-13: 978-0615340814
Product Description

"Is there a happy medium between Hindu tradition and American style, or does the battle of wills between a mother and daughter-in law for the love of the man caught in the middle trump all else? When Alice marries Ramesh, she is plunged into a battle of wills with her mother-in-law. Amma wreaks havoc over Alice's household until a family secret is revealed that costs the old woman everything. Now it is up to Alice to heal the rift. Shiva's Arms evolves into an exploration of cultural identity, the power of reconciliation, and the meaning of home. ***Bonus: Delicious recipes straight from the author's kitchen are included in the back of the book!***"
My Thoughts
Shiva's Arms is a blending of American and Indian culture and also the diversities of the two cultures. There is Alice who marries Ramesh, and his mother Amma and huge family in India. Nela is Ramesh's sister and then there is Sam, son of Alice and Ramesh. Alice and Ram meet while in college and fall in love and marry. Alice is apprehensive meeting his family and rightly so as she knows absolutely nothing of the Indian culture. She tries very hard to be a good wife and do what a good Indian wife should do and follow the ideals and requirements of a wife in the Indian culture. I think that Alice had a hard time with trying to blend in, she tries so hard that she makes herself physically ill and spends days in bed battling depression. Amma is the matriarch in this huge family and spends  a lot of time each year in America with her son. At times I feel that Alice is self centered in that sometimes it appears that she does not want anything to do with her husbands family and she seems to not care and then at other times she strikes me as being a very loving wife and daughter-in-law. Alice and Amma seem to always be having a silent tug of war that the son does not see, but I also think that there is a lot of affection there between the two women. Sam, who is the son of Alice and Ram is brought up in both cultures but he can be rebellious. The author was very descriptive in the story as to the telling of wedding customs and India in particular. At the end of the book there are a few Indian recipes that looked interesting. I enjoyed the story for the culture aspect as I had not read anything pertaining to India. If you like to read books that have such a diverse culture, than this is a book for you.



Interview with Cheryl Snell:
Thank you Cheryl for agreeing to this interview:
1. Where did you get the idea for the book especially the diverse cultures?About the Author:
An artist's job is to hold a mirror up to what is happening in the larger society, and the merging of Eastern and Western cultures was one catalyst for this story.
2. Is the story based at all on your personal life?
I married a very modern Indian from a traditional background, so I got to witness a culture clash up close and personal.
3. What kind of research did you do for the story?
I steeped myself in the work of Indian novelists like Lahiri, Mistry, and Divakaruni; Indologists like Diana Eck and Joseph Campell; I learned to cook South Indian cuisine - well enough to host a party for the Science Chancellor of India one time. 15 different dishes on our table! We all wore silk saris.
4. Have you written anything else that you have had published?
Yes, nine other books of poetry and fiction.I've also published over four hundred poems, stories, and book reviews, online and in print. I've won a few awards for my work and been nominated for a few more.
5. Do you have another novel in the works?
A novel featuring Nela, called Rescuing Ranu, is on Amazon, and I'm working on a third in the series.
6. What advice would you give to any one who wants to get published?
First, make sure the work you want to submit for publication is as good as you can make it, but not so polished that you can't bear to change a word. You'll be doing exactly that when you work with an editor if your book is accepted.
Research a few companies at a time to see what kinds of books they publish and how yours might fit in. Don't expect a publisher to make exceptions for you. To send a manuscript outside the genres a house publishes wastes everyone's time.
Follow the publisher's guidelines on how they like to be approached. Write one businesslike query letter at a time. Nobody likes to be spammed!
Check to see that you've included everything the publisher asked for -- a synopsis, sample, bio, platform, marketing plan. Be sure your submission packet is clean--no coffee stains on the manuscript. Send it off and wait. Don't call them, they'll call you.
You can read Cheryl Snell's blog here:
http://shivasarms.blogspot.com/
I received this book from Writers Lair and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
credits: YouTube and Amazon.com

GIVEAWAY!! The Writers Lairs Books  has graciously agreed to provide 2 copies of Shiva's Arms for this giveaway.

To Enter:
Be a follower of any of my blogs
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Twitter the giveaway
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That's it, good luck!!!