Today, as part of The Book Club Blog Tour of Sundari Venkatraman’s new book, The Runaway Bridegroom, I have the pleasure of hosting the author and asking her some incisive questions! 😉
As a romance author do you follow any dos and don’ts when you set up your characters, plot or situations?
Sundari: I don’t have too many conditions. But that said, I do have a few. My protagonists don’t smoke. If at all, they have done it when they were young and have stopped as they matured. They have to be honest even if they utter white lies. That’s very important to me. Successful and go-getting heroes and heroines are equally important. I like it best when my book addresses a social evil WITHOUT PREACHING. I hate to preach, probably because I can’t stand anyone preaching to me. 😉
So true. Preaching is a big put-off! You have had much success with your social marketing book promotions. What is one tip you would give to authors?
Sundari: How much ever you talk, shout about your books, it works best when others do it for you. How do you achieve that? Promote others as much as you would like them to promote you. That’s the only maxim that works on social media. And I would say that that’s the key to my success.
Many youngsters scoff at the idea of romance. As a romance author do you sometimes feel like you have to sell the idea of love and romance to a cynical younger generation? Your thoughts please.
Sundari: I agree when you say that youngsters aren’t too keen on romance nowadays. Then again, I find that many get interested when they see Indian characters in romances. I loved reading Mills & Boon since my teens. But my daughter isn’t able to relate to foreign characters. She likes reading my books only because there are Indians there and she is able to relate my writing to Bollywood flicks. I don’t try to sell my books to cynics. The world population is big enough. I am sure there are enough people who love romances and I would rather they bought my book. Why run after a lost cause?
Well said, Sundari. But, if you hadn’t been a romance author, which other genre would you have picked and why?
Sundari: “Thriller” or “Supernatural” – of the positive kind – will probably have been my forte. I cannot relate to blood, gore or evil. Just not my cup of tea! I am actually planning to weave such scenarios into my romances sometime in the near future.
What challenges you most when you are writing a book and how do you overcome it?
Sundari: The major challenge is laziness. I come up with plots, write out chapter outlines and keep everything ready. Fleshing it out – I keep postponing till that time when I realise I cannot escape any more. Deadline! I fix a date and finish my book by then come hell or high water. Only that works for me.
Absolutely, Sundari. Deadlines are an author’s best friend. Best wishes for a grand success of TRB!
Sundari: Thank you so much Adite for giving me an opportunity to air my views on your blog. I loved answering your questions.
Meet the Author
Thank you for that lovely interview Adite Banerjie 😀
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My pleasure! 🙂
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Thanks Adite Banerjie. 🙂
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