About the Book: âTwo-&-A-Half-Storiesâ is a compilation of three short stories. The tales are life's unspoken truths and woven into an endearing web that will catch you in a 'fantastic' world of 'realism'! While 'Escapist & the Beggar Boy' traces the unique relationship that develops between a man who leaves his wife over a misunderstanding and an orphan that he chances upon at a railway station, âSome Chik, Our Lilyâ is the tale of a precocious but careless girl Lily who is taught a lesson in maturity by destiny. Last, but not the least, âFate Written By Roadsideâ is the fictional adaptation of a real incident of an innocent boy turning into a âseasonedâ beggar. The stories are guaranteed to leave you amazed and dying for a second read!
About the Author: Born into a family of journalists and writers in Lucknow, the author, Saumya, took to the pen like fish takes to water even before she was formally enrolled into school. Her adolescent scribbling was identified as a future potential by her grandfather, Mr Vijay Kumar Misra, who was himself a highly reputed journalist and author of several Hindi books, and he encouraged her to play with her imagination. While studying at St. Agnesâ Loreto Day School, Saumya regularly contributed short stories, poems and articles to school magazines, various newspapers and even to the All India Radioâs Youth Programme. She completed her Intermediate from the Loreto Convent and then graduated in Economics, Political Science and English from the prestigious Awadh Girlsâ Degree College. Throughout her college period, she actively participated in all extra-curricular activities, including sports, dramatics, painting, debate, but writing remained her first love and passion. She then did post-graduation in Foreign Affairs with Proficiency in French language from the Lucknow University and then Management in Travel and Tourism from the one and only ITM, Gwalior. But, fate had already decided that she would enter a field most suited to her interest and she joined The Indian Express group. Even while working on the desk there, she largely contributed news items and features. She later joined The Times Of India, Lucknow and is now the editor of TreeTake, a one-of-its-kind magazine on environment. Her very first novelâ a social thriller âA Life Less Livedââwent on to become a bestseller in 2014. Her second novelâA Grey Storyâ was also well-received. Her latest, âThree Little Talesâ, is a compilation of three short stories and three âsupportingâ poems that is sure to touch readersâ heart.