SHOBHA NIHALANI
Shobha Nihalani is a freelance
writer based in Hong Kong. She has been writing for over a decade for leading
newspapers and magazines. Her feature-length articles cover topics in
accountancy, finance, engineering, merchandising, manufacturing, technology,
tourism, health and many more. She also works as a copywriter and company
biographer on a project basis.
Shobha is on the committee of the Hong Kong Women in Publishing Society and the
Hong Kong Writers' Circle. She is actively involved in supporting and
encouraging the local writing community.
Born in Goa, Shobha has lived in culturally diverse cities such as Kano,
Bangalore, Singapore, Mumbai and Antwerp. She now resides in Hong Kong with her
family.
.
Her debut novel Karma,
will be published in Denmark September 1st 2008, and her second novel The
Silent Monument will be published in Denmark in 2009.
The Silent Monument
(Novel - rights sold in Denmark, available worldwide)
In a sealed chamber of Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, a five-hundred-year old secret is discovered by an investigative reporter.
Manzil Saxena’s life is about to change dramatically. Her husband, a reporter, is found dead, leaving her an ancient scroll that will turn her from housewife to hunted.
The scroll reveals a historical anomaly hidden for centuries, a secret that could cause violent chaos amongst the extreme religious sects in India.
A secret that could fuel the tension between Hindus and Muslims, and split a nation.
Torn by the decision she has to make, reveal the truth or not, Manzil faces a struggle for survival, as the hunt for the scroll commences.
Mahesh Bhakti, crazed archaeologist and the mole in the Indian Institute of Archaeology.
Bad-tempered Anwar, hired killer with murder on his mind.
Kanyadevi, famous Bharat Natyam dancer with a haunting past, and member of the non-governmental organization Onyx, dedicated to averting religious violence.
Yadav, the police inspector investigating the death of the reporter, discovers a deeper mystery.
Deva, the leader of a Hindu fundamentalist group, wants the world to know the truth.
They all have one thing in common – finding the scroll.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KARMA
(Novel - rights sold in Denmark, available worldwide)
Shobha Nihalani's debut novel Karma spans five centuries and is set in Hong Kong and India.
The novels main character, Neelam Sippy, leaves her husband and breakes their arranged marriage, to pursuit her first love – a lawyer turned ascetic – who she believes is from a past life.
Haunted by recurrent dreams of palaces, deserts, princesses and feelings of unrequited love,
Neelam visits a regression therapist to learn more about her past.
She discovers that she is Mirabai, a sixteenth century Indian Rajput princess who was enamoured with Krishna.
Mirabai left her position of royalty
to become a wanderer and dwell on her love.
Neelam secretly leaves her husband and family in search of her love.
From Mumbai, she travels north towards Gujarat and then to the hot, dusty state of Rajasthan,
the place of her dreams, and finally towards the banks of the Yamuna River.
Hong Kong-born Neelam will discover that a journey for love can be a dangerous, mysterious
and even miraculous adventure of all.
During her quest, she meets a young orphan boy who becomes her guide, a spiritual
philosopher who has more than
religion on his mind, and a Delhi-based reporter who develops a bond with Neelam.
The story intertwines the modern
with the ancient concept of love.