Spotlight Book Tour and Giveaway: The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  THE SUN'S SHADOW by Sejal Badani
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 331 pages
Genre:  Literary
Publisher:  Lake Union
Release date:   January 28, 2025
Content Rating:  PG: Has 2 sex scenes with subtle descriptions. No bad language.

Book Description:

“A captivating story… richly woven narrative with vivid characters. A perfect story."

From the bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret comes an unflinching exploration of betrayal, forgiveness, and the healing power of a second chance.

Celine’s life is spiraling out of control. She’s in danger of losing the beloved equestrian farm that was her childhood home. Her distant husband, Eric, is devoting a suspicious amount of time to a stunning new colleague. Then her young son, Brian, receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. How much worse can things get?

Felicity has uprooted her career and her teenage son, Justin, to get closer to Eric. She’s tired of keeping his secrets―that Eric’s frequent “business trips” have been spent playing family with them. Felicity is determined to get her happily ever after, even if it means confronting Celine at a delicate time.

​But when Brian’s prognosis worsens, and a transplant from Justin becomes his best chance at survival, Felicity must make a wrenching decision about her son’s well-being―and Celine must accept that the “other woman” is her only hope. In another life Celine and Felicity might have been friends. Can they put aside the pain between them to do what’s best for their families―and their own futures?

Buy the Book:
(now available for pre-order)
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Meet the Author:

​Sejal Badani is the Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret and Trail of Broken Wings. She is also a Goodreads Best Fiction award and ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship finalist whose work has been published in over fifteen languages.

Connect with the author: Website  ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ​~ Pinterest
Instagram ~ Goodreads

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Guest Post:

Why Shutting Down Can Light You Up

My paternal grandmother would visit us from India every few years. She would stay for months, sleeping in the extra bed my father hauled into my room. I would wake up each morning for school to find her cross-legged on the floor, palms turned upward, breathing deeply as she sank into her third or fourth hour of meditation. Still as a statue, she seemed oblivious to my presence, eyes shut, lost in a world that both fascinated and terrified my young mind. Where was she? And how?
When she returned from these daily excursions, she carried with her a profound peace – a calm I so desperately craved in the midst of my tumultuous upbringing. She seemed impervious to the storms that raged around her, even calming my father’s violent outbursts in ways I had never seen before. At seven, I was in awe. She asked me to sit with her, teaching me the Jain mantra—the foundation of our belief system. I recited it silently and repeatedly, drawing deeper into this calm state that was foreign to me.
Over the years, a pattern formed: when she visited, I joined her in meditation, and my life felt calmer, more in control. But in the years between, when she was gone, I became a vessel for my father’s anger, losing my sense of self to his. Two opposing worlds, neither of which made sense to me. After her death, the days with her became a distant memory.
When I transitioned from law to writing, I entered another new world: young children at home, bills to pay, and a career with no clear direction. I sought calm amidst the chaos. When external circumstances failed to provide relief, I tried to reconnect with the past, to replicate the peace I had felt with her. But the reality of small children—one climbing onto my back while the other plopped into my lap—made it impossible. Accepting it not meant to be, I chose other means instead to draw water from a rock – otherwise known as writing a novel.
Years passed, and I found myself falling into a rhythm: an idea, followed by stress, an outline, more stress, writing, stress. Publish. Stress. In between, raise children. I came to accept that stress was simply the cost of doing the work I loved. Meanwhile, my husband, who had always kept a traditional career, turned to running as an outlet. He’d been a long-distance runner in school and college, and as work became more stressful, he increased his mileage. The difference in him before and after was striking. He was calmer, happier, and seemed to handle the daily grind with greater ease. His example sparked something in me. Could running be his form of meditation?
I decided to try again. I carved out fifteen minutes a day just for myself. It felt like a breath of fresh air. I gradually increased both the frequency and duration, recognizing the value add. Then, I tried something new—quick bursts of meditation before and during the writing process. Would it help me when I was stuck on a scene? Could connecting with my higher self unlock the muse I sought? I was shocked when the writing process became easier and more enjoyable. The answer wasn’t external but internal. I felt like a child who had just discovered a new toy.
Meditation has since become an integral part of both my personal and professional life. Sometimes, I only have five minutes; other times, I can carve out an hour. I have never attempted my grandmother’s three-hour rituals, though it remains on my bucket list. Regardless of the time spent, I have found that silencing my mind while connecting to something deeper is both peaceful and powerful. And for that, I am profoundly grateful.

Enter the Giveaway:

THE SUN'S SHADOW by Sejal Badani Book Tour Giveaway