Blog Archives
Girl Behind The Veil Wins TWO Gold Medals!!
I am so so excited to share that Girl Behind The Veil won not one, but two gold medals!
FAPA (Florida Authors & Publishers Association) President’s Book Awards announced the winners recently. In their Romance Suspense category, Girl Behind The Veil took gold! I was completely surprised because I know it’s a tough competition, especially in that category. Additionally, the judges are industry professionals, publishers, and librarians. So, for them to read the story, and then award it the gold medal, is truly a humbling experience. Thank you, thank you!
This weekend, Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards just released their winners. I am honored that this heartfelt story won in Fiction Cultural category. Again, I wasn’t expecting to get first place. When I saw the list, I was shocked and had to refresh the page to make sure I saw it correctly.
Honestly, as authors, we put our heart and soul into our stories. We create these beautiful characters, and we cry with them, feel their pain, joy, fear, and triumph. Our books are our babies, and to be recognized for all the sweat and tears that was put into the writing…well, honestly, I am beyond grateful.
Girl Behind The Veil is especially emotional to me because the main character (Salena) is a victim of human trafficking. I wanted to write about this important topic because we need to do so much more with this worldwide problem. I hope with this story, it not only raises awareness, but inspires people to do something about such a horrific tragedy.
I also bring up cultural diversities, stereotypes, and acceptance. Many times, family and society say one thing, but the heart says the opposite. I can completely relate to this since I was raised in United States, but my parents are from India. It’s actually quite common to feel like you’re living two different lives (one consisting of traditional values and the other consisting of more modern, western values).
In each story I write, I leave a piece of me behind. If you haven’t read Girl Behind The Veil yet, I’d love for you to check it out. I promise it’s a story that will stay with you forever. Here’s the link: Amazon
I am proud of the recognition the rest of my books have received. Yay! Go me!
As always, thank you for your support! Have a great week!
Readers’ Favorite Book Awards 2017
I have so much to tell you guys! In November, I went to Miami for Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards Ceremony. Both, Fate’s Cry and Fate’s Roar, won Honorable Mention in Romance-Paranormal category. I am grateful to Readers’ Favorite for awarding the books such a prestigious recognition.
I am excited, yet humbled, that all six books I’ve entered so far for awards are now award-winning novels.
Miami was a blast! I swear meeting up with other award-winning authors is the greatest feeling. These guys are talented, inspiring, and are full of amazing wisdom. Here are some pictures from the Meet and Greet and the ceremony itself.
I have more good news! My Perfect Imperfections was a featured book for a university’s book club! Yes, a university! Holy Family University in Pennsylvania discussed My Perfect Imperfections in November. Man, I’m so excited because when I wrote My Perfect Imperfections, I hoped to inspire and raise awareness. To say I was honored that this story was chosen, is an understatement. Here are some pics from the book club at the library from the university.
If anybody wants to purchase an autographed copy of any of my books, please contact me. Christmas is coming, so this may be a fantastic gift for somebody. 🙂
Lastly, I absolutely love photography. I’m really not that great at it, but I did take this pic while hiking in California one day. I liked it, so I decided to use it. I leave you with this final thought. Until next time, lovelies.
My Perfect Imperfections Won!
Yes! I just found out that My Perfect Imperfections won the Outstanding Fiction Book in the 2016 IAN Book of the Year Awards! This is truly an honor since books from all over the world are entered. I am full of all sorts of emotions…shocked, humbled, thrilled. And yes, I did the happy dance with my dog this morning. I think he thought I lost my mind.
Here’s the official seal!
Oh you guys want to see a picture of my puppy too? The poor guy had to endure my craziness this morning!
My Perfect Imperfections is a Finalist!
So excited to share that My Perfect Imperfections is a finalist for 2016 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in General Fiction/Literary category. Completely shocked and honored! Here’s the official seal!
I’ll share a short excerpt:
Chance continues to text me, but he doesn’t visit during the summer break. He has committed himself to working on a research project with one of the professors. Our texts are brief and detached. Sometimes, it almost feels like he’s texting out of obligation.
I bury myself in my work and my studies. It feels good to actually receive a real paycheck. I refuse to think about Chance, although once in a while, I find myself checking his Facebook wall to see what he’s been doing. Many times, I see the pictures he’s been tagged in by his friends. To my relief, he looks healthy. The pictures that hurt the most are the ones of him partying with girls. Often, these girls are hanging all over him, and Chance has no problems holding them in his arms. Once there’s even a picture of a beautiful girl sitting on his lap while he’s laughing.
For the life of me, I have no idea why I’m slowly torturing myself. I know if I click on his page, I’ll see things I don’t want to see. Powerless, I purposefully continue to cause myself the pain. I can’t help but be jealous. I don’t know if it’s because I wish I were one of the girls or because I wish I weren’t a prisoner in my own wheelchair.
I know Chance and I have been best friends for a long time, but a part of me has to accept that he never really saw me as he sees these other girls. Sure, he cares about me, but he’s never been attracted to me. Can I blame him? After all, he’s a gorgeous man who can basically get any of those beautiful, able-bodied girls who are all over him.
Knowing I need to let him go—not only for him but also for me—I eventually stop texting him back. At first, Chance continues to try to reach me, but I don’t respond. He even calls my parents to make sure I’m okay. When they assure him I’m doing fine, I receive one final email from him.
Hey, Lily,
I’ve been texting you quite a bit lately, but you haven’t replied back. I got worried so I called your parents. They assured me that you’re doing great and everything is working out well with your job and school. I wish I could be there in person so we can talk face to face about this. I just can’t get out of the commitments here, though. Since you’re not replying back to me, I can only assume that you don’t want to put in the effort any longer to keep in touch. If I’m wrong about this, please let me know. If I don’t hear back from you, I guess my assumption is correct. I’m not quite sure what to say, but if that is your desire, I respect it. Just know that whatever you may need in the future, I’ll be here for you.
Always,
Chance
A single tear slowly rolls down my cheek and disappears behind my shirt.
Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards 2015
Living life, Loving life…
Once in a while, we are lucky enough to experience an event that will stay with us for a long time. Let’s face it; most of us have that same routine, monotonous life with a million responsibilities. We get up every morning to go to work, pay our bills on time, make sure the kids are safe, take care of our family, do the chores in the house, make sure we have enough gas in the cars… ok, the list is endless. But you get the point.
This is why I think it’s so important to make the most of our lives. We’ve got this one opportunity to do things we want to do. Don’t wait for the right time. That right time is now.
Recently, I’ve discovered my passion for writing. I absolutely love creating stories from this crazy mind of mine. So, every evening, I stay up at least until midnight working on all my literary endeavors. I love being able to provide my readers a little bit of escape from this confusing world we live in.
It’s especially nice to be recognized for all the hard work. Nothing describes the feeling of walking across the stage to receive a medal for your book. To think that somebody felt your work is worth the recognition is truly a humbling experience.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards in Miami. I was lucky enough to be joined by my two beautiful best friends. Oh, by the way, don’t let three ladies loose in Miami. There’s no telling what kind of trouble will find them.
Being in Miami with my best friends was phenomenal enough. To top it off, I was honored to meet other award-winning authors. You know what’s cool about fellow authors? They all are a bit like me! I love the sarcastic sense of humor, the positive energy around them, and the approachable, friendly personality. Oh, did I mention I met Landau Eugene Murphy Jr from America’s Got Talent and Kevin Daley from Harlem Globetrotters?
For a second year in a row, I ended up attending the Readers’ Favorite Award Ceremony. Last year, Chaysing Dreams and Chaysing Memories won gold medals for Romance Suspense category. This year, Chaysing Destiny was awarded the bronze medal for Fiction Thriller Terrorist category. What an honor!
I hold onto memories such as these. Yes, life is full of same monotonous routine. But, it’s up to us to make sure we make the most out of our days…and our lives. So here’s to our dreams coming true, to creating amazing memories with fantastic people, and to living life to the fullest.
Don’t forget to follow your dreams. Find your passion and go after it. If you fall, stand back up taller and stronger. Just keep moving forward. As one of the authors said to me in Miami, “If not now, then when?”
Jalpa Williby 