On the Money by Tariq Saleim ♥ Fun Facts, Book Tour & GIVEAWAY ♥ (Romance with Self-Help & Money Making Tips)

Everything in life comes at the cost of something else. The more you have of something, the more you have to let go of something else, and this applies to money, too. There is no exception to this, and therefore it is important to know the true cost of your achievements. The more money you accumulate, the less you have of something else (often health, time, relationships, dignity, respect, etc.). Most of us are not able to fathom these costs up front, and when we finally understand, it is usually too late.

A banker by profession, Tariq Saleim has been the confidant of many successful individuals across his international career. He is a believer that true happiness comes from knowing what you want in life -and what you are willing to sacrifice to get it. 'On the money' is his first romantic novel that discusses time-tested moneymaking concepts and reflects on the hidden costs of our decisions in the process.

My writing ambitions were always limited to poetry and essays. I had never thought of writing a novel and, therefore, when I finished the manuscript for my first book ‘A Chronicle of Amends’ it had only three sections – poetry, reflections and essays. I was debating on whether or not to add one more essay that covered topics of happiness, money, health etcetera. The topics were such that it needed in depth discussion and putting it coherently in a brief essay was difficult. I decided to write a short novel instead of an essay. At that point in time I did not even know that a short novel is called a novella (I am not joking).
I wrote the novella and added it as one of the sections in my book. When ‘A Chronicle of Amends’ was originally published it had four sections – poetry, reflections, novella and essays. I was expecting readers and reviewers to like poetry and reflections more, however, what happened was a surprise. In all formal and informal reviews, the novella was rated as the best part of the book followed by essays. A large number of comments cantered around the idea that novella should have been published as a separate book.
‘On the Money’ was originally to comprise of a series of essays focusing on soft skills and values that I deem important for success. These essays were based on my years of experience of dealing with rich and affluent. When I finished writing these essays, I felt that the format was not doing justice to the contents and my intents. I decided to write a full novel and I am happy that I did it. Positive reviews for my novella in ‘A Chronicle of Amends’ gave me immense confidence in this respect.
‘On the Money’ is a story inspired by real characters. These are people who have inspired me to be what I am today – a very rich man. My richness transcends money, success and ego. I have more than just these material things and it is my desire that every reader of ‘On the Money’ achieves this rich a life.

She was intrigued by her visitor, who had not bothered to call and then decided to wait. Slowly she walked toward the hall, and then she saw him. He was seated on the sofa facing the hallway, looking haggard and tired. His suitcase was next to him. He looked up as soon as he heard her footsteps and stood up to welcome her.

She quickly walked to him, and before he could say a word, she slapped him hard on his face.

“This is for not replying to my calls and messages,” she said furiously.

He did not say a word. Instead, he took her face in his hands and kissed her lips. Half-heartedly she tried to free herself from his grip and then pretended she could not. As she kissed him back, he released her face and embraced her in his arms.

“I thought I would deliver my message in person,” he replied lovingly, his lips still on hers.

“What took you so long?” she questioned, breathing heavily, struggling to talk and kiss at the same time.

“I had to be set free before I could,” he replied quickly, also breathing heavily now.

“And you are free now?” she questioned, holding her lips to his.

He pushed her back gently so that he could say his next words in no uncertain terms.

“I have paid for my commitments through my blood and sweat. There are no more commitments today. There is only love, there is only you, and nothing else matters.”

She looked into his eyes affectionately and said, “You are not going to disappear tomorrow?”

“Never again, my love; never again,” he replied with a smile.

Tariq Saleim was born in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1972 and currently resides in Singapore. He is a banker by profession and has been associated with the industry for over two decades. He is a law graduate and also holds an MBA in finance. His first book, A Chronicle of Amends, was published in 2013 and received encouraging reviews from critics and fans. His second book, On the Money, discusses time-tested moneymaking concepts and reflects on the hidden costs of our decisions in the process.