Karma Under Fire: Weaving Fate into Fiction By Love Hudson-Maggio

Karma Under Fire: Weaving Fate into Fiction
By Love Hudson-Maggio

Selecting the right title for a book is a critical endeavor for any author. It’s not just a label; it’s the essence of the story, representing its core theme. When I embarked on writing Karma Under Fire, finding that perfect title was no walk in the park. After considering many options, none seemed to hit the mark. So, I decided to set the task aside, confident that the right title would reveal itself in time. And it did, during a conversation with a friend following his wedding in Delhi, India, the very event that had inspired the creation of my fictional story.

As I detailed the story’s premise and its cast of characters to my friend, he casually remarked, “Sounds like there’s some karma at play here.” The comment struck me like a bolt of lightning. It became clear that every character in my story was intricately bound to some form of karma, a force that shaped their lives and destinies. The obstacles they encountered were, in some way, the result of various karmic threads, a theme deeply rooted in East Indian culture.

While Western understanding often simplifies karma as mere cause and effect, the East Indian perspective lends it a more profound significance. It extends beyond actions to encompass the notion of performing good deeds selflessly, without expecting rewards. This concept, known as dharma, underscores one’s duty to family, society, and humanity. It suggests that our present experiences are a direct consequence of past virtuous acts and choices. Dharma and Karma were motivating factors for the actions of the novel’s protagonists.
This intricate definition of karma played a pivotal role in shaping my book Karma Under Fire. The use of alternating viewpoints in the novel was the method I used to allow readers to delve into each character’s struggle with their karma. My aim was for readers to cheer on characters when they succeeded, empathize when they faltered, and even wince when their choices led to karmic consequences.
My research led me to discover the existence of three types of karma in East Indian culture:
1. Sanchita Karma: This refers to the cumulative actions of the past, often perceived as unchangeable.
2. Prarabdha Karma: Past karma influencing present circumstances.
3. Agami Karma: Karma molded by current actions and choices.
In Karma Under Fire, the characters are navigating Agami Karma, as they work to reshape their destinies while juggling the demands of family, friends, and work.
The narrative unfolds with the collision of two worlds: the vibrant, modern Atlanta, Georgia, and the deeply traditional India with the backdrop of a beautiful Bollywood-type wedding. During this, cultural crossroads, meddlesome mothers, well-meaning friends, and a formidable adversary weave a complex narrative. The story explores how two star-crossed lovers find love amidst the challenges presented by their intertwined destinies.
The theme of karma served as a plot device to add complexity to the story. Karma, deeply rooted in East Indian culture, revolves around the belief that present actions hold sway over future lives. It serves as a guiding principle in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other religions. For me in storytelling, karma provides depth and serves as a moral compass, underscoring the idea that actions have import.
I want readers to ponder the idea of Karma and what it means to them. Yes, Karma Under Fire, is a fictional tale, but the story vividly illustrates karma in various forms, from subtle actions with significant consequences to the resurfacing of past wrongs. Karma Under Fire emphasizes themes of accountability, self-reflection, and forgiveness. The characters and their actions offer us a thought-proving exploration of human nature and interconnectedness and remind us that our actions leave an imprint on the lives of those around us. We are all the embodiment of karma under fire.
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About Love Hudson-Maggio:
Love Hudson-Maggio is CEO and Founder of a marketing technology firm with offices in Atlanta, GA and Manhattan, NY.  She writes Southern women’s fiction with a travel flair about smart people with a lot to learn about life and love.  Love’s passion for travel shows up in her books as her characters find themselves transported between the southern sweetness of Atlanta, GA to other international picturesque locations like India. Love lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two sons and their dog.  Love was admitted as a screenwriting fellow at Columbia University for her short play, As the Vow Breaks. Upon completion of her screenwriting fellowship, her play, Eating for Two, was performed at a small theater in New York’s Lower East Side as a part of a female ensemble.  Love believes that the love you give away will find its way back to you. Karma Under Fire is her first book.
Website: https://www.lovehudsonmaggio.com/

LinkedIn: Love Hudson-Maggio, MBA
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KARMA UNDER FIRE

Now in this expanded edition: recipes, discussion questions, acknowledgments, and author’s note.

Two societies collide: the trendy, upscale, ultra-hip universe of Atlanta and the alluring, bound-by-tradition world of old India!

Pressured by her challenging mother, Harlow Kennedy, an aspiring jewelry maker, agrees to marry politically ambitious pretty-boy Addison Whitmore. The match will elevate Harlow’s non-existent social standing and guarantee financial security for life. The wedding is scheduled to take place as soon as Harlow returns from her BFF’s wedding in India.

On the other side of the world, the parents of Tej Mayur, the “it” chef of Atlanta’s hottest new Indian restaurant, are fretting about their son’s unmarried status. They summon him home.

When Harlow meets Tej on a flight from Atlanta to Delhi, sparks fly. Unfortunately, Tej’s nuptials are already being arranged by his privileged East Indian family, and Harlow is not Indian. After touching down at Indira Gandhi International, they flee one another’s company–or so they think.

Karma Under Fire transports readers across the globe, and like Mississippi Masala and Crazy Rich Asians, at its core it’s a vibrant heartwarming story about two young people’s search for love while they navigate the uncertain path between passion and tradition.

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