Zahra speaks

The third wave of coronavirus is very powerful and affecting much more people as compared to the last year. Eight members of my family contracted coronavirus last month, including myself. It happened at the start of April, on the first of Ramadan. I had a severe headache and fever. Usually, at the start of summer, I get a fever for a few days. It's probably because my body reacts to the weather change like that. However, I was also experiencing a dry throat and a very slight cough. I started taking painkillers for my headache but after two days of fever, I lost my smelling sense. It was the most alarming sign. Well, my mother was sharing my symptoms and, in the meanwhile, my father also started having a cough which indicated that he had also been exposed. The coronavirus test costs Rs. 7500 per patient. It is very difficult to get tested every time you experience symptoms similar to the coronavirus symptoms. So here is a pro tip, if you feel you are having a fever with a headache, ...

Anything in my life has not been 'normal' and so has been the case with my book publishing methodology. When I wrote my first book, I self-published it because traditional publishing came off so hard. It seemed nearly impossible to get my book published and maybe reach the readers.  For me, the priority was putting my story out there. I wanted people to read it and provide their feedback. If you have ever written something and possibly published it online, you would know the curiosity of receiving feedback. So, my first step was finding a self-publishing platform that was easy to use and involved the least hassle. I found various platforms including Amazon Kindle Publishing but settled with Draft2digital .com; it is a distribution website that helps the authors to self-publish on most of the major eBook stores. I uploaded my manuscript on their website and they formatted it according to their requirements. There are various layouts available and the author can pick any specific...

David moves away from his family to further his career. But, when his marriage hits rock bottom, he returns to his wife, Penny, in order to save his relationship. The estranged couple tries to resolve their differences, but when shocking secrets are exposed, it's not just their relationship at risk. A dangerous adversary threatens the couple, and before long, David is dragged into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. He must protect his family at all costs but what if the enemy is closer than he imagined? Will he be able to defend his family from the powerful clutches of the enemy? Or will his mistakes cost him his future? Pre-order your eBook: https://books2read.com/u/m2RM9j

 My first book, The Stranger , was a romantic story. It is one of my favorite genres and comes naturally to me. When I started thinking about writing my second book, I knew that I wanted to move out of my comfort zone. Moreover, my father who is not a fan of romantic stories was also a very motivational force. Consequently, I chose the thriller and mystery genres. As a writer, I have always felt confident about my romantic stories. I think I am good at it. I never wanted anyone to critique my work in its initial stages but the new genre somehow made me a little nervous. I needed someone to validate my creative approach. Therefore, I reached out to a friend whose feedback would be critically honest and I could trust her with my intellectual property too. She graduated in English Literature and I had full faith in her capabilities to critique my work. Although she was a mother of a toddler, she still agreed to provide feedback on my first chapter. I sent her the draft and sat on the ...

 2020 was a very baffling year. Like everyone, I was also taken aback by the quick spread of coronavirus and the extensive lockdown. Who could have imagined that a pandemic would change the way this world works? The virus did not spare the rich, powerful, or the rulers. Everyone was and still is equally likely to contract coronavirus (not if you follow the SOP's).  The lockdown happened in March 2020, exactly a year ago. Things do not look pretty different. As we all know that the virus is again spreading very quickly and we are experiencing a surge in daily infections. The third wave is proving to be very strong and dangerous. Initially, we all used to hear stories that Corona infected one of the people in another city or town. Then came the second wave where people from our circle started getting infected and now with the third wave in full action, it has reached our homes. Nearly 5 to 6 people from my close-knit circle including my sister are infected with the coronavirus. ...

Image courtesy: GOOGLE IMAGES Versailles is a fictional show based on French history. It highlights the life of Louis the fourteenth. There are a lot of plots that entwine throughout the three seasons of the show. It perfectly describes the monarchy through different events and dialogues. At one event when someone questions Louis's justice, he justifies his brutalities by saying: 'I am Justice'. This is just one of the powerful dialogues that you will experience in this series! The dialogues are simply mindblowing. Simple fact stating sounds fancy and splendid.  The storyline is complex but you get hooked once you start watching the season. It's one of those shows where I was taken back to 1667, Louis the fourteenth had just taken command over France. He develops Versailles as his center and strives to make it a glorious manifestation of the French monarchy. The love life of the king is not hidden to anyone as he is always surrounded by ladies despite being married to M...

 As we bid adieu to the year 2020, I would like to take this opportunity and thank The Almighty for all His blessings despite the odd circumstances that prevailed all over the world this year. This year was a jolting reminder of who is in charge. The world had to amend their plans according to His will. A virus that cannot be discerned by the naked eye locked everyone in their homes and established the vulnerability of human beings before the divine decree. This year has changed many things including the mindset of some people that they can control everything, plan perfectly, and mold everything according to their wishes. The truth has always been contrary and the coronavirus pandemic has proved it. Despite everything, this year has taught me a lot. This year has been nothing short of a bumpy ride, from the passing of my grandmother to giving away 100 copies of my book within 2 months, I have a lot of memories is associated with the year 2020. In February, my grandmother passed awa...