‘Tis The Season: Authors Talk Holidays is a special seasonal feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which some of my favourite authors help me to celebrate the spirit of the season and spread a little holiday cheer. So, pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle in by the fireside as they answer the question: “What does the holiday season mean to you?” You can find a complete list of this year’s participants and their scheduled guest post dates Here!
About Nisha Sharma
Nisha Sharma grew up immersed in Bollywood movies, ’80s pop culture, and romance novels, so it is no surprise that her first novel, My So-Called Bollywood Life, features all three. Nisha lives in Pennsylvania with her cat, Lizzie Bennett, and her dog, Nancey Drew.
New Year’s Day.
The automatic reset on the calendar.
Growing up, I always made a big deal out of New Year’s. My parents and I would sit around and watch the ball drop, or we’d go to some elaborate Indian New Year’s party. When I entered college, I started hosting these viewing parties where a bunch of friends and I would get together and cook a feast. We’d mix drinks, wear pajamas and crash in front of the TV for an all-night viewing extravaganza.
Before the clock struck midnight, we’d commit to a set of resolutions, whether it be about writing, about weight loss, or about not having any resolutions at all. I always tried to balance my yearly resolutions (or annual game plan as I like to call it), with a mix of writing and personal ambitions.
Overall, New Year’s is something special to me. A time of reflection and planning. So here are a few tips to make your new year just as special.
1. Don’t focus on going out and having a huge party if you don’t have plans already. Let the party come to YOU. Buy your favorite snack foods, Netflix a show you’ve been dying to watch, and mix a special drink.
2. Make a list! What is one amazing memory you have from each month in the year? Did you go on vacation in January? Did a friend of yours get married in April? It’s always nice to reflect on the good times.
3. What are the three things you accomplished in the year that you’re proud of? Did you graduate from school? Publish a book? Hit your reading goal? All of those things should also be commemorated.
4. Make a list of goals. What would you like to do in the new year that you haven’t accomplished yet? Break each goal down into smaller, more attainable goals and assign a timeline to each of them.
5. Last but not least, wear something that you love! Put on a gorgeous outfit, or the comfiest pair of PJs you own.
And that’s it! The key to having a wonderful New Year’s celebration. Since 2018 is my debut year for My So-Called Bollywood Life (out May 15, 2018), I can’t wait to see what the next twelve months bring. Happy New Year from my home to yours!
Title My So-Called Bollywood Life
Author Nisha Sharma
Pages 304 Pages
Intended Target Audience Young Adult
Genre Contemporary, Romance
To Be Published May 15th 2018 by Crown BFYR
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon.com ● Chapters ● The Book Depository
The romance of Stephanie Perkins meets the quirk of Maureen Johnson, then gets a Bollywood twist in this fate-filled debut that takes the future into its own hands.
Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soul mate, but their love was written in the stars. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday, and Raj meets all the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked when she returns from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.
Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek and one of the few people Winnie can count on. Dev is smart and charming, and he challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope and find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy and her chance to live happily ever after? To find her perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star.
