Mirror Magazine

 

Anushka: Ten more
Prolific young author Anushka Wirasinha has done it again. Less than a year after the launch of her first ten books, this John Robert Powers model, Harvard lecturer and tech wizard has published ten more in a phenominal burst of literary zeal.

Seven of the new books deal with Anushka's specialized subjects, computers and Information Technology, but she has also produced another volume of poetry, a sequel to her first science fiction novel, and a guide to beauty and self-development.

"Thoughts and ideas keep coming to my head, and I just write them down," she says of her extraordinary output which has resulted in the publication of 20 books in three years, four of them by major international publishers Prentice Hall and Universal Publishers.

"I have been extremely lucky to have gained acceptance by a world renowned publisher such as Prentice Hall in the early part of my career. This has enabled me to expand the readership of my books to countries outside of Sri Lanka and give them wide exposure in the world market," she says.

"Also Harvard University has been wonderful to me. The encouragement I receive each time I am there has truly been a major force in my success."

In a further endorsement of her work, the Educational Publications Advisory Board of the Ministry of Education has approved two of her books 'Computer Tutor' and 'Study Buddy' for use in schools in Sri Lanka.

Her latest work reinforces Anushka's niche as a writer of computer books. She had created and registered her own series Master iT for which she has written three booklets, 'PC Private Eye', 'I want to teach the world to CLICK!' and Doctor PC.

PC Private Eye deals with data forensics and private investigating using the computer. I want to teach the world to CLICK! looks into how Information Technology has revolutionized the learning possibilities for the blind and the handicapped and is aimed at those institutions and individuals involved in teaching these persons. All proceeds from the sale of this book will be directed to these charities. 'Doctor PC' deals with PC troubleshooting and provides a comprehensive self help guide to keeping your PC healthy and happy.

Anushka's other computer book titles include 'Flash in a Flash: Web Development - a complete guide to web designing with Macromedia Flash, 'JAVA Essence' - an easy way to learn this powerful programming language, and 'Office Essentials' - a comprehensive guide to Microsoft Office XP applications which covers the subjects required for the Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) examination.

The seventh computer book, 'Digital Art', published late last year, educates and motivates computer users to explore the artistic possibilities of modern computers.

Fiction lovers are catered to with 'Zangots', a sequel to Anushka's sold-out 2001 science fiction thriller 'The Years of the Technomanogs', while 'Moments', a collection of poems and song lyrics displays the "softer" side of her literary prowess.

Providing an insight into the character and personality of the author is 'Model Citizen', a guide to beauty and self-development, in which Anushka explores what constitutes beauty, charm and personality, and using the knowledge and experience she gained as a John Robert Powers model, provides useful tips to a successful modelling career.

"I believe that each person is unique and special and that one should always be one's self and be proud of it," she says.

"I write for people of all ages, but my focus is mostly on young people," Anushka explains. "I try to make available to them, whatever knowledge I have gained that may help their education, aspirations and attitudes to life."

Back in Sri Lanka for a well deserved break, she says there are still many more books inside her.

"When it comes to writing, I have no targets, no limits, no pressure. My sole driving force is inspiration and wherever it takes me I will go."

Anushka Wirasinha's 20 books will be on display at the Vijitha Yapa Bookshop stall at the Colombo Book Fair at the BMICH from September 10-15.

Caring for permanent-waved hair
Permanent-waved hair has undergone structural alteration. Among the changes produced is disruption of the highly reflective outer layer (the cuticle) of the hair. The degree of disruption is proportional to the harshness of the chemical treatment. The hair feels rough, has less shine, and is difficult to groom in comparison to untreated hair.

The cuticle cells of individual hairs are elevated, causing the hairs to snag and tangle easily. The hair has less body, and the electrostatic charge is increased, which makes the hair difficult to manage. In the wet state, the more porous hair absorbs greater quantities of water so that it is temporarily heavier and clumsy to manage.

Such hair may benefit from the use of a slightly acidic shampoo. These shampoos cause less swelling of the hair shaft when it is wet than do alkaline shampoos and may make the hair less porous by temporarily flattening the raised cuticle scales.

Using a conditioning rinse after shampooing is another aid for damaged hair. Conditioners add body to the hair, modify the surface of the hair to make combing easier, and decrease the buildup of electrostatic charge that causes flyaway hair. Conditioners add softness and shine to the hair that has been damaged by waving.


Back to Top  Back to Mirror Magazine  

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Webmaster