Enjoy this eclectic collection of short stories that brings together award-winning writers from across the globe in an eclectic, inspiring, funny and moving body of work.

Beautifully illustrated, Fate is the eighth in a series of short story anthologies, exploring the theme of fate and including the winning and shortlisted entries from the annual Hammond House International Literary Prize.

Pre order now for delivery after launch on 21st February 2024.

Tapestry of the Mind is best described as the writer’s literary love affair with trying to make sense of the human psyche. It is a collection of seventeen fully-developed short stories that are serious, funny, tender and grounded in Malaysia and, in particular Aneeta Sundararaj’s hometown of Alor Setar in northern Peninsular Malaysia.

The reader moves among a diverse range of protagonists from classical Indian dancers, toddlers engaging with spirits, pet therapy, mothers losing their children because of inequitable laws and the manipulation of the metaverse, men lacking self-worth, and divorcees mulling failed marriages, to probable stigma of homosexuality, narcissism, mean adults, sibling rivalry, bullying, spiritual abuse, clandestine adoptions, autism, environmental disasters, men’s regret from love lost, and the destruction of the mission schools.

Like all love affairs, specific and unique cultural, ethnic and religious differences gave rise to moments of betrayal, poignancy, heartache and, sometimes, much mirth. Ultimately, this haunting collection pieces together an everlasting tapestry of words rooted in brutal honesty. When viewed as a whole, it brings to light issues long avoided, evaded or hidden. All the stories have been longlisted, shortlisted or won literary awards. Prefaced a quote from an expert in mental health, Tapestry of the Mind is cradled with gravitas.

This unique and thrilling competition challenged writers to take a single sentence and expand it into a captivating story. This book contains captivativating stories created using the below prompts:

• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.
• “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” – Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.
• “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” – George Orwell, 1984.
• “It was a queer, sultry summer…” – Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar.
• “In my younger and more vulnerable years…” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

One year ago, Livina Press launched it's first issue in June 2022. Now, Issue 5 is here with even more wonderful works that I have been lucky enough to bring you. With each new issue I am blown away by the amazing talent that comes into Livina Press's inbox.

In this issue, there is heartbreak and happiness and everything in between. There are characters that come alive on the page and poems that transport you into them. In this issue, you will find the things that every author wanted to write about. Livina Press was created around the sole purpose of letting people write what they wanted to write, and that is what you will see.

Welcome to Issue 5 of Livina Press. Remember to keep your mind open and your heart ready.

Step into a world brimming with creativity and imagination as the pages of Brouhaha transport you to captivating realms crafted by the winners of the renowned WriteFluence Brouhaha contest.

Prepare to be spellbound by a collection of extraordinary short stories that will leave you gasping, cheering, and contemplating the depths of human emotion. Within these pages, the diverse pool of talented authors dares to venture into uncharted territories, exploring the realms of fantasy, mystery, romance, science fiction, and beyond.

Authors in this book:

Anton Zaides, Bohumila Ottova, John P. McEneny, Linda Hibbin, Luca Ferreira, Priyanka Mohan, Ramya V, Vaishali Chandorkar Chitale, Aneeta Sundararaj, Juan Antonio Polanco, Peter Collins, Yvonne Lloyd and Sneha Acharekar

Don't forget to share your achievement with your kin by sharing our page about the book release.

Links to buy the book are also available on the WriteFluence website. Click the link on the left.

Congratulations, and Happy WriteFluencing!

This is a compilation of the winning short stories of the international short-story contest for women FemmeFluenza 3.0, organized by WriteFluence. The book consists of 19 literary pieces written in different genres and based on the theme of Separation, and were selected from numerous submissions that had been received from all over the world for the contest.

Also available for purchase in the paperback format on Notionpress (India) and Flipkart in the paperback format.

People from all walks of life join together in this thought-of-the-day collection of essays. This book brims with appreciation without crossing the line to sappy or too “woo-woo.” Instead you will find evidence that harnessing the power of gratitude can be a life-changing force. Inside are stories about the things, people, circumstances, and events the contributors that bring gratitude to everyday life.

These “gratitude-in-real-life” stories are about more than the polite "thank yous" we casually exchange every day. They're testimonials to the people and things we often take for granted. Join us in this growing movement of people from around the world who have committed to asking themselves this simple yet profound question every day of the week--what am I grateful for?

“No woman should ever have to lose her child. And not in the heart-breaking way that Kamini lost hers.”

Malaysia is in a unique position where both the laws of Syariah and the Civil Law are practised concurrently. This has given rise to a conflict in jurisdiction in certain cases. For instance, where a non-Muslim couple is married under the provisions of the Civil Law, confusion arises when one party converts to Islam and converts their children as well. A custody battle often ensues where the Syariah Court can grant custody of the children to their newly converted Muslim parent while the High Court of Malaya can grant custody to the non-Muslim parent. THE AGE OF SMILING SECRETS is a work of fiction that is based on this legal position.

[***The Legend of Nagakanna (an edited version of Chapter 9 in this novel) was first published in an anthology called We Mark Your Memory: Writings from the Descendants of Indenture, School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers, 2018]

A riveting tale of tragic destinies that dares to expose the flaws in our concurrent Civil-Syariah Laws. Lives unravel in a worst-case scenario when loopholes in the law, exacerbated by corruption and unscrupulous characters, combine to destroy the very fabric of lives of simple and honest folks.

Datuk Ramli Ibrahim

This saga of much breadth and density is vibrantly poignant with richness of character. As the drama unfolds, one cannot help but notice the subtle launching of the realities of contemporary issues in political Malaysia, albeit beautifully couched in theatrical fashion. A must-read for all those looking for good Asian fiction, but nevertheless grounded in tangible life events.

Professor Bala Shanmugam

‘In [The Age of Smiling Secrets], Karuppan gives voice to the sheer contempt for his station in life which epitomises the utter lack of self-worth that many Tamils will identify with. … Personally, I feel works such as these need to be recognised by people in academia as well as by the general public. As such, from the point of view of literature, there are already many published works that speak of the challenges that the author of the article speaks of. They are rich in information, emotion and, in most cases, unspoken trauma and pain.’

Dr. Swagata Sinha Roy; Paperback Book Club
(https://www.facebook.com/PaperbackBookClub/)

In the Media:
On Her Own Terms by S. Indra Sathiabalan: The Sun (18 November 2018)
Following Her Dreams by Rynnaas Azlan: Malaysian Business (February 2019)
More on Indentured Labour by Dr. Swagata S. Roy: The Star (5 July 2020)
Reading List: Some Malaysian Authors to Delve Into by Aaron Pereira (27 August 2020)

***

1. Book review: 2 Snakes Whistling at the Same Time
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/11/07/book-review-2-snakes-whistling-same-time

2. ‘On her own terms’ by S. Indra Sathiabalan (14 November 2018) : http://www.thesundaily.my/node/590086

Here are some of the lovely things people have said about Ladoo and the book:

Aneeta’s dedication to and love for Ladoo tells us what we know in our hearts to be true, but often take for granted. Like a mother’s hug, her work is warm and endearing. Thank you Aneeta, thank you Ladoo – G. Rajasingam

When I first saw Ladoo and Aneeta together, I was reminded of what Sir Walter Scott once wrote: ‘The desire for offspring is deeply implanted in the female breast.’ I’ve watched Ladoo grow into a lovely girl and, yes, save for talking, she might as well have been human. … To paraphrase Lord Byron: ‘Ladoo has already mingled with the gods.’ … Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Azlanii Dr. M. Mahadevan

… Starting with a short definition of ‘dachshund’, the author moves to endear Ladoo to us. We are shown Ladoo as she grows up, in her various moods. We laugh and are amused at the various aspects of Ladoo so realistically shared with us. Aneeta takes us on a journey of a life and, finally, we cry with her through Ladoo’s illness and ultimate passing. … Anyone who has enjoyed the companionship of the four-legged will be able to empathise and walk through the author’s experiences as we discover the unconditional love of our pets and depths to ourselves which we may not otherwise have explored. … Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan

This is a touching love story between a woman and a dog. It is no ordinary love. It’s a mother’s love – pure and undefiled. The law of attraction prevailed at the first encounter itself between the two – commonly termed as ‘love at first sight’. … The feelings expressed by the writer, her choice of words at every traumatic situation at every turn of the development in the dog’s life and how she managed to find the solutions, some of which were painful decisions, can kindle the emotions of even the steeled mind. …. Datin Paduka Mother A Mangalam

***
The author shows a tremendous love for Ladoo that is infectious and draws the reader into the story. Author smartly includes a great collection of well-researched facts about dachshunds as a breed, adding a great fascination to the book. Well done. Dog-lovers will admire the effort put into sharing the history of this type of dog.

We get a nice balance of excitement and tension when she seeks to get a dog, breaking the rules of her flat in the process. She’s determined and passionate, and while we worry about her getting caught, we understand the connection to Ladoo and the soul desire to have a dog. Well done. Nicely crafted.

Watch out for periods of telling, rather than showing through sensory details and movement. There are some strings of minutiae like ‘My telephone rang. I rose to my feet and went to pick it up. It was my mother. This was the gist of our conversation.’ This is not as engaging as using sensory details, such as feeling the vibration of the telephone on the floorboards, or a physical reaction such as dread when she hears her mother’s voice. Add experientials to action or plot scenes to create moments for the reader to experience. For instance, when she pets Ladoo, what does the fur feel like? What is Ladoo’s expression? That’s what dog-loving readers know and want to feel from this story.

Watch out for typos and misspellings that distract the reader from the book as well. We’re immersed in the story, wanting to know more about the author’s connection with the dog, and when typos occur, it pulls us away from the heart of the book.

The ending coverage of Ladoo’s passing is sad because we know a pet’s loss is sad, but I would have liked to know more about the physical and emotional experience of the author’s loss in some revelatory and unique way. A good story…just needs to go a bit deeper with experientials.

Judge, 3rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published eBook Awards.

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Thank you for your support and I have no doubt that Ladoo will be wagging her tail, joyous in the knowledge that everyone’s reading about her!

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Ladoo Dog: Tales of a Sweet Dachshund in the news
Article in the newspapers: No petty affair

Here are reviews we’ve received for this book:

• A book for every dog lover – review by Susan Keefe

• The women who wrote by Chuah Guat Eng (Star2; 1 Sep 2015)
• 1994- 2003: the publishing scene by Chuah Guat Eng (Star2; 8 Sep 2015)
• Looking at South Asian women writers by Chuah Guat Eng (Star2; 11 June 2015; http://www.star2.com/culture/books/book-news/2017/06/11/writing-the-nation-looking-at-south-asian-women-writers/)