The Skillful Minds

1 Short Story to stretch your lips and 2 Poems to stretch your hearts

Swaminathan Murali's Shadows We Carry : https://theskillfulminds.in/2025/02/11/shadows-we-carry-by-swami-and-latha/

Roopal Arora's The Flight of Dreams : https://theskillfulminds.in/2025/02/12/the-flight-of-dreams-by-roopal-arora/

1. IQ : The India Quotient in You : https://amzn.to/44Oy4Hq

2. Let’s Quiz Kid: Volume-1 : https://amzn.to/3RJIEaY

3. Let's Quiz Kid : Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4jEp6kK

4. Parliament of India: Diverse Dimensions : https://amzn.to/3SiS7pU

5. Indian Parliament and Democratic Polity - Varied Musing : https://amzn.to/3GzPL3s

6. AI to A+ : https://amzn.to/3ENSOog

We’re proud to announce our Readers’ Choice Winners for March!

🏆 Most Read Author: Swamini Chopra-Salame for her story “The Shadow’s Heir”

🏆 Most Read Poet: Pradnya Gaikwad for her poem “Secrets Left Behind”

These awards are entirely reader-driven — based on visibility and views on our platform. It’s our way of celebrating the power of storytelling and poetry that truly connects.

At The Skillful Minds, we honour engagement, resonance, and the stories that spark reflection or stir emotions.

📖 Read the winning entries here:

👉 The Shadow’s Heir :

https://theskillfulminds.in/2025/03/18/the-shadows-heir-by-dr-swamini-chopra-salame/

👉 Secrets Left Behind :

https://theskillfulminds.in/2025/03/11/secrets-left-behind-by-pradnya-gaikwad/

11 Books Already Making Waves in 2025. Fresh Reads, Bold Voices for your weekend.

1. Onyx Storm By Rebecca Yarros:

2. Tales of Aryan By Sritapa : He’s 9. The sky’s wild. And the jungle? Even wilder.

3. Niche By Poonam Singh : Find your place, fuel your purpose, and rise above the noise.

4. The Lost Art of Narration by S Sengupta: Because life’s best lessons aren’t on Google—they’re in stories.

5. The Art of Communication by Kunjam : Say less. Mean more. Master the life skill schools forgot to teach.

6. Within by Sakshi (Poetry) : Raw. Reflective. Real. Poems that echo the voice within.

7. Wars and Wings Part 2 By Salame - Its coming this April 22. A friendship caught in conspiracy. A war that hides something darker.

8. Destiny Conspired by Kamlesh : One glimpse. One obsession. One twist of fate.

9. Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney: Your missing wife shows up on a haunted island—or maybe it’s your guilt playing tricks again.

10. The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha : A family reunion. A fortune at stake. And someone willing to kill for it.

11. The Gift for Self by Vandana : Poetry meets epiphany in this luminous journey of self-discovery, divine connection, and awakening truths.

Grab them now.

Follow for More Book Recs

Title:Deliverance

Poet: Mahija Reddy

Publisher: The Skillful Minds

Genre: Gender Identity Poetry / Philosophical Free Verse

Extract: It's pouring out there while the Sun shines bright 

And the clouds singing to me, gently softening all my plight

My life is moving on, flowing over highs and lows

Stretching along at my feet are 

The terms stuck as my shadows

Read Full Poetry Here:

Title: The Echo of Betrayal

Author Lolita Bhattacharya

Genre: Psychological Drama

Publisher: The Skillful Minds

Synopsis: A gripping short story of love, betrayal, and cold revenge—follow Violet's transformation from heartbreak to poetic justice in this intense psychological drama.

Read the Full Story Here:

Title:Beneath the Storms

Poet: Sritapa Mahanty

Genre: Romantic Psychological Poetry

Publisher : The Skillful Minds

Extract : You break a heart, then smile and move on,

Yet the weight of shattered time lingers long.

This fire within, a burning desire,

It brought us together, lifted us higher.

Don’t be so stubborn, don’t turn away,

Let your thoughts flow; don’t let them decay.

But look within, take a glance inside,

Read the Full Poetry Here:

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Theme: Mirrors and Masks

Mirrors and masks symbolize identity, perception, and the facades we craft to navigate the world. This theme delves into the contrast between appearance and reality, the struggle for authenticity, and the secrets hidden behind reflections and disguises. Writers are encouraged to explore the depths of self-awareness, deception, transformation, and the blurred lines between truth and illusion.

Check out more details and Guidelines here:

Title: Shadows of Fear of Loneliness

Poet: Poonam Singh

Genre: Reflective Poetry

Extract: I carry a past that was brimmed with opportunities,

I carry a past that was loaded with continuities.

I carry a past that roomed my kids, my family, my beloved,

I carry a past that thronged every emotion with caring ties.

Publisher: The Skillful Minds

Read Full Poetry Here:

Title: Atoned Poet: Fiza Parveen

Genre: Gothic / Dark Poetry

Extract: He creeps through my window pane

In the hush of midnights,

When the whole world holds its breath

And loneliness keeps me awake.

Sometimes watching from the door,

Publisher: The Skillful Minds

Read the Full Poetry Here:

Title: Echoes of Lost Love

Poet: Rupesh Ranjan

Genre: Melancholic Poetry

Extract: Beneath the surface, a quiet ache,

Echoes linger where hearts once break.

The touch of love, now faded, gone,

Yet shadows linger as days move on.

Old laughter floats in a silent stream,

Publisher: The Skillful Minds

Read the full Poetry Here:

Mirrors and Masks

This theme -"Mirrors and Masks" - revolves around the exploration of identity, authenticity, and the facades people construct to fit societal expectations or even deceive themselves. It plays with the idea that people often wear metaphorical masks to hide their true selves or adopt certain personas to survive, succeed, or belong.

More details coming soon.